Why do some Christians have such a persecution complex?

Question

Christians are the dominant religion in America. A vast majority of this country's politicians are Christians. Weather it is constitutional or not, Christian faith has been and is continuing to try to force its dogma on the whole country through our laws.The Christian creation story is the only one people are trying to force into schools. Homosexuals cannot marry because Christianity says it is wrong. In many states, Atheists and Agnostics cannot run for public office. We have "in God we trust," on our money.

Yet what do I see on this board every day?

"Christians, why are we so persecuted!!????"
"Why do the Atheists want to oppress us??!!!"

I say to you now, Christians, that having people question your religion or even call you names is not "oppressing" you. What some people are doing to this country in the name of your religion is oppression.

Thoughts?

Just for clarity, I know that not all Christians are like this. This is directed at those who are.

Aw, rosbif, how sweet. :3

It tells me you are woefully ignorant, Midge.

I can't tell if you agree or disagree, Schneb.

Answer 1

It makes them feel they have a just cause if they tell each other they are being persecuted. Everyone likes the underdog story. (Or should that be the undergod story?)

Edit: is that really your face Girl Wonder? How do you feel about botanists who shave their heads?

Answer 2

1)Christians are the dominant religion in America. A vast majority of this country's politicians are Christians.

-True.

2)Weather it is constitutional or not, Christian faith has been and is continuing to try to force its dogma on the whole country through our laws.The Christian creation story is the only one people are trying to force into schools.

-Hmmm??? Only if the school is sponsored by the Church or is a Catholic school, etc. But to be honest, the order in which things were done in the creation story si confirmed by science. Fishes for example were created first not people. People are one of the last things to appear on the Earth as said in the Creation story and in science.

3)Homosexuals cannot marry because Christianity says it is wrong.

-Not just Christianity, other religions as well say so as well, bec. it is immoral. Gay marriages are immoral because marriage is suppose to be a bond between a man and a woman.

About the laws regarding this:
"The Catholic Church alone (don't know about the others) has the right to make laws regarding the marriages of Catholics because the CC has authority over the regulation over the sacraments and sacred matters affecting the Catholic faithful."
The authority of the State only regards the civil aspects of a Catholic marriage.

4)In many states, Atheists and Agnostics cannot run for public office. We have "in God we trust," on our money.

- to be honest, Im not 100% AMerican! hehe. Therefore I dunno how "in God we trust" came into circulation. But, there is discrimination in the world. Between race, religion, people of different nationalities, etc. There are also some places in the world where Christians, Muslims, etc, cannot run for public office as well.


5)Yet what do I see on this board every day?

"Christians, why are we so persecuted!!????"
"Why do the Atheists want to oppress us??!!!"

- There are people who in fact insult, discriminate, and make bias against Christians. Not all non Christians are bad and not all are good. Sometimes we are being made fun of as well. Not sure if you see it. People do say that we lack brain capacity or something like that sometimes just because we believe in God.

6)I say to you now, Christians, that having people question your religion or even call you names is not "oppressing" you.

- Why? It is oppression when someone destroys the good name of another isn't it? Does not necessarily have to reflect a whole. For example, when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, it killed like not even 1% of America or not even 1% of Japan.

(PS. I dont hate Japanese, actually they are cool with me. =D.)

"In broad terms, Christians must not love violence. They must promote peace whenever possible and be slow to resort to the use of arms. But they must not be afraid to do so when it is called for. Evil must not be allowed to remain unchecked."

You cannot let people destroy your good name and do nothing when you must defend your good name. Some things, such as abuse, cannot go unchecked

7)What some people are doing to this country in the name of your religion is oppression.

- "Some people". Dont generalize. Not all of us support certain decisions. That's why it's called democracy.

God Bless,

Answer 3

Well, perhaps we also need to remember that what we see here at Yahoo Answers is not necessarily totally representative of either Christians or atheists. I would venture to say that the more "outspoken" believers (and non-believers) post here.

Both my mother and her mother were very decent, loving Christian women, but they would not lower themselves to coming here and exchanging insults with people. A person doesn't have to be some kind of "activist" in order to qualify his/her fervency.

But I can honestly testify that I have experienced "the worst of the worst" when it comes to "Christians." I've been nose-to-nose with aggressive fundamental protesters who get right up in your face and hurl invectives; many hoping that they can incite you to strike at them, at which point they would cry "persecution." I refused to take their bait.

No, they're not any more "persecuted" than anyone else.

And, I might add, "you can't have it both ways."

During both previous presidential elections, notable religious fundamentalists were high-fiving each other, talking about the supposed "majority" they enjoy, and how they were going to "take over" politics in this country.

"Persecuted?" I don't think so......

