Hostility Towards Guild Specificity?

Dreamsmith

Dreamsmith

Elite Guru

Join Date: Feb 2005

Minnesota

Beguine Guild [BGN]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Talesin Darkbriar
Oh bother...here we go on the crazy train....
Well, as is so fondly quoted on the EQ2 forums:

"In before the lock."
Actually, all things considered, this thread has been remarkably civilized. More likely it'll just get moved to Off-Topic...

Cap'n Hoek

Cap'n Hoek

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2005

Sunny California

Ancient Avatars

Re-rail it.

I really don't see what the big deal is. They want a guild of like-minded individuals to play with. How is it any different from any other guild who wants like-minded individuals as members? How does it affect anyone who doesn't want to be a part of it?

Lunarbunny

Lunarbunny

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Apr 2005

Seattle, WA, USA [PST | GMT -8]

Ready and Willing [RAWR]

I have to say I'm quite Atheist, but that's my personal choice. I wouldn't mind the recruitment myself, as long as it's not the stuff you get on your local Christian channel ("Send us money or God will smite thee" kind of crap).
I was thinking that you should be ready to take some serious crap if you lose a Guild vs. Guild battle. I've been in a random-team arena and just for losing we got "the n*ggers got hung" from some asshole on the other team. Add religion to the losing team, and an insult from the winning team is going to be a lot worse (not to say that all winning teams insult, just that the ones that do will think of some really bad things to say to you).
Good luck on beating down the 13-year-olds who can't find anything better to do than swear at a person every chance they get.

Siran Dunmorgan

Core Guru

Join Date: Dec 2004

Carmel, CA

Amazing.

This thread has gone on for nine pages, and no one has used the words "Dwayna", "Melandru", "Balthazar" or "Grenth".

How do Christian—or Judaic, or Islamic—Guilds justify their petitions for favor to the gods of Tyria, in view of the strictures against venerating gods other than the God of Abraham?

Is it possible to play Guild Wars completely though without supplicating at least one pagan deity?

Edit: Yes. But you have to include at least one non-(Jew|Christian|Muslim) in the party, so that that person can be the one to petition the gods for enty into the Underworld or Fissure of Woe.

—Siran Dunmorgan

Synthos

Synthos

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Mar 2005

Quote:
Originally Posted by Synthos
Hehe.. i wonder if people are upset because you have to kneel to the Guild Wars false gods, like Balthazar and Dwana.
Yeah i did see

Talesin Darkbriar

Talesin Darkbriar

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jun 2005

California - irrigated desert...

The Myrmidon

E/N

People espousing true christian belief have no place in a game where murder and carnage is the norm.
It's entertainment, its pretend, but when you begin introducing real practices into it, it ceases to be a game. Is your belief in christianity a charade?
I should think not.
If you seek to profess your belief, go to Old AScalon, Surmia and Rin, admonishing all to cease their violent ways, turn the other cheek, and love the Charr as you would your brother...
Hardly a method of roleplay that would attract or sustain a body of followers.

Again, real life religion is seriously out of place in an otherwise imaginary world.
Perhaps we should discuss the real world implications of King Adelbern's (An obvious republican) vendetta against the Krytans (obviously the EU) to his hotheaded and passionate son? (an obvious democrat)
Nay says I - that way leads to insanity.

It's a game.
Can all reasonable and sane people agree to maintain it as such?

Talesin

Ardus Shadowmane

Ardus Shadowmane

Academy Page

Join Date: May 2005

Guild of the Burning Tree

R/W

Thank you to everyone on this page who has managed to drag this thread (at least temporarily) back on topic. I can't believe this isn't in the off-topic/absurd thread yet!

As to an on-topic post...it's simple. If a guild wants to advertise to Christian players, then great! Good for you. Theme guilds are always fun. If you're a bunch of ascended players wanting to make an ascended guild, also good! If you want to be an all-ranger, all-warrior, or all monk guild (declaring yourselves the Red Cross guild), also good. There is no difference between any of these, pure and simple. Those of you crying discrimination about the OP forming a guild of Christians had better be doing the same thing about every type of theme guild. If not, you're the ones discriminating.

That being said, congrats on lasting as long as you have and still being in the community forum! LOL. Only a couple hours of work left before I can head home. Yay!

