Originally posted by twhitehead
It was a guess but I am fairly sure that it is over 90%.
[b]Judging from you prior posts, that must not sit too well with you... 🙂
You are correct.
Well, perhaps you are fortunate enough to live in a Christian country that actually reflects the teachings of Christ?
The government actually declared Zambia a "Christian Nation" (for pol ...[text shortened]... s as a single organized group by the way) is going to persecute the other 81% is ridiculous.[/b]
I don't understand why you and rwingett conclude that I must have a 'martyr' complex or a 'persecution' complex. I've only responded to the expressed opinions within the 'freethought' online community. Wherein no one advocates banning religion necessarily, though there is a general feeling it's time for rational people to strike at the heart of religious belief. The impetus being the recent push by conservatives to make intelligent design standard curriculum in schools, although the real driving force it seems is the desire to ridicule the very heart of religious faith itself, intelligent design being simply the excuse needed to disregard the social taboo of criticizing people's beliefs publicly. Bottom line, the gloves are off.
What I'm saying is, as a Christian, I don't necessarily see that as bad thing. For too long, in this country anyway, Christian communities have been publicly sensitive to others criticizing their beliefs, like wounded children complaining about their treatment in the schoolyard; publicly decrying the injustice of various criticisms or outright attacks on their beliefs. Like a bad parent, political correctness has coddled such behavior and justified it in the name of religious tolerance. My contention is that Christians should not expect to be tolerated, and should definitely not confuse such tolerance with a free license to impose their beliefs on the world via political action. God's kingdom is not of this world.
So your apparent fear that less than 19% of the population (who do not identify themselves as a single organized group by the way) is going to persecute the other 81% is ridiculous.
I said "relatively near" future, which could be hundreds of years away. If the trend stays as it is, one day the proportions of Christians to non-believers may be entirely reversed -- that is the scenario I'm referring to. I don't fear such a prospect; everything is in God's hands. I just want to worship my Lord and will do so even if it may be a danger to my life, as it is for my brothers in China. Someone with a persecution complex seeks out persecution, but I would never seek persecution for its own sake; that is not what Christ teaches.
"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you" (Matthew 5:10-12).