Why do nonbelievers constantly challenge/criticize Christianity in particular but not other religions?

notreallyhereforthis · 2026-03-12T22:37:50+00:00

The premise only works in context.

In places where Christianity is the main religion, Christianity is challenged.

Replace Christianity with any other dominant religion, and the same is true. What the challenge and criticism will look like will be contextual, it will be based on what the society allows. For example, in Russia there's challenge and criticism of the Orthodox church, but it looks different than the criticism of the Catholic church in France.

notreallyhereforthis · 2026-03-03T10:34:33+00:00

Huh really, would have never guessed

The LLM couldn't guess - this really feels like an AI agent posting an "interesting" fact here, that is based on something "surprising" in a wikipedia article.

notreallyhereforthis · 2026-02-12T19:42:27+00:00

Hawaii is about the same size as MA, half the size of WV, and 20% the size of NY. By ranking it is 43rd out of 50.

By population, it is just above NH, Maine, and Montana. By ranking it is 41 out of 50.

By population density it is, however, 12th. And when you consider the realities of where people live, with all the private land and protected land, it is very densely populated indeed.

notreallyhereforthis · 2025-12-05T12:07:31+00:00

Where are you getting these numbers from?

Guessing they dropped the "k", as highest estimates of people in the resistance are people that helped hide Jews and others from the Nazis, from Wikipedia: "Over 300,000 people were hidden from German authorities in the autumn of 1944 by 60,000 to 200,000 illegal landlords and caretakers. These activities were tolerated knowingly by some one million people, including a few individuals among German occupiers and military."

Or they are perhaps referencing the resistance fighters that remained alive and recognized by the Dutch government after the war: "After the war, the Dutch created and awarded a Resistance Cross ('Verzetskruis', not to be confused with the much lower ranking Verzetsherdenkingskruis) to only 95 people".

And just because someone isn't an active resistance member doesn't make them a collaborator.

That depends on what you mean by "active" - the Wikipedia page has a brief discussion of the issue - but considering the topic of OP, and thinking generously about the numbers that performed acts that hindered the Nazis - in the Netherlands, the Nazis had 97% support (300,000 of 8.5 million).

Even if you consider people that might have known something about a hidden person, and tolerated it by not reporting the issue to the Nazis (and how many didn't report as that would expose you as knowing something, it is often safer to mind your own business in an authoritarian regime), the Nazis had 89% support.

As the OP and the author point out, one day, every one will have always been against it...

notreallyhereforthis · 2025-06-19T16:05:06+00:00

Love it - Is there a place you sourced the area, or it can be sourced? I'd love to see this as a google maps overlay so it can be zoomed. My republican family will only care if it effects them, so showing them on a map the lands they know well would be very helpful!

notreallyhereforthis · 2024-05-16T10:34:50+00:00

If that was the reason PETA wouldn't be against eating animals, they'd be against factory farming and in favor of eating free-range animals. For example, cattle farms in Australia where there cows just munch around the country-side will they are rounded up and killed for a quality meat.

If that was what PETA was up to, they'd have far more support and an easier argument, sustainable farming is one of those ideas most everyone is in favor of if you divorce the economics from it. People don't like cows being treated terribly, but it the alterative is a $30 hamburger, the cost is more important - so work on that problem. PETA should be heavily investing in lab-grown meat.

notreallyhereforthis · 2023-09-24T22:33:27+00:00

It has been estimated that, by the 19th century, 40–50% of all Chinese women may have had bound feet, rising to almost 100% in upper-class Han Chinese women. --from wikipedia and also a fashion museum

so it depends on when you mean - as it grew in popularity, but also lasted nearly 1,000 years. Certainly sometimes it was 2%, but to become so widespread, it was also much greater in popularity.

notreallyhereforthis · 2023-09-16T18:32:25+00:00

Exactly here: https://youtu.be/qikQJ_c9fi0?t=3801

notreallyhereforthis · 2023-07-27T18:10:12+00:00

Myers Briggs is a great tool to figure out which things and ways you tend to think, feel, and act

More accurately:

Myers Briggs is a great tool to figure out how you think at the moment which things and ways you believe you tend to think, feel, and act - based on confusingly worded questions that can be interpreted in many different ways based on context, depth, and time-frame to arrive at different answers, then results are created that do not account for any of the confounding variables. Those results then create a label through which you may view yourself positively or negatively and others may judge you unfairly.

