For the most part, I have no problems with Christians or Christianity in general. Most of my friends are Christians, and there’s some interesting things in the Bible that seem like good ideas (charity for the poor, aid for the sick, compassion to one’s fellow man, paying your taxes… you know, everything that Republicans hate). The people that I have a problem with bear no resemblance whatsoever to Christ. They’re self-righteous, convinced of their own importance, and completely blind to the message of love and unity that Jesus was preaching.
Invariably, these people will assert that they are correct in their beliefs, whereas my ideas are completely and undeniably wrong. To make matters worse, they will simply assume what those ideas are, believing that if I am not in complete agreement with them, then I must obviously be an evil atheist bent on sodomizing the souls of everyone on the planet in this country, who are all obviously Christians until they disagree with them.
Now, arguing against someone who is preaching an irrational and contradictory mythology as absolute, inerrant truth is tricky if your best argument involves raising yet another irrational and contradictory mythology and preaching it as absolute, inerrant truth. Not only is this kind of shooting yourself in the foot, but it’s really difficult. Logic dictates that arguing from the atheist position is the easiest way to go, even if one is not an atheist. What I have found with this line of attack is that they will unfailingly assert that not only is there a god (with mountains of “evidence” to back it up), but that even though their “evidence” only supports a generic god, their particular god is, in fact, the one true god. They will even go as far as to denounce all other gods as irrational and contradictory mythology.
So, for any of you out there who fit this bill, I have a simple question: What makes you so sure that out of all the various mythologies out there, what makes yours so special?
Còmhradh 
So, um, when sodomizing souls, what sort of protection does one where?
(Hey, I’m an atheist, I don’t have to answer the question.)
Protection? Pfah! This is *sodomy* we’re talking about here, not dinner and a movie! =P
One thing I never tire of pointing out is that, according to the book of Judges, sodomy is gang rape. Homosexual sex is forbidden in Leviticus, which also spells out dietary laws and the proper way to rid a house of mold, and also in the epistles of Paul, where he condemns it as one of a long list of the immoral practices of polytheists.
The un-Christlike people you describe are the major problem I have with Christianity as well. However, when you point out to any Christian that such people exist, they tend to agree vehemently. They’ll say things like, “but those are flawed human beings, and you shouldn’t reject God simply because some of his followers are imperfect.”
What’s most frustrating is that controlling jerks who use the name of God in the service of their own selfish whims tend to be taken at face value. Tolerated, condoned, even held up as examples of good Christian faith and blatantly encouraged. Even in congregations who collectively claim that the Holy Spirit gives them supernatural discernment of matters both spiritual and mundane. If the popular Christian definition of God is true, and if he is in fact such a large part of believers’ lives, why do they show such apathy or inability when it comes to rooting out the wolves in sheep’s clothing in their midst?
Sorry you had to meet some folks who werent good representatives of their belief system Comhradh. In any body of people, whether it be the 4-H Club, The Shriners or Christianity as a whole, you’re going to have some people who are just “irritating”. It’s human nature, plain and simple. If you think they are bad now, maybe they’re a marked improvement over before they became Christians. Who knows?
why do they show such apathy or inability when it comes to rooting out the wolves in sheep’s clothing in their midst?
It’s a legitimate question Fiat. I don’t know if you are referring to clergy or congregants in this instance so let’s examine both.
Insofar as clergy are concerned, it’s my belief that a minister might be successful for a season, pulling the wool over everybody’s eyes, but I doubt long-term success will be theirs if they truly are a leading a bad life. I am of the belief that God will give them numerous chances to change their ways and ultimately, if they don’t, their sin will find them out. Ted Haggard comes to mind.
For lay people, if someone comes to repentence and changes their ways, it wouldnt be so public (as compared to a minister) and fewer people would know about it. If you want to provide a more specific instance of “wolves in sheep’s clothing” amongst parishioners, just post it and maybe we could discuss it.