I have found that there are a multitude of people that are told about Christianity and its views on certain subjects and get offended by the concept that natural actions have spiritual consiquences. Example: The concept of hell and who goes. Touchy subject I know, but people feel as if that subject can not be spoken on by a human being. Why? I am not playing God, just saying what he has said. Is it that maybe wholeness, and purity (God) can not be recognized in partial goodness and a semi-self control (people) and thats scary? I know it used to be for me. Please answer honestly and not with scarcasm and discontent for the question posed.
2006-09-13 05:02:41 · 32 answers · asked by Nico Suave 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Please forgive my example of hell and implying that I am preaching or teaching that certain people will go. That is not the case. I was using it along the lines of in a conversation that would include that subject............
2006-09-13 05:17:04 · update #1
First, the idea is not offensive, it's juvenile
Second, the offensive part is that people seem to think that they are in a position to dole out eternal punishment over people who disagree with them. It's ignorant, arrogant, and offensive.
Third, "God" didn't say anything. Man said that "god" said these things. It's just man playing god.
Got it?
2006-09-13 05:06:14 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 9⤊ 0⤋
I am not "scared" by the concepts of heaven and hell. I simply do not believe in them. I do not get "offended" by the Christian discussion of these concepts. Instead, there are times when I get frustrated. I become frustrated because to date, I have found no Christian that can accept, even on the most limited level, the idea that there may be other means to the same end. Not heaven and hell per-say but other paths to spirituality and a relationship with the divine. It's the, "This is the only way," that I find completely frustrating. It is not. There is beauty in every spiritual path.
What you must learn is that there are a great many people who move towards the divine in a very different way. They will not be punished by your god anymore than someone like Gandhi would be punished. And if you believe that Gandhi will be punished because he was a practicing Hindu, you have problems greater than I can possibly address on this site.
2006-09-13 05:11:50 · answer #2 · answered by gjstoryteller 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Please try for a moment to imagine what the other person is thinking & feeling while you are telling them your views. Here's a few things to consider:
1) They've already heard what you're telling them from other people.
2) They disagree with your premises.
3) They've noticed that people like you can be obsessive to the point of being annoying & creepy.
4) They think the concepts of god & devil, heaven & hell are just metaphors/myths invented by ancient civilzations that were trying to make sense of a world that was often dangerous.
5) They've noticed that religion can be very harmful (e.g. holy wars)
These are just some of the things going through their minds. But I personally find that I am most offended because when people like you talk to me, you only want to tell me your beliefs, and won't listen with any respect to my arguments against your beliefs. I was raised in a religion, and have spent a significant amount of time over the years pondering these questions. I think I know both sides of the argument as well as you know your one side. But I know that I am still learning, and am capable of mistakes. I enjoy having intelligent conversations with people who have different views as long as the conversations are two way. If all you want to do is preach your view and condem me for my views, then I am deeply offended, and want nothing to do with you.
2006-09-13 05:14:40 · answer #3 · answered by Jim L 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The entire history of christianity, starting within the chapters of the books of acts, has been about people disagreeing with what the religion is and should mean. That's why you have literally hundreds of thousands of different sects of christianity, all of which disagree on some/most/all points with other sects. You have churches who say homosexuals have to be killed and churches that have homosexual bishops. There are millions of christians across the planet and everyone in their relationship with god has a different worldview and are no doubt offended by some other christian. With all that conflict within the church, you're suddenly shocked that people who already have their own faith or philosophy away from that are offended when you come up and say "You're wrong I'm right listen to me I know exactly what God means. ?? Perhaps when the christian church is able to speak with one message and voice you'll be able to accurately portray the christian ethic to others...until that happens though you're just going to sound like you're recruiting for a religion. And that's never cool. People come to religion, not the other way around.
2006-09-13 05:12:10 · answer #4 · answered by Gamerbear 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm not offended. If you want to see easily offended, Check out my questions and read some of the christian responses.
Natural actions have spiritual consiquences???? Prove it. Maybe I believe that if you are good when you die, you get to swim in chocolate and eat marshmallows. Can you provide any more or less evidence than me?
