I shot seven Christians.

[Oleron]

It was self-defence, they would have shot me if I hadn't. One by one I hunted them down on a lonely hillside location. They didn't even have time to utter a last prayer.

They are all alive and well, however, as I was using a laser light gun and the whole thing was a session of 'skirmish' (think paintball without the paint).

It was organised by my brother in law as a event for his church friends but they needed 8 people and could only rustle up 7, so he gave me a ring and asked if I would make up the numbers.
"A chance to chase Christians round with a gun? Count me in. ", I said.

So I get chatting to a few of the god-botherers during and after the game. They reminded me so much of myself when I was a xian - good, honest, friendly guys. For the first time in many years I started to feel a little sadness at leaving all this behind.
Not the religion, you understand, but the camaraderie - the ready-made social circle. The naive innocence of their outlook and the deep conviction of people who 'know' they're right. The natural ease with which they split the world around them into black and white, no need for shades of grey.

My atheist/humanist position started to look like too much work, too difficult to have to think for myself. Maybe I could just switch off and take the easy religious route? Maybe I could join their gang? Let's face it - both sides of my family would be overjoyed if I went back to xianity. I'd be a hero, a prodigal son. I'd have more friends than I could shake a stick at. My father in law would probably put me back on his will! Even if I don't actually believe in god, maybe I could fake it (like the Anglicans - sorry couldn't resist!).

The feeling didn't last long though. I soon came back to my senses when I saw a book on the passenger seat of my brother in law's car. I couldn't see the title as it was lying face down but I could read bits of the bold text on the back - "...affirmation of the biblical truth of the book of genesis.....Adam and Eve, your ancestors...".

I got a shiver right down my spine.

 

[Godmode]

Faking belief doesn't last very long... I know because I've tried it, and for the same reasons you're talking about. Although I've never believed in god, there was a time when my main group of friends did. I even joined a xian youth group, and I have a lot of really great memories from that time.
But eventually, the fake praying, the earnest talking about god starts getting to you, and eventually you feel you just HAVE to say something, because these are your friends, and you want to enlighten them. And then they'll turn on you. At least, that's what happened in my case.

I do have a couple of friends who believe in god, but we've either 1)agreed not to talk about it or 2)Talk about it, but realize we're never going to change the other person's mind about it

I find the reasons why most of (my personal) friendships with xians don't work out is that THEY decide they can't be friends with ME after realizing they can't convert me. It's sad, but I have learned to stay away from the very religious people.

 

[Freethinker]

For the first time in many years I started to feel a little sadness at leaving all this behind.
Not the religion, you understand, but the camaraderie - the ready-made social circle.

I believe far more people are churchgoers because of this than belief in any deity.

 

[David Swidler]

I believe far more people are churchgoers because of this than belief in any deity.

People might not even consider it in those terms. They find the experience fulfilling but don't stop to reason why.

 

[Cleon]

I believe far more people are churchgoers because of this than belief in any deity.

Obviously. If it were otherwise, the Unitarian Universalists would be out of business.

 

[HeyLeroy]

Sheesh, tell us more about the 'hunting down xians' part!

 

[Dark Jaguar]

"Skirmish"? It sounds like Laser Tag where I come from. Got any massive indoor arenas around there?

 

[ponderingturtle]

"I shot seven christians just to watch them go to heaven"

 

[grayman]

If you played paintball with Muslims would they just explode a can of paint in order to take out as many as possible along with themselves in a holy sacrifice that ensures them of 72 virgins (or raisins) after the game?

 

[Achán hiNidráne]

It was self-defence, they would have shot me if I hadn't. One by one I hunted them down on a lonely hillside location. They didn't even have time to utter a last prayer.

They are all alive and well, however, as I was using a laser light gun and the whole thing was a session of 'skirmish' (think paintball without the paint).

Wait a minute! You get my hopes up, then dash them be saying that it was just a game?

What a gip!

 

[Oleron]

Faking belief doesn't last very long... I know because I've tried it, and for the same reasons you're talking about. Although I've never believed in god, there was a time when my main group of friends did. I even joined a xian youth group, and I have a lot of really great memories from that time.
But eventually, the fake praying, the earnest talking about god starts getting to you, and eventually you feel you just HAVE to say something, because these are your friends, and you want to enlighten them. And then they'll turn on you. At least, that's what happened in my case.

I do have a couple of friends who believe in god, but we've either 1)agreed not to talk about it or 2)Talk about it, but realize we're never going to change the other person's mind about it

I find the reasons why most of (my personal) friendships with xians don't work out is that THEY decide they can't be friends with ME after realizing they can't convert me. It's sad, but I have learned to stay away from the very religious people.

Back in my old xian days I remember that the general rule about friendships was that it was fine to be friends with an 'unbeliever' if your intention was to convert them. Otherwise, drop them like a hot brick. I'm ashamed to say that I was insensitive enough to follow these rules. I would often pick on a non-christian friend as a pet project for a while until I was convinced that I was wasting my time. I would then break off contact completely. The sad thing is that I really thought I was doing the 'right thing' when I was actually being a dick.

