A Joyless Existence?

[andy-hughes]

Given that the posts on here from Christians continually vacillate between admonishing the rest of us for not believing in their god as they do, and fretting and worrying about their worthiness to enter heaven after they die -

Is it not fair to say that being a Christian is a seriously joyless existence?

Does 'God' really intend us to be so utterly bereft of anything approaching happiness on this earth?

And if so - why?

[Khandro]

andy-hughes;//Given that the posts on here from Christians continually vacillate between admonishing the rest of us for not believing in their god as they do//

Could you give us a link please?

[retrocop]

Give up on this Iphone.Hit submit by accident.

[Mamyalynne]

Naomi I feel the tears and sadness when one we love dies are often quite selfish emotions.

I am quite sure mine have been, if not totally as least in part.

[naomi24]

Khandro, //Could you give us a link please? //

Come off it!

[naomi24]

Mamyalynne, I agree. Me too. We're all human.

[Mamyalynne]

We certainly are.

[Quizmonster]

Andy and AlwaysConfused, perhaps you should take a lesson from the young lad the following link refers to…
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-34313750
I know you, Andy, have many musical interests, though perhaps not the particular one in the article! Nevertheless, as a Scot, I found the story highly amusing. What a glorious put-down!

[keyplus90]

Christians don't really worry me. And actually I find it interesting when a Christian preacher stops me in the high street or turns up at my door step. Because I am trying to find “ONE CHRISTIAN” who can prove that he is a true believer of Jesus (pbuh) according to the Bible. But so far I have been unable to find one. Perhaps someone here can prove that they are the true believers of Jesus (pbuh) according to their own Bible. All someone has to do is prove his/her belief according to Mark Chapter 16, verse 17 and 18.

[jomifl]

Keyplus, nobody has to prove anything to you.

[Khandro]

naomi; I await for his link with interest, I have been around here for nigh on 7 years and I can't remember a Christian, or someone of any other religion for that matter, admonishing others for not believing in their god.

[naomi24]

Khandro, try Goodlife.

[Mamyalynne]

Quizmonster, just watched the video of Piper v Preacher - thank you.

[naomi24]

Keyplus, all authors of religious books write daft things. Just look at what Mohammed wrote! Shouldn’t worry about it. It’s par for the course.

[Khandro]

naomi; // try Goodlife// I just have: s/he has since 2011 posed 88 questions and looking through them none I would consider to be "admonishing", except perhaps the title of one in 2013, "Atheists when will you finally see the light?" but when you read through it, it is only the usual mild proselytizing and support of his/her own views - and nothing wrong in that. I can find nothing which personally denigrates the holders of other opinions.

[naomi24]

Khandro, apart from calling our morals into question, he regularly calls us all 'sad'.

[naomi24]

... and he includes all the people who aren't Jehovah's Witnesses but call themselves Christian in that. He does his bit.

[Mosaic]

There are many ways to 'be a Christian'. It might involve being a member of a sect, of varying strictness of interpretation. Or it might involve a personal decision on living an ethical life - the sect known as Quakers, for example, work in this way. I think the original Christian teaching was that all people who choose to act altruistically are 'saved'. So there's no real requirement to make yourself unhappy.
If you believe we are made by a god, who is a force for good, why would said deity make us able to be happy, then wish us not to be happy?

[retrocop]

//Is it not fair to say that being a Christian is a seriously joyless existence? //

No.It is no more fair than asking is an Atheist's existence seriously joyless.
If a person is in need of daily medication in order to stave off depression leads a joyous life I would suggest No. Forget your medication and you sink into a joyless life irrespective of whether a religion is followed or not.
I,as a Christian,have had to deal with many joyless incidents .I never bleated,"Oh God why do I have to deal with this?" I dealt with it because it happened and it was my choice to deal with it where others would not have the moral courage to do so. It was nothing to do with my faith though it may have helped and was in the background of my thoughts at the time.
I never needed happy pills to get me through my life experiences.
Can the poster,as an Atheist,relate what awful situations he has encountered to make him joyless and in need of daily medication in order to keep him in a artificial joyous state.
I have endured some pretty life threatening PHYSICAL situations recently and didn't bleat,"Why me God. I am Christian"
I survive because I have a wonderful family and a happy life and feel I have a life worth fighting for without the need to fall back on my faith.Yes I am a Christian but God didn't save me. My prayers went to the Surgeons and their team.

[ummmm]

My mum is a born again Christian and she's one of the happiest people I know.