Why, Christians?

Question

Why have Christians historically been so cruel to those who have different ideas from their own? Why has there been so much murder, torture, and humiliation done in the name of God, whose supposed to be fair and love all his children? Why do people need to be reminded that they are sinners and be taught morality, when they should know it in their hearts already? Why can't Christians just keep to their straight and narrow road and not try to grab along everyone that's walking on the sidewalk in another direction? Why is your way the only way?

Not picking on her, but this was actually my response to http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ak9CaJblpIPbNxlIu9xL78Lsy6IX?qid=20070115202311AAQEkZZ&show=7#profile-info-ec0b60fee25a982ef565651fd4f465d1aa

I should have mentioned that I was raised Christian and I definitely don't hate them, except a few hypocritical individuals - such as my aunt and the couple who tore apart my childhood church! Honestly, I don't like ANY religion, because of the (few) hypocrites and all the death done in the name of any of religion. I just got tired of seeing all these questions professing the inquirer's faith and asking why people don't either like them or don't believe as they do.

Answer 1

But my way isn't the only way. We should all seek the path that makes us happiest - what if WE're the ones who are wrong? I consider these things - and that, friends, is why I don't push my faith down people's throats. I'll tell you what I think, no denying that, but I won't force you to believe my way or the Highway to Hell.

Answer 2

"Why is your way the only way?"

Murder, torture, rape, and such aside, I think that you missed the point. A well taught Christian isn't going his or her way. They chose God's way of going. That's why you might see a difference.

Now we could talk about whether Cain married one of his sisters, or that there were other humans around, it wouldn't make any difference to me which you believed. And you might not believe any of it, and that wouldn't make much difference to me.

But if you told me that you wanted to know about God, and wanted to find out whatever the truth was, that would then make a difference to me. I would tell you the truth as I know it, and that would be Jesus as the center of it all. People who want to know that kind of stuff ask different questions than those who are satisfied knowing what they know.

Notice that it is not myself that I am focusing on, but the things that Jesus said to focus on. Those that know the Bible will be able to turn all attention towards God.

History is full of contradicting behavior to the Bible. One problem was that there was no separation of church and state. Islam hasn't learned from those mistakes, and so they continue to have the same problems that the Roman Catholic Church had back in the day.

So the 'straight and narrow' path that you are referring to, Christians have told God that they recogize what God has illustrated for many centuries, that we are incapable of being on the straight and narrow. It's the nature that we have in us that got us into that problem in the first place. Jesus is the straight and narrow, since we cannot know that path without him, we are comforted to know that all we have to do is trust in what he said and what he did in order to be counted by God as being on the straight and narrow.

God does love ALL his children. But not all people are his children. He stated that his children, brothers, mothers, etc. are those that do his will. And his will is for us to follow after him, trusting him as he trusted the Father in heaven. That's a key point into understanding how God sees things. It's not by me that anything is right before God. It's by his Son Jesus Christ and the fact that I put my trust in what he said that makes me a child of God. God calls people who don't do that other things, but he does not call them his children.

Answer 3

Well I will try and answer as many as I can. There has been numerous times in which someone has 'claimed' to be a Christian by murdering, bombing, etc. but by them doing that they are not a Christian. In the Bible it states that people shall know us by our Love. They should be reminded about sinning and immorality because society has taken both to an all time low. Society has taught people that sinning and immorality is good. It states in the Bible that Christians should be fruitful and multiply. Although some people try and twist that into saying that we should have lots of children. So we are trying to share what we know with the world. I hope this answered your questions. God Bless.

Answer 4

Historically Christians have not been so cruel. Look at Nero a Roman emperor who set Rome on fire and blame Christians just to be able to kill them. I would say historically Christians die more because of their beliefs than any of the others.
First of all Jesus told us Christians to go into the world and Preach the Gospel.
Jesus said "I am the way the truth and the light. No one comes to the Father except by me."
God is fair and does love all His children but not all people are His children. God gave us the way out of sin by sending His Son to die so we would live. It is up to us to choose the path that is set before us. Life or death, not convert or be killed as other religions have done.

Answer 5

First, I am not a Christian or any othe religion. I am a card carrying atheist.

OK, no group is historically cruel. Many Christian sects have acted cruelly as have most other organized religions. The problem is that people adopt the "We are right and everyone else is wrong" mentality. They think that this gives them license to do anything.

It doesn't matter if its Christian extremists, Muslim extremists, Nazis, Maoists, Stalinists, or football players. The group mentality that "We" are right has prevaded history and will not be gone any time soon.

Our best bet is to be kind to one another, no matter what!!! We are only here one time, so lets try to make the best of it.

I have always found that talking to your enemy is a lot better than throwing stones or cruise missles at him.

