|
Post by kensey on Apr 29, 2003 5:00:13 GMT -5
ok, im not too sure what kind of response i will get for this, but fuck it, its my bloody opinion and i have the right to say it. There was an occasion where i have attended a christian youth group with one of my friends, although i am not christian, i decided to go there with an open mind. throughout the session, the pastor starting discussing these things called "missions". this is where members from the church(the church refers to them as missionaries") travell to other countrys, mostly third world, or poverty stricken countries, to bring food and water and education. i thought this was all very selfless of them, and a wonderful thing to do. untill i heard that there is a catch to it.. you see, they bring these starving people food, but they also "save" them, as the pastor put it. they show them jesus, and teach them the ways of christianity (more like brainwash them). i personally think this is wrong! most of these places already have their own established religious belief! who are they to go into a country, and bribe under privledged people with food and water, just so they can bennifit by speading christianity. now i think its wonderful to help out the less fortunate, but we shouldnt be doing it for our own benifit. why cant we just bring the food, and the water, and leave the bible at home?
|
|
|
Post by t on Apr 29, 2003 10:48:39 GMT -5
its not for the benefit of the christian. its actually kind of a hard thing going out on a limb and telling people about your beliefs... its not something that brings glory or fame or benefits.. it usually brings quite the opposite (especially in places, like you said, that already have an established religious belief)
if you were able to go ask those 'underprivelged' people what they thought about Jesus and the bible after the missions had gone to their town.. you would probably be surprised by their repsonses. i can make a pretty safe bet that they are not offended by the message of Jesus.
|
|
|
Post by Tyler on Apr 29, 2003 12:33:24 GMT -5
yeah jc was a pretty mellow guy depends on who delivers the message, and how they do it. "all you gotta do is love your neighbor like your brother, and trust in Him. But if you don't you'll burn in hell for all of eternity. Now eat this sandwich"
|
|
|
Post by holygoat0106 on Apr 29, 2003 13:43:08 GMT -5
i strongly agree with the point that u made earlier, ty. see, it's wonderful that they go down there and help all the unfortunate like that but along with new housing comes a rearrangement of their way of life and they must relearn everything they know and forget their true heritage for the sake of christian beliefs. it's like the mayans and aztecs,right? where their cultures and philosophies were lost through being converted. its so much more than that though. could u imagine everything you were ever told or taught being wiped clean? i wish they had more things like world vision where there is no strings attached as far as religious systems go. where they have the citizens help building their schools, water works, etc,.. i just think when you wanna eat and u need to get an education drink clean water et al,.. you shouldnt have to worry about your whole belief system being threatened. its like a modern bartering system if u really think about it.
|
|
|
Post by JohnnyRansom on Apr 29, 2003 14:35:10 GMT -5
yeah...i think it depends on who delivers the message. if theyre all cool about it and theyre not trying to be all persuasive and holier than thou as if their religion is THE religion, then its ok. you know, just trying to teach a few things about goodwill and whatnot, not trying to push anything. but if their like all bible thumping and trying to convert cause these heathens religion is wrong, then theyre a bunch of dickwads. so there. but the food part is cool.
|
|
|
Post by t on Apr 29, 2003 18:57:05 GMT -5
could u imagine everything you were ever told or taught being wiped clean? it almost seems as if you are making these people in other countries and cultures sound like they dont have the ability to choose. you cant force someone to change their minds on something.. especially religious beliefs. and as far as wiping a culture clean? oh, how sad.. that people overseas are thinking for themselves and breaking away from belief systems that they were taught and grown up with in their culture. so what if it is a christian from here that told them about Jesus..? it is the individual who decides to make life changing decisions.. you cant blame that on anyone else.
|
|
kill you
Go Away
you is my elf-hoe :)
Posts: 287
|
Post by kill you on Apr 29, 2003 22:52:35 GMT -5
of course the if you give the starving children food they are going to listen to your story...just keep feeding them... i know if i was starving i would sit threw hours of shit to get my frekin grule! Its like holding cheese infront of a starving dog and saying.."you can have this.......but only if you do this ."
