For example, most Christians will blame the devil for their own hypocrisies, or for the corruption in their churches. Of course it's not THEIR fault when people bash their religion, it's the devil influencing non-believers to criticise. When Jerry Falwell blamed "pagans, homosexuals, witches, atheists, abortionists", etc for the September 11th attacks he was reviled and mocked. But, of course, in most Christians' minds he wasn't reviled because of the filth he was spewing, it was because the people who criticised him were "demon-possessed", "godless", ad-infinitum. Why is it that Christians don't seem to be able to accept responsibilty for their own faults and actions, and almost always blame others?
Will they ever see that maybe the reason they are so disliked and mocked in our society today might be their fault? Will they ever see that maybe the reason most non-believers see them as self-righteous hypocrites is because they ACTUALLY ARE? Pastor Ted Haggard is a great example!
2007-04-20 13:45:39 · 47 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Can you possibly pack any more generalizations, ridiculous accusations, and cliches into one paragraph?
Since when do ALL members of a group think, act, and believe the same way? If you put ten Republicans or Democrats or Elks in the same room, the likelihood of them agreeing on everything is just about zero. Christians are no different than any other group made up of people from different backgrounds and philosophies.
*Some* Christians may blame the devil or refuse to take responsibility for their own actions, just like *some* atheists or agnostics or Pagans or Buddhists don't take responsibility for theirs. But there are plenty of us who admit when we're wrong and place the credit for our mistakes where it's due -- squarely on ourselves.
Try taking your anti-Christian blinders off and see us as individuals with our own ideas, opinions, behaviors, and personalities. It may just shock you into realizing that we are PEOPLE -- not the caricatures you thought we were.
2007-04-20 13:59:48 · answer #1 · answered by Wolfeblayde 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I grew up in a very strict religious family. And even though I don't believe in the severity of most of their teachings, I do understand the reasoning behind it. I don't know if you're familiar with the Bible at all, but in the first book of the Bible, man was created good. He had no inpure thoughts. Humans were good and did good until Satan appeared to Eve as a serpent and tempted her to do something God had clearly told her not to. Now, up until Satan had appeared to her, neither her nor Adam had ever been even slightly tempted to try the forbidden apple. This is why Christians say the reason behind some of the things they do is Satan. Its not that Christians aren't taking responsibility for their actions, its more like they were weak at the moment the temptation was presented to them, and they fell. So If not for temptation, they wouldn't have fallen at that moment. Most of the Christians I know do take responsibility for their actions. They acknowledge the fact that they are wrong and they did wrong. Satan will always be there to present temptation, so its up to people to stay strong.
I think you are going to far by saying that ALL Christians don't take responsibility for their actions. That would be like saying everyone in the south is racist. I understand that there are a lot of so called 'posers'. People that claim to be Christian, but don't do anything good, so I can see where you get the impression that all Christians are that way.
I do agree with you about a lot of Christians being hypocrites. I stopped going to my parents' church because of this reason. A lot of 'Christian' hypocrites come to church and look down on people for doing the same things they themselves come home and do behind closed doors. They never acknowledge their own shortcomings and believe they are better than their neighbor. That's not a good Christian.
Anyway, I hoped this helped you to see a little of the other side's view.
2007-04-20 14:13:50 · answer #2 · answered by ya_tatyanka 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with you. SOME Christians blame Satan or the devil, for the wrongs they do to others, out of their own freewill. That's because it is easier to blame someone (or something) else, than accepting responsibility.
However, not all Christians are like that. Many understand that temptation is everywhere, and it is because of their weaknesses that they fall in what they call "sin". But when they repent, they sincerely accept responsibilty for their actions, and ask their God for forgiveness.
