Christians how do you deal with the evil you see every day?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The longer I spent immersed in the study of classical antiquity, the more alien and unsettling I came to find it. The values of Leonidas, whose people had practised a peculiarly murderous form of eugenics, and trained their young to kill uppity Untermenschen by night, were nothing that I recognised as my own; nor were those of Caesar, who was reported to have killed a million Gauls and enslaved a million more. It was not just the extremes of callousness that I came to find shocking, but the lack of a sense that the poor or the weak might have any intrinsic value. As such, the founding conviction of the Enlightenment – that it owed nothing to the faith into which most of its greatest figures had been born – increasingly came to seem to me unsustainable....

Familiarity with the biblical narrative of the Crucifixion has dulled our sense of just how completely novel a deity Christ was. In the ancient world, it was the role of gods who laid claim to ruling the universe to uphold its order by inflicting punishment – not to suffer it themselves.

Today, even as belief in God fades across the West, the countries that were once collectively known as Christendom continue to bear the stamp of the two-millennia-old revolution that Christianity represents. It is the principal reason why, by and large, most of us who live in post-Christian societies still take for granted that it is nobler to suffer than to inflict suffering. It is why we generally assume that every human life is of equal value. In my morals and ethics, I have learned to accept that I am not Greek or Roman at all, but thoroughly and proudly Christian.
When I speak to atheists who say that morals such as helping the weak are “obvious,” I know they’re wrong about this. If they were so obvious to everyone, Western civilization would not be as unique in history as it is. They are obvious to us because we’re a product of our culture, and our culture is a product of Christianity, and Christianity is the worship of Jesus.


Tom Holland: Why I was wrong about Christianity

https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/religion/2016/09/tom-holland-why-i-was-wrong-about-christianity

DP. Holland has an interesting-sounding book on these themes, “Dominion.” I’ve been meaning to read it.

Me too. Going to read it over Christmas break.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Knowing that we have free will. If humans didn’t have free will, we’d be gods play toys. God gave us free will. Most people are good. Some are bad beyond our imaginations. Like many religions believe, there will be a reconciliation one day. What we’re seeing in the news isn’t the end
But yea the news is hard

I used to think most people were good. Recently life has shown me something else. I seem to be surrounded by not as good/honest people. If this is testing me it's next level insanity.

Np. I find this interesting. Why would you ever think most people are good? People are inherently self centered which leads to all kinds of bad behavior. It is only through religion that people have any moral code at all.

NP, and yikes. Morality is intrinsic for most people. If your morals would disappear without religion to rein it in, there’s something wrong with you.

Oh dear. You’re one of those parents. “My child can do no wrong because he just IS. He was born perfect!”

Lol…what? No, what I’m saying is that if you don’t have an internal moral compass, and you need religion to know right from wrong…you might be a psychopath.

lol right back. Where do you believe that one gets this “internal” moral compass from? Judging by most 4 years olds, it doesn’t exist.

Do you not have an innate sense of right and wrong?

No one have it. It is tought (sometimes by example, sometimes as part of early childhood education). Why do you think young children (as old as 5 yo) saying that all that they want to do is to kill Jews when they grow up? Where is their innate compass of right and wrong?

.

Bull. The 5 year olds (as you put it) wouldn't think to kill "jews", if there was no such thing, an we were all just "humans". and the ones that are saying they want to "kill jews" are probably doing that because their equally religious parents on the OTHER side, are teaching them that as part of THEIR religion

"Imagining" if there were no Jews, and rationalizing away genocidal antisemitism as you do is truly evil.

[Anonymous]

Many of us feel sorrowful and helpless by all the evil unfolding in the world, especially against innocents and children/ minors.

However, like many others, I give thanks for our blessings and pray for healing mercies and peace for those in need.

I walk in nature most days to be reminded of the beauty of God’s creation and to feel connected to the Great Mystery.

I try to keep our home as a spiritual sanctuary so we have two altars and have prayer candles burning most days.

I attend Bible study, church and maintain friendships with loving intelligent people who edify my spirit.