Lunarbunny

Lunarbunny

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Apr 2005

Seattle, WA, USA [PST | GMT -8]

Ready and Willing [RAWR]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Talesin Darkbriar
...when you begin introducing real practices into it, it ceases to be a game...
I didn't see him mentioning that he'd be introducing "real practices;" I see that he just wants to form a guild of like minded people.
And why do you give a sh*t anyway? If they do it, they do it. They're not bothering anybody, it doesn't appear that he or his friends are preaching, and I'm sure they'd do anything special at their guild hall. If you take a look, the only thing he was really originally mentioning was that people were being assholes to him because he wanted to recruit for a guild of Christians.
Neither you nor your peers can tell him what he can and can't do. It's up to ArenaNet to decide. _They_ are the law in this game.

Nicro Mancer

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: May 2005

London

BOA

N/Me

I know it was a long time ago, but that Godwin's Law link is just so amazingly true.

Beqxter

Beqxter

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Apr 2005

Berkeley, CA

Wow, I've been hard pressed to catch up to the end of this thread, it's on fire!

My 2 cents, and they've been said before: the guy was NOT proselytizing! He was NOT preaching! That would be expounding his beliefs in the All channel and attempting to persuade you to follow them. If he WAS doing that, I would agree that it is inappropriate. All he was doing was looking for other people who already shared his belief system for some harmless fun. I don't see anything wrong with that.

And I'm Buddhist. See pages 1-8 for the best explanation I can find why...

ManadartheHealer

ManadartheHealer

Desert Nomad

Join Date: May 2005

Awaiting GW2

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by deolmstead
And I'm Buddhist.
That's excellent...I tried Buddhism for awhile, and it was pretty good. But for some reason I cannot explain, it wasn't quite what I was looking for. It sits on the edge of philosophy and religion, but I needed something more to the "philosophy" side

Mountain Man

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2005

N/E

Quote:
Originally Posted by Synthos
If he did hed probably be a monk

Could you imagine playing PVP against Jesus
Hed probably win
An athlete once said, "If Jesus was a football player, he'd play fair, he'd play clean, and he'd put the guy across the line on his butt."

Lief

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: May 2005

UK

Faction Issues

R/Me

Ahh...the good ole religion thread >_<

DrSLUGFly

DrSLUGFly

Desert Nomad

Join Date: May 2005

European Server or International

yup, nothing seems to stir up hate and anger like a discussion about god. I didn't read all 9 pages, too many... and GraceAlone prolly isn't still following this. But if he/she is, I'd like to add a few comments on why he/she gets attacked in game.

1-we (humans) are inherently very insecure and inherently like to have power over others.
2-we (gamers) are inherently introspective and when insecure, the insecurities run deeper
3-no religion is as intrusive and interfering as Christianity is. By its very nature Christianity is an offensive religion.
4-you are trying to share your faith, that is your right and I hope you have the opportunity. I believe in things far differently than you but I certainly enjoy the opportunity to share ideas with like minded people. It's important in any community. However, take a look at your guild recruitment calls, my experience with christianity (plenty) makes me feel like you're probably trying to spread the word via allchat disguised as a guild recruit call.
5-nullifying number 4, and in combination with 1,2 and 3, I've seen quite a few good people online, but I've seen more idiots (thankfully, most of them not in Guildwars). In all likelihood, if you were even to say "recruiting for all christian guild, whisper me" you would get loads of grief from people who can't stand being weak in real life and need to be strong and a bully online.

I'm an atheist and I both despise and love christianity (I despise it as an active movement, I love it as a mythology and cultural cornerstone). However I have nothing against believers of any faith. Good luck with your recruitments and as was said, you'll probably have to suffer for a while. If you invite 4 friends then you have a 5 man christian guild. If each of them can hook up only 2 other christian friends you'll then have a 10 man christian guild. Spread it out among the districts and in real life and you'll soon find enough people are in your guild that you don't even need to bother with all chat except for when trading (since traders never know how to use the trade channel )

Weezer_Blue

Weezer_Blue

Elite Guru

Join Date: Feb 2005

Just a Box in a Cage

Hurry Up The Cakes [Oven]

I personally don't care. I'm an atheist, and I hate it when people try to convert me as I walk down the street. I'm not going to ba a hypocrite and turn around and assault christians for making a christian guild. Just as long as you're not like that guy who wanted pentagrams removed from the game because he didn't understand their history very well and thought it was offensive, who cares.