 

[Oleron]

"Skirmish"? It sounds like Laser Tag where I come from. Got any massive indoor arenas around there?

We have an indoor facility or 2 but I would hesitate to call them massive. This game was played on a piece of army training land that the organiser rents from the ministry of defence. Plenty of rocks, crags, gorse bushes (ouch!), trees and caves to use as cover. The site also includes neolithic burial formations and defence structures. Pretty cool.

The only thing that annoyed me slightly about the game itself was that it was impossible to tell when you actually hit someone with the laser beam. The victim would receive notification of a strike but not the shooter. It would be more satisfying to know when you had taken someone out.

 

[Achán hiNidráne]

The sad thing is that I really thought I was doing the 'right thing' when I was actually being a dick.

I was the exact same way, only worse. One time in high school health class, I called a girl a "whore" in front of the everyone during a discussion on premarital sex. She took the position that there was nothing wrong with relations outside of marriage. I not only got laughed out of class, but a trip to the principals office and a couple hours of detention for my trouble.

At the time I didn't understand why I was being punished. I thought I was saving their souls, and if anyone should be facing discipline it was the young lady who would dare voice such a sinful opinion. Many years later, I now realize that I was being a blue-nosed, neurotic, ass who believed what he believed only because his arch-Catholic father wouldn't allow me to even consider the fact that there were other points of view.

 

[Huntster]

Wait a minute! You get my hopes up, then dash them be saying that it was just a game?

What a gip!

Why don't you go hunting yourself, do away with the games, and get the "full effect"?

 

[Huntster]

Back in my old xian days I remember that the general rule about friendships was that it was fine to be friends with an 'unbeliever' if your intention was to convert them. Otherwise, drop them like a hot brick.

That hasn't been my experience in my xian days.

I'm ashamed to say that I was insensitive enough to follow these rules. I would often pick on a non-christian friend as a pet project for a while until I was convinced that I was wasting my time. I would then break off contact completely. The sad thing is that I really thought I was doing the 'right thing' when I was actually being a dick.

Ever consider the possibility that you've been "a dick" all along, and are still so?

 

[Huntster]

......One time in high school health class, I called a girl a "whore" in front of the everyone during a discussion on premarital sex. She took the position that there was nothing wrong with relations outside of marriage. I not only got laughed out of class, but a trip to the principals office and a couple hours of detention for my trouble....

How wrong you were.

A whore plays for money. A fornicator might play for any number of reasons.

Did she get paid?

At any rate, if you're so weak that "a couple hours of detention" impressed you, you don't matter, anyway.

At the time I didn't understand why I was being punished. I thought I was saving their souls, and if anyone should be facing discipline it was the young lady who would dare voice such a sinful opinion.

I'd agree.

Many years later, I now realize that I was being a blue-nosed, neurotic, ass who believed what he believed only because his arch-Catholic father wouldn't allow me to even consider the fact that there were other points of view.

There are other points of view.

And they are viewing sin.

You let "a couple of hours of detention" whip your ass?

Amazing.

 

[Oleron]

That hasn't been my experience in my xian days.



Ever consider the possibility that you've been "a dick" all along, and are still so?

I'm pleased for you, however, according to the bible, you are wrong.

2 Cor 6:14

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?

As for the insult, well here's another bible quote for you:

A fool shows his annoyance the same day, but one who overlooks an insult is prudent. Proverbs 12:16

 

[Huntster]

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?

Who’s yoked?

I’m not yoked with unbelievers. Are you yoked inappropriately with believers?

And, nevertheless:

You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.
Matthew 5:43-45

"You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it:You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Matthew 22:37-39

Is this a yoke? Pulling together, and in the same direction?

As for the insult, well here's another bible quote for you:

A fool shows his annoyance the same day, but one who overlooks an insult is prudent. Proverbs 12:16

Cute citation. I’m impressed.

However, I didn’t insult you. You insulted yourself:

…I was actually being a dick.

All I did was ask if that situation was continuous and still existing.

I didn't get an answer, either.

 

[Darat]

Who’s yoked?

I’m not yoked with unbelievers. Are you yoked inappropriately with believers?


...snip...

Use a different translation then and you get:

"Do not be teamed with those who do not love the Lord, for what do the people of God have in common with the people of sin? How can light live with darkness?"

You are a member of the this forum so that means you are teamed with many people who do "love the Lord" and also many more who do not.

 

[Huntster]

Originally Posted by Huntster :
Who’s yoked?

I’m not yoked with unbelievers. Are you yoked inappropriately with believers?

...snip...
Use a different translation then and you get:

"Do not be teamed with those who do not love the Lord, for what do the people of God have in common with the people of sin? How can light live with darkness?"

You are a member of the this forum so that means you are teamed with many people who do "love the Lord" and also many more who do not.

I "team" with those of my choosing.

I damned sure don't "team" with those of this forum.

Membership and "teaming" are certainly two very different definitions.