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File: 1429560212068.png (529.29 KB, 391x528, 391:528, 1427597666357.png)

 No.333

Brothers,

I know we're a very slow board for now, and that's OK, small steps go a long way. I have a suggestion.

Back in the day, I used to go on 4chan to answer people's questions about Christianity. If you feel up for it, I would suggest we occasionally do this. If someone wants to open a similar thread on /christian/, I have no problem with it. Go ahead.

However, I propose these guidelines, and I propose them from experience:

1. Whatever happens, keep your cool. I can't stress this enough. If you can't convince anyone of anything, at least you can show grace under pressure, and that alone will impress many. Don't underestimate the power of keeping cool. When people see you getting shat on for hours and always responding kindly, with love, without sounding like a hypocrite, they will give you credit for this alone, and that credit goes on to Christ, for everything you do as a Christian speaks for Christ. The way you'll behave often matters more than what you say.

2. Acknowledge ignorance. You won't know everything, and you shouldn't be ashamed of that. State that you are a work in progress, like all humans, and you still have things to learn. Be humble when you don't know something. Don't try to do mental gymnastics if you simply don't know: simply say so. Honesty and humility will also make people trust you.

3. Try to empathise to the maximum. This job is best done by those of us who have been atheists and who know what it feels like to live in a Godless universe. Christians who never experienced this can always testify as to how it feels like to feel in a God-driven universe, something I myself cannot do.

4. Don't antagonise your audience. Don't use concepts and words you know your audience is unlikely to know. Don't namedrop, don't speak of Double Procession if you do so merely to make your audience feel ignorant. Be clear and be simple.

5. Answer all questions. This is /b/, expect extremely rude questions and comments. Expect to be asked if you like little boys. Calmly answer the truth. Loaded questions will be 70% of what you receive: respond to them as if they were actual questions. Leave the responsibility of being a dick to the person behaving like a dick. You do not need to turn into a douchebag for anyone, nor should you.

6. Do not be offended, ever. Same as keeping your cool, but it needs to be emphasised. It won't be easy. I believe this is a worthier test of faith than much of the other artificial trials many Christians inflict on themselves. You will sometimes fail and start calling everyone a fucking moron. It's OK, forgive yourself. Your anger rises from good intentions. Don't despair, but try not to snap. It is better to quit a thread calmly than to snap. Telling the truth, especially when it is humbling, will make a good impression on people.

7. Love them. Actively love the people you will preach to. Sounds easy, perhaps, but it's not, but do it. Care for them, feel that love, and act accordingly. You don't have to appreciate what they do or say, just love them and wish the best for them.

8. Be humble. If you act as if you knew everything, you will not convert many, especially not the most skeptical. You must maintain an attitude of humility. You will be accused of hypocrisy a lot and you will be called conceited and you will be called an arrogant prick for assuming you know better and for coming there to preach "your" religion. Remind them that all you did was open a thread for those interested: nobody forces anyone to come to that thread and read and post words. They cannot deny this truth. You are not being invasive, you're simply giving a chance to the curious.

9. Do not underestimate people's thirst for God.

(cont.)

 No.334

9. (cont.) In my painful experience of preaching on chans, I have noticed that a lot of people are truly interested in Christianity. Take every one of them with the utmost seriousness. Never scorn anyone for any question, but answer all with the same seriousness. Some people don't know what the Trinity is and which persons are in it: you explain it simply. Never condescend or mock, obviously.

Speak to them in a language they can understand, that is, normal language and some chan stuff if you like. You don't have to become a caricature of a channer, but speak the way you would to another anon normally. Trust yourself.

10. Atheists come in many shades. Know the difference between the troll and the atheist who more or less unconsciously seeks God by testing His defences. Many atheists would love to believe but will not risk believing in stupid stuff, so they will relentlessly attack your beliefs: keep in mind that they do so to make sure God is a safe ship.

Often, such atheists will not know that their questions actually have answers, and they will be impressed that you have answers for them. That fact alone will change their attitude quite a bit. Suddenly, they must acknowledge that their questions are not as interesting or as intelligent as some of the answers you can provide. This way, they will consider answers more than they consider questions, and that's a great first step out of atheism.