Thanks,

Answer 6

up: People are all cruel at times. Christianity is an evolutionary process, where people, who call themselves "Christian", mature spiritually, in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Not all people, who address themselves as "Christian", really are. It breaks down into 2 types of approaches to growth. (1) CON forming (2) TRANS forming . Conforming deals with the "fitting in" approach which has absolutely, nothing to do with changing within the mind - EXternal in nature. Transforming involves changes within the mind - INternal in nature. Obviously; you can deduce that the conformers were the perpetrators of murder, hate and violence. The transformers do good to others - practice what they believe in ... walk the walk, you could say. No Christian's way is the "only way". Jesus Christ is the way and the life to follow after. Religion is man made; whereas, spirituality is God made and needs to be pursued after, in a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Answer 7

It's the only way because Jesus told us it is. You say we blindly follow, and we say you blindly fall into hell. For the road to hell is wide and the gates are flung wide and there's a welcome mat. We haven't persecuted anyone, you're taking one side of the story as fact and not even considering the other because of your hatred for us, and you say WE are intolerant? Where do you get your information? Do they cite any sources, other than themselves? Where are all of these reliable sources that tell you this? Last I checked Christians were the ones murdered and slaughtered in the name of God. Anyone that murders and says it's in the name of God is a liar. Do not make false claims against Christianity, or assume that these things are true. Just because they say it's in the name of God doesn't mean it is, so stop accepting lies as fact, and maybe you'll be able to open your eyes. If it says you shall not murder, anyone that does in the name of God is not a Christian. Your view is distorted and you preach lies against Christianity.

Exodus 20:13

“You shall not murder.

Answer 8

So
Why have laws
Why have courts
Why have jails
Why tell men they can TAKE SEX when they want it like animals do.
Why tell people they can't take a TV set when they don't have one or take food when they have none

OK

Let's go back to the wild west, strap a gun on and defend yourself. He or She who shoots fastest and straightest survives and the rest do with the man with the gun says or dies

Like that idea

I mean WHOSE CONCEPT OF MORALS

Men want sex, women don't want to give it indicrimanately, now we have a conflict, men are bigger, meaner, rougher and tougher, they'll get what they want

Now who do you call for help and why

I mean you want NO ONE TELLING YOU TO DO THIS OR NOT DO THAT

That's what you are preaching. Anarchy and Libertarianism.

Whose morals, men or women's?

Remember, men are biggers, stronger and meaner.

Guess who gets to make the rules.

And we'll start with that toilet seat, it stays UP all the time!

Answer 9

Historically cruel?
Many have used the name of Christ unworthily to hurt others. Murder and torture isn't a christian tenet. Do you know that more people have been killed in the name of non religeon than religeon? By China. Last century ALONE they killed anyone of faith or anyone who didn't support their goverment to the number of 63.7 million. That's in a 100 year span of time. Look at islam and the millions of christians killed in the last few centuries. Millions. That's not to say that some who "profess" the name of Christ haven't done wrong but lets look at things appropriately. Christians don't corner the market on murder because murder in the cause of your faith is NOT a christian tenet. Turn the other cheek and self defense is.

Why be reminded that you are sinners and be taught morality. Let me break it down into 2 parts.
Why remind folks that they are sinners? It is in order to point folks to a Savior whom all sinners need for salvation. Show them their need for Jesus Christ and the salvation He offers.
Why remind them of morality. It is not a christians job to remind unbelievers to be moral. They are not believers and do not follow christian tenets. But again christians aren't the only ones who teach "morality". It is something engrained in us from birth. Justice is something in every human being. Everyone desires it.

Why should christians grab everyone walking the the sidewalk to go in their direction? I realize I'm rewording your question but I think this is the jist of it. Christians want everyone to share in the joy they have in Christ...just as if you hear a wonderful song, you want to share it....even more so a christian wants everyone to be saved because for one we are instructed to tell others about Christ and for 2...I don't want any of my friends or loved ones to go to hell. If I truly believe the Bible, the most natural thing in the world for me to do is to warn others of the danger they are in.

My way is the only way? No I'm repeating what the Bible actually teaches. Christ is the only way to the Father and to heaven. If I'm a christian, naturally I'm going to believe what the Bible says and shouldn't have a problem saying so.

Lastly, I think there are many ways to reach others for Christ and I can think of one way NOT to reach others for Christ. The way not to is to pound them over the head with it. I shouldn't be afraid to share my faith, and answer questions concerning my faith, but should never try to force it down others throats. Make no mistake, some need a wake up call, but one doesn't wake someone up by hammering them on the head. Not nice.

Answer 10

Just so we are clear--- I am not bashing. But if you are going to ask that question, You can substitute Christian for a lot of other words or ideas Christianity is a call to witness and spread the good news. Just because things are done in the "name of God" does not mean it is christian