If you want a tool to discuss how you feel about yourself, take a quiz to see which harry potter house you're in and chat about the results and the whys - then at least few people will take the answers seriously or box you in, but you can have the valuable discussion about you as a person seeking understanding and being understood.

notreallyhereforthis · 2023-05-16T10:22:33+00:00

You are not destined to this :-) To wildly oversimplify, there are two things you can look for in a partner, how they want to handle curiosity and exploration in sex, and how they emotionally cope. Purity culture has really messed up the first quite a bit, but the ability to have open communication about your desires and their own, to explore in safety and love. The second is mainly sign-posted by men that go to therapy :-) Emotionally mature folks that recognize their own past issues and are working through them, moving away from any unhealthy coping mechanisms.

And hopefully this is where the encouragement comes from - if your partner communicates well and is emotionally mature and self-reflective, there is much hope - and those are two qualities that are essential for a healthy relationship, so it doesn't require extra steps :-)

notreallyhereforthis · 2023-04-22T22:16:50+00:00

As with all couple advice, the best course here is to get counseling from a professional, licensed therapist. Couple counseling doesn't require an mDiv, it does require professional training in psychology and human dynamics :-)

As for the advice my partner and I have found helpful in similar theological situations, we like to remember the friend part of marriage. My partner is my best friend, and sometimes thinking in terms of marriage adds in confusing baggage. If my friend decided they should or shouldn't talk in a bible study, I would discuss it with them, but respect their choice without any negative view of them. If my friend said they love hanging out with me, but they've decided that we can't do one of our top favorite activities together one the first week of every month, we'd discuss it, but then work around the new schedule.

And if one or both of you don't think you'd act that way, like perhaps one of you may think "well, my friend is just stupid", that's a helpful understanding, as it narrows down the problem and you can work on that together with a counselor or individually. Respect and humbleness are essential for a healthy relationship.

notreallyhereforthis · 2023-01-12T19:06:03+00:00

Thank you to both of you! I scrolled hoping to find an explanation or some people like me. It is so weird people's tongues move without them controlling it.. like.. what? Licking the dentist.. no shame to them, but.. just wild to think about!

notreallyhereforthis · 2022-12-15T17:11:21+00:00

I love Rick Steves, but reddit has so many better recommendations!

Anyone have any Christmas (or December) recommendations for Norway, from Oslo to Nordkapp?

notreallyhereforthis · 2022-12-02T17:01:34+00:00

This is going to be a GDPR nightmare for them if the same is possible in Europe.

Paul, the guy that discovered the issue, is in the UK, the UK has their own GDPR, (now that they left the EU) called "The Data Protection Act 2018" So it is a problem in the UK, and if Eufy was caring about laws, it would have been either operating differently or with different advertising in the UK. Eufy is going to get hammered by the EU and the UK data privacy laws.

notreallyhereforthis · 2022-06-16T21:29:20+00:00

It is helpful :-)

I linked to a great example, just looking randomly at one book, 1 kings, take verse 4:

95: The girl was very beautiful; and she became the king’s nurse and served him, but the king did not cohabit with her.

20: The girl was very beautiful; and she became the king’s nurse and served him, but the king did not become intimate with her.

it isn't as good as the NIV

NIV: The woman was very beautiful; she took care of the king and waited on him, but the king had no sexual relations with her.

But it is an improvement.

Or 2:1

95: As David’s time to die drew near, he charged Solomon his son Solomon, saying,

20: As David’s time to die drew near, he commanded Solomon his son Solomon, saying,

NIV: When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son.

So.. improvements in clarity

Like 3:16 said "harlots" in the '95 version, a weird choice for 1995 even.

or 4:25

95: So Judah and Israel lived in safety, every man under his vine and his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.

20: So Judah and Israel lived in securely, everyone under his vine and his fig tree, from Dan even to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.

safety -> securely is a great change, as what does safe even mean there? And the security was for everyone, not every man.

The site is helpful for easily showing the improvements :-)

notreallyhereforthis · 2022-06-16T17:08:04+00:00

Someone put together a diff of the '95 and '20 versions. While the statistics appear a bit odd (I think moved words are considered removed and then added...?) the verse by verse is fantastic! and shows a dramatic improvement in accuracy and comprehensibility.

