Why do atheists seem to think "Christian" is synonymous with "right-wing, ignorant fundamentalist bigot"?

Question

Most of these people are so far from practicing the principles of the Bible that it greatly upsets me to be associated with them. The Bible even says that these kind of people, paticularly our Republican leaders, are not truly Christian even if they claim to be. Why do a lot of non-Christians seem to think that this is what it means to be Christian?

"By the way, looking at the past and present, can you really say that there are people who "practice the principles of the bible"and are not putting down some kind of minority and condemning them to hell. Do you?" Man is not supposed to judge people according to the Bible, so condemning anyone to Hell is unbecoming of a Christian. Secondly, there is absolutely no scripture in the Bible that could give anyone justification for devaluing a certain race. This is my whole point: people who claim to be Christian aren't necessarily Christian (Matthew 15:8-9, if interested). As for me practicing the principles of the Bible, I try my best, but I wouldn't pretend to be on some moral high ground; I'm as imperfect as anyone else.

Good point therealme. It should read "most non-Christians that I've happened to come across on this site," not "atheists."

Answer 1

Thanks for bringing this up. I'm a non-Fundamentalist Christian and it's wearisome to continuously explain that I don't hate gays, believe in oppressing women, subscribe to Creationism, or take the Bible as an historically inerrant text. A loudmouthed, pushy minority has created a public image of "Christian" as "intolerant jackass", and people actually believe it. What's more, the media buys into it, so when people think of Christianity, they simply conjure up an image of Falwell's smiling face as he gets his jollies condemning people to hell. I've spent an inordinate amount of time explaining to people that not all Christians are Fundamentalists.

Answer 2

Well I didn't use to. I used to think that christians were just mislead or indoctrinated by their parents and stuff. Since I came to Yahoo and read all the hateful responses and the hateful, aggressive questions ( all in the name of the lord) I started to think all of things you've mentioned. And I found myself answering in a more hateful tone every time I answered yet another hateful question regarding homosexuality, atheists, abortion and other matters that seem to be a reason to go to hell ( in which I don't believe of course). By the way, looking at the past and present, can you really say that there are people who "practice the principles of the bible"and are not putting down some kind of minority and condemning them to hell. Do you?

Answer 3

Christians voted for them to try and overcome Rowe vs Wade, but why they supported him the second time is beyond me. I know they had some christian leaders behind them, for whatever reason perhaps they liked to be part of the power. I myself told as many as I could they were being fooled both times but these people many of my friends among the group, just really do not like what the womens movement has done to families, and how being gay has somehow become cool, and the Democrates who actually support more christians values also support things considered immoral, so they come down hard on people who they consider liberal.

I also am upset with these but they are so unhappy with Democrates I do not think they are listening. The people who support chistian values accurately are not running for office. Hopefully the right wing christians will just not vote.
Both partys are run by the people who turned TV into a big commercial, called us at all hours to sell new phone plans, raised the price of food but are not raising the COLA for the retired and infirm, on and on squeezing us all and delivering less of the essentials for more money, they are controlled by the merchant lobby.

What we need is a Christian party. It is time for a party that actually supports christian values. They may not win but in the end the third party would have a big effect of changing both parties.

The non christians will always pick what looks worse and use it to embarrass christians. Get used to that. It has been that way for over 2000 years.

Answer 4

My problem with moderate Christians is threefold. One is that they grant a support base to the ones you are complaining about simply by practicing the religion, two is that they aren't outspoken enough about those lunatics, three is that anyone who sees the Bible as a "good book" either a) hasn't read it completely, b) only has second hand knowledge of it, c) doesn't really care what it says, or d) has a warped sense of morality and justice. The Bible is full of unrighteous role-models and outlines god as an egotistical manipulator... a sociopath of sorts.

Answer 5

It is a little bit understandable as these types of "Christians" often scream the loudest that they are "Christian", calling their narrow bigotted views "Christian" all the time. I live on the other side of the world and I was stunned when I came on to this site. Especially as I'm a scientist, and tend to search for the word evolution etc. But it's always good to be reminded that not all American Christians are like that, and in fact the majority of the worlds Christians aren't like that at all.

Answer 6

My information of "militant" is in simple terms a known term approximately somebody who isn't afraid of voicing his critiques and concepts, and appearing on them — an opinion that are counseled or uninformed, replaced or no longer decrease than the easy of available, verifiable data. In that experience, militants are no longer so diverse than activists (the less pejorative term). Fundamentalists are very comparable, yet their critiques and concepts are hassle-loose to be unaffected by the availibility of observable, verifiable data. In that experience, they may be a miles greater severe risk to society. call atheists militants if this suits you — a flock of sheeps we're not to any extent further :) > Why are some atheists "militant" and a few believers "fundamentalists"? isn't "fundamentalist" basically a euphemism for "militant"? .

Answer 7

Because the "right-wing ignorant fundamentalist bigots" have CO-OPTED the term "Christian" for themselves in the mind and eye of the public. And it's not just the atheists who think that; I'm a theist [firm believer in God but absolutely not in religion] who has been given that impression also, especially because those "RWIFBs" are LOUDER than anyone else and currently have many political friends IN HIGH PLACES.

Answer 8

The problem is in generalizing. Did you realize that you just lumped all atheists together? It seems society as a whole just prefers to have handy identifying labels for everyone. This type is "good", that is "bad", 'those' people are stupid, etc.
Even Christians, who are called upon by God not to judge their fellow-man, can fall into this trap. It makes our lives easier to be able to categorize people, places and things rather than getting to know them each as individuals who need love, understanding, and above all, our prayers.
Jesus said, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.".
As Christians in today's stone-casting world, we need to remember this most of all.

Answer 9

Because that is how the majority of Christians have allowed them selfs to be portrayed by the likes of Falwell, and Phelps and others, they haven't been vocal enough in condemning them. Silence signifies acceptance!

There is all so the fact that when you choose to wear the label of Christian you are subscribing to all that entails including the idiotic and absurd motions the bible conveys. Technicly the bigoted fundies ARE the true christians.

Answer 10

I expect religious types may classify me as an atheist... as i dont belive in any made up gods of any kind; but i dont "think "Christian" is synonymous with "right-wing, ignorant fundamentalist bigot"? "

not at all... to me the word christian = superstition and delussion. Totally detacthed from reality, obsessive compulsive (all that praying and the like) and verging on psychotic in their beliefs of the world around them.