religious misconceptions?

Question

I think, like many of you here I have had to answer many misconceptions about tenants of my religion often the same one dozens of times.
As such I would like to post an open forum allowing each person to post what belief system they have and some common misconceptions about it. Also answers to those misconc eptions.
I also encourage each of you to read the answers posted so that we may all learn something from each other.

Answer 1

Im a CHristian believing in the TRinity..

Answer 2

Misconceptions about Wicca

1. We are all female- Although we are mostly female in the US (about 70%), in the world spectrum, that number is about 50/50.

2. We worship the Devil-Very few religions actually believe in the Devil-for the most part its a Christian and Islamic belief. Wiccans don't believe in absolute evil or absolute good, we also believe in reincarnation and not Heaven and Hell.

3. We are all Goths-I will admit there are quite a few members of the Wiccan religion that are part of one counter-culture aspect or another, we are too diverse of a group to label as one. Although, I think black is cool, I am way too old to be Goth.

4. We are all teenagers-I'm 30, most Wiccans I know are older than I am.

5. We believe in literal fairy tales.Most Wiccans are very logical people who see the stories of ancient Gods as allegorical tales of Nature. We actually don't disagree with modern science one bit.

6. Wiccans use black magick-Actually there is no such thing as black magick or white magick or grey magick for that matter. A spell causes negative or positive effects based on the intentions of the caster, the magick itself has no intent as it all comes from the same place.

7. We don't live near you- nearly every town, even small rural towns, has at least one Wiccan. I was in a town of 750 people and found 5 Wiccans. That doesn't seem like much, but in the Christian jungle-it's quite a lot.

8. We don't hold regular jobs-Wiccans are in about every field imaginable. Wiccans are teachers, cops, firefighters, truckers, military personnel, doctors, nurses and the occasional fortune teller.

9. Our religion is accurately portrayed in the media-This could not be further from the truth. At the present time, there is no mainstream media source that has nailed the Wiccan religion. The Craft, Charmed, Buffy, Angel, Sabrina, are all make believe interpretations that use the word Wicca or Witchcraft as a buzz word to captivate an audience and invent new story lines. They are not likely sources to find good information about Wicca or it's practices. The best source for Wiccan information still remains books and the occasional reputable website.

10. Wiccans hate Christians-Nope, not true. In fact, as Wicca is an emerging religion, many of our members are first generation Wiccans who come from Christian backgrounds. Although, we don't like being picked on by some Christian groups, we see the majority of Christians as good human beings with a different god concept.

Answer 3

Most interesting question and thanks for the chance. Also I enjoyed reading the comments of others.

I am a Christian and totally non-denominational. I have not attended a "regular" church for a few years. Yet, I have never doubted that Jesus is my savior and Father God hears my prayers. He wants my heart first and then my showing love.

One thing most distorted about Christians is "blind faith". I have questioned many times and received answers. Sometimes I didnot listen. I always got into trouble.

Christians do have a tendency to seem agressive. So many true Christians have such definite and unshakeable faith and we are so adamant about our Lord Jesus that we truly wish that everyone could know His benefits.

We should always remember that His Word will not return void.Because He is the reaper and we are only sowers, we should put down our sickle.

Answer 4

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon)

Thanks for the opportunity/ question! There is so much I could talk about...

But I would like to make a general statement first - That God teaches us line upon line, precept upon precept. (Isaiah 28:10)

and as a hypothetical example of what I am wanting to show:

Say there is a person who just barely knows the basics of math...they understand the basics of addtion, multiplication, etc..
but say you try to tell them that "y=mx+b" and you tell them it is a true statement...they could possibly ridicule you for using "letters" in math which they might say that math is all about "numbers" and think you are foolish... the concept of "y=mx+b" is true...but they are not ready for it yet....they must take an algebra course or somehow get the further light they need.
I feel like many questions people have about Mormonism are like that...questions about the blacks or polygamy, or questions about our potential to grow up and become like our Father in heaven, or questions about the devil and where he came from, or many other misconceptions people have...BUT if a person actually gets the BASIC knowledge first...then it becomes a lot easier to understand why these things are...but without the basics people may have a tendency to ridicule what they don't understand...just like the "basic math only" guy ridiculing the "algebra guy".

