What makes you unimpressed with Christians?

Question

I am a Christian, and I'm concerned about the negative stereotypes people hold in their minds about us. Much like Democrats who hate Repulicans; all republicans are white, stodgy, boring men in their 50's who smoke cigars and listen to Rush Limbaugh, right? Republicans think Democrats are all vegetarian hippies who wear birkenstocks and tie-dye and read the Village Voice.

We hold these stereotypes in our minds, and often don't WANT to see past them, do we?

So let's hear it. I have my own negative impressions of Christians, but I want to hear everyone else's. What is it about Christians that turns you off? Personality, associations, beliefs, what is it? We're going to turn the other cheek here, so let it fly. We want to know how others see us so that we can be more approachable.

I'm enjoying reading this. I'm reading every word that every person writes. Thanks everyone. Keep the answers coming. I may just take these answers to my men's Bible study group. :)

Answer 1

Okay...

*Using the Bible to sanctify your own prejudices
*Picking and choosing from the Bible to support your beliefs
*Hypocrisy in your ways
*Judgmentalism
*Intolerance for those different than you
*Refusing to appreciate that you religion is your faith and that other faiths may be just as right or just as wrong, no one knows with certainty
*Infesting our governance with your right wing thinking (religion and government do not mix and are contrary to the founding of the US, and lol, Christianity is not the only religion here by a long shot)
*Absurd intolerance for gay equality when it's not even mentioned by Christ and is hardly at all represented in the Bible in the first place
*Voting for "family values" that are about legislating what people can do with their own bodies instead of supporting measures and candidates that actual put resources into the hands of children and families
*Bigotry, name calling, superiority complex, etc

* and ppl like $Big-Mone... who believe everyone who believes differently than him is destined for hell (not at all in keeping with the message of Christ)

But I know that many Christians are not like this. I just wish you all would try to reign in your extremists or at least speak out publically to vocalize that they do not actually represent the majority of Christians' views.

Answer 2

Ignorance of their own "Holy" books.

I've issued several challenges to Christians based on scriptures from the Bible. To date, no one has stepped up to prove me wrong, they just send me a lot of hate mail because they have to face the ridiculous nature of Christianity head on when they try.

In fact, my most recent challenge in Yahoo Answers can be found here. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AkLeiik7Sjmi6ufLEf0C3Qjsy6IX?qid=20061028040743AAVnEpj

The one e-mail I got concerning that particular challenge simply said:
"Subject: false god?

Message: Oh, so that's why we are the largest religion in the world.

Who isn't with reality?"

I find this an extrordinarily idiotic arguement for the existance of God. My response to him was that Christians are like lemmings. Just because everyone believes they will not drown, does not make it so when they all run into the sea. I had to try VERY hard not to answer him with that old hack; "If all your friends jumped off a cliff, would you?".

Maybe if more Christians actually read the Bible, there wouldn't be such a stigma to being a Christian. Granted, there would be less Christians...

-SD-

Answer 3

I have found that the negative attributes are not necessarily stereotypes, but more the general rule.

Self righteousness, greed, hypocrisy to name the top 3.

It amazes me that Christians may talk the talk, but they certainly don't walk the walk when it comes to the moral codes they seem to hold so dear.

I have met several Christians who are great people and good friends, but they are in the minority

Just for the record, I have no problem with what anyone wishes to believe, or not to believe as the case may be

Answer 4

Basically besides their beliefs, very few christians who preached are actually practising what they've preached.Some with extremist idealistic of forcing christian beliefs on everyone is what im most unimpressed of. Well not only christians but other religions too with that in mind. Saying that, through the eyes of what've i seen in media, i think in general most christians adopted a lifestyle most suited to their tastes, (common people )using their own words and thoughts to explain the bible rather than that of the true meanings of the bible and seeking advise from their religious teachers etc.,
Some only thanking God if everything went smoothly with them. But what if they are faced with difficulties and challenges ahead? They questioned God.
I think true Christians are the ones that we should follow as an example for those with this faith.Not only for Christians but other religions also.
Besides that common people with little knowledge of christianity, using their own words and trying to decipher the bible attacking other religions's belief based on their assumptions, is not a nice way of potraying one's religion.
It's time for Christians to go back to BASICS to know more about their religion ,and if possible others, rather than becoming or acting like one who know's everything and started acting like an IDIOTS.