10. You should feel love for the atheists. I do because I was once like them and I still suffer because of it. This makes that job very easy for me. Perhaps you don't feel this way, so know your limits. If you find yourself hating this, consider not doing it at all. It's all right, we are not all gifted equally and if you hate talking to atheists and haters, don't hurt yourself doing it. I can take the pain because it's the only time when I feel somewhat useful to God, but most of you have a healthier and saner relationship with God (I'd imagine, and hope).

11. Do not go dogmatic on them. I don't care how certain you think you are about anything, presenting dogmas to the heathens will do very little for them or you or God. Remember Christ. Christ spoke to people a certain way, and even though He was God, He didn't present dogmas in an arrogant manner. You, not being God, must be even more humble.

12. Avoid details unless requested. You should present yourself as a Christian before all. You will be asked what denomination you are from, and believe it, there will be Christians on /b/, and those will want to test you. Some will even join your thread to help. Accept their help, disregard differences in beliefs. Acknowledge that not all Christians believe exactly the same thing, but that this is normal and actually proves that Christians are mentally healthy, for a group where everyone claims to believe exactly the same thing 100% can only be a cult. Be proud of this diversity even when others might think of it as a flaw. It's not. We're humans, we're not perfect, we don't know a lot of things, we have to take guesses, we use reason according to our capacities and imaginations, and we think creatively. Let no one think it's a bad thing.


 No.335

That's about it from the top of my head.

Mainly, don't be arrogant or self-righteous. Speaking to the unchristian in order to make them interested in the faith is a vastly more intricate job than speaking to other Christians.

People will bring up Hell, a lot. Whether you believe in this version of Hell or not, it's good to present it: the version CS Lewis believes in, also Swedenborg, where God doesn't send anyone to Hell, but we send ourselves there by virtue of how we live. You can present it without saying you personally believe in it, but just to show that the simplified "Disobey and God punishes you" is not all there is. A lot of non-Christians have an extremely simple view of Christianity and they are convinced that this is all there is. They allow Christianity no refinements or subtlety. Show them otherwise, even if this means explaining beliefs you don't personally believe. The point is to enlarge their thinking, to grow their understanding from its atrophied state, so that even more concepts can get in.


 No.336

Perhaps this is pretentious of me but if anyone feels like they need training, I'll help as much as I can. Ask any questions you want. I'm no expert preacher but I have a tonload of hours under my belt of speaking the hateful crowds of /b/ and getting many to look at Christ with a more serious eye.

If you need ammo, I can advise you to watch these channels. It'll be good for you too.

https://www.youtube.com/user/wordonfirevideo/videos

Father Robert Barron, while a dastardly papist, is the kind of Father that makes me want to be Catholic too. He's an absolutely cool dude and the very learned sort of cool dude. Keep in mind that priests, for a lot of people, are nothing but pedos in disguise. Barron can give them another impression. So you can use this in two ways: watch the videos for yourself so you can argue better, and share them with whoever seems interested. Barron is a good one to drop on the unbelievers. You won't believe the number of folks out there who don't believe in intelligent Christians. (I was that sort, and realising that some Christians were highly intelligent and educate made me stop dead in my tracks, as I valued intelligence very much; the same can be done to other atheists.)

https://www.youtube.com/user/InspiringPhilosophy/videos

Inspiring Philosophy is for the more technically minded and philosopher. I'd recommend this more for you to learn than for the posting, although you can do that too.

Nothing will beat YOU being there for THEM, though. I can't stress this enough. You go to the wilderness for THEM. Don't say it with arrogance, but let them know you care, even though they'll find that hard to believe and call you a hypocrite for it. Remember to let them know that mercenary love doesn't count and is a known concept for Christians (i.e. doing good deeds solely to save your ass: heathens consider this hypocrisy, and they are right, but they rarely know that we Christians consider hypocrisy as well; just let them know, and call it what it is: mercenary love).


 No.337

File: 1429562024568.jpg (25.2 KB, 420x630, 2:3, 2458-1.jpg)

Lastly, because I haven't recovered from last night (slept 2 hours, worked all day, napped a bit, and feel like a dried camel turd resting on the burning sands of the Sahara dunes), recommend CS Lewis.

Counter Strike Lewis is a serious something. I am forever in his debt for turning Christianity into something my intellect could tackle seriously.

