I'd like to know the problem people have with Christianity/Christians...?

Question

If it is a historical fact that Jesus was born(of a virgin), taught and 33 years later he was put to death and our beliefs are based on these events then I don't understand why christians are persecuted for believing what is true...more so than any other religion whose beliefs are usually based on one man's theories?

If it is a historical fact that Jesus was born(of a virgin), taught and 33 years later he was put to death and our beliefs are based on these events then I don't understand why christians are persecuted for believing what is true...more so than any other religion whose beliefs are usually based on one man's theories?
By persecution, I include the harsh words used to refer to christians and their beliefs but I also mean, for example groups who want to keep chuches from airing their services on television(when there are so many questionable things on televsion), keeping prayer out of school etc. when i was growing up I never saw anyone forced to say the pledge of allegiance or do anything that was against their religious freedom but it seems as if christians do not deserve the same type of freedom is what it all boils down too and that to me is persecution.

Answer 1

Christians are perceuted for the same reason Jesus was: namely, darkness hates the light.

" If they have persecuted me, they will persecute you". - Jesus

Answer 2

According to the Roman census of the time, there were 19 other Yeshuah's doing something involving a cult.

Also, the virgin birth thing is a very common belief among any god made flesh. For example, the Greek god Dionysus, was born of a virgin, turned water to wine, fed a bunch of people, healed the sick, had 12 disciples, was killed, and came back tto life three days later, so he could return to godhood. You would consider this a myth, where as I do not think it is merely old pagans writing a pretty story.

Your Christ was a great man, but Paul brought such a millitant view to the faith, it matters not. I would probably have no problem with the other "First," branches of Christianity, except maybe the Ebodianites.

And if you pull a "Not Catholic," argument out, you better not believe Jesus was divine, or in the Holy Trinity as one being.

Answer 3

I have no problem with Christians, and most of the people I know wouldn't either, so long as they don't force their beliefs on us through legislation or the courts.

It's not persecution when the courts say you can't make everyone in school pray. It's not persecution when you are not allowed to put the 10 commandments on courthouses and publicly funded property. It's not persecution when you are not allowed to make homosexuality against the law. It's not persecution when the government (Mass) allows gay marriage.

While this isn't targeted at you, it is targeted at many Christians who believe it's their duty to god to legislate others into heaven.

If you look, you'll find non-Christians are MUCH more persecuted than Christians, at least in the US and much of the western world. I've been Christian and I've been a non-Christian. I know.

I will be ordained as a Buddhist priest next year. What is persecution, IMO, is when Christians use legislation to say that weddings I perform on same sex couples aren't to be recognized as a legal marriage!

Answer 4

Well, first of all, that's an if/then statement (regarding the historical factness of the statement). Second of all, the ones that persecuted the Christians were the Romans, who wanted to make sure their society wasn't !@#$ed up. Thirdly, no one can be expected to be allowed logical inconsistencies in what they believe. Why?

Well, let's say I have the belief I'm never allowed to kill anyone. Huzzah! Excellent belief. But if I accept logical inconsistencies, I can kill someone and it can be okay. Because the only thing that would make it not okay is the logic that the earlier point I had was that I'm never allowed to kill anyone, but a logical inconsistency allows us to avoid that. In short, if you don't call people on their inconsistencies, they might as well not have beliefs at all.

Answer 5

Key phrase 'more so than any other religion whose beliefs are usually based on one man's theories?'

That is part of what separates the 'teachings of Christ' from many other 'teachings'. Christ teachings were based on 2 or more witnesses' (Matt. 18:16, 2 Cor. 13:1) not one witness.
That fact, combined with 2 Tim. 3:16-17, leads to the belief that the scriptural 'old testament' is the law of Moses (my witnesses and scriptures in another file presently), not Genesis-Malachi.

Peace Be With You and may you receive a pleasant surprise today!

Answer 6

It is not a proven historical fact that Jesus was born, and certainly not a fact he was born of a virgin. Add to that the belief in a sky fairy with magic, and you get the basis for ridicule.

You conveniently left out all that belief in the supernatural and unproven stuff in order to try to argue that Christianity is based on fact, and that is a very poor argument. Did you REALLY think that would fly? I mean, REALLY?

Answer 7

1. virgin birth = common religious metaphor that symbolized the awakening of consciousness (enlightenment). It has nothing to do with a real virgin birth and nothing to do with mary or mothers in general. Jesus and the Buddha's enlightenment were both metaphorically described as their having a 'virgin birth'.
2. Many different interpretations of Jesus' message existed after his passing; the most popular version was selected and made into the 4 gospels. Paul's (Saul of Tarsus) letters were thrown in as well. Many contend that the message of Unconditional Love (Jesus' original message) was completely changed and made into something that people wanted to hear which means the bible largely misrepresents Jesus.
Because of #2, the ego ideals of judgement, sin, hell, reward, punishment, and specialness are supported. And it's why we see the conflict with science (evolution), stem cell research, reproductive choice, gay rights, and democracy (theocratic agenda). Many Christians don't take a fundamentalist stand but they are told that they're not real christians and are strongly out-voices by the negatives of fundamentalism.
Bottom line: if Jesus' original message of Love was presented and followed, the problems with christians wouldn't exist. Just look at Zen buddhists: very few people have issues with them.

Answer 8

I assume this "persecution" you refer to is happening somewhere in the Middle-East, or Africa. Because if you mean in Europe or America, Christians own most of the damned place and everything in it. And they certainly run ALL the governments in those areas. That would be like a fly "persecuting" an elephant.

Answer 9

Here's the definition of persecute: To oppress or harass with ill-treatment especially because of race, religion or beliefs. So, how exactly are you being persecuted and who is doing the persecuting? I think it disingenuous of you to cry persecution when you are overwhelmingly in the majority. You just want to have everything your own way...that's the Christian definition of persecution -- not having everything your own way.

Answer 10

they might be 'persecuted' in other countries, like Iran, but hardly in America. And, a religion that claims there's only the one God and that what they say is correct (even though there are many different theories on what's 'right' and 'wrong') is asking for an argument and/or fight

Answer 11

Christians are "persecuted"?
Wow.
It's a real shame christians don't have a majority of people in America who claim their faith.
It's also a shame that a majority of lawmakers don't claim to be christian.
It's also a shame that there isn't a national holiday or something based on christianity. You know, one that would virtually shut down the country...maybe one in december?
Yep, that's really a shame...christians are so persecuted.