2007-04-20 14:02:43 · answer #3 · answered by David G 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Children are taught about the devil in Sunday School. Kids are told that satan has half of the power in the world, therefore a mega influence on them. Brainwashing carries into adulthood and the christian really believes that the devil is alive and well in our world. It is so medieval, and you are right that the Ted Haggards and the Jimmy Swaggerts of Christendom give the religion a bad name. In other cultures christians are called the devil. Hopefully some of them will abandon these scare tactics and begin to take responsibility for their values and beliefs. Or they can continue their worship of the red, hairy buttocked, fiery host from hell.
2007-04-20 13:55:33 · answer #4 · answered by whrldpz 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is the devil who tempts us into doing the wrong things of this world, and the devil is also the one who puts it into our heads that it's okay. I haven't met a single Christian who has directly blamed everything on the devil, per say, but I have seen alot who condemn the "non-believers" and blame them for their short comings. We are all human and we all fall short from the glory of God, even the ones who think they are perfect in His eyes. I'm always afraid for the group of people who call themselves Christians, including myself, because so many people misinterpret or read too much into the Word and come up with ideas and theories that are complete lies. The devil has tricky ways of getting to us. Again, I'm really sorry that you've only run into pushy Christians.
2007-04-20 15:25:26 · answer #5 · answered by Rebeccah 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have been a follower of Christ for many years, and I have heard the same things. It is either an excuse - or a totally misrepresentation of God's Word.
I don't see Prophets around every corner, or Demons under every rock. When I do or say something wrong - It is ME, as it is for everyone - The Bible says that "we battle not against flesh and blood" - So that is where many Christians get that from. But just because they perceive it wrong doesnt make them bad people- and it doesnt mean that they dont really have salvation.
2007-04-20 13:52:14 · answer #6 · answered by L 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't you think it's somewhat unfair to lump all Christians into the category of blaming satan for our shortcomings? We are not all clones of a single Christian. We are not all identical in our thoughts and feelings. Contrary to what you obviously believe, satan is the source of all evil. He attacks Christians more than others because he has lost the race to possess our souls. He feels that even though he has lost us to Jesus Christ, he can at least make our Christian walk as miserable as possible. It's his way of getting even with us for choosing Jesus instead of him. As far as the Jews are concerned, I cannot speak for them even though I know what they're all about. When Jesus, a Jew, stepped into my life and saved me, He also adopted me, and every other Christian, into the Jewish family.
2016-05-19 23:59:46 · answer #7 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Okay, i can see why you are so mad at Christians, because in order to get rid of the problems in the church, you have to get rid of the people. Satan isn't omni-present, so he can't be blamed for every problem. Problems are ususally brought on by people themselves, christians included. And, while yes a lot of Christians are hypocrites, not ALL of them are. That's a stereotype, and besides we all slip up and are hypocrites and one point in our lives. It's not just a certain group of people. No one is perfect.
2007-04-20 13:51:06 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
please teach me that trick you do where you know what entire groups of people are thinking-it must be a burden sometimes...there's only one problem...you're as wrong as wrong can be! in order to become a Christian, i had to face up to my own faults, my own shortcomings, my own misdeeds-no one MADE me sin, no one needed to...i have proven myself more than capable of sinning on my own volition-the fact is, Christians are well aware that the reason we need Christ is that we ARE sinners! if we don't accept the reality of our own sins, what would we even NEED Christ for? His sacrifice on the cross would be as pointless to us as it is to non-Christians...i do not know a single Christian who agrees with the line of crap that falwell puts out. if you despise Christians, that's your business-but at least have the intellectual honesty to state WHY you feel that way without resorting to stereotyping and fabrication...in other words, try learning a little about the target before you attack...
2007-04-20 14:02:13 · answer #9 · answered by spike missing debra m 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People feel a need to blame their misfortunes on something, someone.
Let's say your daugther dies at the age of 2 months after a battle with a serious genetic disorder. Who do you blame? There HAS to be someone's fault. You blame the doctors. Your sin. Satan for making you sin.
It's human nature to suffer, but it's also human nature to want to know WHY something as horrible as "that" happened in the first place.
2007-04-20 13:49:17 · answer #10 · answered by FaZizzle 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