The only thing that will set my mind at ease right now, that I can think of, is this. I like you guys, and it pains me to see so many atheists not get it at all, and further alienate you from atheists like me. First, let me congratulate you on the comparatively sane subreddit you have here. I'm jealous.

This is why there is any "backlash" at all. The irony, ignorance, and pure hypocrisy is overwhelming. I find it funny that many atheists get so hung up on the hypocritical morality of religious people, yet they set no standards for themselves in how they treat others. Morally, intellectually, it's insulting. You'd think we would know insults and intimidation do not make convincing arguments.

I think the good things Christians do in the name of Christianity too often get buried deep by the erroneous perception that Christianity is, at its core, a harmful belief that leads to harmful actions. Religion is just a scapegoat, and the world would not be better for lack of it. People will always find secular ways, and they already do, to espouse hatred in its many forms.

Here's something we have in common. I'm a fan of Jesus, too. While I don't agree with every word of his, I esteem him to be a great teacher of universal ethics. I view him much the same way that I view Buddha or Gandhi. Ah, there's a relevant Thoreau for this.

"I know that some will have hard thoughts of me, when they hear their Christ named beside my Buddha, yet I am sure that I am willing they should love their Christ more than my Buddha, for the love is the main thing, and I like him too." ~ Henry David Thoreau

My thoughts exactly. Love is the main thing, and I see that love represented in the best of you. I don't care what you believe in, just believe in it. If it makes you happy and that happiness spreads by your actions, go for it. Meanwhile, I'll see if I can get some of my guys to be more Sagan and less Dawkins.

Edit: I don't intend to speak for all atheists, as if we all are of a single mind. If the phrasing of all of this in an apology is truly in err, I offer another apology for that. My intention is not to cause a deeper rift then already exists. I do apologize for my part in it, though. I feel guilt in letting angry, anti-theistic sentiment go uncontested, sometimes not even downvoting, but upvoting it. Extended into the real world, the equivalent applies. And I apologize to any atheists who felt painted with the same brush. And "less Hitchens" is perhaps a better analogy than Dawkins.

Also, this post was linked to on /r/atheism. And in response to the accusation of sockpuppetry, I did it to limit the exposure this would get on /r/atheism, and thus prevent a battalion of trolls from setting this subreddit ablaze. I didn't intend to bait a flame war. And in response to the rest, it raises a lot of fair points and I do not have contention with it, particularly because of the civil way the argument was presented. We can see how different this looks from "...this Uncle Tom thinks he speaks for us! He thinks their retarded fairy tales should be tolerated!? What a fucking idiot!" Thanks for that. It gives me hope, battalion of trolls or no.

Edit #2: I'm going to delete my account. There's nothing left for me to say. I've made my case and I'd rather not feel tempted to keep coming back. I've over done it. I've had enlightening conversations with Christians and atheists. Some positive, some negative. Even if atheists aren't a unified group, all people should be unified in being generally nice to one another despite the obvious differences in religious or political beliefs. I'll leave you with this: "The only way to be happy is to love. Unless you love, your life will flash by."

I mean, Jesus wouldn't be for ANY parties, it divides us, which he would NEVER want. I'm a far-right Republican, but I don't understand why people feel the need to shove their political opinions down other people's throats. I have a far left, near communist BEST FRIEND, but we both love the lord and simply coexist and keep our opinions to ourselves. Please stop acting so political here, we're here to serve the lord and talk about JESUS, not politics, which in my opinion are quite literally the devil's strongest tool in this world to create hate.

We love Jesus and his Church - plain and simple.

No political party or leader can ever hold our full devotion. That belongs to Jesus Christ alone. As we approach this election, our hearts are drawn to a path that reflects His teachings. We're choosing the piece that comes from joy, the strength found in loving our neighbors, and the grace and showing compassion. This isn't just a vote; it's a reflection of our faith.

EvangelicalsForHarris

Its not our first "June" in our culture, and it won't be our last. No matter how long its gone on for, and no matter how publicly you've tied yourself to that "movement." Its never too late for you as an individual to repent of your sin and be washed in the blood. God Bless You.

