Why do people make so many generalizations about Christians?

Question

On this website there are a lot of people stereotyping saying how judgmental and how holier than thou they act not everyone is the same(similar religions,cultures or not).opinions?

Answer 1

people generalize about everyone and everything...it is a necessary part of communicating ideas. However, one should endeavor to make sure that their generalizations are accurate and truthful.

Answer 2

Hey, I'm a Christian. I don't like the gay lifestyle. I don't go around telling my gay friends "You need to accept that I'm not gay, and you need to tell everyone it's okay for me to not be gay", so how can they force me to teach my kids "It's okay to be gay"? I just don't agree with it..

Second, I have often wondered where these people (Why do Christians think... questions) find all these "Holier than thou" Christians. Last time I checked, most Christians on Yahoo are pretty nice.

I think our culture needs to look deeper into the religious persecution going on. Christians, Muslims, Jews and all religions are hated equally in the US. I hear people blame it on gays pushing their life on everyone else, but I blame it on the laziness of all the said groups. We need to join together (weather we believe in God, Jesus, Allah, whatever) and send a message that we want our rights, too. Discrimination is discrimination. Sin is sin. It's the same thing. Weather it's black fighting white or Atheist fighting Jew, it's all the same.

Answer 3

the short answer (1) because its so easy
the short answer (2) because these generalizations are mostly true
a longer answer: people, every where (I guess this makes it a generalization!) compartmentalize knowledge. It is a sign of intelligence to categorize similar experiences together. Like any group, Xians have choose some labels that apply to themselves and others have made observation and applied these as well. In a large media environment, this happens to ALL groups. perhaps you can ask about specific generalizations you like or don't like. Do you ask because you would like to change these perceptions?

Answer 4

Because generalizations are easier than actually get to know the story behind people's lives. The same way that some Christians generalize about people that they don't understand.

Answer 5

I wonder about that too. I'll admit I used to make generalizations a lot, but now because of Jesus Christ living in me, I'm more conscious about what I say and how I say it. This is just my opinion, but I believe that people make generalizations about Christians because of what they see on TV and other places. We Christians have also not done a good job about standing up for our faith and saying this is just one persons view and that person's view does not necessarily represent many others who live his or her life according to the Word of God. That's my take. Just make sure that you are living you life according to God's Word and be a doer of His Word in addition to being a hearer of His Word.

Answer 6

I believe will probably go down as the achilles heel of mankind. No one would venture onto a plane during a thunder storm with a pilot who said I believe I can land this plane, nor would they go under the knife if the Dr said I believe I can pull you through. Paul said, Be Still and KNOW.....not easy to subdue the separate mind for stillness when it desire quite the opposite. Hence millions of wishers, hopers and believers unwilling to endure the cross of Knowing. Be STILL and meet the secret hiding God ........within.

Answer 7

Yes, its rather sad. I find it hard to believe that many of these same people would get upset if people were stereotyping by race, but they feel that it is fine to do it to other people by their religion. It may not be called racism, but its in the same vein, thats for sure.

Answer 8

perhaps laziness they don't want to learn about every different pop up of religion. Perhaps fear because they believe so strongly in their beliefs they don't want to learn that they may be wrong.

I do this but I do it by like denomination like Methodist believe this or that. I personally do it to more easily describe their beliefs without dragging on and on. (at least i hope that's why) lol I might be being a hypocrite here.

Answer 9

I think people like to generalize about all sorts of people/things. I know some people who think that because they've been let down or disappointed by one Christian that all Christians are horrid, rotten people. Or it could be that they want to make themselves feel better.

Just a thought!

Answer 10

I've wondered that myself. I am a Christian, but I am also an individual. One thing is certain, I'm not "holier" than anyone...if I were, I wouldn't need Jesus!