Teknevra

By: u/Lone-Wolf-6314

Some argue that video games are a fictional outlet—an immersive experience where we can play as morally complex characters, even criminals, or in "bad guy vs. bad guy" scenarios.

After going through a long period of inner conflict, I decided that I would only play video games where the protagonist aligns with Christian values. If a game asks me to do something I wouldn’t agree with in real life, then I choose not to play it. However, this feels extremely limiting and cuts out so much content for me.

So, if I’m playing as a cowboy or a samurai seeking revenge against other wrongdoers—something I wouldn’t do in real life—then I feel I shouldn’t be engaging with a game like that, especially if it doesn’t emphasize forgiveness or reflect what we, as Christians, are called to do.

This personal standard has really limited the kinds of stories I feel comfortable engaging with in games.

I do want to play the video games and stories for the arc, storytelling, climax, plot, but the guilt and anxiety I feel from virtually playing as a gray or evil character upsets me even if it's for the storyline and game.

There's also another thing to consider: Everything is permissible, but not all things are spiritually beneficial. I feel like by playing as a worldly character, it can alter or change me. The other side of me however argues that I want to explore fiction and imaginative scenarios told through video games and art.

By: u/That_Chikkabu

So I’ve been kind of deconstructing the concept of hell, I’ve been talking to a fellow about it and they said that Matthew 25:41-46 depicts an actual eternal hell punishment.

They’ve mentioned depending how we use the Greek word, if we use eternal as a different way that most scholars do than the eternal also used for eternal life would be the same thing as well. Meaning, eternal life isn’t actually eternal but it is sort of temporary.

What do you guys think? Do you think hell is actually ever depicted eternally and concious? Is this more of a God issue than a Bible issue?

By: u/Bignosedog

There are certain aspects of our faiths that differ, but I truly believe some divides need to be understood as what the spirit of the action or belief is with the desire to find similarities rather than differences.

We are all attempting to be part of Jesus's flock which is what he desires. Please keep that in mind when you think about our differences. Though Jesus's sheep dog (pig?) may need to work harder on some of us than others, we are still looking and wanting that guidance.

The animosity I see between Christians is heartbreaking. We disagree on many things even within denominations, but we are all trying to follow the same God. I have strong feelings towards some and believe their actions hurt the cause, but on some levels we are all still trying. Viewing it through that lens will soften the heart and allow for a discourse that might, probably not, but might actually lead to the change we wish to see.

By: u/Emotional_Click_9970

I have had a hard time figuring out how biblical modesty about wealth should be applied today.

If we follow the scripture literally, then braided hair and gold are banned, which seems excessive.

On the other end it's obvious that someone with excessive wealth should distribute what they don't need.

The thing I'm specifically wondering is where is that line.

Like someone could survive just on food, water, and shelter, but saying that having any joy in life from possessions is a sin feels unreasonable.

At what point is using wealth for yourself a sin?

By: u/MistrRobott

Hey everyone!

So as the title says, I am currently looking for some progressive Christian who are accepting. Unfortunately, all the channels I have come across were conservative-leaning, and were not accepting. I would appreciate some good recommendations!

By: u/redheaded_olive12349

In my specific faith, I believe that the bible was mistranslated or misinterpreted over time.

Such things as homosexuality and stuff (you know all kinds of stuff) were never condemned in the original bible.

We believe that early Christians never believed these things and that was the original bible.

"My beloved Husayn, I foresee you when you will be, in the very near future, covered with your blood, slain at the land of Karbala, while thirsty, being deprived of water. This will be done to you by people who claim that they are from my followers.”

With the recent win of Zohran Mamdani, it got me thinking on how he won the hearts of people in one of the most popular places on earth, what's even astonishing is the fact New York has the most Jews after Tel-Aviv and with everything that's happening in Gaza, he simply made the unthinkable a reality and progressive phase of Islam has a big role in his victory.

The way he held all communities together regardless of the conflicts and how he managed the heat by presenting himself before any community with the very idea of peace and promising a better future for humanity, this is indeed the very idea of Islam. let me rephrase it "progressive Islam"

Coz currently the ideas that are sold in the name of Islam is very much that of the extremists and is quite literally flawed. Extremists that are the wahabi/salafi community who were born through the betrayal of Islamic world— tbough the Islamic world was weak and had it flaws in its latter stages then but was never anything as the extremists we see today

The extremists right from their bonding with the colonial powers, inherited everything evil they had, which has truly led to the defamation of this very religion as well and there's truly a reason the Arab nations which are all in bed with deep wahabism never ever has tried to save Gaza for once.

They are truly a cult, that never have any true faith nor any politics within them but follows the leaders and scholars who were installed by the kings of their nations, who only works in the best interest of the capitalist clowns of the west as well and that says it all.

And how exactly are the extremists any different from the Zionists— who sees themselves superior to anyone, just like the extremists of this religion who calls anyone that's doesn't comply with them "kuffar" and thinks they are the only version that's gonna enter heaven somehow, how secluded mindset.

Lets not forget, when prophet was the leader of Madinah he used to give the ruling for the Jews based upon their sacred book and for Christians based on Gospels as well and so on for every other minority community and this was the true Islam, the Islam for humanity.

And indeed this is exactly what progressive Islam is as well and Zohran is just the beginning of this very ideology.

Not sure if I'm technically Christian anymore, but for the sake of the discussion let's just pretend that I am. I still believe in a soul and a god in any case. I've been reading about determinism, and it really disturbs me. The idea that everything we do is determined solely by a chain of external factors that have happened to us, and we have no hypothetical ability to make any other choice than the one we do.

I see mostly pysicalist atheists argueing for this, but I fail to see how it changes much even if God is in the picture. This means that feeling proud of people, feeling disappointed in people, choosing to be better or to stagnate, being encouraged by people with good hearts or discouraged by people who 'choose' to do evil, and most importantly moral culpability.....it's all an illusion. A practically useful one in our day to day, but an illusion. Courage, justice, choice, compassion, creativity, freedom, all of these concepts that make us human are paper-thin under this framework. We are incapable of choosing our own paths, and we always have been. We were never capable of making different choices. Autonomy isn't real.

Now I don't want this to be true. I want there to be, ultimately, some cohesive self that is capable of making free (not uninfluenced, but free) decisions of whether or not we act in ways that are good or evil, by some complex and unknowable system. But even with the existence of God and a soul taken into account, I can't understand how that could be. Physics or the existence of the spiritual aside, it just becomes a logic problem at a certain point. Either everything we do has a reason, which ultimately has to be external, or the things we do are entirely random.

Which feels pretty bleak. No one can claim ownership of any of their 'decisions,' good or evil. No one can claim they chose to rise above themselves and no one can claim anyone else could have chosen differently when they do something wrong. There is no such thing as responsibility. Who we are is entirely governed by chance. 'Humanity' is mechanical. Does it have to be this way, even under the Christian view? Am I thinking in too severe black and white?

Focus on The family as an organization genuinely beyond confuses me.

How in the world are you gonna promote helping families and leading with Jesus example then proceed to refuse service to lgbtq people and call transitioning a "devastating condition"???

How is calling children of gay and lesbian parents "Human guinea pigs in the same sex experiment" ANYTHING LIKE JESUS??

I'm aware there are many Christian organizations that are against lgbtq, duh!

But how does ANYONE no matter belief, think this is a good way to lead??

Maybe its just me, but I dont think this is the way to guide ppl to Christ?

I believe the president Jim Daly said marriage equality is the downfall of civilization.

Again ppl can believe whatever they want to, but I'm really struggling to see where this counts as leading with Jesus' example 😭