Ignorant Christians?

Question

Being relatively new to Y !A, I keep reading in the R&S section that Christians are completely ignorant. Can some of you that feel this way please give me 2 or 3 specifics? I am curious whether this is a presumed ignorance of a scientific nature, i.e. Evolution/Biology/Astronomy, or History, or in matters of our faith. And please don't just give me a list of URLs that somebody else wrote. What things are we ignorant about that you are not.

Please avoid sweeping generalities, like "you are totally ignorant of history." Rather give me a couple of historical (or scientific/religious) events that you feel Christians are ignorant of. Thank you.

Jesus Born Dec 25? Does anyone believe that? We all need to know our bibles better.

Scott Ignorant of..Biology? Interesting that you would think that. Christians go to the same schools/colleges as everyone else. I never met a Christian unaware of naturalistic impossibilities in bible.

Creatrix I have been guilty of that ignorance.

RR Mage I wonder if anyone alive knows 1/10,000 % of tot knowledge. Leaves none with boasting room. Lizards doing pushups.

Donkey OTD Evolution is what most Christians are taught in USA.

Weird D Different interpretation of the data does not equate to ignorance of the data.

Dr Delight Christianity is not only a belief system, but the very real indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

TonkOp - It was Jesus that said you had to be born again to enter the kingdom.

CORE - You have described me. I have some knowledge of these things, but not enough to knowledgeably discuss them.

Photogirl - some doozies to be sure.

Thanks to all!

Answer 1

Scientific processes.
The testing of facts.
What the Theory of Evolution actually says.
What Darwin actually wrote.
Inability to discern between mythology and reality.
The impossibilities of a literal Genesis story.
The impossibilities of Noah's Ark.
The impossibility of the sun standing still in the sky for a day without anyone else in the world noticing.
Cosmology.
Astronomy.
Biology.
Other religions and modes of thought (all written off as "satanic".

The list goes on...

Answer 2

When I was a christian, that's exactly what I thought -- that evolution must have been how god did it. But now I'm an atheist, I don't believe in god. And that's fine. I don't expect anyone else to do as I do. We actually see evolution happening all the time. For example, as we speak, there are people of European ancestry walking around with a gene they carry that allowed their ancestors to survive the Bubonic plague. It gives these people a stronger resistance to infectious diseases. We know this stuff now because of genetics. Genetics really confirmed a lot of things that early proponents of evolution had expected. You're probably on your way to being a more accepting christian than most -- you can accept things there is evidence for. Now there's heaps of evidence for evolution. And that doesn't need to undermine your religious beliefs. And you're wise enough to understand that. Chances are you're the best kind of christian -- the kind that is a tolerant role model, not a bombastic, hardliner. Whatever you end up believing, you'll be a good role model, because you seek to understand. Despite what some idiotic christians will tell you, evolution is not anti god. It just describes a natural process, and it is fascinating stuff. There is a really good book by Tim Berra called "Evolution and the Myth of Creationism", and it really explains what evolution is in very basic, layman's terms. I learned more about evolution from that one book in about two hours than I learned from reading other books in a year. It's fabulous. It was written to challenge the hardline creationist movement that wasn't scientific. It breaks it all down in basic, understandable terms. Don't be scared of it. The universe is a fascinating thing, and NOTHING should stop you just sitting there and going 'Oh wow!' over it. If you believe in a creator god, then you'll seriously love evolution. I thought, until I deconverted from christianity, that it was just how god must have done it, because evolution is such a perfect, simple thing. And even though I no longer believe in god (for other, not evolution reasons) I still look at evolution and it blows my socks off. THere are some good videos on Youtube about it. The more I learn about it, the more fascinated I am. Try wikipedia. They are pretty good. They have a whole article just devoted to the evolution of human beings. It's just amazing stuff.

Answer 3

First, not all Christians are ignorant. There are many Christians who accept the fact that man evolved from lower lifeforms. The "fundamentalists" (of which I used to be) are ignorant, willing or otherwise, of the basics of modern biology. The theory of evolution is the cornerstone of modern biology. If you don't understand evolution, you won't understand biology. Sure, you can understand some parts, but you won't have an overall understanding.

There is also the fact that evidence from geology shows that the earth is billions of years old. Astronomy provides evidence that the universe is even older.

As far as history is concerned, I don't see how Christians could be any more ignorant than the general population of Americans.
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Answer 4

I am a Christian and I just wanted to drop a line in here.

It seems that in this day and age, especially among young people, in almost any subject, that if you do not agree with someone, you must ignorant or hate filled or something other than being as wonderful and intelligent as they are.

I would guess that the vast majority of this type of talk on here is posted by young, rebellious people who are fighting growing up just as I did.

