Otteryhey...your Non-Denominational Happy Pagan Person here. I was wondering why many supposedly "religious" Christian folk don't turn the other cheek more often. Why do they feel they have to respond with sometimes vicious hostility? If not that, then they prostelize the question to death! Please be so kind to give me your ideas...but without the hostility though. I dislike it and it's rude. Prostelize if you really feel you must. I can choose to listen or not. Thanks, folks.
2006-07-05 15:55:48 · 17 answers · asked by Mama Otter 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Um, okay then "................." or whatever your name is, I think you answered the question anyways. My question obviously isn't incompetent...perhaps your answer was.
2006-07-05 16:08:58 · update #1
vanembryzoe..nope, not a pastor. Just a small furry mammal.
Why not ask Don go ahead, dearheart. I'll give it a look!
2006-07-05 16:13:22 · update #2
O Man from Utopia, have a good time building muscles if you so choose. Of course I think you can speak in full sentances. You did an excellent job in answering. Thank you..
2006-07-07 05:42:09 · update #3
Like the Golden Rule--do unto others as you would do unto yourself--turning the other cheek is a basic ethical skill all Humans should employ, not just Christians or other religions. I admire people who are strong in there convictions. But one persons fervour can be construed as hostility to another. People nowadays, in my humble opinion, are too quick to offence and too quick to anger. It's all about ME and don't get in my way. I am a pagan and don't appreciate the "Jesus Freaks" that approach me at my house or at a truckstop, and sometimes I admit if I'm bored I will listen to their rhetoric; debate with them but then go along my merry way. The only time they really annoy me is when the are overly pushy, but then I just send them away or leave myself. I have found pushy Wiccans and Pagans as well. I know it can be difficult to turn the other cheek when running into viewpoints so different from our own that the tension runs high. Especially when heated events and religion mix, like abortion or gay marriage. I've been to a couple of gay rallys with Christian protesters and it was....hot. There are extremists in every religion, just as not all Islams are terrorists or Al Qaeda. The saddest thing I've witnessed is these so-called religious people protesting at soldier's funerals. God's Above and Below! Have they no compassion? I can't think of anything worse. I have gotten off subject, I think. So I will end this soap box rally.
2006-07-13 16:04:40 · answer #1 · answered by truckinotter 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, Christians should turn the other cheek, but that's pretty hard to do sometimes, especially when people are challenging what you base your whole life and value system on. No one can be perfect and do what they should all the time - but people should remember that no one wins any friends or battles with rudeness and hostility. And that's certainly not showing the image of Christ-like living to others, which is what Christians are supposed to do. So, I guess my best answer is no one's perfect. (And I don't so much know what prostelize means, so sorry if I did it!)
2006-07-05 16:03:04 · answer #2 · answered by Lindsay 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Would you turn the other cheek if you saw me and didn't speak to me to understand the kind of person I am. I'm one of those heavily muscled bodybuilder types that most people wouldn't think I can speak in full sentences.Would you turn the other cheek to my appearance? Never the less if being a Wiccan motivates you . ( and you seem pretty cool so go for it.) Some Christians set a good example for themselves, others can be overbearing and narrow minded. I'm agnostic. Christians think i'm Christian and ask what church I go to. When I say my beliefs, they treat me like i have horns growing out of my head.
2006-07-05 16:10:50 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pastor, I think it happens so often because we are all human. Can you honestly say you have not ever been guilty? I know I have. Do I regret it? Yes. Do I try my hardest not you? You betcha. We have an almost beastly nature to defend what we believe to be right. Thank God we had Jesus die for us or we would all be a bunch of pitiful souls with nothing but damnation to look forward to. I do think if people would examine themselves more instead of pointing out the bad in everyone else we would all be a lot better off. I hope I answered your question. I'm sure, if you really are a pastor you already knew all this and were just asking to try to get people thinking. If that was the case it worked. (at lease with me and I thank you for that)
2006-07-05 16:03:52 · answer #4 · answered by vanembryzoe 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
People are people, Christian or not. Turning the other cheek is not an easy thing to do and is definately not a popular practice in society. It takes spiritual maturity. Just because someone is a Christian does not mean that they are mature enough to practice what the Bible says. We all have to grow into the things we believe in.
2006-07-05 16:04:23 · answer #5 · answered by n 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To some degree, you're right. Christians sometimes do get vicious, and its sad. But let me answer your question fairly. It gets tiring constantly defending yourself and your beliefs from a world full of people who truly seem to hate us. Even when we discuss issues in a civil manner, we're called names like "Jesus Freak," and the like.
Its interesting that when people get passionate about non-religious issues, such as breast cancer, nobody calls them names. But just as supporters of breast cancer research only want to help people, most Christians, likewise, only want to help people.
In truth, we Christians must defend what we believe, but we should be less agressive about things. The bible actually teaches us that people will hate us, so its not supposed to be a big surprise. In fact, Jesus said "Count it all Joy when you face many trials in My name."
I guess the problem is the same thing that makes our school system suck so much. Specifically, nobody wants to do their own research and actually learn anything. Too many Christians don't study their bibles before speaking, so they sometimes sound ignorant.
As if its any excuse, they really do mean well. But if people want to be part of the Church and truly belong, they need to do the background work, learn a little, and take the consequences of their beliefs with a little more grace. Sorry for the cliche, but that's what Jesus would do.
But on the balanced side, if a person attacks our beliefs viciously, and frequently with blatant lies or twisted, incomplete facts, you need to expect Christians to answer back passionately. After all, being a Christian is our meaning of life, our purpose for existing.
May God bless you, whether you believe in him or not.
2006-07-05 16:15:49 · answer #6 · answered by Privratnik 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There ya go! Poke the bear!
Because people's spirituality is very dear to them. Also, on some subconscious level, they might worry that there really is only one cosmic truth and maybe they bet on the wrong horse. In matters of Eternity, you really want to guess right. I think so, anyway.
Also: Paganism is, in and of itself, a denomination. I point this out because in addition to offering spiritual advice that I'm in no way qualified to give, I'm an ordained minister in the Church of Semantical Nitpicking.
2006-07-05 16:20:05 · answer #7 · answered by obrian93 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Turning the other cheek is definately an excellent virtue. People who oppose Capital Punishment do so because they believe in "turning the other cheek."
When Mary Jo Buttafuoco publicly forgave Amy Fisher she was an example of "turning the other cheek."
2006-07-05 16:02:09 · answer #8 · answered by clusium1971 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Merry Meet, Hon!
I totally agree with you, in my experiences, Christian people have judged when they should not. Some of them can be very hostile and rude. It seems like "their way" is the "only way"
I for one happen to believe in something all Christains don't and for that, I have been put down.
Why can't they just live and let live? After all, we live in a country where "Freedom Of Religion" should always be honored....
2006-07-05 16:03:28 · answer #9 · answered by ? 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Example: JESUS didn't turn the other cheek when his temple was used for gambling and such therefore I will defend my faith for righteousness sake. I don't answer incompetent questions.
Allow me to correct my last statement. I wasn't saying that ur question was incompetent but that some questions on this site I avoid like the plague. Forgive me.
2006-07-05 16:01:09 · answer #10 · answered by Pashur 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