|
|
|
Post by holygoat0106 on Apr 30, 2003 11:05:20 GMT -5
t, i understand your point, however, you're failing to recognize the fact that christianity already covers a vast portion of the world, how many creeds and cultures do you think were replaced as a result of missionaries coming in and yes, giving them assistance and education, but also a new god? what if someone told u that you must see the light and come to realize your god is not the right god? youd be pretty adamant right? cuz you believe your god is the true god. the true goal of a missionary is to spread the gospel to those who have not yet seen the light, like i said before, im not saying that people learning to live better is wrong or that shelter and clothing edu and such arent precious gifts, im simply saying that yes, their main goal has always been to spread the gospel to those who dont know it. thats a little self serving now isnt it? really, no hard feelings, my half sister was a missionary, i was a christian at one time, i saw pictures, they built a schoolhouse, a couple living quarters and drum roll please..........a church!! with a big old cross standing high on the roof. go down to ethiopia and ask them what eclesiastics is and theyll look at you like you gots eight eyes.and i was a mormon once too, seriously, i got baptized at 13. and who brought me to the "real" god??!!! the missionaries from salt lake city, utah!!!!! i remember hearing in sunday school when i was little that jesus would come back to earth once the bible was known in every tongue. this is essentially what they are using as their objective. whatever, no hard feelings.....and im not christian was but am not now.
|
|
|
Post by Steve M on Apr 30, 2003 14:29:02 GMT -5
congrats to "t" for seemingly being the only unbiased writer.
do you remember where you came from?
|
|
|
Post by r on Apr 30, 2003 14:47:10 GMT -5
kensey. first off, going into a 'youth group' with an open mind? well, then taking what they are saying as bullshit, isn't exactly open minded.....good job. i think an open mind is accepting their beliefs...but not neccesarily agreeing with it. am i wrong?
and yes 't' is right. no one is 'forcing' anyone to believe....have any of you doubters ever gone on a mission trip? do you know what actually goes on, or are you making it up? from what you think 'religious' people do.
holy goat. you don't seem very educated....i don't think you even know how to spell education. i'm just saying that, because you abreviated that word. and i've read alot of your other posts.
|
|
kill you
Go Away
you is my elf-hoe :)
Posts: 287
|
Post by kill you on Apr 30, 2003 15:41:10 GMT -5
Kensey is better then jebus! ;D
|
|
|
Post by Tyler on Apr 30, 2003 16:46:34 GMT -5
A terrible example of cultural destruction at the hands of Xians is the Residential schools for first nations children, in which Native children were taken from their families and cultural groups and placed in church-run schools with the direct aim being to purge them of their heritage, language, religion, and dignity. There was one in Mission. Here's a link with a brief history: www.prsp.bc.ca/history/history.htmObviously, the missionaries of today are far less oppressive.
|
|
|
Post by kensey on Apr 30, 2003 17:23:34 GMT -5
well "r", if your opinion is so bloody strong on this subject, try leaving your name. Also, i did go to youth group with an open mind. i went there thinking 'i will listen to what they have to say, so i can form an educated opinion about it'. i went there, and i couldnt believe some of the shit they were saying! i dont have to accept their beliefs, or their reasons behind them. and how can you say that holygoat doesnt sound educated? to me it sounds like she knows exactly what she is talking about. so go fuck yourself.
|
|
|
Post by tRACEY on Apr 30, 2003 19:47:54 GMT -5
i feel as if i'll only be listened to if i start my posts off with a phrase like "i dont believe in god.. i think that christianity is a crutch for the weak.. buuut" say what i have to say.. and then end it off with a bunch of swear words. sorry, maybe that wasnt very nice.
i dont know.. its just that i cant see the message of Jesus being offensive. people all over the world are being changed through the gospel.. doesnt that make you question just what exactly is going on.. instead of labeling it as some self-serving hoax?
and i added my full name just for kensey (even though most of the names on here are NICKNAMES so it doesnt really matter anyways)
|
|
|
Post by JayC on Apr 30, 2003 22:54:13 GMT -5
you should all find the lyrics for Jesus Was Way Cool by King Missile
cause Jesus was way cool, well, at least i think so now
|
|