Are Christians weak?

Question

They are always praying to god to give them strength to get through this trial or that tribulation. This must mean they either are weak, or consider themselves weak. Does this explain why they cling to their belief in a fantasy-god? They are not strong enough to stand on their own two feet and face the real world?

Answer 1

Yes, Christians are weak. As a person posted earlier, Christians believe that God makes up the difference. If you don't believe in God, then you have to evaluate Christians w/o that factor. Do you perceive Christians as being weaker based on their actions and effects? I would posit that you don't really see that- they more often than not function at least as well as everyone else in society. So they view themselves as weak, and God makes up the difference, but if you don't believe in God, then you evaluate them as viewing themselves as weak, asking a "fantasy-god" for help (which he can't provide because he doesn't exist, according to that perspective) and performing pretty much as well as others on the objective criteria. So the conclusion that should be drawn, if the premises are accepted, is that Christians are not weaker than anyone else, they just attribute the source of their outcomes to something outside of themselves.

But there is a greater issue in your assertion- the assumption that people are generally strong and that standing on ones own two feet and facing the "real world" is a sign of strength. People have to deal with "reality" regardless of whether they are strong enough to or not. Some people view the source of their strength as coming completely from themselves (pull yourself up by your own bootstraps, stand on your own two feet perspective). But if, and I'm using if to illustrate a point here, if God were a real God and the sustaining force for the person who views themselves as strong in and of themselves, then the person's perspective is that they are independent, but the reality is still that they are weak and reliant on God. This is the analogy to the positive and contrapositive statements about Christians who are weak because God sustains them.

My point is that your question (which I am taking as an assertion to make a point) is correct, but only if you believe in God. Christians are weak because they rely on God to sustain them and allow them to face the world (premises that God exists, does sustain them, and Christians are able to face the world). However you imply that God doesn't really exist, and therefore God does not really sustain them, and I presented the perspective that objectively, Christians are still able to face the world. But then the assertion is ludicrous: Christians are weak because they depend on a God to sustain them, but God doesn't exist, doesn't sustain them, but they are somehow able to face the world. A logical conclusion would then be that Christians are actually strong (or strong enough to face the world), because even though they think they are relying on God, he doesn't exist and doesn't sustain them, but they are able to face the world and therefore must have some other source of strength.

I would like to point out, if your question is meant to make Christians upset, that it shouldn't. One interpretation of what Jesus and his teaching was all about is that it is okay to be weak and unable to face the world on your own, that God loves you in spite of that. Jesus' statements are actually quite provocative and often promote an inversion of the established social order as reality (against the perceived reality). He affirms and speaks well of being weak and relying on God, in part, perhaps, because the reality is that all people are relying on God, and it is counted as restorative to acknowledge the reality of ones weakness and reliance on God as opposed to continuing in a deluded sense of self sufficiency (this was further developed in other parts of the Christian Bible). The beatitudes in Matthew and especially Luke are a good example of Christ proclaiming this inversion, and in Luke, a strong warning is also given to those who resist the inversion. I know that this probably doesn't matter to you, since I assume that your non-belief in the "fantasy-god" also precludes your belief in the divinity of Jesus and the reality of his teachings. My point is that your aspersion against Christians, namely that they are weak, will unlikely be taken by them as a point to be ashamed of, but as descriptive of reality and a sign of their obedience to their God.

These are just my thoughts. Everyone is, of course, free to disagree.

Answer 2

Where do people find the time to post such long answers? OH yeah - copy/paste from other lame-brain answers.

Christians use God, religion, & the Bible as a 'crutch'. To justify their rights/wrongs, their sins, and their prejudice ways. I have to admit not ALL are like this, of course, but most all think that you MUST accept Jesus as your Savior or get sent to the fiery depths of Hell - so they in fact cling to their belief in a fantasy-satan as well, wouldn't you say?

Answer 3

I tend to view organized religion not so much as a matter of "weakness" but as a habit that needs to be fed. You don't have to interpret that in a pejorative way, though.

In other words, most everyone in this world has various preferences, hobbies, passions, interests, etc., etc. They participate in them because it makes them FEEL GOOD.

People make music, paint pictures, carve wood, because they enjoy the creative process.

Others paddle a canoe into the wilderness because they enjoy communing with nature.

The actions of people in what we call "organized religion" are actually not much different. They feel the need to participate in spiritual "activities" with others. It's a kind of spiritual/social bonding. It makes them feel "part of the collective."

True, part of that experience is a form of "communication" with their Creator, but they still have a need, a craving for the "social" aspect of it, that must be fed, renewed on a regular basis.

You can call it a "weakness" if you like, but then, you'd have to admit that we ALL have "weaknesses."

Answer 4

I guess it depends on your definition of the term "weak".
Considering that they have shown tremendous strength during trials and tribulations, I'd have to think about that one.
On the other hand, I am pretty sure that people who think it is funny to torment folks just because they don't think the same way you do are pretty weak.
My Granny told me some forty years ago "Scratch a bully, and you will see a coward bleed."
LOL, yeah, she had lots of "down home" little homilies like that, but hey, whaddaya know....experience has taught me that she is by-golly right!
Well, go-o-olly!
Shazzam, Gomer!!

Answer 5

I think so yes facing this world is a hard truth but they cling to their beautiful lie instead of dealing with the real world

Answer 6

I think that people who turn to Jesus or any religious God in the first place is predisposed to weakness. Religions broadcast that they can help you cope with stress and deal with your troubles. They tell you to pray to 'fix' things that are going wrong in your life. In order to ever even turn to a blind-faith, you would have to be weak.

Answer 7

The way I see it, they are simply taking advantage of the placebo effect. They believe it helps, so it does. I don't know if "weak" is really the right word, but it does give them more confidence. Sort of like Dumbo and the "magic" feather.

Answer 8

Perhaps some day we can become mighty beings like yourself, unless of course you catch pneumonia and die next week, or get crushed by a car, or choke on a ham sandwich.

Answer 9

yes thay are weak and thay want to make the world as weak willed as thay are by trying to brainwash it and turn the planet into fools

Answer 10

Varying degrees of weak-mindedness... yes.