Why do people afraid of the concepts of different religions?

Question

Recently I met this guy who has become a born again christian. He told me that he believes in the lord only and that he wanted a woman who would feels the same. I like him but, I had to tell him that I am not a devoted christian. I am a person that is more spiritual than religious and that I respect all aspects of all religions because of their teachings. He was upset with me because I have a statue of budda in my house and have chinese characters of prosperity. I have tarot cards and respect paganism. He said to me that they are tools of the devil. Explain to me why so many christians fail to aknowledge all other religions and banish the beliefs of others?

Answer 1

Either Jesus is the only begotten Son of God, and salvation can be obtained only through faith in him, or Jesus was a deceiver or a lunatic. We are not afraid of other religions, we just know who the true God is. I believe we should not marry someone who is in a false religion unless you can first get them to see the truth.

Answer 2

I have read all of the answers that have been posted for this question and frankly none of them are right or wrong but let me give you insight into something else. I was born and raised a Mormon which is also a form of christianity however I am not a Mormon. I am pagan in all forms of the word. Years and years ago shortly after the death of christ there were women who believed in the power of healing through herbs. The Catholics came and abolished the women and children for healing with herbs. They killed all who did not worship Jesus Christ however what they don't realize is that catholicism and christianity have taken some of their beliefs from the old religion. Paganism was around long before Christ was even born to this world. I don't think he was afraid but I certainly don't think he knows the truth either. Ask him this.......If Christ tells you to love all people both man and woman and child then why can you not love me. Tell him that if he judges you then when he dies he will also be Judged. One thing I do remember taught to me growing up was this..."Judge not lest ye be judged" and that is what he is doing. I have studied many many types of religion. This is all I can say.

Answer 3

Well Said Windwalk...I am not so sure that if other spiritualism's were dominant in the world that they would be the same way. I do see the concept of what would happen if other spiritualism's were more popular that they would want them to believe and practice their faith. I think that Christianity is based on writing, words and ideals that were based on that time frame so many many years ago. The bible has been translated into so many different languages that the meanings not only changed but also the interpretations. My question would be if they believed so strongly about Christianity then why did have one man select certain scriptures for publications? In my opinion they did it so they could keep their followers in fear of their religion which is really sad when you think about it. How come they didn't allow other scriptures to be publicized ? I do not follow this path because of these concepts and because so many atrocities are committed in the name of Christianity. NO ONE, including my partner, can take my spiritualism away or change what I believe because my faith in what I believe is strong. I am also secure enough to allow others to practice their own beliefs without demanding that they see and follow my own ideals. If you listen to your heart, your intuition, this person isn't compatible for you and that's ok, it only means you learn more about what you want in a partner......
Blessings
Blue

Answer 4

Born again are the worst.
They seem to feel they have to make up for the part of their life they were not christian - and they do so by being overly christian.

In general, all other religions than his own are a threat.
Two reasons:
1) He got sucked in by Christianity once. The best thing for him is to stay away from other religions, because they might appeal to him. After all, he is vulnerable to picking up new religions - he did it once already.
2) Getting into another religion that might have appeal would mean he would some day have to choose. After all, if you have two religions, they can't both be right. He doesn't want to choose between his feelings for one or the other, so he avoids getting feelings for the other one alltogether.

Answer 5

I think that many paople of the Christian faith actually question their beliefs (at least subconciously). They "know" their religeon is the only "true" belief system. When they have to deal with non-christian religeons they find things that make them question their own beliefs even more and as a result of this, they take an aggressive stand against the non-christian system. Many of the Christian holidays are actually based on Pagan traditions and beliefs and Christioans are hard pressed to admit that they share things with belief systems that are far older than christianity.

Answer 6

It is simple really. There is no other way to heaven except through Jesus Christ. he gave his life so that we could be forgiven and open the door to heaven. Are there any other religions where the main figure gave their life to appease the punishment of sin. We are all sinful and do many bad things in our lives, and even though other religions may be ways to enlightenment, peace and love, they are not the way for the soul to reach heaven. He is upset not with you but at the fact that if you die you will not join him in the afterlife. We have to be very careful, however, for is he judges you for your misguidance, he will be judged harshly for the things that he has done. I'm sure you are a genuinely good person like many people in the world, and Christians are respectful of other religions. However, we know that through Christ is the only way to heaven and not through any other religion. Remember that religions are man made, but faith comes from the heart. Do you place your faith in Paganism and Buddhism? Can those religions offer you the gift of eternal life in heaven? You need to ask yourself what's more important, respecting other religions while having no root of faith, or rooting your faith in Chirst while at the same time respecting but not following other religions?

Answer 7

You fear what you don't know. And when they get challenaged they can't be honest- so they get angry

Christians acknowledge ALL as religion.

Christianity is sadly to most also a religion.

ALL religions are superstitions.

Until all christians start to live a life of sanctification towards sainthood (Ephesians 4:12) and pursue being fruitful (Acts 17:11) they will never have a relationship with Him.

Answer 8

"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father but by me."
"For there is no other name, under heaven, given among men, by which we must be saved."

I respect the people of other religions. There's no way they would listen to me if I didn't. The fact remains, though, that the Christian teaching is that Jesus Christ is the only one that is truth, and the only one that will lead us into heaven. Everything else leads to hell. I won't smear that message in the face of others because that will just make them hate the message. I try with all that is in me to respect others for who they are, and people that God loves.
"For God demonstrates His own love toward us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

I don't think he should have gotten upset with you, but there's no way the relationship can work with 1 Christian and 1 non-Christian. The Bible calls that "unequally yolked." It's a complicated situation. I hope you get a response that makes sense : )

Answer 9

I DO NOT say this of all Christians. Certainly not the majority of them.
For the type of person that you're describing, it's an ego issue. If the majority religion in the U.S. was Wicca, those same people would all be Wicca instead of Christian.

They need something to hide behind. Also, the desperately need to identify an enemy or an "evil one." That takes the attention of their own faults and gives them a cause they can "heroically" fight.

Answer 10

It's a measure of the weakness of their own "faith."

Some "Christians" are terrified of everything that isn't specifically tailored to their increasingly narrow concept of the world. And it's nothing new - the printing press was the "tool of the devil" until they printed a thousand bibles on it! Nowadays it's the Teletubbies and Harry Potter corrupting our kids, and of course your statue of Buddha offends Jesus, because he's just that insecure, apparently. Again, the progress of science must be hobbled, because science is always making discoveries that appear to contradict the orthodox idiot "literalist" interpretation of scripture.

The people who think this way are only demonstrating their complete misapprehension of both material AND spiritual "truths." As if "faith" depends on making oneself an intellectual imbecile and a dogmatic bigot!