Christians: How can we be less offensive towards you?

Question

i'm sort of an agnostic atheist (or whatever,i don't label myself), i somehow hope there is a form of Higher Power in this universe, that spreads an energy of Love.I have no idea what and where, but i hope it's out there.I don't blindly believe in it.I do not believe the biblical God is real.

I see a lot of Christians complaining how they get bashed by atheists. Somehow i understand that. They don't believe in a God, you all do. Almost every question they ask implies a question about the absense of God, because that's their belief. You take offense to those questions because to you God is a real concept.

I can understand that a question about the absense of God hurts you more than it would hurt an atheist to hear abt God.

I read the Bible, and i truly have lots of questions about it. Sometimes the Bible makes me angry, sometimes it makes me just doubt, sometimes it even gives me more faith.

In what format can non-believers ask questions so that you will feel less offended?

Answer 1

Well, this is a great question. I am a Christian, but I believe that the other major religions are just as valid and true as Christianity. I believe that God is so great that he created all the different people and cultures of this world. I also believe that he is Omnipresent, and because of this and his creation of such diversity, he needed to create different ways for people to commune with him. It is my belief that we are all called to practice different religions (with the one exception of satanism of course), so I guess that many hard core Christians would say that I am not a true Christian. Some people feel so intensely about their religion they can not tolerate any thing that goes against their beliefs. Also, some people truly care about others and try to convert or save them, out of love and concern, and it sometimes comes across as judgment. I think people that are so caught up in the rules and regulations of thier religion, and don't pay enough attention to the Spiritual side, will get offended if someone questions their beliefs and will not see it as an opportunity to truly educate someone about their faith. That being said I am glad that you are reading the Bible, and the Bible makes me angry sometimes too. It is also a great source of inspiration and enlightenment for me (one of my favorite passages is 1 Corinthians, chapter 13 - it's not just for weddings). Thank you for your question.

PS# I just read all of the answers before mine, and it looks like you received a lot a terrific and loving answers. Again, great question!!

Answer 2

its not questions about the absense of God that really gets to me. I can understand that as it is their belief. But rather when they bash God himself and make fun of him...someone said the other day something about him getting some 14 yr old virgin pregnant. That was a very holy and divine happening in the christian faith. For those that will to disrespect such a thing I consider that rude. Or when they call christians ignorant for believing the way they do. Well even that is not so bad and it goes both ways. I know some christians give athiests a lot of unfair feedback (and agnostic alike). But still, perhaps all is fair in love and war. I really appreciate your question. It is quite kind of you to be concerned. I guess the major thing that gripes me coming from some athiests is the bashing of God, their lack of care for things that are holy. I know that I am not the best person to drive this point but it is simply my opinion. Now I feel I am talking in circles. I should go before I bore you anymore. Have a nice day....or night, friend.

Answer 3

Well you've sort of thrown up a strawman here... Give an example of where a Christian was offended by a question here? Now, disagreeing with a atheistic premise and having a different belief or view on something doesn't mean we're overreacting or being overly sensative to something... It's just a differing of opinions. But you'll need to show me where someone asked a question that assumese no God, where a Christian took offense to it.

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Actually Don Quixote de Kaw, we love questions. In fact, contrary to popular belief we love science which is constantly in search of answers. We love science continuing to support our beliefs day after day, while evolutionists struggle to fit "shocking" and "surprising" discoveries of things like irreducible complexity and learning that "junk DNA" and the like isn't junk at all, etc. in to their fairytale. Twisting and turning and spinning real evidence to squeeze it in to the box of the assumed fairytale that isn't ever to be challenged, no matter how convincing the evidence.

I strongly recommend this great site that reports on all the latest discoveries and stories written in all the leading science publications and analizes them. Don't read just one post as it may not be so important or impactful... Dig around a bit:
http://creationsafaris.com/crevnews.htm

By the way, I ran across this link a while back and have yet to find the time to read it, but it is called "From Atheism to Christ", and appears to be a detailed account, almost a book about someone's personal journey.

http://www.godsci.org/gs/chri/testimony/seek.html

Answer 4

I'm not really an overly enthusiastic Roman Catholic. Many of us are Christian by birth, since not many options are open to infants. And there is so much not to be proud of in Christian heritage (i.e. Crusades and the Inquisition) that I'm really not offended by atheistic, or agnostic, questions. Most times in church I feel like I'm part of a cult that formed around a large book (which, when you get right down to it, I am).