Answer 4

Girl Wonder,

I hope you'll forgive me for not answering your question in order to address a patent falsehood here presented as truth.

Midge - there is *constitutionally protected* prayer in public schools. As a Christian, I know that you are dedicated to the TRUTH, so I'm sure you'll want to change what you say after you find out what the truth IS...and also correct any of your fellow Christians who pass along the untruths that you (I am certain) will renounce and correct.

The Department of Education is the best resource for the laws governing religious expression in American public schools. Here's the appropriate website to look at, then:

http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/religionandschools/prayer_guidance.html

For ease of understanding, page down to the heading "Applying the Governing Principles in Particular Contexts"

Don't you feel better, now, knowing that your kids have such tremendous opportunities for free religious expression in public schools?

Shame it applies to kids of other religions, too, ain't it?

*rolls eyes*

Answer 5

In some ways, because Christianity is a majority religion it makes it the most socially acceptable to attack. Persecution is too strong of a word but the disparity between how other minority views are treated contrasted with their own is felt. In most universities, openly Marxist, Feminist, and African-American views of history and political theory are taught when "Christian" views (even on Christian history) are considered biased or irrelevant. This is just a pedagogical double-standard, but how universities handle the issue is indicative.

Answer 6

Christians are advised in the Bible that they are going to be persecuted in the event that they stay their faith. hence, some think of in the event that they are actually not being persecuted they are actually not 'stable' Christians. because of the fact no person in US is having to die for his or her faith they could seek for persecution in different procedures---being laughed at, excluded from the 'in crowd', called names, and so on. it is the only sort of persecution maximum Christians comprehend in US and their 'suffering' confirms that they are actual to God. even though that countless the interior maximum complaint is justified by their attitudes and strikes, it extremely is an illustration to them that they are 'precise'. i'm a Christian and characteristic witnessed this many situations. it is ridiculous and intensely demanding and counterproductive to spreading the gospel. some Christians can no longer take very own complaint, useful or in any different case, and as a replace could 'arise for Jesus' whilst no person is attacking Jesus in keeping with se.

Answer 7

One reason that Christians may feel a sense of Persecution (define that as you like) may well be because that IS the very nature of atheism, to persecute any and ALL religion. The fact that most of the religious people YOU may encounter are Christian may lead you to think that only Christians have that reaction to atheism. That would not be true if you travel the world and see that the greatest movement of atheism of the last two centuries persecuted even handledly Christian, Jew, Muslim, Buddhist Falun Gong etc alike. And in the atheist regimes still around today it continues to do so in a very heavy handed way.

Not being far removed from the horrors of those decades of watching the nature of atheism revealed across much of Europe and much of Asia may very well be the reason that you are hearing this from Christians. They are merely being vigilant to the same trends emerging in America as emerged in Europe prior to world war two concerning the stifling of religious expression by the Nazis and the communists causing many people to lose their lives merely because of religious heritage or indeed as in the case of the many Christians who died because of their active resistance to such atrocities .

Answer 8

I agree, religion is oppressive, especially to women. I think it is mostly people that think they are members of a one and only true church, that squak the most about being persecuted. Christian governments, and thier followers, persecute the world at large, while looking like good lads. There is nothing so great as democracy, best not speak against it. Being called names is not persecution, having a bomb dropped on innocent civilians by a christian nation, is persecution. Its not suprising, the christian god is very war like in my opinion.

Answer 9

As a Christian, I do agree that schools should not force religion. We are free to practice the religion of choice. On that note I also believe that evolution is a belief and should not be taught. There is not concrete proof of religion or evolution so therefore...neither should be taught.

Also as Christians are beliefs are shunned, but that is to fault of our own. We go around preaching condemnation when it is really about love.

We also have no right to say we are oppressed because those that spread the word of Christ were stoned and beaten and brutally murdered.

A word against your oppinion is that Christians have difficulty making office too. Many Catholics have been denied office. Other that G.W. and a few others I never hear of a politicians beliefs. Agnostics maybe trying to push agnostic issues. Remember that 92% of Americans believe in God. To see more on this click on link below...

Answer 10

When their book says they will be persecuted, they must see that persecution, even when it's not there, ,just like every other biblically based delusion. The problem is that they see this "persecution" as an affirmation of the truth of their dogma. So, when unquestioned, they get free reign, and when questioned, they are supported in their belief anyway. It's genius on the part of the bible writers, really.

Answer 11

You're absolutely right in everything that you say. Anyway they are taught that they will be persecuted and all will hate them like all hated Christ blah blah blah. Anytime somebody disagrees with them they yell out persecution. They have no idea what persectuion is. If anything in this country any non Christians or even non religious people are persecuted.