Recommend Mere Christianity or The Problem of Pain whenever someone wants to know where to start, or wants to just immediately read the Bible out of genuine curiosity. Don't be offended, but I virtually never recommend to start with the Bible. Heathens, more than Christians, think the Bible is the Alpha and Omega of Christian beliefs. Tell them that this isn't so, and say why, if possible.

If it doesn't contradict your own beliefs, explain that we don't read the Bible literally, and give examples as to why this is not possible:

>Genesis describes the world as a half bubble surrounded by endless waters

>the four gospels have four sets of "last words" by Christ, not possible either

Remind them that this is OK. Humans wrote the Bible, but there is no sense in throwing the baby Jesus with the holy bath water.


 No.338

File: 1429562622312.jpg (52.5 KB, 309x475, 309:475, 222854.jpg)

More things that come to mind.

Dinosaurs.

You will be asked if you "believe" in dinosaurs. Don't get mad. Remember that, for many of them, a Christian is an average Texan redneck who fucks his cousin (no offense to actual Texas anons). So they imagine that this is what you are. Be sure to give them the most normal answer: I "believe" in dinosaurs because paleontologists have found fossils and I have no reason to doubt the entire scientific community about it; also my faith doesn't have much to do with dinosaurs or Genesis being read as a science textbook.

It is often necessary to remind them that the Bible isn't a book, it's over 60 books, and they span millennia, and their natures vary a lot: ask them to consider: an article in a newspaper, a will, a poem, a short story, a movie script, a shopping list, a legal textbook, a biology textbook, erotica, lyrics, etc, and ask them to realise that you won't read the shopping list the same way you'll read a poem. By choosing the wrong context for a text, you might end up assuming that a shopping list is the ingredients you're allowed to consume for the rest of your life. Context is everything, and cherry-picking it is not intellectually honest.

Picking cherries is something you'll be accused of. Explain that those who pick contexts are more to be blamed of it than you are. It isn't that hard to know what the context is, but it's not always directly available in the Bible.

You'll be told for instance, that Leviticus tells Christians not to eat shellfish and such. Most of you know Paul talked about that, so that's an easy one and you are most welcome to demonstrate, but also explain why such rules existed and what their purpose was. Explain that not all rule is forever, for every culture, for all humans. Some are very situational, like Paul about long hair. We obviously don't consider that one for us or we wouldn't portray Christ with long hair. Long hair meant something back then that it doesn't mean now. God may be changeless but our world is not.

Am I howling in the desert again? If anyone feels inclined to share this long ass series of posts on other Christian boards, go ahead. I'm doing this for the lost people of God, the precious atheists and agnostics of this world.


 No.340

If I had more time, I'd offer to train your ass by acting as the atheist myself. I'd ravage your ass with top-grade edginess and massively advanced terrorising weapons of logic and euphoria. You'd have to eat through 50 fedoras to get to my little black heart. It'd be good training.

I must get my own ass to bed before long, or my health is going to be shit for another day. However, I'll write the questions I used to get a lot back on 4chan.

>Dinosaurs?

>If God is good, why will I go to Hell for not obeying Him?

>What about people born in India?

>What denomination are you from?

>Why do you fuck little boys?

>What is the size of your dick?

>Why do you think we care?

And plenty of other questions that aren't always very interesting, but that's where they stop, the atheists, so you must answer them. For dick size and such, either ignore or tell the truth, or say 8 inches or 20 cm. Christians with big cocks will always get you the attention of a few faggots whose fantasy it is to seduce you, because if their sexiness can derail you from your faith, then they sure must be sexy. Don't waste too much time explaining that you're not a pedo. Answer once, then ignore.

As to questions pertaining to "Why are you here?", explain that you are here for anyone who has questions or remarks or wishes to discuss anything related to Christianity or God. Stating this will force them to either stay and have a question or remark or want to discuss, or depart. They can't keep whining about your presence coherently if they are free to leave at any moment. This is why preaching online works better than door to door in today's world. People come to you, not you to them.

Be yourself, you're a channer, you know the lingo, well-meme'd!, so don't try to hide that. Other anons must realise you're one of them. But don't start getting silly, spouting memes for the sake of it. Be natural, say what you'd actually say.

