<p>I was thinking about joining one of the Christian groups at school because I heard that they are really friendly and I need the social boost. However, I'm an agnostic leaning towards atheism (my dad also doesn't want me to join these things). Would it fine for me to go to the events and see what's up? I don't want people trying to convert me.</p>
<p>There are so many different groups looking for members, why not find one that matches your interests a little bit more?</p>
<p>Hmm, I guess that makes more sense. It just seems like it would be easier since I heard they are very accepting. I have a hard time getting to know people and I’m not entirely sure what my interests are. Are there random clubs to join that are interesting?</p>
<p>It is totally fine for anyone to join any of the Christian groups. You’re actually not alone as an agnostic-with the fellowship I am in, we actually have other seekers/agnostics come out to LIFE groups and friday nights and other fellowship activities. If anything, you’ll get to meet alot of new people and experience a whole new perspective, to say the least. 
</p>
<p>Isn’t college the perfect time to seek answers and find out what life is about? :D</p>
<p>I am particularly careful about this type of stuff like when my Christian friends invite me to go to some BBQ. You have to remember that their concentrate is God and that the topic will come up, and as the discussion progresses, that’s when the converting starts. My friends have tried it on me so many times but because I am very hard headed and strong about my own beliefs, they always failed. The topic of homosexuality and abortion and sex may come up too if it progresses to that.</p>
<p>I know you are new and want to meet new friends but why step into a trap that you know you don’t want to fall into the first place? When you become too comfortable, you might as well just adapt to the idea of Christianity and start converting other kids. Just watch out if you do not wish to be converted. Stay strong.</p>
<p>by going to a christian club to “fit in”, you’re basically lying to yourself about who you are. join a club that represents YOU and not how to fit in. :)</p>
<p>What’s the harm in trying it out?</p>
<p>Join my club. All we do is sit around and post on CC.</p>
<p>I think you should go ahead and join the Christian Club. Not only will you gain a new perspective, but you will make lifelong friends with the Christian Club members. We all know Christians are so inviting and they are not going to judge you. Of course, they’ll present their belief to you and help you understand the only way to true life, but that’s a really good, beneficial thing. College is all about gaining insight…you should definitely join the club and gain insight about a path different from that taken by agnostics. You wont know if it’s the right thing for u if you dont at least try it at first </p>
<p>btw…dnt allow ur dad’s pressuring you to stop u from making a good decision</p>
<p>I agree with hereicome09.</p>
<p>Nobody in any club that’s actually Christian will <em>force</em> you to do anything. They certainly will present their beliefs and discuss their faith with you, just as atheists/“anti-Christians” like Leftist will certainly present their own worldview to you. Both groups are at perfect liberty to do so, just as you are at perfect liberty to reject what they tell you.</p>
<p>I wasn’t being clear then. Personally speaking, I agree with hereicome09’s position.</p>
<p>However, my second paragraph was in response to your post #10. You portray the Christian, and especially the new Christian convert, to be some sort of animal that’s been “lured” by free food and successfully “tricked” by the Christian club to joining their faith, when that is not the case. </p>
<p>A more realistic picture is that if aerials does join a Christian club or campus fellowship, eventually the members there will likely share their faith with him/her out of a desire to see him/her come to find eternal life through the sacrifice of Christ. If aerials chooses to reject what Christians believe, as many guests of these Christian clubs often do, he will not (or at least, should not) be subjected to inappropriate tactics to try to force him to stay. Christ didn’t force himself on anybody when he was here on earth, he let people come to him. I feel like the way Leftist portrays Christian clubs as some sort of “trap” is rather unfair.</p>
<p>Totally agree with Leftist. I like lots of people with different views on life, politics, religion because I like soaking up different views and making my own views stronger (or getting rid of some that aren’t the smartest for me). That’s what makes people unique, as to being just clones and boring. To me anyway.</p>
<p>This comment that hereicome made is really enlightening, especially the last 9 words: “they’ll present their belief to you and help you understand the only way to true life”.</p>
<p>I mean, even Sartre questioned his own philosophy. I mean, what really is “true life” and what really is “the only way”???</p>
<p>Based on the OP’s comments, it sounds like you want to find a social network. A religious network, while being a social network too – social is not the real focus. Converting and thinking like them is, whether right or wrong for you, individually.</p>
