Does anyone feel nervous around religious people especially christians?

Question

Its not that i don't like them, i do ( i was brought up roman catholic). It jus now im agnostic and hate it when people try to influence my beliefs. But i get really nervous when hanging around with devout christians, im scared if do something they dont really like, they will chatatised me. Also i really extremely awkard when they recite scripture or religious passages. Is there something wrong me or do other people feel the same as i do.

Answer 1

You are not alone because extremely religious people who are set on converting you can be a royal pain in the a**. It is their job to convert to you to their way of thinking about Christianity and they are prepared to stay there all night and the next day to convince you. I am generally a mild sort of guy. I don't like to get riled up due to high blood pressure so I often merely nod and smile and avoid confrontations but occasionally I have to let go because their information is so far off base that I cannot merely sit there and say nothing. They know only what they were taught even if much of it isn't exactly factual and they hit you between the eyes with their point of view. Yes, it can make me VERY uncomfortable.

Answer 2

I understand how you feel. My workplace has a strict policy that involves not talking about religion--especially in front of customers, but as soon as a customer is out of earshot, the policy is often ignored.
Examples:
-One Christian saying that another Christian isn't a 'true Christian' because she imbibes and has premarital sex.
-Another Christian cornering a Jehovah's Witness employee and asking her to explain and rationalize her beliefs.
-Folks of various religions making offhand comments about other religions without knowing the beliefs of those around them.
-An employee who is blatantly racist against non-Americans for personal reasons and assumes anyone who is middle Eastern is Islamic and worth hating.

The worst was the second scenario, because I get along very well with the Jehovah's Witness employee. We always have pleasant, clean, non-controversial conversations and I don't think I've ever seen this employee in a confrontation with a customer or coworker because she is so kind hearted. When she was cornered and asked about her beliefs, she handled it well and had no problem answering the question, but the worst was that it made things awkward for me when it was my turn to fess up, and the answer to the 'what do you believe?' question was that my family is Catholic on one side and that I am a Celtic Reconstructionist pagan.

I try to keep my beliefs personal to me, even though I consider them an important part of who I am, but even when I am around preachy Christians who do not know that I am pagan, I still feel uncomfortable. I understand the desire/mission to preach to those who have not heard about their way, but it bothers me when I am approached after I have said that I already know and politely decline.

It makes me extremely angry that people will violate these work rules and make people feel uncomfortable--and even worse--go behind others' backs and judge. If you can't keep your mouth shut about God at work, what right do you have to criticize someone for knocking on a door, or refraining from talking about their beliefs to adhere to store policy?

In conclusion, I used to feel nervous around a lot of people, but then I took a trip to Washington, DC with a humanitarian/civil rights activist who was also a priest. He made me see that most clergy have a worldly view and that they, too, are not blind to everything around them that falls out of their beliefs.

The part I struggle with now is my reaction. I don't really feel like I should say "rock on!" or "Hey that's my favorite verse!" in response to someone quoting the Bible, because that simply isn't true. I'm not offended by their beliefs, but the response is just... awkward, and I'm not the type to be a sarcastic person and say in reply "hey, do you want a tarot card reading or something?" although with less genuine Christians, it has crossed my mind to say these things.

Ultimately I try and reflect upon how negatively some individuals cause others to feel about their religion. For every obnoxious, preachy Christian out there, there are probably 5-15 sincere Christians who are out doing God's work in the way of community service work or who are just not as pushy.

When I was younger, I went to a prep school that was half Christian/half Jewish, and I moved to rural middle America recently. I am so used to saying 'happy holidays' that people get offended when I don't say 'Merry Christmas' even though there are still many here who do not celebrate holidays.

Answer 3

Well I am a devout christian person, but I know what you are talking about, it is natural to be uncomfortable in and enviroment that is not of our choosing. but most of the time we feel that way when we are not sure about our own beliefs, or we are not equipped enough in what we believe to tell others what we stand for.. if you are unable to say anything about what you believe then I guess you will have to just grin and bear it..

Answer 4

Stereotyping!!!!

kinda like looking at the color red and saying, that color is hot... it is dangerous and it is destructive......

But, if you open your heart to something more than what you've ascertained, you will see that the color is lovely, it evokes emotion, and it is beautiful in its own right!!!

So too is that with people.....

Some cannot look at people and say, "That's a Christian! Get away from them, they're evil!".......

That's a bad way of looking at life!!!

What is inside of that person does not hold true for what you see of the outside of that person!


your sister,
Ginger

Answer 5

I think, no offense to you, that you need to grow thicker skin.

People say all sorts of things out there (freedom of speech is funny that way) and that includes people coming out with "religious talk."

If it really bothers you that much, then just don't hang out with devout Christians. Don't expect them to change their ways just to accommodate you.

.

Answer 6

perhaps u feeling like they wont like something u do is really u feeling guilty about some of the things u do
I'm not saying thats definite, but worth considering.
Christians should not chastize somebody as we are just as guilty as anybody, if not more so. We just know it thats all.

Hope this helps

Answer 7

True Christians will not Chastize you, God does that, True Christians may tell you they don't want to hear something that is dirty, But to me, & the way you say you act around them, maybe you are under conviction.

Answer 8

Maybe the Holy Spirit is convicting you.

Answer 9

Being on the way of damascus like Paul, you will soon be converted.

Answer 10

i guess it is like being at your in laws and trying to be the best you can . ... not swear and be on your best behaviour etc
but you should be yourself ... they are taught to accept people and not judge them
if they dont ....
it is not you that is at fault
so just relax xx