Answer 5

The think that bothers me the most is the hypocrisy. I'm an ex-christian and I have been around countless people calling themselves christian (myself included) that give no outward sign of their belief. I finally realized my hypocrisy and then true disbelief in the religion and I stopped lying to myself and everyone else when I was calling myself a christian.
Whether the Christian religion is right or wrong is not my debate, but how true can something be when it sets standards that are impossible to live by. Why would God set his creations up to fail?

Answer 6

well, you seem like a very understanding christian, which is very rare... so i'll let you in on a little secret.

people are not unimpressed with christians, they're unimpressed with the stereotypical christian.

one of my best friends, of 12 years, is a very devout christian, but he chooses not to attend any secular gathering just because, to put it bluntly, that would most undoubtedly give him a label. he practices, for lack of a better term, "real christianity" -- or what the bible actually *says* ... not the more common "yell at everybody and damn them to hell until they convert to our religion and give our church money every sunday" type of christian.

THOSE, my friend, are the christians people are "unimpressed with"

myself, i don't care if you're black, white, purple... muslim, christian, atheist... if you're a good person, you're a good person. if you're a bad person, you're a bad person. though religion and race can sometimes -- SOMETIMES -- come in to play on how a person acts, i think if your mind is open enough, you can see past it all and just get over it.

Answer 7

Let's save time here.
Go to www.noreligion.ca
Read it all, all of it.
Absorb the reality of it. Then ask some questions about your compulsion to believe in an imaginary being that was manufactured by man to exercise control over a severely uneducated and simple-minded people 2000 years ago.
Realise that the bible, particularly the Old Testamant, is a collection of fabrications, exaggerations, poor translations, etc.
Do yourself that one live-saving favour today? Right now?
See, it isn't necessarily the people (the christians) it's the belief system that is so grossly stupid and the same label gets attached to the people that follow the dogma.
It's your parents fault. They lied to you. Just blame them, see the truth and get a whole new life.

Answer 8

Robert, there will be those with whom reasonable discourse is definitely possible and highly recommended.

But after communicating with people groups with whom I differ on these issues for many years, it becomes more and more apparent to me that learning how to be approachable is not that hard; there's no secret to having a sense of mutual respect... we can look at Christ's life to know how to emulate that. It doesn't require inviting others to use us as a punching bag. There are just those who will not be approached, and no amount of softening our message is going to be any more effective than if we were willing to stand in courage and boldness on issues that matter.

I know this language may come across as a bit challenging, but there are really those whose idea of a "good Christian" is one who will quietly fade into the background, never having any kind of voice in their surrounding community... that would be, as they say, "intolerant".

Answer 9

OurScott, such the rabble rouser, oh my. Since my faith is "made up" (an outline coined through a lovely buddy) a compilation of all matters well and lovely of all religions, cannot say I dislike some thing approximately mine, on account that I ignored all the ones unpleasant components for my "made up" faith...all the ones hypocritical components, all the ones components claiming to be the One Right Only Way to Attain Perfection by way of (clean title, fill in) faith, all the ones components of intollerance do not exist in mine, simply the gorgeous portions are allowed and practiced in mine. Now, tuck me in please? Million rely sheets and downy pillows are calling.

Answer 10

What I dislike about Christians (some, I'm not saying all are like this)

They can be judgemental, telling people they're going to burn in hell etc etc, and many seem to take pleasure in doing so.

They're pushy with their beliefs, which I find disrespectful. You respect my beliefs, and I will respect yours.

They are generally intolerant of anyone who isn't like them.