why do christians preach at people but never listen to what they have to say?

Question

Ive noticed everytime someone has a conversation with a christian it seems to be one sided with the christian giving thier POV and the other fellow feeling like they are being ignored. Or the christian selects what they want to respond to and ignore the rest.

Answer 1

Thats why they are called preachers. They are not equiped with a thinking brain to understand what you say. Remember they have been brainwashed.

Answer 2

I have listened to the Atheists, I have done research on evolutionary theory, I have researched DNA testing, I have done all of this. I have read where people have evolved from apes, not apes, a certain species of apes, just a single cell, not a single cell, a specific acid, more than one acid. I have researched the scientists that attempted to recreate life using the acids in a controlled atmosphere but failed. I have read about the Lucy prototype that was the sure fire thing that evolution was right. I have read that this was wrong since an older archaeologist find was considered a breakthrough. I have read where the big bang theory, that this universe and all others was originated from a thing the size of a golf ball. I have read that a meteorite was to prove that the big bang theory was accurate. I have read that a telescope is now being designed that is going to cost billions to prove this theory is correct. How many has even picked up the Bible one time and read it? How many have even so much as tentatively said Jesus I believe come into my life and heal my sinful nature? I have probably educated myself on the theories of evolution and big bang more than those that believe in them. They always end up lacking. Everyone is seeking proof beyond a reasonable shadow of doubt. If people would just read the Bible they could see mankind then as now had the same problems with a thing so simple as faith. They had hate and prejudice. They disbelieved and killed those that did. The same old thing just thousands of years apart. Always the same questions and answers throughout the ages.

Answer 3

To be fair, there are people like that on both sides of the argument. But, I do understand where you're coming from.

I was a Christian for the first 22 years of my life. I went to church every week, belonged to Christian youth groups, and even attended Christian schools all the way through college. That whole time, I never once considered any other viewpoint. We were taught that we had the truth about everything, and that everyone else was being misled by Satan (I'm not even joking a little bit).

Eventually I started having questions, which led to more questions, which led to me realizing that I was being fed a line of bull. So now I resolve to keep an open mind about everything, and critically examine every point of view as much as possible before I come to any conclusion about it.

Just my 2 cents :)

Answer 4

Every time?
I cannot see where you have been listening to all of the conversations.
Maybe you do not like the issue and have your own thoughts on how the conversation should go.
Every one has an opinion, even you I see.
However if you want to have a conversation and don't like the answers then why bother in the first place?
Some Christians do preach but it is up the individual to listen, reply, ignore or leave.
I have seen many insults here when the person does not get their point out.

God Bless is my point.

Answer 5

Well, I see this as a "human" issue -- I see anyone with a rigid viewpoint (religious, atheist, or otherwise) shut others out and focus on arguing, not discussion or learning.

But yeah, many in the Christian population either feel threatened by alternate systems of thought (so they want to "prove they're right" rather than risk discourse) or they see their comments as a holy mission to "win over the lost" and so it all becomes about "winning" the discussion.

It takes some real confidence and love to keep one's mouth shut and truly listen, without feeling threatened or embarrassed.

Anyway, this mistake is common to many people, especially when they are young. It's just an attitude many people start with. Sometimes it doesn't change, but sometimes it will, given time and experience and input from others.

What I try to do is focus on monitoring my own behavior and attitudes towards others, and make sure I don't fall into the same style of relating. We all need to keep tabs on ourselves, first and foremost.

Answer 6

I am a Christian and I have experience this things too from another christian, who wanted to inject doctrine and teaching that is questionable in nature.

I remember what Paul said to the Berean, when he said "Be like the berean a noble people who searches the scripture day and night to find if what am telling you is in the light of the scripture"

As a Christian I do a lot lots of listening (and studying before hand) as well as thingking before answering question in a conversation. I want it to be a two way communication.

Answer 7

Tell me, why dost some, of non-christian faith, make judgment on others, with naught in way of evidence? Dost thou not see there be ignorance and hypocrisy in both camps?
It is the nature of the human to feel he be right and others be wrong. Ye might as well be upset the sky be blue! HA!


Not too long ago, I was preached to as a kinslayer, by an Angel that was not. This be the way of it, the way of Mankind. We be ignorant to our own transgressions. Ignorant and wise, we all be fools to ourselves in the end. Why taint the Truth with mistaken ideas? Doth it not hold value to thee?

Answer 8

Particularly in the context of the creationism/evolution debate, I have had the following experience hundreds of times on various msg boards:

1) Creationist posts something criticizing evolution that is flat out factually wrong (one example: the 2nd law of thermodynamics prohibits evolution)

2) I point out that it is worng, explain in detail why, provide scientific references for it, and sometimes even point out that creationists have already admitted that the point in #1 was false.

3) Creationist changes the topic.

*one hour passes*

4) Creationist re-iterates the position in step #1, even though it has already been soundly invalidated.








In other words, it just seems to me that (maybe not all christians, but) fundamentalits & creationists simply don't want to be open to what other people have to say, even when it is backed up by incontrovertible fact.
What is actually true or factual just doesn't seem relevant to them. They'd gladly keep using arguments that are known to be false. There just seems to be this mentality that, so long as they have avoided confronting evidence to the contrary, that it makes it OK to keep lying (because they made sure to avoid confronting the evidence that proves it to be a lie)














Anyway, it reminds me of one of my favorite quotes, which hammers home why it is ridiculous for people to preach and never listen:

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"He who knows only his side of the case, knows little of that."
-John Stuart Mill.

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Answer 9

Because they're closed-minded and don't care what the other person says since they know they're right. They feel its their job to convert the non-believing-sinner to the ways of righteousness and if they listened to what the other person has to say, that person might bring up a point they couldn't answer with their bible-beating. And since God is on their side, well hey, God couldn't be wrong now could He?

Answer 10

Christians want rights for christians and christians only. the other guy aka the non christian is standing in thier way for them to get what they want. so they try to chide them into eeither becoming christian or becoming *the enemy* but if a christian wants a real enemy they need look no further than a mirror.

Answer 11

Those christians who you probably notice are fundamentalist loonies...or priests. Thats how they act I'm afraid...

I listen to anyone no matter who it is so long as they have something intelligent to say...the rest I just ignore or stare down.