<p>Be true to you, not to your dad or anyone else. Finding focus is good. Finding the right focus for you, much better.</p>
<p>There are probably people in the Christian clubs just like you, joining to make friends. You could be friends with them. Or you could be friends with the fervently religious members. Sounds like a win-win to me.</p>
<p>religion is a tough issue to discuss. you would think that religion makes us better people, but there has been so much violence and so many atrocities committed in the name of religion that it is hard to make that case. I readily admit that my own religion is especially guilty of that. it used to be that things like money, politics, and religion were not discussed in polite company. in some ways that was probably better because in the dorms it seems like the discussions polarize people instead of resolving anything. plus, i don’t like being put in or putting other people in the position of defending something someone else said or did just because they are of the same color or religion as I am or they are. I’d rather get to know who people are. I am less interested in their religion.</p>
<p>If you don’t ever intend on becoming Christian, I wouldn’t join a Christian club. At first it’ll be fine, but eventually you’re going to stick out.</p>
<p>that’s a funny statement econ, because I don’t think you can necessarily separate one’s religion from the person, as religion is, to say the least, a lifestyle based on truth claims. Now, I want to clear up that when someone makes a statement like “there has been so much violence in the name of religion”,that can also be said for the communists (or fascists), the former who claimed religion was “the opiate of the masses,” and thus attempted to put to death, God in accordance with their own “religion”. If we simply take a look at the past century of communism across Russia, China, Cambodia (i.e. Stalin, Mao), and even the forerunner to this point in history, the French Revolution (which rejected traditional religion for human reason) we see societies all rational and secular, yet each committed massive violence against its own people, all without religious influence. This reminds me of the ironic quote, “Liberty, what crimes are committed in your name”! Hence, violence doesn’t really say much about the religion itself; if anything, the principles and ideas embraced by the particular religion (hopefully) speaks against such injustice! Rather, history gives insight into our human condition, pride, rebelliousness, brokenness.</p>
<p>As Tim Keller (who actually came and spoke at Berkeley two years ago) writes, “… violence has been inspired as much by secularism as by moral absolutism. Societies that have rid themselves of all religion have been just as oppressive as those steeped in it. Societies that have rid themselves of all religion have been just as oppressive as those steeped in it. We can only conclude that there is some violent impulse so deeply rooted in the human heart that it expresses itself regardless of what the beliefs of a particular society might be-whether individualistic or hierarchical. Ultimately, then, the fact of violence and warfare in a society is no necessary refutation of the prevailing beliefs of that society.”</p>
<p>Everyone has some sort of “religion” regardless of whether or not he or she think about life’s bigger questions-questions about meaning and about life after death; about who we are and about who God is. With regards to a response on this thread, I want to point out that this isn’t a matter of how hard-headed or prideful you can be; No, this is a matter of truth and whether you seek it, or whether you hate it and override it with your own rebelliousness and pride. A prideful heart is simply unteachable. </p>
<p>I hope and encourage that people won’t be afraid or lazy about seeking answers to these sorts of questions.</p>
<p>It’s unproductive to try to debate these topics. People get offended, start quoting different people, and put words in each others mouths. Thank you for illustrating my point. </p>
<p>For the most part, individuals are not so one dimensional. Don’t allow your self to be labelled as member of one group or another, whether that label be based on your religion, race, or any thing else. Religion is part of who you are but you are many other things too. </p>
<p>If you want to see people who cannot be separated from their religion, go check out the next moonies’ meeting. When it gets to that point, it’s a cult.</p>
<p>you don’t even have to try to get into a Christian club. members literally walk up to random freshmen getting them to join. I’ve had that happen to me once eat crossroads and another time outside my building.</p>
<p>I was simply addressing a claim that you made, econ. Now how is that “unproductive”?</p>
<p>I think if anything, you illustrated my own point.</p>
<p>How do you define religion and politics?
Communism, like religion, has its own set of principles and worldview ideology.</p>
<p>Like I said before, this is a matter of the human condition, not Christianity and it’s values (i.e. The Beautitudes, Sermon on the Mount…).</p>
<p>***Sorry for this thread to go off topic. I guess if you want to talk more, you can message me.</p>