Taphoo

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Apr 2005

Eastern Oregon

Decus Preasidium

Mo/R

LOL.
I can tell the OP why I would give him grief. You are inserting a Reality Check into a *game*. I don't have to deal with "Dwayna" worshippers in Real Life - I do have to deal with "Christians".
Here is a story of a typical "Christian" in my country (USA):

A pleasant man was being tailgated by a stressed out woman on a busy
boulevard. Suddenly, the light turned yellow, just in front of him. He did the
right thing, stopping at the crosswalk, even though he could have beaten the red
light by accelerating through the intersection. The tailgating woman hit the
roof, and the horn, screaming in frustration as she missed her chance to get
through the intersection.

As she was still in mid-rant, she heard a tap on her window and looked up
into the face of a very serious police officer. The officer ordered her to exit
her car with her hands up. He took her to the police station where she was
searched, finger printed, photographed, and placed in a holding cell.

After a couple of hours, a policeman approached the cell and opened the
door. She was escorted back to the booking desk where the arresting officer was
waiting with her personal effects.

He said, "I'm very sorry for this mistake. You see, I pulled up behind your
car while you were blowing your horn, flipping off the guy in front of you
and cussing a blue streak at him.

"I noticed the 'Choose Life' license plate holder, the 'What Would Jesus Do'
bumper sticker, the 'Follow Me to Sunday-School' bumper sticker, and the
chrome-plated Christian fish emblem on the trunk. Naturally, I assumed you had
stolen the car."

If more of you actually gave more than lip-service to His teachings, perhaps the rest of us would not hate you quite so much.
Any clearer?

StandardAI

StandardAI

Banned

Join Date: Mar 2005

K A R M A

Quote:
Originally Posted by GraceAlone
I just have a general question for the community and if this is the wrong forum I apologize and a mod can please move it I have a guild that is for Christian and we use to share our faith in game (in an unintrusive way). But when posting to recruit in game or on other forums I have had nothing but slanderous, hateful, condemning, and all sorts of other very rude/degrading things said to me. I suppose my question/frustration is that the community (not GWG in general) is very hostile towards...people of faith lets say. Or is it just Christians?

Personally if there is a guild that wants to be Buddhist only, or muslim only, or old married men with 2 kids and a white dog only guilds, that's fine with me. I have no problem with that go right ahead, and if you are recruiting, more power to ya! I'll just turn off the local channel or move to another district if it is bothersome. I've only tried to recruit once so far and got the reactions mentioned above. I had one guy that even said he was going to report me to Anet...not sure on what grounds but...

Guess I just want to get other peoples opinions/thoughts/insights.

Thanks,
GraceAlone
When I think of christians I usually think of people who want to vote against anything to do with gay rights, want to convert everyone to their own "one true religion", are condescending, and the people who elected our current president. Atheists are certainly not a rare demographic within gamers, I wouldn't doubt a lot of them play online games to avoid christians/america/reality because let's face it, a virtual world can be a lot better than the real one if you're a minority that society is against.

=HT=Ingram

=HT=Ingram

Forge Runner

Join Date: Feb 2005

Anchorage Alaska

Haz Team [HT]

R/W

Unfortunately it is a problem in Community style games. there are a lot of faith driven folks that really do just want to play and from time to time maybe do something faith oriented... I think that's great. However the masses of Agnostic or Simply RUDE people in the world is growing exponentially, so its expected to be seen in a game such as this... Trust me my Ignore list grows EVERYDAY... thankfully the chat filter blocks some language, but the badgering is just a bunch of uneducated children that don't care for anything or anyone... thus they are basically RUDE to anyone with some kind of conviction, or belief.

We have also seen a growing Racist trend with many people in game directed at the Koreans especially, because of tactics they choose to use during PvP and GvG matches... Face it folks, they are better then you, it has nothing to do with their race, its just a game and they know how to play it.

