Christians. I have a situational question.

[Linii]

So let's imagine that you live in a small rural community. It's the sort of place where all the neighbors know each other and rely on one another a good bit. Everyone is religious aside from this new couple who moved in down the street. They fit in really well with everyone and participate in social events... Aside from the religious ones. They haven't said that they do not believe in god though.

Do you assume they are non religious?

Are you ok with them being non religious?

Would you still accept them if you knew they had greatly differing opinions about subjects such as abortion, circumcision, gays and transgendered people?

If you didn't accept them would you try to turn other people against them?

EDIT: Would you feel awkward or offended if they didn't participate in saying grace?

Would you be offended if they said "oh my god!" or " what the hell!" ?

If they had a gay or transgendered friend come visit (and you didn't agree with that lifestyle) would you keep your opinions to yourself? Would you be ok with them bringing their friend over to your house? Even with your kids around?

[rmcdra]

Linii

Do you assume they are non religious?

No

Quote:

Are you ok with them being non religious?

Yeah why not.

Quote:

Would you still accept them if you knew they had greatly differing opinions about subjects such as abortion, circumcision, gays and transgendered people?

I'm pro-choice, could care less about circumcision, and I support GLBTI rights, so it depends.

Quote:

If you didn't accept them would you try to turn other people against them?

I've got my own life and stuff to deal with so no. Edit: Also that would not be "loving to my neighbor".

Edit: For the record, I am a Christian.

[jaden kendam]

Linii

So let's imagine that you live in a small rural community. It's the sort of place where all the neighbors know each other and rely on one another a good bit. Everyone is religious aside from this new couple who moved in down the street. They fit in really well with everyone and participate in social events... Aside from the religious ones. They haven't said that they do not believe in god though.

Do you assume they are non religious?

Are you ok with them being non religious?

Would you still accept them if you knew they had greatly differing opinions about subjects such as abortion, circumcision, gays and transgendered people?

If you didn't accept them would you try to turn other people against them?

Why is this just directed at Christians as non-Christians just be just as biased as anyone else?

[Linii]

jaden kendam

Linii

So let's imagine that you live in a small rural community. It's the sort of place where all the neighbors know each other and rely on one another a good bit. Everyone is religious aside from this new couple who moved in down the street. They fit in really well with everyone and participate in social events... Aside from the religious ones. They haven't said that they do not believe in god though.

Do you assume they are non religious?

Are you ok with them being non religious?

Would you still accept them if you knew they had greatly differing opinions about subjects such as abortion, circumcision, gays and transgendered people?

If you didn't accept them would you try to turn other people against them?

Why is this just directed at Christians as non-Christians just be just as biased as anyone else?

Because this is the situation I'm in and it involves Christians. Bigoted ones.

[Nityananda-rama dasa]

I think that agape answers most of the questions

[jaden kendam]

Linii

jaden kendam

Linii

So let's imagine that you live in a small rural community. It's the sort of place where all the neighbors know each other and rely on one another a good bit. Everyone is religious aside from this new couple who moved in down the street. They fit in really well with everyone and participate in social events... Aside from the religious ones. They haven't said that they do not believe in god though.

Do you assume they are non religious?

Are you ok with them being non religious?

Would you still accept them if you knew they had greatly differing opinions about subjects such as abortion, circumcision, gays and transgendered people?

If you didn't accept them would you try to turn other people against them?

Why is this just directed at Christians as non-Christians just be just as biased as anyone else?

Because this is the situation I'm in and it involves Christians. Bigoted ones.

I had a feeling it was personal, but with my interactions, I think many people just seem to assume someone is a non-practicing Christian if they do not go to church or anything. There are some who assume anyone who doesn't preach hell fire and brimstone or talk about other peoples sins or go to church are non-religious or anti-Christian, but like you said, just bigots.

[x_Silver_Starlight_x]

Do you assume they are non religious?
No, because I don't partake in a lot of religious events myself.

Are you ok with them being non religious?
If they are, sure. They're not forcing they're belief down my throat, I say try to be friends.

Would you still accept them if you knew they had greatly differing opinions about subjects such as abortion, circumcision, gays and transgendered people?
Don't care about circumcision, but if they were homophobic, and feel like they have the right to control what I do to my body (even though I'd never have an abortion) I'd have a major problem with them, yeah.

If you didn't accept them would you try to turn other people against them?
I would inform them, or I would ignore them. I might warn friends about their hateful behaviour if they get out of hand though.

[King INRI]

Being religious doesn't matter. Unless you plan on using your religion to justify blowing up a plane, and killing thousands.

[Blood Valkyrie]

I just wouldn't give a s**t.

[VK Fox]

I don't assume they're not religious unless they give me a reason to think so. I'd be curious, but I'd wait until you made an issue of it first.

I wouldn't choose that they be nonreligious. I wouldn't even choose that they be a part of the "churches" out there, but this isn't a what is and what isn't Christian thread.

I have a lot of coworkers who aren't religious. In fact, I'm one of maybe two or three in the office who claim to be a Christian outside of private discussions where other coworkers can't hear us. I still hang out with them. I show them how my life is in hopes that it'll attract them to what makes me happy, holds my family together, and fulfills us.That's usually as far as it goes, until someone asks a question. Then the gloves are off.

I'd love them, though I wouldn't ask them to teach Sunday School.

The last one is fairly unchristian, though to our shame common in churches.

[Mads Hatter]

Do you assume they are non religious?

Not really.

Are you ok with them being non religious?
But of course!

Would you still accept them if you knew they had greatly differing opinions about subjects such as abortion, circumcision, gays and transgendered people?
But of course!

If you didn't accept them would you try to turn other people against them?
No. That's just weird.

