[Cerek the Barbaric]

Originally posted by Chewbacca: And another thing...I work in the heart of Boston, The amount of wackos passing out doomsday material and "be saved or burn" literature is down right funny. Today alone in Downtown Crossing: The jehovahs witnesses, hari krishnas, baptist preachers, a crazy guy wearing a body sign with a picture of an aborted fetus on it, another crazy guy reading out of the bible in the middle of the street at the top of his lungs! Another guy offering the gosepel, his feet littered with pamplets that peoele refuse when he lunged it at them, hehehe! All of them wasting thier time as far as I'm concerned. There nothing wrong with the religions on the whole, just some of the "practioners".

This is an EXCELLENT point, Chewbacca.

I see so many Christians yelling at the top of thier lungs that "sinners are going to burn in Hell" and then they get angry when people mock them. But honostly, do they really think this is the kind of message that non-beleivers are going to listen to.

As Yorick pointed out, Jesus NEVER preached like that. He emphasized God's love for believers and non-believers alike. Unfortunately, Christians sometimes forget that THEY are also sinners and it is only by God's Grace that they aren't going to burn in Hell.

Christians should be able to respect the person even if they disagree with their beliefs. Mutual respect is the key that opens the door to civil discussion. It also increases the chances that the other person will listen to your viewpoint an open mind.

Fear is only a temporary motivator. Love and respect endure.