I was reading the religion board today and have a question. Are the opinions over there typical of everyday Christians or is it more of the fringe?(for the lack of a better term.)
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Isn't that one of Robertson's quotes? I thought Charlie was talking about views being posted by members on the religion board.
But since you posted that view, let's tackle it: I don't know if it's been taken out of context. I would think it probably has, but let's go from the supposition that it isn't; that Robertson is basically suggesting that the Episcopalians, Methodists and Presbyterians are all essentially non-Christian. No, I don't think that's very mainstream. Certainly, they all hold some beliefs, as far as allowing gays into the ministry, etc. that conservative Christians - and, frankly, any Bible-believing Christian - cannot agree with. And I do know some Baptist people who would tell you that all Methodists and all Catholics are hell-bound. Such views are foolish and dangerous.
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As for views on the religion board as a whole, I spend very little time over there, so I really can't speak for what their views are. But I think that, essentially, the view from the non-Christian American today is that any Christian who speaks out about any immoral activity or an activity deemed sin by God's word is being "close-minded." I am not saying that is what Charlie is saying; I have no idea what Charlie believes. But when I see what's being said in the media and on the streets, that is sort of the view I am seeing in general.
And, indeed, what is now labeled "conservative Christian" viewpoints probably are slowly moving out of the mainstream of the Christian populus. A growing number of Christians today think that their God is a loving god who wouldn't dare condemn anyone to the place we're taught about in Biblical writings; that the teachings of the Bible no longer apply to today; and that, basically, "anything goes." You're seeing that reflected by certain denominations that allow homosexual ministers and church leaders. There are many other examples, of course, but that's the one that stands out most clearly in my mind. Christianity today - in general - is very "watered down." People read the Bible and choose to ignore it. Or, they simply interpret it differently. And, when you get right down to it, perhaps we've been interpreting the writings in the Bible wrong all these years and are just now getting them right. But I doubt it.
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RE: Mainstream Beliefs ???
Religious views and attitudes are individual. Im a Christian and my views are different from all others, as are they to others. Its like saying all athiest are bad people, or have no value system. To make such a statement about athiests is extreamly assinine, so to answer you question; no.
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kaafir mushrik
Unintended consequences and God have one thing in common: Liberals don’t believe in either of them.
On the top left corner, you'll see personal quizes like, "Belief-O-Matic" and something about "Your Spiritual Type" or something like that.
I scored a 68 on the Spiritual Type quiz, which said something about me being an "Old Fashioned Seeker"... something about I am happy with religion but have trouble expressing it. ...something like that.
The other quiz about Belief-O-Matic showed me to be 100% conservative protestant.
Anyway, the way I feel about this whole ordeal with Pat Robertson is, he never should have said what he said and then blatently tried to backpedal and deny it. Why does he, Jerry Falwell, Jim & Tammy Fay Bakker, and others have 8 figure incomes?!? What, are they somehow "better" than a regular neighborhood reverend in your own town?
Mainstream Beliefs ???