The concept of hell and who goes??? Prove there is a hell. I believe that if you were bad when you die, you go to jupiter where clowns sodomize you with ice-cream cones. Neither you nor I can provide EVIDENCE to support our claims.
You say "you were just saying what he said" referring to god???
How do you logically deduce that what is written in the bible was said by god? I believe it was first said by the Flying Spaghetti Monster......Can you prove me wrong?
I think that Christians are the ones who are scared. They are so scared of the unknown that they subscribe to a book of myths and believe in a talking snake, invisible angels, a devil, demons etc.
2006-09-13 05:18:11 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
OK...I will try;
Nico.....there REALLY is a Santa Claus. The history of Santa is there for you to read...AND its accurate even though he didnt write it, everyone else did who "SAW" it for themselves. Yes, I know you cant see him and there are many fake idols of him but he exists....in your heart, in your mind.
You pray for a present and you will get one. Maybe not the one you were asking for but Santa knows best. We may tell you that if you are naughty or nice you wont get a present...its not true Santa wouldnt be so mean. But you dont know for sure so towards X-mas time you'll try harder to be nice.
All the hymns are there...like Jingle Bells, Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer....and the build up the excitement...its all magic AND its worldwide except for some who dont get it....so WHY dont you believe Nico?
Believe it Nico....it HAS to be true or why the stories, why the hype, why the loving and wonderment feelings you get about Santa? Its not because Jesus was born then....Jesus didnt give you presents...or else X-mas would be about Jesus and NO presents at all, Santa invented that, so it'd be like any other Sunday at church?
So now......people saying that being religious (mind you, not ALL religions apparently)....means after you die you get presents (presence). If you dont believe in Santa (umm God) you get nothing. Well that is like waving a red flag at a bull isnt it? People dont like to be told to believe what they think is untrue and dont like being told they are damned for all time when they havent done anything wrong.
While we dont think you will go to heaven or hell either...its just frustrating hearing annoying rubbish about someone who probably existed once. A teacher who got sick of the mean-ness of people prevalent back then and wanted to buoyant them up with a better way of acting towards each other....Gods were always there but he wanted to narow down the field a bit to one...thats fair enough. But just like Santa he hasnt existed for ages.
We dont mind the good deeds thing....as people SHOULD live life with empathy and forethought regardless of a power above. Sensible and happy people dont need prompting to do that however. Its only sad/depressed/worried/abused people that need to find a "saviour".....to give life meaning when you give up on your own control.....or self to another or your history. Waving the flag of righteousness, when you are so damaged, as to need a God and not just do good things off your own bat...is just irritating to say the least.
2006-09-13 05:38:29 · answer #6 · answered by Scully 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are shutting out what others have said on the subject only to believe in what are culture has believed it about in the past 1500 years or so depending on where you are from.
Not only is it totally disrepectful for someone who is not Jesus to say people are going to hell or not, because you aren't the person you are judging, but it's also completely arogant that you think there is one way and screw what others have said about it.
2006-09-13 05:06:43 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Why are Christians so easily offended? The question can be asked both ways. Being a non-Christian I can tell you why I get SO irritated by SOME Christians. They are too damn controlling, wanting to FORCE people to convert. Throwing their opinions at people and forcing them to take it, that there is ABSOLUTELY no other way of thinking. Well that's why some of us gets so offensive, because no one likes to be told what to believe in. We have our own lives and opinions.
2006-09-13 05:06:58 · answer #8 · answered by ladida 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Why are Christians so easily offended? When some people find out that I am not a Christian, the feel it their obligation to harass me until I "see the light." If I am rude, they get offended. If I politely decline, the continue to harass me. If I claim to have seen the light in the faith that I have now (Wicca) they either continue to harass or get offended or both. Why works both ways.
2006-09-13 05:07:27 · answer #9 · answered by wizard8100@sbcglobal.net 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Because not everyone believes in what you believe in. How would you like to be told you are going to Valhalla for your sins every day? It would frost your butt, wouldn't it? The whole thing is, you can believe what you want in this country and shouldn't have to have other people's shoved down your throat. It's a form of social pollution. You aren't doing anyone any favors, so why do it?
2006-09-13 05:06:38 · answer #10 · answered by AuroraDawn 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