What is it about Christianity that makes it so judgemental?

Question

The Bible clearly tells Christians not to judge others. Yet, Christianity is one of the most judgemental religions. Why?

Mahal, it is one thing to refine your own morals, it is quite another to judge others for theirs.

Father K, why does Matthew 7:6 require judgement? It seems to me you could accomplish the same thing by just keeping it to yourself.

on2u, I am not judging anyone, I am only questioning an observation. I have been judged by many, many Christians and apparently my punishment is that I am going to hell. If that is what some Christians believe then so be it, but please keep it to yourself. The reason you should not judge others is because God knows my heart. You don't.

cloe e, I never claimed that other religions were not judgemental. I only questioned the judgement of Christians since their holy texts specifically forbid it.

readyoknot, it really doesn't matter if I am. I am not a Christian and I do not follow any holy text that states that I shall not judge. My question was aimed specifically at Christians because their holy texts do.

Obi-wan Kenobi, because people make judgements based on those fairy tales. It is a problem when fairy tales wind up dictating law, which sometimes has a negative effect on a person's quality of life.

Answer 1

Actually, you are correct. Many so-called Christians, speak with the attitude of being judgmental. Yet the Christ said to judge no one. I do know however Christians who are not judgmental.
Yet here is the issue that you may be having, observing people who answer questions, with the Bible's (God's) standards, are in fact, not judging. So what you really have an issue with is the judgment of God. When a person quotes the Bible, and someone else disagrees (unless the disagreement is based on the former's false understanding) the disagreement is not with the person quoting the Bible, it is a problem with the Bible's author.
So, I ask, are you accusing Christians falsely for answering Bible questions, with the Bible; falsely attributing them for judging?
Or, has any Christian ever held the power of judgment over you? Meaning, they judged you, and executed that judgment?
If any Christian has judged and executed judgment, what was the punishment?

The true fact that is plain for all to see in your question, is that you have played the judge for an entire range of people, who for sure, do not all meet the criteria for your gripe.
So, what is it about you, that you unjustly judge billions of people for your limited experience with some of them?
You seem to have been deluded by your own self perception.

Answer 2

I understand your question. Sometimes those among us can come across as too judgemental.

Jesus said "Judge not, that you may not be judged. For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged; and with what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you again." (Matthew 7:1&2)

Jesus is not prohibiting judgement; rather He admonishes us to be very careful how we judge. We will be judged by the same standard we hold others to.

If this were meant to say we must never judge anyone at anytime no matter what, then it would be impossible for any society, Godly or ungodly, to enforce laws and administer justice.

An interesting read is the old testament book Judges. There we read how God set judges over the people.

God expects us to judge between right and wrong. To call sin what it is and not be afraid to call it sin. Some of us may go about it the wrong way at times, but the other extreme is remaining silent while sin runs rampant. We should not turn a blind eye just because calling sin what it is may make some uncomfortable.

Answer 3

You know what most people who are not Christians have a hard time reading the bible by itself because they feel convicted by it and what it says. Some Christians are only repeating what's in the bible. If you are living and doing what's right in God's eyes, you are not bothered by anything anybody says. However, people get upset with Christians because they keep repeating what God's Word says. So, if you are getting angry with the Word of God, it is because you have judged your ownself. There no reason to get upset about something which does not exist or is fake. If the bible and God are not real, why all the persecution over "fairy tales".

Answer 4

When you are called to sit on a jury for one of your peers has committed a crime. Is this judgmental because the Bible speaks of not judging others?

Religion in itself is very judgmental, why do you only single out and discriminate against the Christian?

Aren't you, in itself, doing the very thing by asking your question, as you accuse the Christians of doing?

Remember: "when you point a finger at someone or group, you have three pointing back at your self."

Answer 5

--The Christianity of Christ and the Bible is indeed different from that practiced by the churches.