StandardAI

StandardAI

Banned

Join Date: Mar 2005

K A R M A

Quote:
Originally Posted by =HT=Ingram
However the masses of Agnostic or Simply RUDE people in the world is growing exponentially, so its expected to be seen in a game such as this... Trust me my Ignore list grows EVERYDAY...
Hate breeds hate.

"At the risk of sounding ridiculous, let me say that the true revolutionary is guided by feelings of love." - Che Guavara

Navaros

Forge Runner

Join Date: Apr 2005

Mo/Me

Quote:
Originally Posted by Taphoo
If more of you actually gave more than lip-service to His teachings, perhaps the rest of us would not hate you quite so much.
Any clearer?
no, this is incorrect

Jesus himself said that any righteous man (or woman) who follows his teachings will be hated by the world. just like the original poster is having 9+ pages of hate-filled posts dumped upon him or her

if the world at large does not hate you and your viewpoints, you are not Christian. that is what Jesus has declared.

Jesus' teachings will never be "agreeable" to the world at large.

because man, in his natural state, is inherently evil. therefore, he will always default to the most evil ways of life and support that others do the same.

@original poster: i hope your Guild gets nice and huge. keep fighting the good fight and don't get intimidated by all the neverending anti-Christian hatemongering you have spit upon you.

BaleFire

BaleFire

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jun 2005

In a cave, by a lake of fire

i thnk the main problem is that cristianity ether draws ppl or push them away.
pushing ppl away makes them ether sad or angry. just look how many different groups/sects you got within the same faith.

Quote:
Originally Posted by GraceAlone
Are you a Christian? Then consider Servants of the Son for your guild!
you just declared to the whole gw community in one zone that ure a cristian, and u basicly dont want ppl thats not of ure faith in ure clan.
if ppl dont like cristianity to start with u just gave them additional reasons to not like you.

i wouldnt respond to any global calls like ures but it does provoke me.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Than
Relgion isn't the basis of all wars. Hasn't been the basis of most wars.
the 1st commandment:
You shall have no other gods before Me.

religion dont spark wars???
its pure ignorance to belive a faith with that attitute dont spark wars.
maybe u should buy a history book.
ure response to Gedscho tells us alot about you, since the quote u took of him its all true.
Than, if ure a cristian, you just broke the 3rd commandment.


interesting note:
2nd commandment:
'You shall not make for yourself a carved image--any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.'


from one perspective, games is idolizing ureself.


iam an ateist btw, should be obvius.
you can have whatever faith you want in my oppinion, as long as it dont affect me, or the things i care about.

GraceAlone

GraceAlone

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2005

Phoenix, AZ

Semper Reformanda [SeRe]

Just for the record I am still following this thread, but like several people have mentioned, I'm surprised it hasn't been moved For myself I'm not looking to share my faith with every single PuG that I group with and don't plan on saying, "Hi, nice to be a part of the group, do you all know Jesus? No, then you're going to hell." That's not effective, but also just pushes people away. But if we have gotten to be friends and know/understand each other, then I'll bring religion. I know a lot of people try and preach at you and all I can say is, sorry. I know my brothers and sisters don't always do the right thing.

Genos

Genos

Academy Page

Join Date: Jun 2005

Amazon Basin

R/E

I’m Christian as well, and I got to say - this gets ridiculous. Most people I have met/know on the net seem to have no problem with my religion. Sadly however there will always be jerks. In which case I can have a very interesting debate – sarcasm is an art *evil grin*

As to some of the points raised in this thread - yes, Christians have been bloody idiots in the past. More specifically, the crusades and the whole medieval deal. That was corruption and sorts of nasty things in best high style, hidden behind the facade of being religious... or that is my view of it.

However to the topic at hand - I see how people can be offend by it, but to be honest I wouldn’t fuss too much. Personally id is far more irritated with the people who stand on the corners of streets shouting that the end of the world is coming... repent and such.

all GraceAlone is doing is to say that a Christian guild is looking for Christians, or people who don’t mind Christians to join - nothing more, nothing less.

However since I have no social skills what so ever this post should cause some interesting responses.

Willy Rockwell

Willy Rockwell

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: May 2005

Speaking as a Christian American I want to say that I escaped into this game to avoid the unspeakable horror that is being perpetrated upon the world by my fellow "Christians" in the US. Keep your religion in the voting booth...haven't you done enough damage?