I support our church’s social Justice work and ministries although I plan on doing more.

I help a school for extremely vulnerable children in a very poor country. We sponsor a child’s education in another country.

I love music, especially sacred music - I listen, sing in a choir and learn an instrument . I do believe that there will be music for eternity and hopefully in Heaven we will all have perfect pitch and harmonies.

I mess up some times and pray for God’s forgiveness and light to help me live my life revealing a little of his/ her love, joy and mercy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Many of us feel sorrowful and helpless by all the evil unfolding in the world, especially against innocents and children/ minors.

However, like many others, I give thanks for our blessings and pray for healing mercies and peace for those in need.

I walk in nature most days to be reminded of the beauty of God’s creation and to feel connected to the Great Mystery.

I try to keep our home as a spiritual sanctuary so we have two altars and have prayer candles burning most days.

I attend Bible study, church and maintain friendships with loving intelligent people who edify my spirit.

I support our church’s social Justice work and ministries although I plan on doing more.

I help a school for extremely vulnerable children in a very poor country. We sponsor a child’s education in another country.

I love music, especially sacred music - I listen, sing in a choir and learn an instrument . I do believe that there will be music for eternity and hopefully in Heaven we will all have perfect pitch and harmonies.

I mess up some times and pray for God’s forgiveness and light to help me live my life revealing a little of his/ her love, joy and mercy.

Also, I also support interfaith work and conversations. I don’t believe that Christians have a monopoly on truth or love. It is just the religion of my heritage. I believe that it is important to show respect for different religious faiths and learn from each other.

I converted to a denomination that is welcoming to all, and allows ordination of gays and women, many years ago in order to support align with my values.

[Anonymous]

People are bad

The heart is dark

We are all selfish

Thinking we are good is a lie and the ultimate evil.

Once you understand and absorb that truth everything makes sense, events are predictable and grabbing on to Gods lifeline Domine Iesu Christe is a no-brainer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
People are bad

The heart is dark

We are all selfish

Thinking we are good is a lie and the ultimate evil.

Once you understand and absorb that truth everything makes sense, events are predictable and grabbing on to Gods lifeline Domine Iesu Christe is a no-brainer.

100% this.

[Anonymous]

Thinking about this right now as we are in advent and reading and watching things about the great joy and good news of Jesus's birth. Babies are being killed in the land where he was born and that is not an exaggeration. Thinking about the scale of suffering in Palestine that we're actively supplying weapons for, it feels very hypocritical to celebrate Christmas. I'm not sure how to bring this up in my church, which has stayed very quiet and general to avoid taking sides, but it's bugging me daily now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Title says is all: Christians how do you deal with the evil you see every day?

I've known evil christians

Ok- are you a Christian who has known evil Christians? Op asked for the opinion of Christians. If you want to post about a different topic (evil Christians) go right ahead.

I’ve known evil Christians, evil Muslims, evil Jewish people, evil atheists, evil people who had all kinds of beliefs.

There are lots of evil people of all beliefs and those who have no belief in the world. The atheists who were in charge of state run atheistic governments killed over 100 million of their own people within the 20th century.

There are lots of evil people.

I am a Christian who believes we are headed toward the destruction of humanity. I also believe organized religion is a big part of the problem. I also don’t read the Bible because it is used as a weapon of hate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Title says is all: Christians how do you deal with the evil you see every day?

I've known evil christians

Ok- are you a Christian who has known evil Christians? Op asked for the opinion of Christians. If you want to post about a different topic (evil Christians) go right ahead.

I’ve known evil Christians, evil Muslims, evil Jewish people, evil atheists, evil people who had all kinds of beliefs.

There are lots of evil people of all beliefs and those who have no belief in the world. The atheists who were in charge of state run atheistic governments killed over 100 million of their own people within the 20th century.

There are lots of evil people.

I am a Christian who believes we are headed toward the destruction of humanity. I also believe organized religion is a big part of the problem. I also don’t read the Bible because it is used as a weapon of hate.

