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From: russ@ihuxi.UUCP (Russell Spence)
Newsgroups: net.singles
Subject: Re: christians are not saints
Message-ID: <1059@ihuxi.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 30-Aug-84 11:55:52 EDT
Article-I.D.: ihuxi.1059
Posted: Thu Aug 30 11:55:52 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 31-Aug-84 02:52:19 EDT
References: <814@ihuxe.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL
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> Christians=saints??? No way. As a loyal church goer for 18 years, I have 
> seen both sides of the fence. I have decided non-christians are a better 
> class of people. Of course there are exceptions, so please spare me the
> flames. But the so called christians I was associated with had such low
> ethics and morals that I couldn't stand the hypocrisy anymore. I find 
> non-christians much more understanding and considerate as a whole.
> The christians acted so aloof that they thought they could do anything
> because of course they would be forgiven. Like they had a free pass to 
> do evil. It made me sick with disgust. If these people are saints, well,
> I want nothing to do with them. Give me the "sinners" any day. I'd rather
> associate with them for the honest frienships they give me.
> 
> Robert


While I have found that many Christians are nice people, in some it seemed
that their 'niceness' was very shallow because of their beliefs.  They
used Christianity to avoid their problems rather than facing them.  By
selective association and a limiting of activities they avoid anything
that is a temptation or a threat to their beliefs.  They retain a very
close-minded attitude.  This serves as a defence but makes them very
dogmatic.  The most stubborn and ignorant (in a sense) people I have
ever seen were Christians.  These people simply would not listen to other
people's viewpoints if they didn't fall in line with their own beliefs.
No flames please, I know that all Christians are not this, but it is a
danger in Christianity that people can become like this in their quest
to be 'nice'.  I just don't have very much respect for people like this,
no matter how 'nice' or 'good' they are.

I have to agree with Robert that I have usually found non-Christians to
be a better class of people, but I would like to qualify that by saying
that this does not include all non-Christians, but those who were ex-
posed to Christianity and made an informed decision to reject it (or
at least reject the general interpretation of it).  In my experience,
it is the people with the best character and highest standards that
reject the church, and for very good reason.  It is precisely this type
of person who hates hypocracy and shallowness.  It can cause alot of
resentment when one finds these qualities in an institution whose
devine purpose it is to foster faith and honesty.  Today's church has
become very weak, spiritually and morally.  I think that what we are
seeing is that the people who find spirituality and morality (or what-
ever kind of inner values you want to list) most important in their
lives, are not looking to Christianity to satisfy themselves anymore.
This is not to say that they might not remain in the church, but their
dependence on the church for spiritual fullfilment may be small or
non-existent.  There also seems to be a growing group of very good
and honest people who just don't want to have anything to do with
Christianity.  I think that this syndrome is just another symptom of
the failure of the Christian church to keep up with modern values.
(or perhaps a lack of the integrity necessary to maintain its own
values in the face of the modern world).
-- 

						Russell Spence
						ihnp4!ihuxi!russ
						AT&T Technologies
						Naperville, IL