Thread:JayZX535/@comment-26094355-20160425230258/@comment-27170788-20160426171038

Maltalidenta Kwuitidherali wrote: Quick heads up; I'm not the mean baddy you might think, but I also don't think that about seven fundamental Christians, because let's face it that's what 90% of you are, should make the rest of us change just because they got offended at something. I'm not usually horrible... I promise... I'm sure you're not- our views have just brought us into conflict.

Although I would like to make a statement here. I'm not going to deny that many Christians are judgemental and tend to (metaphorically) just whack people in the head with the Bible. But honestly, I don't believe that's a good approach. I'm not going to deny my beliefs, but I understand that I cannot make anyone change. Only God can do that. What I'm called to do is stand up for what I believe in and speak what I believe is the truth. And yes, that will offend people. But honestly, if anyone makes a statement on anything, they'll offend SOMEONE. The only way to get through life without offending anyone is to have no personal beliefs and agree with everything and everyone, and even then if someone hears you agreeing with someone else, they might be offended even about that.

I know there are many Christians who do aggressively go after those with different views than their own. And it is true- I believe the only way to be saved is through Christ. But it's not an issue about what someone does or doesn't do, but rather about what they believe. It's not about changing behavior. But if someone's beliefs change, their behavior will, too. Right now, you and I live by a different standard. I have a very conservative opinion about cursing and using strong language, and you have much more liberal view. I see swearing as wrong, and you don't. But that's because we live by different standards. I can't expect you to change your behavior just because me or anyone else is out there going "SWEARING IS WRONG!". It's not going to happen. And it bugs me that many Christians do take that approach- they try to change the behavior of those around them more than they understand that behavior stems from beliefs. I have even been guilty of this in the past! But I think I have a clearer understanding of things now.

I understand that your behavior won't change just because I think it should. I believe that swearing is wrong-- whether it's me who swears or you. But you don't have that same standard. So unless your standard changes, I can't expect you to consider swearing to be wrong. And your standard won't change unless your beliefs do.

In our conversation in the suggestions forum, I wasn't trying to attack your beliefs (and it seems to me like that's how you felt about it). I was simply asking that Mevans change the language in the mod because I do find it offensive. If you and I were in a room together and you started using words I wasn't comfortable with, I would respectfully ask you not to use that kind of language around me. That's not saying anything about the language you use when we're apart. I still may disagree with you about the words you use, but I wouldn't ask you to change your entire lifestyle just because it made me uncomfortable. Now, if you became a Christian, that would necessitate a change in lifestyle, because that would be first a change in beliefs, which would lead to a change in standard and cause a change in behavior. But (given that you have a very hostile view of Christians I'm guessing you probably aren't one) if you are not a Christian, I cannot expect you to change your behavior in terms of your whole life because we do not live by the same standard. While I may ask you to respect my views by not using harsh language around me, I will not ask you to just change your behavior, because that won't happen unless your beliefs and standard change.

That was what I was trying to accomplish by contesting the language in the mod. Since I find it offensive, I asked if Mevans would remove it from the mod. It's sort of like asking someone not to swear in front of you. I'm not saying Mevans should never swear in his personal life (though I still think it would be wrong if he does- again, he and I probably have different standards), but I'm asking him to refrain from using language in front of me (and others who might be offended).

Does that make sense?