The situation sounds a lot like a play. I can't remember the title for the life of me, though...Basically a couple moves to a small, heavily Southern Baptist town. It's supposed to be really funny.

Edit questions, cause I feel like answering:
Would you feel awkward or offended if they didn't participate in saying grace?

If they were doing something disrespectful, like texted during a 30 second prayer, then I probably would be offended. Not participating in general, I wouldn't be bothered.

Would you be offended if they said "oh my god!" or " what the hell!" ?
Haha, no. I do it all the time!

If they had a gay or transgendered friend come visit (and you didn't agree with that lifestyle) would you keep your opinions to yourself? Would you be ok with them bringing their friend over to your house? Even with your kids around?
This is a tricky one, mostly because I don't disagree with those lifestyles and I don't have kids. Hmm...I think I would keep my opinion to myself, unless asked about it, but I don't know of anybody who asks, "What do you think about me being gay?", you know? As for the kids...I don't know. Really can't answer that one.

You ask really good questions. ^^

[Linii]

VK Fox

I don't assume they're not religious unless they give me a reason to think so. I'd be curious, but I'd wait until you made an issue of it first.

I wouldn't choose that they be nonreligious. I wouldn't even choose that they be a part of the "churches" out there, but this isn't a what is and what isn't Christian thread.

I have a lot of coworkers who aren't religious. In fact, I'm one of maybe two or three in the office who claim to be a Christian outside of private discussions where other coworkers can't hear us. I still hang out with them. I show them how my life is in hopes that it'll attract them to what makes me happy, holds my family together, and fulfills us.That's usually as far as it goes, until someone asks a question. Then the gloves are off.

I'd love them, though I wouldn't ask them to teach Sunday School.

The last one is fairly unchristian, though to our shame common in churches.

What sort of questions would "remove the gloves" so to speak?

[rmcdra]

Linii

Would you feel awkward or offended if they didn't participate in saying grace?

Yeah kinda but I'm prepared to offer a toast instead if someone didn't feel comfortable saying grace.

Quote:

Would you be offended if they said "oh my god!" or " what the hell!" ?

No. I say those quite frequently.

Quote:

If they had a gay or transgendered friend come visit (and you didn't agree with that lifestyle) would you keep your opinions to yourself? Would you be ok with them bringing their friend over to your house? Even with your kids around?

Not applicable. I have no problem with the GLBTI community.

I take it you've never looked at the Christian Left or Progressive Christianity.

[Lukyo]

Linii

So let's imagine that you live in a small rural community. It's the sort of place where all the neighbors know each other and rely on one another a good bit. Everyone is religious aside from this new couple who moved in down the street. They fit in really well with everyone and participate in social events... Aside from the religious ones. They haven't said that they do not believe in god though.

Do you assume they are non religious?

Are you ok with them being non religious?

Would you still accept them if you knew they had greatly differing opinions about subjects such as abortion, circumcision, gays and transgendered people?

If you didn't accept them would you try to turn other people against them?

EDIT: Would you feel awkward or offended if they didn't participate in saying grace?

Would you be offended if they said "oh my god!" or " what the hell!" ?

If they had a gay or transgendered friend come visit (and you didn't agree with that lifestyle) would you keep your opinions to yourself? Would you be ok with them bringing their friend over to your house? Even with your kids around?

If it turns out that they were not religious I would be wondering why the couple would want to move into a religious community in the first place. If it was a matter of work I could understand. If the rest of my religious neighbors lack a certain level of sophistication I would kinda feel bad because I know the new neighbors would be getting a lot of flack from them.

[The New Wineskin]

I am not a Christian, but all of these questions seem to apply to me, so I will answer them.

Linii

Do you assume they are non religious?

I see no reason to assume anything about them. Perhaps they are religious people who are either incredibly liberal, worship in seclusion (taking a somewhat over-the-top interpretation of Matthew 6: 5-8, perhaps?), or are of a different religion. They may not participate in a lot religious festivities.

Linii

Are you ok with them being non religious?

Yes.

Linii

Would you still accept them if you knew they had greatly differing opinions about subjects such as abortion, circumcision, gays and transgendered people?

Abortion is sinful, but only to those who participate in it. I have no opinion about others participating in the action so long as it is not being forced on them when and if they do not want to participate in it. I have no opinion on circumcision. I support homosexual and transgender rights. In short: yes.

Linii

If you didn't accept them would you try to turn other people against them?

No. Answering as a Christian, Jesus taught in John 8:7, "... 'He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.'" Turning against other people simply because they disagree with you would be contradicting the teachings of ha'Machiash. As a Sikh, persecution and the advocating of persecution goes against the very reason we wear kirpans: to remind us that we are to protect those who are persecuted.

Linii

EDIT: Would you feel awkward or offended if they didn't participate in saying grace?

No.

Linii

Would you be offended if they said "oh my god!" or " what the hell!" ?

No.

Linii

If they had a gay or transgendered friend come visit (and you didn't agree with that lifestyle) would you keep your opinions to yourself? Would you be ok with them bringing their friend over to your house? Even with your kids around?

If I did not approve of being transgender (and let me stress that I most certainly accept them and wish for them to have the same rights as every one else, and treat them as my equal as I am commanded to by Waheguru through Guru Nanak) I would likely keep my opinions to myself. I have always seen confronting someone about a lifestyle they follow, even if some that I disapprove of, is just rude and not appropriate; it is not my life. I would allow his or her friends over to my house. Why not? If I had children, I would see no issue with them seeing transgendered individuals: after all, sexuality is genetic, is it not? Observation of differing sexuality and identity differences will not make you sexually or identically different from what you were genetically programmed to be.