Christians.... why?

Question

I see these posts about Christianity. Why do non-believers question it, why do believers defend it, etc. My question is to Christians. Why ask why? SO many Christians will jump at the chance to criticize people of other faiths, such as Muslims. Until we, as Christians can tolerate other faiths, we cannot expect people to tolerate ours.

Comments?

Answer 1

Amen sister, you are correct! I think if you study any religion you must keep in mind that everyone believes what they want to believe and you must accept that. You can't force what you feel is right on others, you can but no one will listen. I am not Christian, Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, Wiccan, etc., for the simple fact that I don't like to be categorized. I was forced, for a good chunk of my childhood, to go to a Methodist church. My whole family, immediate and removed, went there also, so if I didn't go it made my parents look bad. I wasn't into the whole go or you're grounded outlook my folks had. Nor was I up for the fashion show that started every Sunday. It gave me a BAD taste of religion way too early and caused me to look to different aspects of spirituality. I studied other religions, specifically Wicca and drew some beliefs from there, that there are a lot of other things in this world to care about than yourself, possesions and whether or not you are doing the right things to get in to "heaven". (Too many times I've seen someone saying the right things and doing the wrong things over and over again, and they go to church and are automatically saved, blessed, whatever you want to call it, I personally think that is crap!) That, combined with foundations of good morals that my experiences and parents instilled in me(and how not to act like the fashion parade!) I say transformed me into who I am today. It's really all about your way of life, how you conduct yourself with others, the environment(plants, animals, etc.) in a conscientious and spiritual way. We are all connected and we have to learn to accept and love one another for the beautiful individuals we are.

You don't have to be a Christian, to be a "Good Christian".

Answer 2

This is a topic that needs to be discussed more in Christian circles. There are members in my family and members in my church that I used to preach at as a teen that got me questioning my religion, and eventually made me question it so much, I felt like I was in a club with members I don't like. Don't get me wrong, I'm a big believe in religion and religious freedom (there are some people in this world who wouldn't do the right thing without it) but I don't see the faith represented by the people who proclaim their beliefs. In fact, I have seen more intolerance, more hatred, more selfishness, more prejudice, more falsehood as well as the other more "really bad sins" in the church than I do in the common non-believers. I'm not saying I gave up, but at this point it might take a conversation with God himself to make me believe that this isn't a man-made mythological following as the religions were before Christianity and Islam. Since there are no direct signs from God anymore (or were there ever) it has to show in the people, and the people are driving others away.

I think I got off the subject a little... sorry.

Answer 3

You are absolutely correct. Here is the reason I believe everyone of every faith or non-faith is prone to criticize another. What we believe is ultimately what we become. It is the foundation for everything else in our lives. How we view people, ourselves, life, death, good, bad. It forms our perspective and all our choices come from it. Therefore it is easy to get defensive if someone has a different viewpoint, its like an attack at our very core.
Its the main reason why there are so many denominations within Christianity itself.

We need to practice tolerance of all beliefs and we should be prepared to defend our faith intelligently with respect for the other person's faith.

Answer 4

THANK YOU! I mean, come on, as a Muslim living in the West, I have never really had any problems with Christians, I treat them with the respect and dignity they deserve, more than tolerance, but acceptance. Then, I come on Yahoo! Answers and I get stuck with this distinct impression that Christians are racist bigots-- which I know is not true. I wish people had the same respect for my faith though.

Answer 5

This guy represents the kind of astonishing hubris I see fundamentalist 'christians' so full of these days:

"I can tolerate other faiths, but I won't typically allow error to be unchallenged."

This doesn't invite any kind of conversation. This invites only the stance (from this guy's standpoint) of "I am right and you are wrong"

I doesn't matter if a Christian, atheist, Buddhist, Muslim, agnostic holds this kind of "I am right, you are wrong" stance. It is completely obnoxious. It shuts other people out faster than anything else I can think of.

Answer 6

I am not at all bothered by Muslims. I don't go out looking for Muslims or anyone to attack. I don't care if people tolerate me and my faith, that isn't my job. I owe an eternal debt to Jesus Christ. That is all I care about. And the way in which we are SUPPOSED to attempt to repay our debt is to lead the lost to the Lord. The bible, which is the basis to all Christianity, does not say that we are supposed to tolerate other peoples faiths. We are supposed to die for ours. Huh, what, where do people get this idea that we are supposed to be silent. NO, that is not what we are supposed to do. We are supposed to preach the word of God regardless of the costs. We should be terrorizing people with the Bible, oh well, if they don't like the truth . We aren't supposed to be pleasing in the eyes of men. Living a solid testimony doesn't mean laying down and playing dead for the benefit of others. Living a solid testimony is being pleasing in the eyes of the Lord regardless of the cost.

Answer 7

I'm a Christian and I tolerate all - I love life and people. I often see a lot of non-believers bashing on religious people, so it can go both ways. I think in the bigger picture, we can't humans just tolerate each other?

Answer 8

I personally do not need other "religions" to tolerate Christianity. Neither do I need to "tolerate" theirs. Tolerance is the first step to compromise. If you are solid and grounded in your faith in Christ, then that is all that matters. Jesus said, " I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Me."

That means that He is the only one I need to be attentive to. I do not have to accept other "religions", because they do not lead me to the Father, as Christ does.

It doesn't bother me one iota that a Muslim cannot stand my faith. That is their problem. If they choose Islam, that is on them. But I do not have to compromise my faith to win their approval. The only approval I want is that of Jesus Christ. And if that makes me "intolerant" to the secular world, then so be it. I will wear that badge proudly.

Answer 9

I am here to preach Christ. If I am challenged to read a text out of some other "Holy Book" I will answer. But Jesus has to be the center of what I do IF I am doing it right. I can tolerate other faiths, but I won't typically allow error to be unchallenged.

Answer 10

I believe you are correct. I think that Christians should teach each other first about values like tolerant, understanding and the Bible, before trying to preach to anyone.

For example, those "do not judge others" hypocritical Christians.