But I really have a lot of respect for those who are die-hard believers, because it gives them peace of mind. Any religion gives a person a simple basis of belief. Nobody can survive without belief in something, even if it is as simple as one of the things I believe in-- If you do something confidently, people will think you know what you're doing.

I try to stand against being a Catholic converter-zombie, to 'bring the Godless to the path of righteousness through the love of Jesus Christ our Lord', because people have the right to believe in what they want. If Catholicism isn't for you, sample some other beliefs.

You're right not to blindly believe. I've been through too many circumstances in which my trust was betrayed by the trusted for the jest or power.

Answer 5

I do not take offense at any question that is asked nicely. I do take offense at being attacked by people just because I am a Christian. Most Christians are not fanatics and do not rant like lunatics. I know that the majority of people who do not believe in God are not mean, either. It always seems that the fanatics from both sides are the ones who are most abusive. But, I hope that you will try to forgive those that claim to be Christians who are so mean as I try to do with the unbelievers. People who are truly Christians do not attack others for their beliefs, that is not the way to reflect our love for God and all that He created. What most Christians understand is that it is not our job to judge others- that is God's job.

Answer 6

As a Christian - I deeply appreciate your question here.

I think tho that many Christians are often offended not so much by the content of a question as the tone of it and thus sometimes overlook the 'deeper' question that lies within.

I think that some types of questioning style can give rise to the feeling that ones intelligence is thought to be lacking or that one actively participates in some of the negative experiences that have been part of a professing atheists life on prior occasions.

But as to questions themselves? Personally I welcome them even if i have answered something similar before as it helps me not to get too complacent about my faith and beliefs. Sometimes i may not have an answer for someone - but that is an occasion for me to live and learn too. Just so long as these debates can take place in a mutually respectful atmosphere.

Thank you once again for your question and I look forward to hearing more of your questions in this forum

Answer 7

It would be one thing if some people just asked questions. It's another to go on-line and be called a pedophile because you're studying to be a Catholic priest, or to hear that the pope is a bitter old fool because he is celibate, or that he is an idiot (despite is immense educational background). Let's face it: you don't become pope by being "retarded." Now, I'm not taking this out on you, of course, but this is the type of stuff that I've been reading, and frankly, it is so offensive that one would almost forget that our country practices freedom of religion (not freedom from religion, mind you). I don't think that asking for some respect or dignity for myself, my faith, and my brothers and sisters in the faith is asking too much.

Answer 8

You cant just start out asking random people questions. First don't ask the people who refuse to have an open mind. I firmly believe in God because i fear if i don't i will go to hell, pretty simple, hell being the worst place! But i keep an open mind if i cant explain things, or i cant seem to believe what someone may tell me, then I just say so. And just like you have explained yourself, i can accept that because that's who u are. God teaches us not to judge. When asking questions, if people are getting offended don't ask them because obviously they are the ones who don't want to talk about it. Probably because they can not accept the fact that after they have explained their belief to you, you still don't understand or believe their theory.

Answer 9

A real believer should not be offended by by questions. I would be more than happy to answer them. Please ask. Even true believers doubt. But I want to understand why you aren't a Christian. You believe in a higher power, why not believe in God? He is love. I love Jesus, I'm sorry if I can't answer all questions. Grow with God. ♥

p.s. If a question is truly offensive don't ask. I don't want to stumble in my walk with Christ. And don't act like I believe in an imaginary friend, that bothers me.

Answer 10

Most times, we can discern amongst people who sincerely wonder about Chritianity and those who only seek to discredit our faith. Neither really bother me, because I know that the questions are made out of a lack of knowledge.

Hopefully, the goal of all Christians is to supply information about the Faith, not only when asked, but when it is reasonably believed that a person is ready to hear and accept it. Many athiests answering questions on this site seek to only embarrass and hurt other people. Those are the questions that I try to stay away from, (unless I really think they warrant a blasting) because they really don't care what Christians think. Those who honestly want to know, I have no problems answering!

Answer 11

First of all thanks for asking your question without calling me stupid.
That's what hurts me. If others don't believe in God then there is little I can do about that in yahoo answers... But I get real tired of being spoken to as if I believed in God because I'm not smart enough to do anything else. My faith is not a crutch to hold my life up. It's a more basic part of who I am than that. Overeating, smoking, drinking... these are crutches. My faith brings with it hard work. Like any relationship, my relationship with God is hard sometimes. It's not just something I do so that I don't have to think about the future.
We (people of faith) could say that non-believers are just so selfish that the idea of a God gets in the way of their own ego. They have to be the ones in charge of it all.But, most of us don't because we are too busy defending ourselves.
Thanks for letting me vent!