Another thing that will happen 70% of the time is that you will get fucking flooded. By God, you will. When I did these threads, I'd typically answer with a 40-minute delay because I took a long time to answer everyone (you know the average length of my posts). These threads could last 4 hours or more, and for those hours, I never stopped typing. Typing very fast is a good skill to have.

You can reduce the hassle by opening a thread together with other anons. Get together, then go to 4chan, or even /b/ here on 8chan, actually, and get ready to talk to the heathens!

Regardless of where you do it, do not say stuff like "COMING TO YOU STRAIGHT FROM 8CHAN, WE'RE HERE TO SAVE YOUR SOUL!" because that shit is obnoxious as hell. The "official /christian/" thread on /b/ here was a nuisance for this reason alone: you're not there to advertise a board, you're there to share Christ. Boards don't matter by comparison. Don't let people think you care more about your board than your Lord. 50 points for that sick rhyme, nigga.

One thing you can do, at the end of your time, is point the curious to some boards if they want further advice. Don't do this at the beginning, and only do this once the thread is mostly done or if you're about to leave. Point them to /christian/ or here.

Personally, and you know that's mostly me and nobody else, channers fap a lot, and whatever you believe about fapping, I don't want you to tell them not to fap anymore in the beginning. Just don't, because for many of them, this is about the only good thing they have in life and the idea of losing even this may be an obstacle too big to overcome. I don't want to lose anybody for Christ because of dick obsession. That said, you'll also find many "no fap this or that month", and those might actually be interested in this aspect of the faith. But yeah, do not make this a dogma upon them, at least not in the beginning. Despite what you might think, I virtually never mentioned masturbation back in my preaching days on the old chan. I still believe sexual matters should not be made central when preaching to the Godless. Doing so will focus the whole thing on sex and God will soon be forgotten, so don't. Leave the sex stuff for later if you must. In the meantime, use what's good about it: like that priest who said that the problem with porn is that "it shows too little!", meaning that you don't get to see loving intimacy in porn (by definition you can't) and such things. If you start talking like a psychorigid Mother Superior, nobody will listen.


 No.341

File: 1429564340883.jpg (10.26 KB, 294x171, 98:57, images.jpg)

I'll conclude on saying that this is a good spiritual exercise for you. Staying secluded from the world is easy and comfortable, but facing the crowds of the Internet will test your faith, if you're into that.

The most important part is to stay cool: remember that when you do this, you speak for Christ and all of us and nobody wants you to give us a bad reputation, which we already have for most people amongst the Godless; it is your duty to change that reputation.

Do not despair, some anons won't be convinced by anything you say. Nevermind those, and remember that whenever you speak to one, others will read your words too. Keep that in mind: lurkers are real and they are many. If you treat an asshole with respect and grace, you will make lurkers consider you more. Showing the other cheek is all about proving that your personal integrity matters less than what you have to say and you'll take many slaps to change someone's mind about God.

I'm exhausted, but there are more things you must be ready for, I'll conclude with that.

>Can God create a rock so heavy He cannot lift?

This is bullshit and we know it, but they often don't. Here's how you debunk this shit:

>omnipotent means "who can do anything that is possible to do"

We use the word omnipotent for humans kings and it never meant they could draw round squares and square circles, or tell us the colour of Monday and the smell of 37. That's all you have to do: omnipotence is about being able to do what is possible. Ability to do the impossible is itself impossible, even to God, but not by shortage of omnipotence.

I'll come back tomorrow. Post questions you have a hard time with and we can work on it together. I know many of you are well-read in apologetics, so share your knowledge with us.

I'm convinced we can be a great team and bring people to the Lord.

And if all goes well, we can all fight together later on with new converts about whether fapping is a sin or not and we can even schism again for top keks.

I hope someone gets to read all this. I know it's a shitload. Thanks for reading, you.


 No.348

>>333

what about going to other cuckchan boards like /pol/.Did you visit any other other boards.


 No.353

>>348

>333

I hadn't noticed the triple three. God is with me!

I've never tried other boards, but it certainly is a good idea. I'm not certain /pol/ is necessary the best place, but one can't say /b/ was ideal either, just less focused.

