Buddy Christ

It's a joke, son. ;-)

Since it's primarily indicated by tone of voice (and subtle body language), sarcasm can be easy to miss in print, particularly when you've seen a lot of people say such things in all seriousness. In 15 years on Usenet, I ran into more than my share of Christians who would try to twist any reference to Christian beliefs by an atheist into "proof" that we're really just believers who are "angry at God" for some reason. It gets tiresome after the 10,000th time you hear it. :-)

It may be a joke, but I think you're right.

I'm a Christian, but the sad part is that most "Christians" make the rest of us look bad.

I don't really think it's most. It's just that the ones who are arseholes make more noise and get more attention than the ones who aren't.

And personally, I HATE it when people waste time yelling threats about hell when they can be gingerly informing. It just proves the only reason they're Christian is just to evade hell themselves.

They never seem to get that they're threatening us with something we don't believe in - and who's afraid of what he doesn't believe in?

I just hate it how some Christians' only means of evangelism consist of "You're going to hell. Non-Christians go to hell. {Insert joke about hell or burning here}." It reinforces all these stereotypes that Christians are or God limits everything with restrictions on this and that. Just because some don't know what they're talking about doesn't mean we all are idiots.

those types believe they are trying to scare the jesus into you. it was a common practice back in the day of dust bowls through the days of apollo missions

Hell is for sinners in general, and that's all it's ever said to be:

Revelation 21:8
New King James Version (NKJV)
8 But the cowardly, unbelieving,[a] abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

You're not thrown in Hell just because you don't believe in Jesus, you go to Hell because you're a sinner - a rebel against God's law. And the only way that your sins are covered is to trust in Jesus alone for salvation. See http://needgod.com

Meaning, most people who claim to be Christians really aren't. That "Christian" who acts and has always acted just like all your friends who aren't religious (sleeps around, lies, whatever)? He's really not one. Christians won't be perfect, but they will genuinely try, and largely succeed, in following the Bible, because they love the One Who saved them from their sins (which is what sends you to Hell).

This has been your Good Theology Moment. If you'd like me to expand on any of the above, just ask.

Sin is your thing, not mine. The concept is meaningless outside the context of your religious beliefs - which, it should be obvious, I don't share.

Do you think that right and wrong exists?

It's true that the concept of sin is meaningless outside the context of religious belief, but it's also true that the context of Christian religious belief extends to all of reality (in other words, your comment doesn't evade your accountability before the Christian God for your sin).

Christ's message was not just for people who want to be religious, but for the whole world.

I assume you have something a bit more concrete than your personal beliefs to back up that statement. (not really)

I say this in the most respectful way, but I have to disagree, just because you don't believe doesn't mean it isn't true. It's like believing you don't have a nose (unless you're some sort of nose-donor, got into an unfortunate accident, or just weren't born with one). Just because you say it isn't there, no matter how hard you believe this, you still have a nose, whether you've seen it or felt it's influence or not. Since you're not a Christian, you sin by nature; you're a human, it's okay. But not taking responsibility and not dealing with it is all your choice.

And just because you believe it doesn't mean it is true.

Yes, I suppose that's true, just because I say God is real doesn't prove His existence. But I've personally felt his impact on things, He's directly assisted me through struggles, and helped me understand many things. It's funny, but the only way to prove someone God exists is by having them prove it themselves.

Merry Christmas my friend

Well played. But really .....

AMEN

Amen, hallelujah and Communion grape soda.