The Bible has also been used as a source of love and good. I don’t let others define the Bible for me, it doesn’t belong to them. It belongs to the world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
People are bad

The heart is dark

We are all selfish

Thinking we are good is a lie and the ultimate evil.

Once you understand and absorb that truth everything makes sense, events are predictable and grabbing on to Gods lifeline Domine Iesu Christe is a no-brainer.

Many if not most, Christians agree that humans are bad/ selfish/ lost - but that we find forgiveness, wholeness and love by God’s Grace and Mercy.

Yes life is fragile, harsh and largely outside our control and faith definitely helps with dealing with all that comes with that (loss/ sickness/ suffering/ injustice) - but our faith and hope is in God’s love and light that transcends time, place and random circumstances.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Title says is all: Christians how do you deal with the evil you see every day?

I've known evil christians

Ok- are you a Christian who has known evil Christians? Op asked for the opinion of Christians. If you want to post about a different topic (evil Christians) go right ahead.

I’ve known evil Christians, evil Muslims, evil Jewish people, evil atheists, evil people who had all kinds of beliefs.

There are lots of evil people of all beliefs and those who have no belief in the world. The atheists who were in charge of state run atheistic governments killed over 100 million of their own people within the 20th century.

There are lots of evil people.

Just so you know, it’s antisemitic to say this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Title says is all: Christians how do you deal with the evil you see every day?

I've known evil christians

Ok- are you a Christian who has known evil Christians? Op asked for the opinion of Christians. If you want to post about a different topic (evil Christians) go right ahead.

I’ve known evil Christians, evil Muslims, evil Jewish people, evil atheists, evil people who had all kinds of beliefs.

There are lots of evil people of all beliefs and those who have no belief in the world. The atheists who were in charge of state run atheistic governments killed over 100 million of their own people within the 20th century.

There are lots of evil people.

I am a Christian who believes we are headed toward the destruction of humanity. I also believe organized religion is a big part of the problem. I also don’t read the Bible because it is used as a weapon of hate.

A Christian who does not read/ believe the Bible is an oxymoron.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Title says is all: Christians how do you deal with the evil you see every day?

I've known evil christians

Ok- are you a Christian who has known evil Christians? Op asked for the opinion of Christians. If you want to post about a different topic (evil Christians) go right ahead.

I’ve known evil Christians, evil Muslims, evil Jewish people, evil atheists, evil people who had all kinds of beliefs.

There are lots of evil people of all beliefs and those who have no belief in the world. The atheists who were in charge of state run atheistic governments killed over 100 million of their own people within the 20th century.

There are lots of evil people.

Just so you know, it’s antisemitic to say this.

No, it’s not. I am a Christian (DP). I abhor Hamas and want them annihilated as they are a true force of evil. I have great compassion for the Gazans and mourn loss of life that will result there. I support Israel, but fully recognize their faults and misdeeds in constructing this situation. Israel has much to attone for, but still must rise up now to squash the evil that is Hamas

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Title says is all: Christians how do you deal with the evil you see every day?

I've known evil christians

Ok- are you a Christian who has known evil Christians? Op asked for the opinion of Christians. If you want to post about a different topic (evil Christians) go right ahead.

I’ve known evil Christians, evil Muslims, evil Jewish people, evil atheists, evil people who had all kinds of beliefs.

There are lots of evil people of all beliefs and those who have no belief in the world. The atheists who were in charge of state run atheistic governments killed over 100 million of their own people within the 20th century.

There are lots of evil people.

I am a Christian who believes we are headed toward the destruction of humanity. I also believe organized religion is a big part of the problem. I also don’t read the Bible because it is used as a weapon of hate.

A Christian who does not read/ believe the Bible is an oxymoron.

People can do whatever they want, but the Bible is the actual word of God to Christians. I don’t understand what pp does do as Christian.

They seem more spiritual than religious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Title says is all: Christians how do you deal with the evil you see every day?

Where do you find evil every day? I see so much joy and happiness every day.

There is evil all around especially around here it's constant.

Where is "around here"? I don't see it around me every day. Where you are at? And can you identify what do you see every day?