Zeroed

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jun 2005

R/Me

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nicro Mancer
I know it was a long time ago, but that Godwin's Law link is just so amazingly true.
I agree . Now all we need is a version for UAS:

In a thread on a guildwars forum that contains a legitimate complaint the probability of someone mentioning UAS approaches one

For the record, I have no problem with christians when they have no problem with me and this kind of thing is definitely ok as far as I'm concerned. People complaining that real life shouldnt be in-game are being a little naive; how may times have you seen people role-playing in guildwars?

Its also a bit silly to critisise christians for playing GW - noone would really seriously worship dwayna in real life so I don't see that there is a contradiction there and the monsters arent real so what does it matter if they virtually kill them?

Fantras

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2005

Sacramento California

House Palomides

Mo/Me

Ok, I read the whole freakin thread. First off, he has all the rights in the world to be surrounded by like minded individuals. I believe that's how we all formed and exist in our current guilds. Whether it's Elite type players, just kick back fun players, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Old people, Young people, women, men, etc. You get the point. Wanting to be around people who are like you is certainly not any type of descrimination.

Christians who tout signs saying, "God hates fags!" are not Christians no more than Osama is a true Muslim, in my opinion. Yes, the Bible says that homosexuality is a sin and those that practice it are sinners. However, it also teaches to love and try to protect the sinners in the world by showing them a better way, not chastising them as devils and berating them from a street corner. Would Christians like to change homosexuals back to heterosexuals? Certainly. Do Christians hate homosexuals? No, not "true" Christians. In my mind, a Christian would treat a homosexual with deference, maybe dropping a line about how the Bible sees it, but that's about it. Same thing would go for someone with an alcohol or drug problem, who were cheating on their wives, etc, I would imagine, in the Utopian world in my mind, that none of the above would be treated differently by a Christian as there are a number of Christians who are affected by the above problems themselves.

So, in short, do what you want with your guild. If you get berated by people in general chat, ignore it as best as you can. Do not stop, however, recruiting in the ways you have posted, because it seems a very fair request to me. People don't like seeing religion in games? Tough. I don't like seeing a flacid penis drawn on my mini map. But I deal with it and I don't bitch. Am I a Christian? Yes I am. Am I a perfect Christian, far from it. I drink, I cuss, I make dirty jokes (not on the mini-map :P). However, I see myself as a genuinely good person, and that's the most important thing any one person can be, all religion aside.


*Edit: Also, because you are a monk who casts a spell called "Dwayna's Kiss" you are not worshipping them. That argument was way way flawed. One more time: It's Not Real Life

Nicro Mancer

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: May 2005

London

BOA

N/Me

Fantras, i couldn't have put it better myself

GraceAlone

GraceAlone

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2005

Phoenix, AZ

Semper Reformanda [SeRe]

Amen Fantas, thanks for the post!

smitty-gw

smitty-gw

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Mar 2005

New York

My $ 0.02.

I am a Roman Catholic American. Nobody on GW cares.
I am also considered a Christian. Nobody on GW cares.

I thought Christianity transcends multiple religious sects. That Christianity or being a Christian meant following the teachings of Christ as written in the New Testament of the Bible.

Follow Christ's Golden Rule and your on the path to salvation:

1) Love God the Almighty
2) Love thy neighbor as you love yourself.
Basically, its treat others as you wish to be treated.

Now true Christians are generally nice people, right. So why don't you just recruit friendly cooperative people? If I wanted to join and I was a Muslim would I have to lie about my faith to get in? If I was honest would you discriminate against me and deny acess to your guild?... It seems silly.

This is a virtual world with its own set of rules, history, theology etc. In my opinion, real life religion has no place here.

If you continue to recruit as you do, you will continue to be ridiculed by some. This is after all an anonymous internet community.

I personally take no offence to your recruiting ways nor would I waste my time condemning you in any way, but if your surprised about some of the responses you get online, then your naivete is a much bigger problem than the hostile attitudes you are experiencing.

Get over it. Didn't Christ teach to turn the other cheek when slapped??

