h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I think it's a VERY good idea, Ian. I'm here, and hopefully soon we'll get a few more.

Yeah, I'm game. Count me in, I guess.

I'm thinking that maybe I'll finally learn the answers to such questions as...

Why do Christians immediately think that if I don't follow their particular brand of Christianity, I need 'saving'?

Why do they think that if I can't recite popular verses off-by-heart, I haven't read any of the Bible at all?

That anyone who isn't part of their congregation is a) an heathen, b) is in dire need of 'Christian counselling' and c) couldn't possibly have a sound grip on Christianity?

Why don't Christians understand that, until one can forgive oneself, one is unlikely to be able to truly believe that one is worthy of Christs' sacrifice (and forgiveness)?

Why can't they see that God/Jesus used as a crutch is unhealthy and self-defeating?



I guess I just don't understand Christians very well.

Hi
I'll have a go at answering you! Or I'll try anyway!
It sounds like you've come across some rather forceful Christians. I guess we can seem like that sometimes.
Theoretically, each 'brand' or 'denomination' are all following the same God, and I think it's appalling when they can't get on with each other. The trouble is, I think we're all human, and we're argumentative by nature!
I can't recite any verses off by heart (well...actually a few) and this is certainly no requirement! I hope you come across some more understanding Christians.
About the forgiveness thing...I can only speak for myself, but I've done some things which I don't think I can ever forgive myself for. By doing those things, I've hurt myself, other people and God's feelings. Nobody is really worthy of what Jesus has done for us - we have done so little for him, and he has done so much for us. That sounds like really bad news, but this is the good news: Despite our sins, and our constant sinning, God loves us so much that he is willing to wipe the slate clean. Christ's sacrifice was to, literally, pay for our forgiveness; we deserve what he went through, but he went through it for us. This is the basis of Christianity - totally unconditional love. It doesn't matter _what_ you have done, God still loves you. All we need to do is to accept his love.
I'm not entirely sure what you mean by using God as a crutch... perhaps you could explain
Hope that helps, I'm not brilliant at explaining things! I shouldn't worry about what other people think, the most important part of your faith is the personal friendship with God. There shouldn't be any pressure from anyone else! I think some Christians can be paranoid about other people sometimes because they're concerned about you.
Or perhaps we're just wierd...

Hullo... I have a sneaking suspicion that I know you, Peregrin...

Him... maybe you can throw some light... From what country is your origin?

I'm in Southampton, England...
By the way, SE, did you apply to become a subeditor? What kind of response did you get?

Response? Does the lack of one count? Indeed... it has been six weeks, and there is no hope of more sub-eds joining until next month, and then only ten of them will be added (I hope to be among them, since there were only two other people before me, but one never knows ).... the only way to get into anything around here is to pretend that you were assigned a certain position, and testify... oohh.... forgot which forum I was in

Hello, Peregrin,

I have to admit, I do seem to have been attracting some pushy Christians lately...

As for forgiveness, I too have done many wicked things for which I thought I could never forgive myself. For a very long time I 'hoped' rather than believed that Jesus could forgive me for being such a weak human. After all... his Love is supposed to give me strength! The things I had done made me feel that I was worthless, and as such I couldn't quite believe, either, that I was worthy of being saved.

With all this disbelief going on, well, deep down inside I suppose I didn't truly believe I was a believer. And to a Christian - one might just as well be unforgiven. The end result is the same.

I went a long way before I realised how very special I was, just to be Gods own unique creation, no more and no less than any other of His creations; that the sacrifice of Jesus may have been needed so He could fully appreciate the fragility of the human state and be so forgiving; that the Bible itself tells me to be gentle when judging, for that is how I judge myself...

Only then, I guess, could I forgive myself. And only *then* could I really and truly believe that Jesus could forgive me too.

Maybe that is the difference between believing in something and having faith in it?

As for using God as a crutch...

I've often heard people say that they can turn their 'troubles' over to Him, where-upon the 'troubles' all magically disappear...

12-steps programs rely on the step-ees handing their 'problem' over to a higher power...

In a documentary I saw recently, a program run by the Salvation Army for recovering heroin addicts starts out by explaining that Jesus loves the addict and therefore they are welcome to dump the addiction onto Him...

While I agree that it is comforting to have the security of God through lifes tribulations, it isn't healthy to dump the baggage onto God and expect it to all go away. The individual is much healthier, spiritually speaking, for dealing with the baggage (with the enduring comfort of a loving God while doing so).

I could elaborate further, but I feel I may have rambled enough for one post...

I'm not so sure about weird...

but there's *something* there I just can't quite put my finger on...

ooh... I hope its not a fungus

I've got nothing to do for about ten months now, so I'm vaguely thinking of asking to be a subeditor.

Just wanted to formally register the entity that I represent (me, I think) as a Christian on H2G2. So hello everybody.

Oh... geez... I suppose I should inform you all that I'm not Christian

Don't worry, we won't burn you... this time.

Hmmm, fungus... 'spongy, unhealthy growth'.

I agree there are many who might fit the description...

On deeper reflection I think it might be something to do with the mechanics of 'faith'.

Hello I'm a Christian too - and I'm proud, PROUD *PROUD*!!!!!

Cool! I looked at your user page and see you're from Cheltenham. I lived there for a couple of years, a couple of years ago. I'll probably find I know you or something!
Do you go to a church in Cheltenham? Which one?

Ah. I don't go to church as much as I should... hardly ever in fact. This is not a good thing. IMy new year's resolution is going to be to go to church regularly. And I will!

I don't think I know you since we all moved to Thailand for a coupla years a coupla years ago and got back .. a coupla years ago!! This is confusing. Um we were over there 94 - 96 .. I think.... I can't remember ... I'm so stupid!!

I would recommend a church to you in Cheltenham, but I've forgotten what it's called. Don't worry, my memory's at least as bad as yours!

There's one nearby that I used to go to before we went to Thailand... I forgot what it's called.. It's black and white, hexagonal, and has a bicycle path outside.. St. Thomas Moore?

I don't recognise it offhand... I went to a big church near the town centre, opposite a car park, mainly because it had quite a bit on for teenagers.
Thailand sounds fun... I've always wanted to go there, and have quite a few friends who have been there and the countries around there. I nearly went to Vietnam last year but it was called off.

Vietnam was cancelled? Give the poor country my regards...