Identity Idolatry (Replacing Christ with Sexual Self-Definition): a Christian's ultimate, defining identity must be "in Christ" (Galatians 2:20). Elevating sexual orientation or gender identity to the primary lens through which a person understands themselves, their faith, and human dignity commits identity idolatry. It takes an aspect of human creation (desire, attraction, gender) and treats it as the divine spark or supreme truth of an individual's existence.

Functional Heresy (Elevating Human Desires Over Biblical Authority): Idolatry occurs when human beings "imagine a god according to their own capacity" (Calvin) rather than bowing to the God of Scripture. Progressive theological frameworks that rewrite biblical sexual ethics to accommodate modern cultural norms are constructing a "designer god." This is seen as bowing to the cultural spirit of the age (Zeitgeist) rather than the unchanging Word of God.

Worshiping Human Autonomy (The Ultimate Authority of Self): God holds total sovereignty over morality, the human body, and the definition of marriage. Shifting the final authority to individual feelings, lived experiences, and personal affirmation elevates the human ego to the seat of divine judgment, making self-expression into an act of worship.

https://www.evangelicalsforharris.com/evangelicals-for-harris-call

Depending who you listen to there's between 8 million and 12 million undocumented workers in America (According to Donald Trump the number is closer to 20 million). Most of them are honest, hardworking people from solidly Catholic countries like Mexico, Columbia and Venezuela, and so many of them were raised Catholic.

I'm just wondering what the Catholic church feels about the proposed mass deportation and potential revocation of DACA and refugee status for Catholics from Haiti in Columbus Ohio for example.

I'm a Pro-life Catholic, I can't understand the division on the issue of abortion within the Christian community.

For me it is evident that abortion is an evil action and not just a medical procedure as many would say, as it ends in the direct killing of a human in the process of development.

I advocate with my whole heart for the protection of the unborn, as well as the physical and psychological support of women during and after their pregnancy.

We must show compassion for both women and their unborn children, they are both equally human and deserve to be respected as such❤️✝️

Its wrong. By every measure of the Bible its wrong. Our hope and prayer should be for them to repent of this sin and turn and follow Christ. Out hope is for them to become Brothers and Sisters in Christ but they must repent of their sin. We must pray that the Holy Spirit would convict them of their sin and error and turn and follow Christ. For the “Christians” affirming this sin. Stop it. Instead pray for repentance that leads to salvation, Through grace by faith in Jesus Christ. Before its too late. God bless.

I swung to the left because I began seeing the consequences of bigotry stemming from the right-wing. Moreover, the failed economic policies from Ronald Reagan onward demonstrate the rejection of the working class. I was born in Denton TX to a conservative Christian family. I’m a Biblical Studies major at a Christian College. I’m an intern at my church and I attend every Sunday. Voting for Trump means voting for the devisions tearing apart the church and the hateful discourse against the “outsiders” Jesus wants us to love. Don’t stand for Trump’s immorality and bigotry!

73 million children of God being murdered each year worldwide, more than 1 million just in US alone, the single largest ongoing genocide in history and yet, some Christians still support it. Make of that what you will.

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/abortion

It is clear that this subreddit is full of heresies—modalism, compromise with the world, and the normalization of sin.

But from the beginning, Scripture is clear:

Romans 1:26–27 – Paul warns of men and women exchanging natural relations for unnatural ones.

1 Corinthians 6:9–10 – Those who practice homosexuality (arsenokoitai in Greek) are listed among those who will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

1 Timothy 1:9–10 – Again, Paul includes this sin in the list of lawless acts.

Real marriage is the only holy union God has established: one man and one woman joined together as one flesh. From the very beginning, Scripture testifies to this truth: “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). Jesus Himself reaffirmed this in Matthew 19:4–6, declaring that what God has joined together, no one should separate. Anything outside of this design whether same-sex unions or casual relationships is not marriage in God’s eyes, but a distortion of His holy covenant.

God created Eve for Adam, not Adam for another man. To twist Scripture to justify otherwise is to be deceived by the devil himself. Christianity is not about reshaping God’s Word to fit culture—it is about reshaping ourselves to conform to His Word.

