Why do Christians...?

Question

Why do Christians profess to love all people, and preach forgiveness, etc, yet they treat others (people not of their particular faith) with disrespect...and act as though the other people are stupid...and treat others "snobbishly", as if they are better than others?

Also, do Christians actually think that people of other faiths wake up each morning and say, "I know that my religion is the wrong one, but I choose to practice it just because I'm stubborn" ?

Don't Christians realize that this is how they project themselves to others, and that this is NOT proving to anyone that they are the "children of GOD" by acting like they are so much better and smarter than everyone else?

Answer 1

Because the ones who do this aren't interested in being Christ-like, they're interested in being "Right" and in the majority.

Answer 2

And why do you feel the need to generalize, saying that all Christians are the same? Most of the Christians I know are not proud or haughty at all. And those who do act snobbishly shouldn't. There are plenty of non-Christians who act in the same manner. Everyone thinks that what they believe is correct, otherwise they obviously wouldn't believe it. It's just that many Christians believe you must believe in Christ in order to be saved; thus by preaching to someone they're actually trying to help that person. Annoying and frustrating, I know, but at least they're doing it for the right reason. And yes, for most Christians it's painfully obvious how much the poor behavior of others can hurt them. Take a look at this post, for example. Most Christians are good people, but the ones who aren't give everyone else a bad name. As for those who act that way in the first place, no they probably don't realize. They just believe that they're saved and all those "other people" aren't, so they are in fact better and smarter than them. Of course, you'll see this attitude in regards to a lot of things, not just religion.

Answer 3

>>>Why do Christians profess to love all people, and preach forgiveness, etc, yet they treat others (people not of their particular faith) with disrespect...and act as though the other people are stupid...and treat others "snobbishly", as if they are better than others? <<<

What makes you think that all of us, or even most of us, treat those who don't share our faith with disrespect?

No offense, but you're making a sweeping generalization against an entire group of people.

There are self-described Christians who treat non-Christians with disrespect, of course, but they are by no means the typical rule. They are the exception.

By the way, there are lots of non-Christians on this Q&A board who have said very, very disrespectful things toward Christians and Christianity -- you cannot deny with a straight face that this is true, if you read the messages on here.

But I don't use that as grounds for calling ALL non-Christians disrespectful.

Answer 4

There's a reason the New Testament was written in common Greek and not classical Greek. The reason is because virtually all the educated, intelligent people alive in the first and second centuries rejected the claims of Christianity. Christianity was very popular among slaves, women, and lower class people who could not afford a formal education. This is still true today.

Most Christians do not think deeply about their faith, and most Christians are not highly educated. So the answer is, no, most Christians do not realize how they appear to non-believers. Most Christians don't even understand their own religion.

Answer 5

Interesting points. I know that there are many people that are faithful to other religions who fully believe they are correct in their beliefs----I also am fully aware that many people have no set belief system in place or simply 'do not know'.

I think that treating people (any human) as stupid or in some sort of 'holier than thou' attitude is simply wrong. Christians, just like all humans, are imperfect and often those young in the faith may try tactics that are not becoming of them. There are certain groups of Christians that actually DO believe that the 'in your face' approach works---and I am sure for some people it does, probably not the majoirity.

Hey, the way I look at it---the old song, "They will know we are Christians by our Love" is a good way of looking at things. Now that does not mean a wishy-washy kind of love that is tolerant of all kinds of wrong/sinful behavior. It is the kind of love that calls one on to a better life.....without judgement of the person, afterall there is only one judge....

Answer 6

Well, I don’t know. I think a particular amount of them seem to behave this way (& have treated me this way since I’ve been on this Y!A, & I have been called stubborn here) but many of them are willing to talk with me & be open minded too.
It’s like this, for everyone open minded Christian I’ve meet here there are about 10 that spout that I’m a devil worshiper (even thought I don’t believe in him) & tell me their doing it for my own good.

A better question might be why they don’t actually read the questions all the way threw?
God knows it would save me a lot of aggravation, but it shows how truly unintelligent some people can be.

Blessed Be.

Answer 7

I guess you have to take into effect that every person is different, and are human. While I am a christian, I do not believe that all religions are bad, nor do I believe that everyone needs to convert to Christianity.

I believe everyone interprets their religion in their own individual way. That goes for Christianity as well.

By Christians acting like they are better than everything and everyone else, they are going directly against the preachings of the religion they say they follow.

Sorry to ramble. Hope that answers your question a little. But I think your question is more thought provoking, than one that gets a "written in stone" answer.

Good Luck!

Answer 8

They are brainwashed into believing what the church and their families have taught them since birth. To them it is as real as the sun that goes up in the morning and down at night. They are also brainwashed by the same people into thinking that there is no other way to be. Let's face it all people want to be accepted. So long ago when they were just become Christians people forced their beliefs on them about how you must be this way (a christain) to be right and moral. And how people that weren't Christians are being ignorant and wrong to God and themselves. And that is why they are the way they are.

Answer 9

You are stereotyping too much. Perhaps these are the characteristics of "Christians" that you have met.
Yes, if Christianity was true, very few of these people that call themselves Christians would actually go to heaven. But there are people out there who really are good people that follow god in the way that god (if he exists) wants to be followed. Just look around and you'll find that not all Christians are like that.

Answer 10

Its not completely fair to project that question on all Christians because we aren't all like that. However it sounds like you have ran across some that don't comprehend what it means to be a Christian. Its not our place to judge. I have ran across "snobbishly" Christians in churches I have been to and you want to tell them wake up. You are sending the wrong message to others. The mature Christian may not agree with other religions but should respect them.

Answer 11

Every religion has their idea that their religion is right any anyone else who practices anything else is wrong and is going to their verison of Hell....Personally, I think SOME (note: I said some, not all) Christians have reformed the bible into something where they can come to you and say "What you are doing is wrong, repent now or else be condemmed to hell." They don't read the Bible for what it's worth and don't see the deeper meaning of the word. IF they did, then they would be more accepting of gays and other issues that some Christians are so against.