Christian or bigot?

[billscouser]

My brother is a Christian and believes that atheists, jews, moslems, hindus and homosexuals are damned to hell. He also believes that homosexuality is a sin equal to murder. I understood that Christianity is about tolerance, forgiveness and loving others. I would be interested to hear from other Christians how his beliefs fit in.

[boxtops]

Billscousen, this is a very similar argument to that often lodged about the Muslims. If you substitute Muslim for Christian in your question above, exactly the same question can be asked. The principles of the religions (and others) are peaceful and tolerant, it's the misinterpretatons and actions of those who slavishly follow a faith (and interpret it to the extreme) which give the rest of the followers of that religion a bad name.

[MarkRae]

> He also believes that homosexuality is a sin equal to murder.

In which case, he's no Christian...

[boxtops]

LOL @ wyz, well put!

[sara3]

I'm not a Christian, so I can't comment :o/

I'll just toddle off to hell then!

[Cheekymonkey]

Ok so some muslims want all "Disbelievers" in their faith dead and they're going to heaven
Some Christians think we're all damned to hell and they're going to heaven.
Atheists think we should tip all religions and their followers down the toilet and when we die we're wormfood.
Anyone know what the Jews think because someone here is very wrong and someone may be right.
It's a toughie.

[saxy_jag]

Well, there are Christians, then there are christians. Boxtops' Muslim comparison is the same. Different Christians/Muslims interpret the teachings of their different faiths in different ways.

[jno]

Christian or bigot? It's not an either/or issue. You can be a bigot but not a Christian, you can be a Christian and not a bigot, you can be both, you can be neither. Your brother's beliefs are shared by some Christians but not others (in fact, only a small minority, I suspect). On the other hand, Stalin, who was firmly atheist, also outlawed homosexual behaviour.

[jno]

not so, wyzard, it's in the USA they're ordaining women and gays as bishops, while here the Archbishop of Canterbury dithers and fudges and hopes the whole thing will go away. Some are sane and progressive, some are neanderthal, same as in the population at large; there's no direct correlation with religious belief.

[Crackheadfred]

Has religion always been full of hatred and violence since the beginning or has it been getting worse with time?

[boxtops]

It's more high-profile now, fred, that's why we hear so much more about it. Mass media has a lot to do with it.

[jomifl]

Sounds like Bill's brother has taken a shortcut to hell without dying, thats what religion can do for you. Must be some kind of miracle.

[Crackheadfred]

Indeed boxtops. Im not a great follower of history but I think I can recall countries being invaded and then pillaged and people murdered and different religions forced on them and then an uprising and then it happens all over again with a different group.
It sounds that religion=power in those days?