Why do some people seem to be religious, but their lifestyle differs?

Question

I know of women friends who go to Church/pray etc. but they swear like sailors, sleep with many men and have a wild lifestyle. Isn't this an oxymoron?

Answer 1

because they are hypocrites, i am not that religious, but i hate when people try to show everybody how they follow some religion so good, when they are not even close to that. those people don't have any character or personality.

Answer 2

Good question. This seeming contradiction has been very confusing to me too. Unfortunatly, I have been a hypocrite, so I know exactly what it feels like to sit on both sides of the fence.

Hypocrites may show up at a church building every Sunday, but there are no hypocrites in the Church (Christ’s body). Hypocrite comes from the Greek word for "actor," or pretender. Hypocrisy is "the practice of professing beliefs, feelings, or virtues that one does not hold."

The Church is made up of true believers; hypocrites are "pretenders" who sit among God’s people. God knows those who love Him, and the Bible warns that He will sort out the true converts from the false on the Day of Judgment. All hypocrites will end up in hell (Matthew 24:51).

Answer 3

Many people forgotten that ones religion is also a lifestyle. Religion is not a peice of clothing you can put on and take off. Instead it is your skin it is with you no matter where you are or what you do. Christians are the biggest group that have forgotten this.

We witches though haven't it is not just our religious practice it is our lifestyle. Ask any formally trained and initiated witch and you will get this answer.

Answer 4

The natural man is carnal. The life long purpose and endeavor of a Christian is to overcome the natural man toward perfection. No one can achieve perfection in this life, that's why Christ died for our sins. So that through his redeeming sacrifice and by the grace of God, the difference will be made up so we can be saved. Since nobody is perfect we all make mistakes and we are all at different stages of trying to perfect ourselves. Therefore, just because a person's lifestyle isn't what It should be, if that person truly believes in Christ, he is no less a Christian.

Answer 5

That is a good question. Unfortunately, it is one that does not have a simple answer. If we just go over the broad sweeps, it is possible that some folks do what they do to appear as one thing and live as another. Others may actually want to change, and find it easy to wear the mask, but the actual changes they desire are harder to master. So in the quiet of their homes, or away from the "good" influences in their lives they revert to old mannerisms and activities.
The range of reasons can be as varied as the people who you look at.

Answer 6

There is a wonderful saying that "church is a hospital for sinners, not a showcase for saints." I know many of you who are not Christians think that those of us who ARE Christians think that we are perfect. But if we thought we were perfect, we would have no need for Christ in our lives. As long as we are human, we will never be able to live up to God's standards. That is one of the reasons why we go to church and why we pray and why we need Christ. It seems to be those who have an inexplicable disdain for Christianity who think that we (Christians) are supposed to be "perfect." If that's really what you think Christianity is, I don't blame you for not wanting to be part of it. Who needs THAT kind of pressure !!

That being said, I don't deny that some people obviously aren't even TRYING to "walk the walk." It's not my place to judge them, but I do fear that they give an impression of Christians as hypocrites. But on the whole, I think most Christians (just like most people of all stripes) generally try to be good people and do the right thing.

Answer 7

That totally ticks me off! I have a friend who is very religious and churchgoing but try hanging out with her and her church friends--I have never met people more prejudiced and judgmental! They do things like have surprise parties for each other to make themselves feel like they are such "good" people but in their daily lives they are totally close minded and look down their noses at everyone, including me like I need to be saved or something.
I think it is because the way they were raised was to learn it and not think about the religion and what it means. It's like memorizing answers for a test without understand their meaning.

Answer 8

You know, God loves us just the way we are, but we should strive to please Him in obeying his laws (10 commandments). So, either those people are lying that they are Christians, or they don't even know what a Christian really is.

Don't pay any attention to them. Most importantly care about your own relationship with God & wheather you are going to Heaven or not. Because without admitting your sins to God & asking Him for forgiveness you are going elsewhere.

Jesus is the only Way, the Truth and the Life! Noone can become a Christian & go to Heaven, no matter what they say, except through receiving Jesus as their Saivior, who gave his life up for them on the cross!

Answer 9

I'm not sure what you're trying to say. Are you saying that some people are hypocrites in that they claim to be religious but don't live their life that way?

Because people can be religious, spiritual, without living like a monk. And many people, being fallable humans, are never going to attain the ideal religious life. All we can do is strive and try. We are, afterall, only human.

Answer 10

Because all of us are human, and we tend to battle with something everyday. Don't think religious people dont get challenged everyday. People with a strong faith get challenged by the second. The world is not kind to those with a faith as strong as steel. The WORD OF GOD has always been percecuted so sometimes life may take you back from whence you came. Its all in a days work.

Answer 11

Being religious is the practicing of dogmas and traditions. Most of these rules apply to only a few days of the week, and sometimes only once a year. What does this have to do with their life style?