We are supposed to teach the basics...those things that are required for salvation.

Doctrine and Covenants 19:31 And of tenets thou shalt not talk, but thou shalt declare repentance and faith on the Savior, and remission of sins by baptism, and by fire, yea, even the Holy Ghost.

but the difficulty comes because the Lord has given us so, so much knowledge and understanding on so many topics, that sometimes it is difficult to not share the other wonderful things about the gospel. And those things are to be shared...but only once the foundation "lines" upon "lines" are established....but it seems to me that many people aren't encountering the Church and learning the basics first...(like gaining a personal testimony).

Faith vs. Works - this tired idea that Mormons think they can "work" their way into heaven...no we don't --- we KNOW that we need the Savior Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice...But we also know that there is more required of us than that.

2 Nephi 25:23 For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.

Are Mormons Christian? Yes.

Well is it a "different" Jesus? No. It is the same Jesus...Jesus Christ - the Son of God, the Savior and Redeemer of the world...that is the Jesus we believe in...maybe others don't believe that way...then it would be different Jesus from those people...
some may try to claim that because we don't believe in their doctrine of Faith vs. Works (if they believe in salvation by grace only) then it is a different Jesus we believe in...but it is really just a difference of a doctrine...not a difference of the person! (that would be like saying...because you are a republlican and not a democrat...therefore you don't believe in the same George Washington as me) (it is a "logical fallacy")

The word "salvation" ....there is a wonderful talk by Dalin H. Oaks called "Have You Been Saved?" that explains this better than I could...it is probably very easy to find with a search on www.lds.org

which brings me to my final point...that on the above listed website (the official website of the Church) there is a "About the Church" tab and then it goes to "Answers to Question" and "Basic Beliefs" also...if anyone is interested.

Answer 5

I'm an atheist because I've seen way too much evidence against God. I also don't like the way Christianity has twisted the idea of God into some cult-like ideas.
Misconceptions of atheism-they think we are immoral, evil, and we have no value or appreciation for life, just because we have no religion to speak of.

Answer 6

I also have gone thru several misconceptions, starting in 1956.
One fundamentalist church taught me plenty, but it's only in the last few years that I think I have the "big picture", I call it.

It does include reincarnation, ( a bad word to many), but to me it solves many problems re: What happens after death?

Dante did our world a disservice by promulgating eternal hell. Many have accepted a name to avoid that eternal punishment, (when the original word "gehenna" translates to the garbage dump, where things eventually burn up and destroyed--it DOES NOT burn forever. Not by a merciful God, I don't think!!

I've seen many proofs re: reincarnation.

Bottom line, "We have to keep coming back 'till "we get it right"".

Answer 7

If I have to explain why I don't accept Jesus as a Jew one more time......

I should just stick to the agnostic part...and stop denying him as a Jew.

Let's see......how can you have morality without beliving in God is a biggie. I've about had it with that one.

Pascal's Wager gets on my nerve so much that I wrote a form letter answer to it. You've probably all seen it by now...if not....I'd be happy to post it...just ask a Pascal's Wager Question.

Answer 8

Since you don't identify the religion at issue, it is difficult to comment on the specific tenets (not tenants -- that's a different word altogether) of your religion. Having never encountered any evidence of the existence of god, I see no reason to have any religion at all, and I don't.

Answer 9

Okay. I'm a Christian who believes in the Trinity, one way of salvation by the blood of Jesus atoning death on Calvary and His bodily resurrection, and Pre-trib rapture theory. I'm also Pentecostal so I believe in the baptism in the Holy Ghost with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues. These are usually the main areas of contention on Yahoo. (oh and women preachers, pastors etc is another issue).

Answer 10

After many years of searching and struggling with my growing disbelief in any god(s) I came to the conclusion that atheism works best for me. No horrible events happened in my life to make me lose my faith...it was never there to begin with.

Misconceptions - many....I have no morals, I'm evil, I worship the devil, etc........all of which are completely false.

Answer 11

Grav, bless you. That's a nice attempt to get things more civil around here.

I'm Atheist. Most common misconceptions are: that I chose atheism because of emotional reasons (mad at god, unanswered prayer, christians hurt my feelings) or because I am rebelling. Those get really old.

Like most Atheists, I have chosen atheism due to intellectual reasons.