Peace

Nicro Mancer

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: May 2005

London

BOA

N/Me

I don't think that Gracealone would have completely barred someone from joining their guild if they believed in a religeon other than christianity, but if they are going to talk about the bible, when you are in fact a jedi (yes, in england at least this is a real religeon) - then you probably wouldn't be particuarly interested in what a christian had to say about chapter 2 verse 5 of leviticus. I think that wat Gracealone was saying by "are you chrisatian?" is that you would probably get more out of the guild and find it more interesting if you were a christian, as opposed to a jedi.

GraceAlone

GraceAlone

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2005

Phoenix, AZ

Semper Reformanda [SeRe]

I'm not niave by any means, and yes Jesus did teach to turn the other cheek. However my surprise was the sheer volume of annimosity that I received. I expect people to say mean and hateful things about Christians, that comes with the territory, but again it was the amount that surprized me.

Eclectic

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: May 2005

Know that while I took a bit of ironic liberty with your situation I am not unsympathetic. You sound like a person I'd group with in the game without a problem, even if I knew your guild name and purpose. I had no problem with your attempt to recruit nor the method you used to do it. The thread had gone way past that into a referendum on religion to some extent and it's a subject I think about in these turbulent times.

Ultimately I just want people to live and let live, mind their own business and not be so quick to point a finger at someone else (which is also a very Christian principle)

I was once a Christian, and studied the Bible for years. I believe a good Christian will show you what Jesus did for him, not tell him until the proper time. I believe a good Christian will love anyone even if they detest things they stand for. If Christ is really part of you and the driving force of your life (generic you, not specifically you) then we should see something different about you than the normal person. Unfortunately I've had my fill of seeing professed Christians engaging in dirty politics, hatred, and all manner of things totally against their faith. So I speak up from time to time, hoping to create an atmosphere where people can talk and grow.

I'll shut up now.

smitty-gw

smitty-gw

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Mar 2005

New York

So you feel more people than you expected in the GW community are anti-Christian?

Christianity is top 3 in the world in membership. On the GW US servers it is probably real high as well. Methinks you were just being hyper-sensitive and started a nice long thread which you keep monitoring and an enjoying this debate a hell of a lot more than the offence you took to religious bashing by 12-year olds who need a good spanking more than another cathecism class.

Religion is a volatile topic, as you are well aware. That's why it is misplaced by being presented in this online game. I love Christ, the literary and historical figure. I even believe he was much more than a man, but who cares what I think.

Your surprise is really no surprise to me. Tucked away in Phoenix AZ will do that to a person, especially if one is young and not well traveled as you come across to me. This is not meant as an insult, just my perception.

In summation, you do seem like a nice person and I estimate that I would enjoy playing this game with you. I run into people like yourself all the time online, regardless of their religious denomination. Please rise above the low brow-mentality you will undoubtably encounter from time to time and do not post threads like this again just for attention and sympathy.

Peace

Diplo

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jun 2005

UK

N/W

Are Necromancers alowed in a Christian guild?

GraceAlone

GraceAlone

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2005

Phoenix, AZ

Semper Reformanda [SeRe]

Smitty, young can be a relative thing. I'm 26, married 6 years, two kids (3 years and 6 months). I have my bachelors in Biblical Studies and I am studying for my Masters in Divinity. My reasons for wanting to start a Christian guild is because of the community aspect of the game. It's a great place to meet other people (Christian or otherwise) and a chance to share with people I consider friends. Maybe I was being over sensitive, but when people (and there were several) whisper/all chat me saying that I'm all sorts of evil and hateful things, then I do what I always do. Pray about it, then seek the advise of others. GWG, to me, is my GW home. I don't visit any other forums/sites and feel that the community here is great, so I have been encouraged by many of the posts here. I also have gotten some good advice/ideas and have talked with my guild mates. Also I keep tabs on the discussion because it is just that, a discussion. I want to see what people think, and if the mods are not happy with the thread or where it is at, then they are more than welcome to close the thread, move it, or delete. I won't be offended

Keesa

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2005

Hotlanta

Pink Fluffy Bunniez

Mo/Me

Quote:
Originally Posted by Diplo
Are Necromancers alowed in a Christian guild?
Ha, that's great

Than

Than

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: May 2005

Texas

UGLY

Me/N

Quote:
the 1st commandment:
You shall have no other gods before Me.

religion dont spark wars???
its pure ignorance to belive a faith with that attitute dont spark wars.
maybe u should buy a history book.
ure response to Gedscho tells us alot about you, since the quote u took of him its all true.


