Why are Christians so adamant about their own religion and so intolerable of others beliefs?

Question

I truly would like to understand???!!!!!

Answer 1

Look to any religion and you will find people who are adamant about their own religion and completely intolerant of the beliefs of others. Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Judaism, you name it. Unfortunately, a lot of Christians think they have the monopoly on the truth, and if you don't believe what they believe you will end up in Hell. I'm a Christian, and I'm happy to share what I believe with anyone who is interested, but I'm not about to try and ram my religion down anyone's throat. God made it clear to us that it's not our job to convert people to Christianity -- it's God who does that through the Holy Spirit anyway -- all we are supposed to do is share the good news. Christians who have forgotten that have also forgotten that God gave ALL of us freedom of choice, and we are not to judge those who do not choose God.

Answer 2

It is a holdover from the Dark Ages. Christianity is nothing more than a criminal business enterprise... in fact, it is the world's longest running and most successful Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) scam. The product they are selling is 'salvation'. FORTUNATELY, it only works on those who are gullible enough to fall for it. UNFORTUNATELY, that accounts for over 50% of the world's population. (There are a lot more people who DON'T know how to think than there are people who DO know how to think.) That is why there are a lot more religious people in the USA than there are 'tree-thinkers'... including Atheists. Also, Christians are generally too dense to realize that prosletizing (spreading the 'good news') is a key element of the Christian MLM MARKETING PLAN, which was instituted after Christianity lost the political power that had previously allowed them to simply torture and kill anybody who did not comply. Now, they attempt to just pester people to death, through persistent obliviousness and obnoxiousness.

Interestingly, statistics on religious belief count the USA with backward, developing Third World nations, rather than among modern, advanced industrial powers.

Answer 3

For the exact same reason that every other religion is so adamant about their own beliefs, and intolerant of others.

This is what makes religion, all religion, so dangerous. All of this arguing and fighting over something that doesn't even exist, let alone the massive amount of waste in resources.

Answer 4

If you think todays Christians are intolerant you should read the history of the Spanish Inquisition.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Inquisition

Answer 5

It is not that we are intolerant to other beliefs, but we cannot except other beliefs for ourselves.
Some believers take it to far and are not biblical in their dealing with others.

Answer 6

Every religion has their extremists; don't judge the many because of the intolerant/actions of the few.

Answer 7

Because we would like to see everybody saved and be able to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, which only is available through Jesus Christ.

Answer 8

Sunshine not all Christians are like that. However you sound like you can't tolerate Christians.

Answer 9

there is only one true way.and think about this your not supose to take the LORD YOR GOD name in vain whos name is always taking in vain? let me tell you in case other people dont knowJESUS

Answer 10

This question has been ask again and again, and we have answer each one of them, Probably some answers have been confusing and not understandable, but what is to understand when the word of God has been force like you said. I agree that well with you, for a real Christian should not force the word of God but give it with love.
Let me explain without a force, but if you aloud me to. You can either, continue reading, or just roll down to the next answer. It is your choice.

It is almost a timeless aphorism that politics is dirty. There are always hidden agendas in politics and ulterior motives. Little is as it seems and trust is a virtue perceived by those of us outside of politics to be in short supply. In the realm of politics even seeing is no longer believing, for how many of us actually believe and take what a politician says at face value?

How about someone sharing his or her religious faith with you? Indeed, it is unfortunate that Christians especially are often perceived in this day and age by non-believers to be pushing a less than altruistic agenda when sharing the gospel. Instead, evangelism is viewed by many non-Christians as an unwanted nuisance at best and a pernicious effort at forcible conversion at worst. To be sure, the agendas and methods of politics have often been mixed up into religious affairs. History is full of such activities and Christianity is no exception (think the Inquisition, for example). Perhaps this less than flattering history is what makes some non-believers wary of Christianity to this day.

Nevertheless we must address the core issue here: Are Christians forcing others to convert? It is biblically correct and humanly possible for anyone to be forcibly converted to Christianity? The answer to all these questions is an unequivocal "no". Most of the time, the myth about forced conversions usually comes from those who are either threatened or at loss for reasons or are simply angry.

A Baptism of the Heart
First, Christianity is not a faith of outward conformity but rather, an inward decision of the heart.

"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." - Romans 10:9,10

Following Jesus Christ is a decision one can only make through exercising one's will. So how can you ever force one to believe in the heart?

One does not become a Christian in any ritualistic way. The Word of God tells us that we have to believe in our hearts and then say with our mouths what we have already believed with our hearts. There is no ritual whatsoever that one has to go through to become a Christian. In this respect, some people are confused with the practice of Water Baptism. One does not get baptized to become a Christian but gets baptized because he is a Christian. It is a public declaration and an outward manifestation of that which has already happened in one's heart.

Before the heart can even be given the chance to change, though, the message itself must be shared. How else would people know about Christianity and what it means? This is the light evangelism should be seen in: Not an instrument of forced conversion but merely a sharing of knowledge. Some - especially in Asia - hold the notion that spreading the Gospel is part of some neo-imperialist American strategy to influence the world. That is absolutely absurd when one simply considers that Christianity started in the Middle East and spread throughout Europe more than a millennium before the United States even existed! Besides, what benefit is it to the U.S. government that a poor farmer in India accepts Jesus Christ as his lord and savior? Absolutely none!

The Force of Love
Second, Christianity is a message of God's love for mankind. Jesus never left a sword for his followers to use for the proclamation of the Gospel but only the Scripture.

Jesus when crucified on the cross did not summon the angels that were at his disposal to avenge but instead forgave those who crucified him. Do you honestly believe that He who did not use the sword himself will encourage his followers to apply force towards conversion? On the contrary, it is clear that God's intended instrument for the conviction of hearts is His redeeming love.

"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." - John 15:12,13

India has been invaded over the centuries by many foreign forces. But never by love. Love does not use force but serves SACrificially.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16

Graham Staines, the Australian missionary, and his two sons who were burnt alive in India by religious fanatics are just one recent example of the love of Christ in practice today. They were in India serving lepers. As Vishal Mangalwadi said, "India needed to emulate, not immolate, the Staines."

"To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, 'If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'" - John 8:31, 32

Only the Truth can set us free. And that Truth is freely available to those who want it. No force is required or even desired. Read the Bible for yourselves and you will know the truth.

Everlasting life is a gift from God. It is possible only through placing your faith in the work of Jesus Christ. There is no force or compulsion involved, no hidden agendas by hidden powers that be. It is, as it has always been, a matter of personal choice. What will your choice be?

Have a bless day.