--Please note a comment:

*** gt The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived *

Yet, some may object: ‘Look at all the crimes that have been committed in the name of Christ—the Crusades, the Inquisition, and the wars that have seen millions who claim to be Christian kill one another on opposing battle lines.’ But the truth is, these people belie their claim to be followers of Jesus. His teachings and way of life condemn their actions. Even a Hindu, Mohandas Gandhi, was moved to say: ‘I love Christ, but I despise Christians because they do not live as Christ lived.’
--Gandhi expresses the worth of the Bible:

*** gh chap. 4 p. 30 A Practical Guide to True Happiness ***

in Treasury of the Christian Faith by S. J. Corey concerning a conversation between the Hindu leader Mahatma Gandhi and the former British Viceroy of India, Lord Irwin:

“Lord Irwin paid a visit to the Mahatma in his ashram. During the conversation Lord Irwin put this question to his host: ‘Mahatma, as man to man, tell me what you consider to be the solution to the problems of your country and mine.’ Taking up a little book from the nearby lampstand, Gandhi opened it to the fifth chapter of Matthew and replied, ‘When your country and mine shall get together on the teachings laid down by Christ in this Sermon on the Mount, we shall have solved the problems not only of our countries but those of the whole world.’ That from a Hindu!”

--The so-called christian religions since the time of Constantine (300 C.E.--- who murdered most of his immediate family because they would not be baptized into his christianity) have never even come close to what Gandi recommended to do!

--Such religions both protestant & catholic have been responsible for some of the worlds greatest atrocities. ALSO some doctrines such as hellfire, can indeed jmbue followers to be cruel.
--It has been said that the Inquisition of some 600 yrs. was greatly motivated by the perverted idea of hellfire.

Answer 6

Any religion can be judgmental. We see more of it from Christianity here in the United States because it is the majority religion. I have lived in a predominantly Muslim country, and I've seen exactly the same kind of dogmatism among some Muslims. I've seen it second hand in India (remember the Hindu nationalist party that wreaked all that havoc in Gujarat?) I've seen it from the fanatic "religious" settler movement in Israel. And I've seen it among atheists who assume that all religious people must be evil because of the evil done in their name.

The real evil is dogmatism, not any one religion. That, I think, is part of the human condition. We take religion and make it an excuse to keep treating each other like cr*p. But the fault doesn't lie with the particular religion itself as much as it does with the people who twist it to their own advantage.

Answer 7

The Bible clearly states that if Christians judge it must be " righteous " judgment. But you have to also know that Christians belief is that the Word of God is the ultimate judge. I personally know the spiritual influences that steer a persons mind. You must be talking about RELIGIOUS people !?

Answer 8

It isn't Christianity. It's people. I'm a Christian, and I try not to be judgemental. Actually, I've been told by people of other religions (such as Muslim, Wicca, and even agnostics and atheists) that I'm very open-minded, and not judgemental in the least.
But I have noticed that some Christians don't get me, because I'm always searching for knowledge, even when it's about other religions. Some Christians have gotten on me about my movie collection and my book collection.
I couldn't care less. I'm focused on my own path, not theirs!

Answer 9

It is our same struggle with the flesh that non-christians have. We are all guilty of reacting without thinking - or without knowledge of what we speak. It is our Humanness that causes us trouble.

I have been amazed in recent years to learn how many Christians do not even own one Bible! How can you know Whom you have Believed without His Word? ...Just amazing.

Ultimately - it is up to all Christians to learn self control - to remember Matthew 7:1 "Judge not lest ye be judged." (And all accompanying verses.) And to remember what - and WHO we are supposed to BE like:

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with it's passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also WALK in the Spirit.

Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another."
Galatians 5:22-26

Answer 10

We may not judge another's fate but, you bet we can judge sin as being sin and as a matter of fact we are obliged to do it because if we do not tell someone they are doing wrong (in a loving manner I must add) then we can certainly expect the same punishment that is reserved for the sinner because we are condoning the sin by not counseling against it.