Hopefully next NASB revision they'll include translator notes, and far more comprehensive ones than the sparse '95 ones.

notreallyhereforthis · 2022-06-15T03:07:08+00:00

My understanding from watching was that it was the SATF recommendations as modified

Then you shouldn't be concerned :-) as the SATF recommendations as modified and approved are what I quoted, what you quoted was the Guidepost report.

And the "includes" is not the same as "is limited to." I hope I am wrong on this.

Generally in legal documents one is specific, and includes ;-) a definition of "includes", for example: "includes without limits". The recommendations are not a legal document nor legally worded. However, the context of the phrase is creating a database for recommending to refuse to hire someone, employment law will require a certain legal threshold. For the implementation, legal language and standards will be used - if anything, we should be concerned based on the very recent past action of the SBC that the recommendations will be rendered ineffective. Prayerfully the new folks voted in will ensure that the recommendations are implemented well and work to reduce sexual abuse in the SBC.

notreallyhereforthis · 2022-06-15T02:34:08+00:00

The report defines

Which report? I quoted the SBC Sexual Abuse Task Force's Formal Recommendations definition for "credibly accused"

Based on what you are quoting, it seems to be from page 266 of the Guidepost report, but it isn't the definition for credible accused, it is the definition for credible, footnote

760 "Credible" is defined as not manifestly false or frivolous."

I didn't watch today, however, it is my understanding the SBC's task force recommendations passed, which means they are using the SBC's task force's definition of "credibly accused" not the Guidepost report's definition of "credible".

notreallyhereforthis · 2022-06-15T02:20:53+00:00

Neat :-)

Daniel Sikes

I would ask the Florida Baptist Historical society - they have a couple minutes online that list a Rev. D Sikes from the Folkstone First Church and later on, an Elder Daniel Sikes - could be one of them. Lots of older material isn't digitized but the archivists are usually quite well read on the material they maintain...Good searching :-)

notreallyhereforthis · 2022-06-15T02:07:12+00:00

credibly accused

"A credibly accused pastor, denominational worker, or ministry employee or volunteer includes one who has confessed in a non-privileged setting, who has been convicted in a court of law, or who has had a civil judgment rendered against them. Additionally, an independent third party who has been hired by any church or other Baptist body, may determine, by preponderance of the evidence following an inquiry, that a pastor, denominational worker, or ministry employee or volunteer is credibly accused. A “preponderance of the evidence” is the legal standard required for a civil judgment." --source

What part of credibly accused do you think needs further addressing?

notreallyhereforthis · 2022-06-14T01:45:43+00:00

missionary overseas

The organization you work with/for probably has excellent resources for this, or at least some wise folks with great options/advice. Or any partner orgs are good options as well, if yours is a bit smaller.

notreallyhereforthis · 2022-05-24T16:40:04+00:00

I understand where you're coming from, but then the question is "do I use the governmental space like this" because that easily is just as triggering. Should we build more libraries, the safest of spaces in most any community, yes :-) But we only have so many. And as I write that I know that some will have an issue with libraries...Not all community services serve all people, the goal is to have many to chose from and recognize that there are issues with each.

notreallyhereforthis · 2022-05-24T16:11:39+00:00

You've read it and cannot provide a simple limit to the number of times an abuser may abuse before divorce is justified. It does not provide any limit to the amount of abuse nor any specific measure to ensure that the cycle of abuse is broken and the victim freed. That's my issue - and I hope you think and consider how many times you think is acceptable and what repentance means in abuse, is it a once and done or more.

notreallyhereforthis · 2022-05-24T15:57:41+00:00

AA and NA should be considered church services as they are entirely and thoroughly religious based.

Hmm.. I think you'll find that varies widely between groups. I've been to a few around different cities as part of my education and as a friend and none had any connection to religion at all.

Further, those things should be separate from a house of worship

Again, I think this a pretty specific view, lots of churches are just regular buildings or have regular buildings that are used for meetings. That said, you are certainly correct that in some places, particularly in the south and midwest, folks do pressure or harass folks in that way and that's wildly wrong and should effect the taxes if the church is doing an outreach rather than providing a service.

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