This article was originally published on my old blog back in 2006. It contains numerous links to other sites, few of which I’ve tested recently and many of which are certainly broken. However, I’ve no doubt that little googling should turn up recent equivalents of every contentious point below, and I think my point is as strong as ever.
The book of Matthew famously says, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” Does Christianity hold a consistent world view, or is it a mass of contradictions that can be (and is) used to justify any number of obviously contradictory positions? How long can Christianity remain divided against itself?
Perhaps the most fundamental set of contradictions in Christendom has to do with differing views on salvation and what one must do to obtain it. This excellent article lays out a nice table detailing the numerous conflicting interpretations and doctrines having to do with Christian salvation.
But setting the abstractions of salvation aside for the moment, in this post I want to compare a number of sites on which self-professed Christians defend (and attack) a variety of viewpoints, lifestyles, hobbies, and predilections as either not in conflict with, or in conflict with, Christian faith. I hope to show that the Bible is hopelessly ambiguous about many aspects of how we live our lives, and is often used to justify both sides of strongly-opposing views.
So you want to be a good Christian AND…
…a Bodybuilder?
😇 Christian Bodybuilder
👿 Muscle Missions
…a Ninja Master?
😇 Martial Arts and Christian Beliefs
😇 Seisho Ryu Ninjutsu Ministry
😇 Kickin’ It For Jesus
👿 Martial Arts and the Christian
👿 Mere Exercise or Trojan Horse?
…a Humanist?
😇 Christian Humanism
😇 A Viable Option
👿 The Unholy Alliance
👿 Christianity and Humanism
…play Dungeons & Dragons?
😇 Christian D&D
👿 Should a Christian Play D&D?
…an Evolutionist?
😇 Christian Evolutionist Resources
👿 Answers in Genesis
👿 Dinosaur Adventure Land
…rub one out?
😇 Christians Can Masturbate Too
👿 Breaking the Silence on the “M” Word
…a Homosexual?
😇 Christian Gays
😇 Whosoever
👿 Exodus International
👿 God Hates Fags
…walk around naked?
😇 Naturist Christians
😇 Fig Leaf Forum
👿 Naked for Christ?
…go to Burning Man?
😇 A Pastor on the Playa?
👿 Satan’s Birthday Party
…a sex-worker?
😇 Prostitution: No Biblical Conflict
😇 A Proposal for a Christian Pornography
👿 Jesus Loves Porn Stars
👿 LightDancers
…a hedonist?
😇 Christian Hedonism
👿 Rebuttal to “Christian Hedonism”
…a dominant (or submissive)?
😇 Christians and BDSM
👿 BDSM — A Christian Perspective
…support a woman’s right to choose?
😇 Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
👿 Abortion and the Bible
…enjoy alcohol?
😇 Christians and Wine
👿 Christians and Alcohol
…go dancing?
😇 Is it Wrong for Christians to Dance?
👿 Shall We Dance?
…play Poker?
😇 Poker and the Christian
👿 Should Christians Play Cards?
…practice Yoga?
…get a tattoo?
😇 Christian Tattoo Association
👿 Should Christians Wear Tattoos?
…listen to “Christian Rock?”
😇 Christian Rock Apologetics
😇 Isn’t Rock Satanic?
👿 The Music of Devils in the Church!
👿 Christian Rock: Blessing or Blasphemy?
…an Actor?
😇 Vision Gate Film
😇 ChristianActors.org
👿 In Perils of Drama
…celebrate Christmas?
😇 Should Christians Celebrate Christmas?
👿 Should Christians Celebrate Christmas?
…celebrate birthdays?
😇 Should A Christian Celebrate Birthdays?
👿 Should Christians Celebrate Birthdays?