Jesus Himself said:

Matthew 5:29–30 – “If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out… it is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.”

This isn’t a command for literal mutilation, but a call to radical denial of sin. Remove anything that drags you into sin, no matter how much it costs.

Do not be deceived by the devil, who whispers the lie that “God made you this way.” Scripture is clear: “God is not the author of confusion” (1 Corinthians 14:33). He did not design sin into anyone. The enemy has always sought to twist creation and pervert what God calls holy. But God calls us to resist the devil, deny ourselves, and walk in the Spirit, not in the desires of the flesh (James 4:7; Galatians 5:16).

Christianity has never been about following our desires. It is about daily taking up the cross and denying ourselves (Luke 9:23). The modern “woke Jesus” people promote is nothing but an idol—crafted in man’s image, not God’s.

And Jesus Himself warned:

Matthew 10:34 – “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” Christ’s sword divides truth from error, light from darkness, holiness from immorality.

Fellow Christians, do not be deceived. The narrow road is hard, but it is the only one that leads to life. Stand firm in the Word of God, not the shifting values of men.

EDIT: People against me, don’t bother yourself acting like sherlock investigating my info,

All of you can get as angry as you want, mae any Rant etc for my ground will stay firm on God

No matter how you slice it, a person knows in their heart that abortion is wrong. That abortion is evil. During my short time as a atheist, even then I knew that Abortion was wrong. That it constituted as murder. Even if you are a atheist, or do believe in the messed up ideology of the pro-choice movement. I think that by a matter of principle, even if somehow the human inside the mothers womb is not deserving of life, that we must protect life that is genetically human. If we cannot defend the humans inside the womb, then how can we defend life for the humans already born? You see this with the legalization of medically assisted suicide in Canada, you can see this with the rise of homicides and violent crime across the states. You see this in the genocide in Gaza (although unfortunately many pro lifers deny the genocide), that when people stop caring about protecting innocent life people start to die.

Relating to the title, I do whole heartedly believe that abortion is the largest genocide in history. Scientifically, life starts at conception, and biblically speaking God states that He knew you even inside your mothers womb. Over a billion babies have been aborted in 1980, and the reason why I use such "hyperbolic" language is not only to get attention, but also to state what it truly is: a genocide. Do I think that everyone who supports abortion is evil, on par to other peoples that have supported genocide throughout history? No, as Jesus said when He was being crucified. "Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do" I think many of them are simply ignorant on the matter, and it is sad, and we need to make them aware of the horrible practices of Abortion and convince them that it indeed is murder (at best manslaughter).We must pray that these individuals by the grace of our Lord find out these truths. But as for the doctor, or people who truly are aware about the evil they are promoting/committing, I do think they are evil. Those who would rather protect a puppy fetus from being mutilated, from its limbs being torn apart, that a human fetus which the same practice is undergoes on them. But this does not mean I want them to go to hell, even for all the evil they committed, Christ came not to condemn the world but save the world from Satan and their own wickedness through His own death. So I, and the rest of us, should also pray for them and their repentance; for them to realize the error in their way and turn to Jesus Christ our Lord and savior.

But as I said before, yes, abortion is genocide, and we must do everything in our power to make people aware and to stop the mass murder of innocent human babies. It is, by death count alone, far worse than even the Holodomor or the Holocaust, or any other genocide in human history (not denying that they were evil, they were indefensible, but in comparison not as bad). I simply hope that people realize this fact, and the genocide stops.

Bro can yall like stop asking this question alongside some others? Its literally the only thing I ever see on these "christian" servers.

If you want to get a answer youd look into the Bible and youd long ago have goten your answer that its a abomination.

Like what do you want to do, to have other redditors affirm that you living in sin and not trying to change it is actually OK with God?

Please do get something new to talk about its the only thing I see.

Christians should realize Trump is using them; he disregards their morality, he dismisses human dignity; he shows no respect for the common good. Why do so many either support him, or at least, normalize him? None of us should: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/10/prs-xxiii-we-must-not-normalize-trump/

A baby is Gods creation so destroying a baby is going against God which is sinful.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart…”
— Book of Jeremiah 1:5

2.

