There is definitely no loving God. Fact.

In fact I make you all go out and play in the garden. Rain or no rain.

might

jing you sound like my old granny! Elegran said what I was thinking about the reasons why some people become missionaries, so I will try to stay quiet now - going out to play!

Typical, Atheists can lost their opinions and I respect their opinions even though I msy not agree . I post an opinion abd am rebuked - that's not Christian

And I was just trying to answer Wilma
going out to play in the gentle rain from heaven

Wilma I think I'm rapidly turning into my old granny!

jingl - you can ask for the title thread to be changed I should think, if that will help at all. Other than that, once a thread is started, it goes where it does.

I am going to link to the fundamentalism thread, as that subject keeps being brought up.
www.gransnet.com/forums/religion_spirituality/1216875-What-do-people-mean-by-christian-fundamentalist

God is a God of love, true. But he is also
God of truth, he doesnt lie.
God of mercy, if we repent, he forgives what we have done wrong.
God of power, I dont think that needs explanation.

I do NOT like missionaries. How dare they interfere with others' beliefs and cultures!? Disgraceful.

Better that they should get out there and help in practical ways with medicines and water projects - as indeed many christian groups do. Better to be out there with respectful humility towards others' beliefs.

I always refuse to fill the Christmas shoe boxes that go to the third world because they contain a bible. "Aid with strings attached" does not sit well with me. I make a contribution via another charity.

Yet Luckygirl we want to stop some practices carried out in the middle East and China , is this not inferring with beliefs and cultures ?

We're not missionaries now!! I think the last ones went out nearly a hundred years ago (and not to Africa or China!)
I think they were trying to persuade the Mormons that monogamy was a good idea .....

Annie - I do not think we should interfere with other cultures whether in a patriarchal religious way or any other. There are many cultures whose practices I do not like, but interfering and trying to impose our values is a dangerous path.

Surely you're not saying that practices such as FGM should not be condemned because it would be 'interfering with another culture', Luckygirl?

How might we interfere to stop FGM? It goes without saying that I abhor and condemn this, but how might it be stopped? Drop a few bombs and hope they hit the thousands of perpetrators rather than the victims? It is ingrained in some cultures and it is the family (who supposedly love the child) who instigate this barbarous practice.

We do not even seem able to stop it happening here in our own country.

Actually rosequartz there's still missionaries today. Some years ago I got a Christmas card from an old work friend who always included a newsletter with her card. I was shocked to read one of her sons who is married with two children had given up his job, so he and his wife could go abroad to work as a missionaries (the children went too). I can't remember where they went, but it was somewhere in Africa and they were going for a set period of three years. My friend and her husband were church goers, but I don't remember her ever mentioning any serious involvement with their church. I did wonder if maybe the son was hoping to train to be a minister/vicar or something later on, but my friend stopped sending newsletters and I never found out any more.

Actually rosequartz there's still missionaries today

Misunderstanding Wilma Yes, I know there are

When I said:
We're not missionaries now!! I think the last ones went out nearly a hundred years ago
I meant no members of our family are missionaries now!
(apart from a very distant cousin we have never met who lives overseas.)

how might it be stopped? Drop a few bombs and hope they hit the thousands of perpetrators rather than the victims?
Well, perhaps this is where missionaries might be useful; rather than dropping bombs they could try persuasion.

But that would be 'interfering', rose, and we can't have that!

Of course not, let them carry on being mutilated.
Poor little girls.

Do you think missionaries would be able to convert Muslims?

Yes, we mustn't try to impose our values - that's a dangerous path...

Some Muslims leaders are becoming supporters of its abolition.
It's not a case of converting Muslims; not all agree with FGM.

I understand stand rosequartz

AnnieBach why would anyone want to convert Muslims?

Indeed the only way to try and reduce this barbarous practice is by persuasion - but not by those with a religious axe to grind.

Wilma, a poster said 'perhaps this is where missionaries might be useful' I simply asked if they would be in Muslim countries

I think we should impose our values. in this country.