Lets try some reading comprehension shall we? I said religion didn't start all wars. Ok. All. Do you understand that word? ALL. I didn't say ANY. So shut up and sit down and trying read what others posted once in a while instead of spouting off BS.

And my response was the Synthos not Gedscho. Try some freaking reading once in a while. Just because I posted after him doesn't mean I was replying to him. It was a busy thread and people were cross posting, which is why I quoted Synthos in my reply. BECAUSE I WAS REPLYING TO HIM. I wasn't replying to Gedscho. Why should I? He was stating his opinion, hes intitled to that. But Synthos was spouting off BS.

I say again, Not all wars were started by Relgion. Hell not most wars.

And I pose this quest again, was Catholic Europe Sans the Crusades one big lovefest? No! Humans are warlike and all around jackasses and they are going to be so with or without religion. Most of the time inspite of religion.

Quote:
Than, if ure a cristian, you just broke the 3rd commandment.
Yes I did. Just because I'm christian doesn't mean I am perfect. Just 'cause I screw up every now and then doesn't make me hipocritical in my faith. Please, some people get off on trying to catch Christians sinning for some reason. Some how think its gonna "Take 'em down a peg." Please.

I would also like to add there are variations in the numbering and interpritation of the Ten Commandments by the various religions and sects. And I forone down consider calling out the lords name we you are confounded by someones stupidity taking it in vain.

Mountain Man

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: May 2005

N/E

Quote:
Originally Posted by GraceAlone
Jesus did teach to turn the other cheek.
Few people realize that this is not a command for us to accept abuse and become human walking mats. Rather, it was a form of peaceful protest intended to shame the other person.

In the Ancient near east culture, placing the back of your hand on someone was an insult and placing an open hand on them was a sign of honor. If someone struck you with his fist, it was almost certainly with the back of his hand. By turning your cheek, you would be inviting him to strike you with the front of his hand. It would shame your assailant to realize that the only way he could continue to strike you would be to show you some manner of honor. His shame would be all the more poignant when he realized you did nothing to deserve being hit in the first place.

Similiarly, the command that if someone sues you for your cloak, give him your tunic also is along the same lines. Picture the scene: two men are in court. One man is literally suing another for the shirt on his back. So the defendant procedes to strip off all his clothes and hand them to his accuser. So there is his accuser, holding the defendant's clothes while the defendant stands naked before the court. This would place the accuser in a very awkward position and expose him to shame for the mere fact that he even tried to sue someone for the clothes they were wearing in the first place.

It can really help one understand the Bible when they are familiar with the honor/shame context within which it was written. Tektonics.org is an excellent resource for studying historical Christianity.

Garric

Banned

Join Date: Apr 2005

You know, being a religious fanatic trying to make a guild for people who are only Christian usually isn't a good idea to advertise in a local chat channel.

Bringing religions into a GAME is a bad idea that will create conflicts, you should have known better, and now you do. I don't want religious wars inside of the game, I don't want to hear about Jesus every time I play (And I have been in parties where players won't just STFU about Jesus.). There ARE people who don't share your faith, face it.

Talesin Darkbriar

Talesin Darkbriar

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jun 2005

California - irrigated desert...

The Myrmidon

E/N

Quote:
Originally Posted by StandardAI
When I think of christians I usually think of people who want to vote against anything to do with gay rights, want to convert everyone to their own "one true religion", are condescending, and the people who elected our current president. Atheists are certainly not a rare demographic within gamers, I wouldn't doubt a lot of them play online games to avoid christians/america/reality because let's face it, a virtual world can be a lot better than the real one if you're a minority that society is against.
I understand your pain. For what it's worth, those people are not considered Christians by Jesus' teachings, but rather hypocrites - much like the ancient Pharisees.
Consider it the same as if a group of atheists was going about making asses of themselves and basically dragging all atheists through the mud. Same situation.
Believe it or not, there is a large body of sane, rational people in the U.S. that jsut happen to believe in God, morals and ethics.
We just aren't outspoken about it or trying to gain political clout.

Regards,

Talesin