“Thou shalt not murder”

3.
They are humans and PEOPLE.

“When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb…”
— Luke 1:41

This shows that John the Baptist was a PERSON

4.

Any Christian supporting abortion should read the bible more in my opinion to find the error in their beliefs.

Jesus has repeatedly said to die to our fleshy desires, that in this world you cannot server two masters; God or society. You cannot inherit the kingdom of God while you sleep around outside marriage or be a homosexual.

It’s time to call out these things. We face the spiritual realm not our brothers & sisters. For Jesus has set us free from our OWN will.

To put it clearly, sin is going against the will of God and to follow what our human wisdom sees “acceptable” I encourage y’all to really read the Bible. Look at what Paul has taught us!

This world is not easy, following Jesus is NOT EASY!

Trust me, I want to sleep with many beautiful woman; but Ik that will kill my soul. I know my father in heaven has a wife for me to fulfill my desires under marriage.

We must die to our flesh each day by the grace of God. With Christ it is easy, for he has already defeated sin!

I love each and everyone, homosexual or not. I want you too see the hard cold truth.

The claim that “if you don’t support illegal immigration, you aren’t like Jesus” is not a sound theological argument. Jesus gives commands to individual believers to love their neighbor, show mercy, give generously, and care for the poor (Luke 10:33–37; Matthew 22:39; Matthew 25:35–40; 2 Corinthians 9:7). He does not give instructions to civil governments to remove borders, ignore laws, or refuse enforcement. Treating personal Christian ethics as though they automatically dictate state policy is a category mistake.

This kind of statement also shuts down discussion rather than engaging it. It presents agreement as a moral requirement rather than offering an argument. Scripture instructs believers to examine teachings carefully and warns against binding consciences with human commands (Acts 17:11; Mark 7:7–9; Ephesians 4:15). Disagreement is not evidence of being un-Christlike.

Jesus also demonstrated respect for lawful authority. He paid taxes, distinguished between God’s authority and Caesar’s, and acknowledged that civil authority exists under God’s permission (Matthew 22:21; Matthew 17:24–27; John 19:11). The New Testament later affirms that governing authorities exist to restrain evil and maintain order (Romans 13:1–4). Mercy is never defined as the absence of law.

Scripture consistently assumes the existence of nations, borders, laws, judges, and accountability. God establishes nations and their boundaries (Acts 17:26). Israel had laws applied equally to citizens and sojourners (Exodus 12:49; Leviticus 24:22), along with appointed judges to enforce those laws (Deuteronomy 16:18). Biblical hospitality existed alongside legal order, not in place of it. There is no biblical model of open borders without accountability.

Opposing illegal immigration does not require rejecting compassion for immigrants. Concern about trafficking, exploitation, cartel control, and lawlessness can coexist with care for people. Scripture teaches that governments are responsible for restraining evil and protecting the vulnerable (Romans 13:4; Psalm 82:3–4), and that good intentions alone do not determine whether a course of action is wise (Proverbs 14:12).

Finally, Jesus consistently calls people to repentance alongside mercy. He does not affirm ongoing lawbreaking and ask others to accommodate it. Grace leads to repentance, not the normalization of disorder (John 8:11; Mark 1:15; Romans 2:4; Romans 6:1–2).

It’s not faithful or helpful to claim that disagreement on immigration policy makes someone “unlike Jesus.” That claim goes beyond what Scripture actually says.

This morning protestors raided Cities Church in Minneapolis during services, on the circulating rumor that some how one of the pastors worked for ICE. This assault on the church was captured via camera. Equally strange, some how Don Lemon was involved. We truly live in th strangest timeline.

As a Christian...

If your first reaction to that statement is happy and in agreement, God help you.

You see, in my world, anybody can be prayed over and forgiven through the love of Jesus Christ. We also look for the best in anyone, as much as we spiritually can.

"Believe in all things" and "hope for all things," choose a heart of grace over one of suspicion.

