Strange how things popup.

[Col1948]

@Leepeend, I agree, I too am like minded, I also agree that BYC is a nice friendly website, lots of good advice, more like a big family.

 

[oldrooster]

I don't know what your exact story is offcourse. But I noticed some people being quite harsh on 'misinterpreted stuff' on facebook. It's all written, not talk, emoji's help a little, but not 100%. I sometimes can't keep up what emoji's to use to nót come of sarcastically or negative in some way. I'm glad BYC is not affected yet by the distrusting-negative side of the internet. Or the activaly trolling. I see a lot of Christian posts on here, and people just don't start a negative rant about how stupid it is to believe in God :O I'm atheist but I see clearly how all over the internet a well-meant positive prayer thing is immediately ruined by some prick that needs to bash. So rare on the internet, that this does not happen here. I see people that eat their chicken, people that are against eating chicken, just getting NOT in a fight. Just respecting.
The rest of the internet is quite aggresive.

Here in the states, life can almost get as crazy as the internet. If we were to meet, Most atheists (not all obviously) would go crazy if I would say merry Christmas to them. Especially if I was working in a government job, or in a retail setting. I do not understand that, because unless you have the phrase I'm an atheist (or a different religious belief other than Christian or agnostic) then how am I supposed to know it may offend you, and even if you don't celebrate that holiday why does one take it as a hostile comment? to me if someone says happy or merry such and such then interpenetrate it to have a nice days since they are sending well wishes to you? unless your wearing some sort of head dress indicating a different religion or a tattoo it seems a little odd to me to take it as hostile.

 

[Loopeend]

Here in the states, life can almost get as crazy as the internet. If we were to meet, Most atheists (not all obviously) would go crazy if I would say merry Christmas to them. Especially if I was working in a government job, or in a retail setting. I do not understand that, because unless you have the phrase I'm an atheist (or a different religious belief other than Christian or agnostic) then how am I supposed to know it may offend you, and even if you don't celebrate that holiday why does one take it as a hostile comment? to me if someone says happy or merry such and such then interpenetrate it to have a nice days since they are sending well wishes to you? unless your wearing some sort of head dress indicating a different religion or a tattoo it seems a little odd to me to take it as hostile.

For real?
That's weird to me. We all say happy hollidays to each other, but the word for 'christmas" does not involve the word 'christ' but the pagan name. All together, it is no problem. I know when Islamic friends have Sugar fest after Ramadan, I know when Jewish friends have Pesach or Soekot.. We all wish each other well when ever we want to. I'm not offended by someone what wishes me goodluck, even when it involves something I don't believe in. I have people telling me they wish me a good 'their religion day' or pray for me when in trouble.. that's still really kind. They think about me and wish me well.

 

[Col1948]

To me it makes no difference what they are, there is good and bad in all types of people.
I have the philosophy, 'Start off nice and leave the next move to the other person' most people return nice the odd ones don't.

 

[Loopeend]

To me it makes no difference what they are, there is good and bad in all types of people.
I have the philosophy, 'Start off nice and leave the next move to the other person' most people return nice the odd ones don't.

I think I have the same philosophy. 'Treat other like how you want to be treated'. And the oddballs can't... I like everyone that is open to others, just not the ones that want to force their vieuw on others. For example; I allways cook for friends with their dietary restrictions in mind. For example, when someone is vegetarian I make sure that person can have a good meal. I make a second soup and dinner for them. When that person would complain that they only want to come over to eat when everyone else also eats vegetarian.... ok bye. That's not "Live and let live." That's just forcing your personal vieuw.

In the Netherlands we are not so Christian as in the U.S.A.
Sometimes people reply to me on here that they are going to pray for me, and God will be there for me. Unusual, since that does not happen here.
But it doesn't offend me. There is a big difference between;
'I'm going to pray for you, God wil let it all work out for you and cares for you '
and
"You need to start believing in God, you are chosing for missery in your life now because you won't let God enter'.

Sentence one is someone that cares for me and wants to help me in they way they feel that will help. They care and want to help. It's not relevant if I think it might not help because I don't believe in God; what is relevant is that it are kind caring people.
Sentence two is the opposite.

I just really not understand sometimes what the fuss is about. I pray with Christian friends at the dinner table, because it is important for them. I'm not talking though since I don't know the words. And well, the idea is still very comforting that there is some dude in the sky that takes care of me I wish I could believe in it. I don't lose anything to pray with them; the worst scenario is that God does excist, but being such a smart kind man like they describe him, he wil probably also see that I'm a kind person and let me enter in heaven anyway. The worst case scenario when I'm making all kinds of fuss about not praying with them or even be offended that they want me to pray with them; losing a lot of good friends.

 

[Col1948]

Talk about entering heaven, there was an arch-bishop went to heaven and was met by St Peter.
St Peter told him to wait a moment before he let him through the pearly gates as there was someone important on the way up.
The arch-bishop said that will be me. I'm an arch-bishop, St Peter said, Yes I know who you are but this is someone more important.
Just then this young lad on a motorcycle roared past and went through, the arch-bishop said it that who you were waiting for?
St Peter said, Yes that him.
The arch-bishop said how is he more important than me?
St Peter replied, Well he's only had that bike 6 months, and in those 6 months he's put the fear of God in more people than you have in 40 years, you can go through now.