Hugh, Chewbacca, why take Harkoliar's thread even further off topic? Unless he likes the direction this thread is taking, of course, which I am not so sure about. I think Hierophant was out of line and probably knows it too. It's sad indeed that threads started to promote happiness end like this, with people not knowing when to leave a well intended thread alone if they disagree.
But Hugh, sorry mate but why be so fierce? Why not discuss what Chewbacca said with just a smidge more respect? I know Christians on here have gotten disrespect as well over the past time, though I'm not sure why even "tireless rebutter" Cerek would feel strongly enough that he doesn't want to have a normal debate anymore. It's sad when a few bad apples make you lose faith (no pun intended) in all people here, most of whom have certainly NOT been disrespectful to all of Christianity. But that's up to you of course, if you don't feel like it's worth your time any more I can definitely understand that. If I were Chewbacca right now though, I'd wonder if this was worth my time either, though. Hugh, Christ may mean anointed one, but it has also come to be used as a name. The Pope isn't a name, it means father, yet it *is* used as a name and a form of address and reference. You can use adjectives like papal without people ridiculing you and asking if you mean "of or pertaining to or belonging to a father". I thought it was kind of sad you felt you had to ridicule Chewbacca for saying "inner Christ". That usage is just as wrong or right as saying "Christ-like qualities". Of course you don't mean "anointed one qualities", you mean qualities resembling those of Jesus Christ. If Chewbacca meant, for instance, that everyone should try and find an 'inner voice' that aspires to resemble Jesus in terms of all his good qualities, then I don't see how that is wrong, or how it is fair to ridicule his use of the term for that. No one OWNS the right to a religion. Christians all over the world disagree on smaller matters. That's why Chewbacca was right too, that you don't speak for all Christians, not even all Protestants, as I know you know too.
As for Karma, just a single line from a dictionary isn't going to help you much. You know I defended you and your arguments about definitions of words before. But you should realise that while we need workable definitions of words, and not arbitrarily decide for ourselves that for instance 'sect' means 'all religions'
, there is absolutely nothing wrong with suggesting that Karma is not exclusive to Hindu and Buddhist beliefs, or explaining what it means to you personally. I know that for instance Christ means a world to you, more than any few lines from me could capture, so I doubt you'd like it if I quoted a dictionary at you and said "THIS is what Christianity means, not a whit more". As long as we don't start using definitions that mean the opposite of the dictionary definition, there's nothing wrong with elaborating upon them.
BTW - if I get a reaction similar to the ones I've seen lately, I don't think I'll respond. I'm sorry, but I wouldn't like to jeopardise our very much valued friendship and I feel you sometimes do get what you yourself once called 'arrogant' in debates, not wanting to take words as they were intended but as whatever you make them to mean... Sorry mate. I hope you'll take that from a friend, in the spirit in which it was intended.
Edit: hadn't seen Chewbacca's latest reply yet as I wrote this. I guess this'll be locked then
I hope people will not take that as another piece of proof that you "cannot be a Christian here anymore" because that is just not fair or accurate.
This thread, IF it is locked, is locked because a select few people had severe disagreements and feelings on BOTH sides of the fence where trod upon.
[ 10-16-2003, 04:47 AM: Message edited by: Melusine ]