Can anyone tell me something about Christianity that is generally bad?

Question

I know this question will draw a lot of people who will only spew hate and things not worth sharing... No worries go ahead and add your thoughts (?) if you feel you must. I can sift the good stuff from the junk... You are forgiven, and tolerated.

I often read comments from people saying they have studied Christianity or were Christians and no longer believe. I am particularly interested in comments from people with whom that fits. What I am really interested in is people who are willing to really think this through and offer up some insightful and well thought out input.

I'm not talking about the behavior of some Christians... I'm talking about Christianity from a philosophical stand point. What in the teachings of Christ and or the Bible in general do you find objectionable or offensive.

Please cite Bible references if you comment on something from the Bible.


Thanks,
Safetman59

Ok... Not that I don't appreciate the input, but come on folks... If you are going to make a comment please give clear examples. Don't just say it teaches intolerance or something like that and not be specific. That just makes it look like you are making claims you cannot support or just repeating something you heard someone else say....

Likewise, I am interested in YOUR thoughts and opinions, NOT something you cut and pasted from someone elses web site.

Answer 1

Apparently the people did not read your question correctly. He asked for refferces to the Bible, people. In other words back it up with scripture. My philosophy you have to read the Bible with 20/20 vision.20 verses before and 20 verses after the verse you are quoting to really understand what the Bible is speaking about.

Same as if you read a chapter in a book, you "think" you may like the book but you really don't know until you have read at least one chapter.In other words don't take one sentence from the Bible and make it fit your mixed up over reacting world and form all your judgments and thoughts about the Bible from one scripture.

Oh I didn't respond to the question correctley either. I am a Christian so I guess I can't answer your question, wanting a person who finds scripture offensive or objectionable. I don't I love the Word of God.

Sorry

Answer 2

Let me start by saying that I am a Christian (progressive Lutheran).

My struggle with Christianity itself has always been with parts of The Bible. For example, the book of John is quite anti-Jew, which is something I just can't be. Other parts are anti-woman, especially some of Paul's writings, while other passages seem to insist that God is jealous, quick to anger, and at times is a mass murderer!

So, why am I Christian? Because the God I connect with through the life and teachings of Jesus is one of compassion and patience, forgiveness and love. When things get confusing after reading a challenging passage, I remind myself to keep things simple: to love God the Father, to love others, and to serve others.

peace

Answer 3

For me, it was mainly that I couldn't fathom how if we break any law, no matter how small or in any harmless way, we shall be destroyed in Hellfire. The only way out is for something perfect to be killed in our stead, as we confess the fact we aren't perfect. All this done by the will of a being whos love and mercy is infinite. God created the world, no one else. He created the law, no one else. People tell me that its our fault that lambs and eventually Jesus had to die. It was the only way. WRONG. The only way is the way God wills it. If He chose to say "Hey, you screwed up, but no big deal, I can see that you're at least trying to be a good person," then that's how the world would be. However, our sins require something be murdered in our stead. I don't understand that, and no one has ever explained it to me sufficently.
So, I became a pagan, where what I put into the world comes back, as is fair.

Answer 4

Probably:

1. Forgiveness with a deadline? Can't be forgiven when evidence of deities placed forward?

and

2. The focus on wrongs and absense of concern for atonement (or rather generic atonement). The idea that when someone does something wrong, only by appealing forgiveness to a deity can one be forgiven, rather than forgiveness for any kind of atonement given.

A god will only look at the wrongs you have done and thus any forgiveness or atonement must be done to him, rather than looking at the good and atonement done for the wrong as well.

A write-off of things that should not be written off.

EDIT: My comment is one against general Christian Theology and not the Bible, therefore I do not need to look up Bible references.

Or are you suggesting that Christianity does allow those who arrive at judgement day to ask forgiveness in front of the Christian deity and receive it? Are you suggesting that the Christian deity accepts atonement in the name of others or to conceptualizations of justice? Accounts moral rights done alongside moral wrongs?

Answer 5

The problem is that it is based on something that I don't believe in. God. I don't really have any problems with Christians or their beliefs.
But when I can't believe in what it is based on there is no point in me following the religion. When I became an atheist I became more confident and started to look at world differently, I have started reading about different ideas and religions and theories and basically my life has become more interesting.

Answer 6

Nope.
To the person a few posts up, skepticsannotatedbible.com is not a correct source to use, mainly because it does not quote IN CONTEXT, which I see a lot of people have a problem doing.

Answer 7

How about the fact that they borrowed pagan gods and made them into saints, borrowed their traditions and made them into christian holidays and then Demonized everything the pagans believed in? forcing them to become an underground religion, live in fear of being burned or stoned?

would u count that as bad? they continue to demonize anyone who is pagan to this day. World Leaders don't recognize it as a religion and any pagan or neo-pagan have to fight constantly for the free religious expression most Christians take for granted.

from a philosophical point of view Christianity is all about power (using fear as alot of their primary beliefs, in fear of going to hell, in fear of Satan taking over), yes it shows to love our fellow man, compassion and many other benevolent things but its redundant in the form that almost every other religion does that (aside from Satanism which is a mockery of the Christian church). personally i believe in the magical/spiritual side of it in which Christianity goes against most forms of that.

as far as scripture, i don't feel it necessary to prove or disprove anything using its only its book. personally i would rather use its philosophies and its history as a guide to why i do not believe

as far as my own religion i was baptised as a christian as a child, am currently the only wiccan in even my extended family. i fell away from it for almost every reason above.

Answer 8

The fact that they are only human. The fact that even the sons of men broke their father's circle of trust! xtians are as regular as you or me or an atheist, but not a satanist. It would have been better to worship money than to be a satanist.

Answer 9

Just a few things I remember quickly: wars, invasions, crusades, witch hunts, Hitler, genocide of American Indians, slavery of black Africans, imperialism, George Bush

Answer 10

Animals don't have souls is the main reason why I would never follow christianity