For the Christians...Do you consider yourself to be an open minded, accepting, non-judgmental person?

Question

If you said "Yes" check out the answers to this question.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Aqddnm3MNm4dMjTNcXzEZ.vzy6IX?qid=20061119221009AABM4OJ

As of this posting, only 2 Christians had answered in a way that most atheists would find to be non-inflammatory.

If you consider yourself to be an accepting, loving, open minded, non-judgmental kind of person, explain why you believe so differently from the ones who don't.

Christianity is Christianity. You all read the same book. Why the discrepancies in the way you think?

I'm truly interested.

David T, Alicia S, and So You Say...you answered the linked question in a respectful manner. Thank you for doing so.

David T...Absolutely. I'm truly curious as to the mind set. I don't mean for this question to be inflammatory at all.

All of you have been very respectful so far in your answers, and I appreciate that. Thank you.

REB....you should have clicked it.

Answer 1

I appreciate the follow-up to my question, I'm interested in this also. I can just never figure out how there are so many Christians, devoted to following the teachings of Christ, but their views are so varied. Some Christians pride themselves on condemning people who disagree with them, and never stop to actually read all the good things Jesus said about helping others and not judging people. I think whether you believe in God or not, a lot of what Jesus preached were good morals and ethics for anyone to live by. Sometimes though, it just seems like the ones who truly believe Jesus was God, have the hardest times living by what Jesus actually said.

Answer 2

I am probably more open minded than many Christians. I have my bias, like anyone. Like anyone, I try to hide them, but probably really don't all that well. I tend to be Judgmental towards people who are Judgmental, so that doesn't make me any better than them. We are all human. Some are just more open about it.

As to being open minded. I think that many things enter into a persons views. Age, experience, intelligence, contact with people who are different. If you come from a small mid-western town where everyone is pretty much the same, you might be less likely to be open minded, because you have not been exposed to other ideas. It depends on the family that you were raised in. It also depends on the type of contact that you have had with people of other beliefs and how they treated you.

From the outside it might seem that Christianity is Christianity, but from the inside there are many differences in the way we interpret what it means to be a Christian and which theologians we believe. Some think that they are not following the teachings of any theologians, they will say that they are only following Jesus and the Bible. But even that idea is from a theologian somewhere. So yes the Bible is the Bible, and Jesus was who He was. But from there you get many different views and practices. The more fundamental these are the less likely for open mindedness.

Answer 3

I try to respond to people with, not just "acceptance", but love and a desire to understand who they are. I sort of thin that "acceptance" is just an excuse to not try to understand people (let's just agree to disagree and "accept" that we are different) I don't get real uptight if people tell me that they are atheist. I do wonder about their lives and how they came to that decision. To be honest, I even wonder if there is anything I can to do show them the powerful, personal love that I have been given by God.

Hello, My name is Morgan. I'm a Christ follower, and I'm a lovaholic.

Why is there "discrepancy" between Christians? because humans are messy individuals. We all read the same book (or set the same book on our shelves, whichever the case may be), but many people do not understand how to get the "good stuff" out of the bible, they think that if they just read the words and close the book, everything will take care of itself.

since you're interested... :)
The way to get the "good stuff" out of the bible is to do the following.

Talk to God honestly and respectfully and ask him to show you the good stuff from the part of the bible you are going to read.

Read the verses or chapters or books or whatever, and think and ask God how you can apply it to your life (like loving your neighbor :)

When you are done, look over any parts of the verses that you didn't understand, pray that God will help you understand those parts too. It's pretty crazy-amazing, but sometimes I'll read a chapter or some verses 5 or 6 times and not understand what in the world it could mean. then I pray and ask God for help. the answer instantly comes into my little brain. It cracks me up every time. Sorry for the long post, hope this answers something. Blessings

Answer 4

I consider myself to be an open minded,sometimes accepting, sometimes NOT accepting,nonjudgmental (by definition) Christian.
I personally do not give a RA if atheists find me offensive or not. I am not here to prance around on lilies and make sure everything is sugar coated and lovely. The only time i waste the energy answering atheists questions, is to do what God asked me.

and that is to let you know God wants you the most ! He sent his only Son as payment, thats how bad he wants us
If you believe in Him, you will have eternal riches beyond your imagination John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
And thats all you will hear me say on the subject. Contrary to popular belief, MOST of us have better things to do than chase around non-believers trying to shove the Lord down their throat.


i'd say by faith we are open minded. I'd be interested to hear atheists explain how they are so open minded.. I am curious why such people would even BE in a religious area...i mean, its not like you are here for answers if you have already labeled yourself an atheist, right? So why would you want to waste your time? Is there any other reason than to antagonize people?(i.e. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AqfwmY1CUIkn7xSIengqegTsy6IX?qid=20061118085005AAJqeiI ) By the way, to answer your Q Why the discrepancies in the way you think?
You really should do a little more research into Christianity...we are saved sinners. We don't always say or do the right thing(do you?)...we are not perfect, it was JESUS who was perfect

Respectfully yours, K

Answer 5

This question is not realistic because every human being has the opposite of what you present in this question even God himself but he has that right and I believe God knows that we as human beings can be both side of the coin because we are Not perfect. This is not justification but what can anyone expect from individuals who all believe differently and have different point of views on every thing. To think that a christian or an atheist should think alike is bias regardless of how people want to perceive it. Not everyone is taught the same nor have the been taught from the same resources. I believe this is what makes the world go around. Evil and Good in every arena,group and individuality.

