I do not believe that MANY KNOW THE REAL TRUTH of what GOD ALMIGHTY HAS HAD WRITTEN FOR US ALL
It has just gone too far, too many times... for human "peers" to be assuming control over others, in the name of God.
It's not that I have decided to walk the planet promoting my worldview as THE absolute right/wrong, but that through understanding and allowing for certain compromises, I've lived in peace and promoted the same.
Now, it is easy for people to come around (from nearly ANY intellectual-angle), and rationalize their views of "right" or "wrong"; religious and/or Bible believing people do this as much as any human beings do.
By FAITH (not pure logic or reason), the adherence to the Bible which many display makes sense, really. But it is reasonable and fair (just) to understand and say that not everyone can or will abide by what is (or is "said" to be) "
biblical".
In a world where the "absolutes" which are evident to all, are NOT those absolutes which are "spiritual", then it makes sense that the more universally understood certain things are, the more acceptable they are as "truth".
For example, I agree and believe that love stems from that which is spiritual, but I cannot prove that, anymore than I can prove what I'm really like to anyone posting here. One must experience these things first-hand, to really KNOW what they are talking about... especially when it comes to judging and condemning other human beings (from one's "interpretation" or acceptance of the "Bible").
There are always those people who cannot stand being "questioned", and feel they MUST be "believed" (that no one should have the freedom of right to CHALLENGE them). I've met so many Christians like that, who start the worst arguments, and end up acting like bigoted jerks when they face a real challenge. Rather than accepting and realizing that not everyone (or even every "Christian") they engage is capable or necessarily willing to accept their worldview, they coerce, manipulate, and overwhelm others with their own "humaness" (they impose their wills).
It's not "love" (even by biblical standards), but they will call it that because it fits their agenda. And all the while, CLAIM that because it comes from "The Bible", it makes them somehow "right", in what they are
DOING to others as a result.
This is the type of thing which many do, and call it "Christian". And they can no more call that kind of systematic manipulation of other human beings "Christian", than they could prove driving by (or sitting in) a "church" makes people "holier".
There are those who have tried HARD to believe the Bible ALL of their lives, and in the end could not continue believing it; how is that "really" explained (besides the usual rationale, and biblical verses applied in a typically failed effort to brush real questions aside).
I may not "agree" with every view of those ex-Christians who have become skeptical of the Bible (even anti-Christian), but I do know the kinds of questions they have, which every person cannot simply ignore for a lifetime (as short as they are).
Due to the uncompassionate and useless witness most "Christians" are willing to hand homosexual people, I nearly lost ALL faith in things most Christians readily take for granted. The people I've talked to since discovering the massive conflict between most "Christians" and "homosexuality", have shown me that they don't have as much understanding of people, as they often let on. I listen to their words, but even more carefully, I listen to the expressions from their hearts, by their words over time.
That is, it is one thing for a person to reject homosexuality based upon their biblical views, and another to sense how they REALLY feel about homosexual people in this world. And this is closely related to my primary motivation for NOT wanting to be homosexual (even trying to change it for many decades). As a result, the things many (straight) Christians say so easily (from their own minds), do not often prove to a homosexual person that they are worthy of trust and/or belief.
But, it seems this topic is about the alleged "Criminalizing" of Christianity. And I suppose that some Christians who are deeply rooted in their faith (worldviews), likely feel
offended when they are opposed on certain points (as if they believe there should be no significant challenges to their "perfect" belief system).
And religion is "good", if I were to limit it to "one" word. But I think most people understand that not "everything" about religion, or some people's beliefs are necessarily "good". And that is where the allowance for "questions" (even certain restrictions) upon certain perceived "rights" have been evoked over time. "Christianity" (whatever it REALLY is), has evolved, been modified and adjusted many times throughout history; even to the point that in certain eras, many living today probably wouldn't recognize it as "Christianity".
I can see where some might indeed want everything to stay exactly the "same", and fear that their "faith" would be defeated as a result of "change". But how can such change/evolution be completely avoided? What is to "common", "universal" or "eternal" denominator which takes Christianity through time/space?
For me, the answer is "love". And my view of "Christian" faith (which I try to keep "passive", for the most part) is that it is IDENTIFIED almost completely by the attributes of "love" which have been universally understood as "love", from the original "then"... to the present "now".
Honestly, I cannot relate to many of the biblical stories, unless they are interpreted so I might relate to them. But I have learned over a little time, that many people's interpretations either cannot be trusted implicitly, or that they are driven by agendas having little or nothing to do with love. While that wouldn't destroy my "faith" in a God per se, it does show me that I likely MUST question "The Bible" itself. Some are offended and even frightened by that, and I understand (I used to believe every word of it myself), but then came a time where real questions came, that didn't seem to have the answers I needed to "believe" in it (the Bible) IMPLICITLY.
And while I remain more skeptical about all of it than I did at the beginning, I do sense something good and important about it; I simply don't believe that everything someone says it true, just because it fits a few spaces of the puzzle in my heart and soul. As long as no one is poised to IMPOSE their "religion" upon myself or others, then I see nothing particularly "criminal" or "threatening" about it. On the other hand, most people can detect when they are being unjustly and unnecessarily coerced, compelled or oppressed; that they would take "action/s" over time to mitigate those things, should not be unexpected.
I think the Golden Rule, is profound and effective in a world like this one.
-Mel-
:) I do not scare easily when it comes to people.. I WOULD BE A LIAR to say that I could not be FEARFUL if somebody had a GUN IN MY FACE, or a knife at my throat YET MEN IN WAR and woman IN THE PLACES WHERE the chance for death can COME because of REAL DEATH and DESTRUCTION OF WARRING men in armies that war and fighting against one another because of ONE REASON OR ANOTHER usually if not MONEY it is just plain JEALOUSY, ENVY, AND HATRED. THE PLANET EARTH is FILLED with THESE FEELINGS AND WAYS OF MEN AND WOMAN HUH??? YET HERE IN AMERICA??? I DO BELIEVE THAT WE AS A PEOPLE DO FIGHT FOR ALL MEN ON THE EARTH TO BE FREE AS AMERICA HAS been FREE FOR WHAT OVER 200 YEARS.. AND IF YOU CONSIDER the SCRIPTURES THAT would be ALOT MORE YEARS ACCORDING TO THE LORDS TIME.. FOR I ALSO BELIEVE THAT AMERICA SERVES A PURPOSE FOR THE WHOLE OF THIS PLANET EARTH. along with ISRAEL OF THE MIDDLE EAST.. 