In college I hated God and everything to do with Christianity until I got into a debate class and the teacher asked the class who had ever read The Bible from beginning to end and actually studied it some. Those that raised there hands he said could debate the subject, those who had not were told to read it and study it for a couple of years then get back with him.

BUT.... some of them do make valid points and there have been some great philisophical questions posted on here that can really make you think.

Answer 5

Here is an example I see made a lot.

Matthew 7:1, in the Vulgate, King James and most reasonable translations, says "judge not, lest ye BE NOT Judged."
About once a day, I see a Christian here say is says "Judge not, lest ye be judged."

You see, this is really a big deal, because Christianity teaches all are judged, so the threat of being judged shouldn't scare a Christian.... but the REAL words of the verse, especially those that follow, are a scary threat if you're a Christian, because it says that if YOU cast judgement, you WON'T be judged, but the judgement YOU USED with be used against you INSTEAD.... That's a pretty big difference from "Don't judge or else you're going to be judged, just like everyone else is."

That really bothers me when I see Christains do it.

Also, when they claim the founding fathers of the US were Christian, or when they say evolution is just a theory, or when they say evolution is the same as the big bang.

It is specific things that I see as ignorant.

Usually I try to point them out, but sometimes a person has 20-30 things wrong with their claim in ONE paragraph of text. It's not worthwhile to say "you have these 20-30 things wrong," and all you can say is "please read more, you're very wrong."

Answer 6

Being an atheist, I would not say that all chirstians ignorant. What I will say is that have been taught a certian idealology, which as far as they know is the only truth. There is a fair precentage that are more closed minded that other people on this planet have a different view of a higher being (or in my case, no even believing in one.) To some people, having different belief then they do is a sin and needs to be handled rather by force or by presuring them. For them, the idea of evolution is just so different from what they have been taught, they don't know how to react.

Again, this is just my thought.

Answer 7

It depends on the denomination and age of the Christian. We are not all the same. But the thing that I thinks gets to all of us is the constant question "are Catholics Christians?" Frankly that one makes us all look like idiots. Roman Catholics are as Christian as the rest of us... maybe more so. And then you get the people that show their total ignorance of the beginning 1500 years of the Church and say that only the 'born again' are going to heaven and everyone else, including those holy Catholics that I just mentions, are going to hell. And I, being an Episcopalian and a member of the church that ordained a gay Bishop, will be scrubbing the floors of hell. And you wonder why people who are not Christians think that Christianity is a joke? Just stick around for awhile, you will see.

Answer 8

How about the fact that some christians immediately reject anything that is not written in the bible even when truth & fact all show otherwise..... How about the fact that some christians constantly use these "sweeping generalizations" to classify an entire group of people who follow one belief?

Notice i used the word "some" not "all" or "most" ... I know that there are christians who are much more realistic than others and less ignorant towards other religions/cultures/ways of life.

Personally, I feel christians are more arrogant and hypocritical than ignorant, but they've got my vote for that one too.

The problem with religion is that people put all of their eggs into one basket, so to speak. That basket being their "god." They put so much devotion into it before they really take a deep look at it's values. (or lack thereof)They are so quick to put down everyone for their beliefs & discredit them as being "ridiculous" but they do not look at the silly things that they themselves believe in. That along with believing that your beliefs are better than anyone elses..... is ignorance in a nutshell.

Answer 9

Some Christians on here are ignorant, not in a "book" way, but the fact that they refuse to look at any other opinion other than their own.
Here are a couple of quotes for you from Christians, which I find ignorant.

"I will put it in simple terms for you so you can understand. IT IS SICK IMMORAL AND WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!... any one who thinks other wise is a sicko and should be condemned in my opinion lucky for them we have a loving God who will save you.

THE HOLY BIBLE YOU SHOULD READ IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!... IT WILL HELP WITH QUESTIONS SUCH AS THESE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!..".
whether or not she agrees in gay marriage or not is fine, that's her right...but according to the bible that she is telling people to read tells us that we can't judge...so who is she to judge anyone. She's being hypocritical in her own answer.

Or there's this one
"doesn't matter catholics are heathens and are NOT saved"
once again, judging.

Or how about
"if evolution is true, why are there still clouds?" ??????

Or you get the ones that assume that atheists, or pagans, or any other non believers are evil, satan worshipers.

You see alot of that on here. I'm not going to post any more, you'll find some for yourself.

In my mind all those things that were said are a form of ignorance.

Answer 10

Christians are not any more ignorant than the rest of the population. There are all kinds,IQ's,careers,race,and bank accounts. Being a Christian is a committment and a way of life.It's some what like a vow,to be honored and followed. If Christians were any less intelligent than the rest of the population they'd be wiped out by now. The devil been trying to get rid of them for centuries!!!!!