I suspect /pol/ will call me a dead kike worshipper and such. Might try today depending on the fatigue level.


 No.372

I started on /b/, on both chans. Nobody was interested on 4chan, bad time of the day I guess, but it's working on /b/ here.

It's painful.


 No.376

>>372

>It's painful.

that gore pic of this woman :^(

but you could have provided a link to here :^)


 No.381

>>376

http://8ch.net/b/res/2425825.html#q2425825

Not one of my most brilliant attempts. Be careful though, there are images intended to rustles your jimmies. I'm fine no matter what, but there are things like pictures of jizz on a dismantled crucifix and the likes.

One can only hope some lurkers got something out of this.


 No.553

>>376

Didn't see the thread. I have browsed the Chan long enough to not really care about it much anymore or to bring out a emotional response out of me anymore


 No.616

Is anyone doing any of this?


 No.623

>>616

I just can't force myself to deal with the gore and the likes, sorry.

I've been to your thread and I could barely finish it…


 No.626

>>616

I will start but I got much more to learn. I like to bring religion into the conversation slowly and make it relevant to the topic we are discussing


 No.645

>>616

I have read it and it is good. I might try it later on 4chan.


 No.648

>>623

I understand. Don't force yourself. This is the work I was made for; it's the counterpart of my shortcomings: I can handle crap like this the way purer people can't, I suppose.

>>626

Very good approach, if you have the patience for it. Being credible even before you start on the topic ensures serious attention from the get-go. The only tricky thing here is to bring religion into the conversation without seeming contrived.

>>645

I am glad. Good luck with the attempt. Prepare for the worst, though, and make sure you can handle it. If Our Lord being insulted in every possible way is a problem to you, think twice (although Our Lord crucified is just that, though the negative wore off, but you'll see Our Lord crucified in new ways).

If you can't handle the following, don't try: actual jizz on broken crucifix.


 No.652

I have never been on Reddit or other such websites, but I know some of you are. Now, I know everyone feels forced to hate Leddit and Ledditors, but people are people and chan culture is learned. None of us was born on a chan, we all came from somewhere and we stayed for a reason. That reason can be shared with others. Moreover, we are discussed on these places (well, /christian/ is, at any rate), so perhaps we should consider dropping some seeds there. Or maybe not. I don't know the crowds there to any degree.

Personally, I don't feel like the board is slow. I can spend hours on it daily, there's enough new content and contribution every single day.

I don't want to spam on /christian/ but I do want anons there to know there's an alternative, in case they like it better here, so I don't know what to do. Wait and see, I suppose.

What's the closest board to a religion board on 4chan?


 No.658

>>652

4/pol/ has a christian thread on it often.

I came from chans though to admit.


 No.660

>>658

Good to know.


 No.676

>>652

What about putting up articles that deal with religion on news plus here on 8chan. It might be a good way to spread the word


 No.684

>>676

Absolutely. I think I posted two YouTube accounts that do a good job. But yeah, articles, infographics, everything will help.

Remember: they are thirsty. You won't have to force them to come. They'll just seize the opportunity, if given to them. These are the ones we must help.


 No.3404

Bump. Don't forget to preach on other boards.

1. be cool, be nice

2. don't get all /pol/ on people

3. leave your personal opinions behind and focus on the core of Christianity before you go on to the details that divide even the most fervent of us; if possible, leave denominations behind as well and present yourself simply as a Christian

Bumpus sanctus.


 No.3457

>>3404

But I love going full /pol/ damn


 No.3503

File: 1436018376356.jpg (78.96 KB, 1024x576, 16:9, 1435671302359.jpg)

wisdom words m9

specially point 2


 No.3554

>>3457

I know, but if you want to do that, go political. "Cultural Christians" taking Christ hostage for a political program is not appealing to anybody.


 No.3555

>>3503

Thanks.


 No.8112

YouTube embed. Click thumbnail to play.


 No.8128

File: 1448313741986.gif (120.72 KB, 214x280, 107:140, spooki.gif)

It won't work, /pol/ christians are to obnoxious and so everyone hates christfags.

Best admit the truth you've known all along, god is dead, and we killed him.


 No.8132

>>8128

>we

wew


 No.8135

>>8128

You couldn't kill your way out of a paper bag, /leftypol/




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