*(*

Answer 6

i'm probably greater open minded than many Christians. I even have my bias, like all of us. Like all of us, i attempt to cover them, yet probably incredibly do no longer all that nicely. I even tend to be Judgmental in the direction of people who're Judgmental, so as that doesn't make me any further effective than them. we are all human. some are only greater open approximately it. As to being open minded. i think of that many stuff enter right into someone's perspectives. Age, journey, intelligence, touch with people who're diverse. in case you come from a small mid-western city the place all of us is extraordinarily plenty the comparable, you will possibly desire to be much less probably to be open minded, when you consider which you haven't any longer been uncovered to different recommendations. It relies upon on the family members which you have been raised in. It additionally relies upon on the form of touch which you have had with human beings of different ideals and how they taken care of you. From the exterior it would desire to seem that Christianity is Christianity, yet from the interior there are a number of transformations contained in the way we interpret what it capacity to be a Christian and which theologians we've faith. some think of that they do no longer seem to be following the classes of any theologians, they are going to say that they are basically following Jesus and the Bible. yet even that concept is from a theologian someplace. So confident the Bible is the Bible, and Jesus became into who He became into. yet from there you get many diverse perspectives and practices. The greater elementary those are the fewer probably for open mindedness.

Answer 7

We do not all read the same book by the way, the bible has different versions for catholics and for protestants, it all depends on which books were considered unworthy of being included, many gospels were removed because they detracted from the official image the church wanted of Jesus Christ. Take Mexico, for example, for a looong time catholicism reigned supreme, but it seemed that people got tired of the same old thing and the church handled things pretty badly. The protestant religions have taken hold in all of Mexico and now the religious map is changing. The census takers up to twenty years ago assumed you were catholic and were taken aback when you said you were not. Now they even ask which religion you belong to. That means acceptance of different religions has taken root in this country. Of course the catholic church has become extremely close to the rich and powerful and still believes it can somehow get back into positions of power. You see, church and state used to be together until one man changed it all and the church still smarts about that. In addition, we do have a very important religious icon which is the virgin of guadalupe. To date I have read completely different versions as the authenticity of the portrait of guadalupe and the story and miracles behind it, some in favor, some against, some say it is the greatest scam ever. Catholics have legions of saints and virgins, they love iconography, the bloodier and gorier, the better. Protestants do not, their relationship is directly with god, not through the intercession of a bunch of saints. So among christians there are differences. Even among protestants, there is tolerance towards Jehova's Witnesses because they tend to babble about the bible regardless of your opinion and denomination. Differences among related religions are common, they exist between jews, muslims, everyone. That is because as humans we tend to complicate everything.

We are humans and we do have free will, not always used towards a good and noble purpose. Being a Christian is following in the footsteps of Christ himself and that is sooo hard. We tend to slip often and mess up. People who do adhere to the Christian way of life which is just doing what is right, are special individuals and a lot can be learned from them. We tend to judge people based on our standards, our values, our upbringing, our background. Learning to be tolerant is hard, but not impossible. I do not find it hard to be tolerant with people who are not Christians, we do need to find some common ground, not center on the differences, you can always learn something new from people who are different from you. There are good people regardless of religion or lack of it. Ignorance about other cultures and religions is to blame most of the time. We tend to fear and hate what we do not know. Horrible things have been done in the name of god just out of ignorance, prejudice and hate.Some religious conflicts date from many centuries back, I guess to the point that neither side will acknowledge they do not even know why the problem started in the first place.

People who claim to have no religion and believe in no god are to be respected. They have their reasons. Personally, I believe faith is the one thing that sustains us during the good and bad times. Faith and the belief in a supreme being, deity, whatever that follows universal laws of cause and effect is also comforting because remember that we are individuals that arrive alone and depart alone from this life. Sometimes faith is all we have left.

Hope this answers your questions.

Answer 8

I don't know what to say cause everyone says Oh religion is religion, we worship the same God, have similar principles..blah blah. And yet there are differences within religions, different christian denominations, different Muslim worshipers. No one for fear of controversy wants to delve deeper (which is understandable, the world is a very volatile place) but personally I think that unfortunately, Christianity is a very corrupted religion. Over the years, that's what has happened. Ur question should not be directed to Christians alone, it's not only Christians that claim to be all the things you mentioned. Human beings are hypocrites, WE are hypocrites.

Answer 9

Some Christians are open minded and nonjudgmental and some are holier than thou and put down anyone even fellow Christians. In my opinion to be a Christian is to follow Christ and forsake your way for his way and your will for his will. I try and live by Matthew 7:1-4 and Eph-4:29-32

Some people find the need to be right more important than pleasing God in everything they do, even answering questions on a yahoo question/answer forum. God Bless

Answer 10

I didn't fit the requirement to answer that question, I am a Christian.

Yes I think I am a non-judgemental, open minded, accepting person.

Christianity differs becasue of how people interpret it, some people have pain they won't give to God but use His word to justify their actions.

Some people have different meanings on the words in there.