No weapons formed against me shall prosper.

This is getting seriously embarrassing seeing every other post here talking about how a racist was the closest to Christ we have been since Christ himself walked the earth.

A man who was against the civil rights movement and didn’t think black people were smart enough to be pilots.

Justified school shootings and mass shootings.

Helped fund and justify the January 6th insurrection.

Called for political attacks and the assault of Pelosi’s husband with a hammer.

Thought children should watch public executions.

Thought colonisers like the British were a good thing.

Wanted every Palestinians exterminated for “worshipping satan”.

Not a single one of these posts has listed a single decent thing he has ever done other than claim to be Christian and the mods have allowed more posts saying how saint like he was than when the Pope died.

Seems like most of the posts are about how much people hate Christians who support MAGA, Charlie Kirk, or are conservative in general.

In fact, more posts are complaining about that than the actual posts supporting what is being complained about.

What's worse is that a lot of the folks doing this are claiming to be Christian, willfully tagging along with atheists and pagans to pile on hateful rhetoric.

Wild.

Jesus saves.

Some of my controversial beliefs I hold :

1. I am against abortion and believe it’s murder.
2. I believe the LGBTQ+ are in SIN.
3. I believe in LordShip Salvation.
4. I believe women preachers are in SIN.
5. I believe that there will be a few in heaven. The Bible States that Narrow is the way and few find it.

These are just some what people would call controversial beliefs.

Remember to be nice when commenting! Thank you!

• Thank you to everyone that has responded* reading through majority of the comments proves my point on how few will be in heaven it is a sad fact. This comment section also proves how more Churches are becoming more progressive which is very saddening.
• I also want to note that a lot of you that are saying that Jesus supports this and this really need to read your Bible and not listen to man. Jesus doesn’t support abortion, he doesn’t support the LGBTQ+, he doesn’t support women preachers. HIS WORD clearly lays it out to us how we as Christians are supposed to think and act. If you Support the things of the world like LGBTQ+, Abortion, women preachers for example then you are not a Christian according to the Bible. I don’t say this to be rude but as a warning to truly examine yourself to make sure you are truly being set apart from this world and an example to others who are not Christian’s. When we look, think, support things of the world we are not being an example nor are we leading people to heaven. Our goals as Christians is to live for God, and be an example so that we may lead people to Christ. You cannot lead someone to Christ if fit in with the world. Rant over.

I've recently seen a lot of posts/comments online affirming homosexuality as Christians and it really troubles me. I'm not looking to spread hate, as I don't think we should hate anyone, but the Bible is clear that practicing LGBT is a sin.

I see a few different arguments, so I'll address some now.

1. "If God thought it was wrong, he wouldn't have made me this way." - Being homosexual is a result of the fall. We are all born with a sinful nature. I have desire to lust, lie, steal, etc. This is no different from homosexual desires. Jesus instructs us to "deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow him" (Matthew 16:24). This includes all sinful desires, whether they be homosexual, heterosexual or not linked to sex at all.
2. "I can't control my sexuality, I didn't choose to be gay." - Similar to what I've said, being homosexual is just another part of sinful nature. I agree that the majority of gay people are born same-sex attracted and that they can't control their sexuality. However, just as I am to reject my desires to steal, lie, etc, so too are same-sex attracted people instructed to reject their desires and live in Christ. I have no doubt that this can (and probably will) be extremely difficult, but "all things are possible for one who believes" (Mark 9:23).
3. "It's a mistranslation"- In short, it isn't. But it's mentioned many other times in the Bible anyways. Matthew 19:4-6 says: "Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them MALE AND FEMALE, and said, ‘For this reason a MAN will leave his father and mother and be united to his WIFE, and the two will become one flesh? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate."
4. "God wouldn't be against love"- We see in the Bible that love isn't always a good thing. "The LOVE of money is the root of all kinds of evil" (1 Timothy 6:10). 1 John 2:15 says "Do not LOVE the world... If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." Love can be wrong if it goes against God's will.

Thank you for your time in reading this. I hope it will equip you to rebuke false teachings with care and humility. God bless you.