Josephus,

I do mean what I say and I take full responsibility for
that. However none of us should be held responsible
if some people misinterpret and misunderstand what is said.
We can't be held responsible for the comprehension skills
of others.

I don't as a rule like making judgements or labelling
people. And religion to me is a personal matter. It's
internal not external. I have no wish to convert any
body or to force my beliefs onto any body else. I
respect the beliefs of other people as long as they
don't harm others.

My father was raised by the Jesuits - and I was brought
up in the Catholic faith. I'm probably not a very good
Catholic - I'm a work in progress. But I would find
it difficult not to have God in my life.

An example of the recent influence of fundies on society in the USA can be seen in Texas where they have sought to bypass Roe Vs Wade by implementing legal vigilantism within the population - enabling and encouraging individuals to sue anybody involved in abortions.

The religious anti-abortion stance only started in the 70s as a way to unify and politicise church members in order for the fundies make their move into direct government representation rather than work from the sidelines.

Religion generally and Christianity in particular tries to claim social progress and morality is due to its own work when in fact it's the other way around.

We didn't stop unbroken centuries of slavery and burning witches due to some sort of religious enlightenment but because people decided it was no longer desirable and religion fell into line, although there are many sects who resist. Morality doesn't magically come from "on high" but from the mood and circumstances of the population at any time and is constantly changing.

When it comes to committing atrocities or evil behaviour generally, religion is seldom used as the reason but usually as an excuse and that's where the danger of establishing a theocratic state (as the fundies want) lies.

rache, your views are certainly unfounded annd rash. Abortion is a human evil denying human responsibility to the unborn and the worship of sex as the god of humanity. Currently you can buy aborted human body parts in America from the Planned Parenthood. These practises are pactised by atheists not Christians. Christians care about their children.

Josephus,

You may think that Christians are exempt from evil
deeds. However, history tells us differently.

Look at the Inquisition, the Crusaders, and other
examples, who killed and murdered in the name of
Christianity. After all as humans we all have the
good and the bad within us. And we are or should
not be in any position to judge others. That
should be left to a higher authority.

Foxy, rache's claim "The religious anti-abortion stance ONLY STARTED in the 70s as a way to unify and politicise church members in order for the fundies make their move into direct government representation rather than work from the sidelines." is FALSE

Abortion became legal in the 1970's and the Church objected to it as it has done since it's beginnings [see Germanies sacrifice of children and the coin in the winter pudding] and Israel before that [read of sacrifice of children to Molech Lev 18 - 20]. The Church has always preached chastity before Marriage and loyalty and responsibility within marriage. America is yet to face its downfall as it has no conscience or morality.

http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2021/03/catholic-priest-goes-off-joe-biden-viral-rant-video/

http://www.lifenews.com/2020/10/19/catholic-priest-denounces-joe-biden-he-is-unabashedly-pro-abortion/

Dear GrahamY,

Yes that someone is me. Funny.

Given that my wider family contains Pentecostals of a few different stripes, and given the last big family gathering over 100 (pre covid) contained 2/3rds Pentecostals, I think I have a fair idea of the thinking of many of them.

If you to go up to a Hillsong version believer and ask if they consider Catholics to be proper Christians the answer is usually very guarded and if you really bore down you will often get them to admit that no, they do not consider Catholics as true Christians. This is despite the pronouncements of its leader Houston.

Former GOP front runner Michelle Bachmann was part of a church which held:

"Doctrinal Statement on the Antichrist": 
“Since Scripture teaches that the Antichrist would be revealed and gives the marks by which the Antichrist is to be recognized, and since this prophecy has been clearly fulfilled in the history and development of the Roman Papacy, it is Scripture which reveals that the Papacy is the Antichrist.”
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/07/michele-bachmanns-church-says-the-pope-is-the-antichrist/241909/

Trump supporter and State representative was quite forthcoming “"The Pope is the anti-Christ.”
http://www.politico.com/story/2016/02/pope-francis-anti-christ-219614

The problem is that someone like Trump, who incidentally oozes anti-Christ qualities, was being supported by these hardcore evangelistic Pentecostals in particular. So no they are not nice people.

And for the record, Pentecostals do not really believe in the inerrency of the Bible, only their version of it.

Finally on the face of it they are lovely people as I can attest having spent many a bible study meeting with them, but I know how dark their hearts can be and it is quite frightening.