Do atheists base their perception of Christianity on television?

Question

They attack Christianity in terms that would obviously only apply to fundamentalists. Fundamentalists are the object of great interest to the mass media since their wild beliefs and public comments make great copy. But there are two billion Christians and only a few million evangelicals. They are regarded by most Christians as a lunatic fringe. Are atheists aware of this,or do they base their assumptions on the media? Or are they simply hypocrites who know that they can abuse Christianity by exploiting fundamentalism's low-brow and ultra-conversative character?

Answer 1

Sweetheart, I'ma keep it real with you. I think most atheists get their views of Christians from actual Christians. Not to say anything bad about Christians, because I was raised as one, but do you know how many churches I've been to where members of the congregation have negatively talked about people in the pews before them? Where I've asked a question to a preacher about the Bible, and instead of the answer, I get "just have faith, girl"...And let's not talk about the view that you MUST accept Jesus into your heart in order for you to make it into heaven? What about Bhuddists? Do they get into heaven? I could go on FOREVER about this, but it'll take all night...

Answer 2

I'm aware that the right-wing religious conservatives are a fringe, but they've managed to obtain too much political power, and I can't believe that the broad base of loyalist support the Bush administration has held the last seven years is from just the conservative fringe. Too many moderate Christians are aligning with the conservatives instead of rejecting their excesses. If you really believe they are lunatic fringe, what have you been doing to resist their political power?

Oh, and by the way, I never watch broadcast television.

Answer 3

OK, not atheist, but I'm agnostic with atheist leanings.

I base my perception of Christians on my experiences with Christians. Christians who aren't annoying don't stick out in my memory as well as the Christians who were annoying.

As for the ones on television, I couldn't tell you. I don't watch a lot of television anymore, and I definitely avoid any program that gets into religion or religious arguments. I just watch Doctor Who and Heroes. ;)

EDIT: I live in the Midwest, and I lived in Kansas for a while. These folks are not the lunatic fringe. They are very much a part of every day society.

Answer 4

nicely, Creationists are somewhat embarassing ... in spite of if that's a minority. yet with the exception of that, i think of its by fact of one or 2 historic episodes the place some christians gave the impression to be on the non-medical side. a million) some christians initially have been arguing against Darwinism (Creationists nevertheless do, yet they're a minority) 2) The catholic church initially adversarial Galileo for his "new-fangled" suggestions with regard to the photograph voltaic gadget What has handed off is that the countless christian behaviour in those episodes seems very backward, idiotic, even somewhat oppressive interior the Galileo case. So what you have have been given is Atheists very emotionally dedicated to Athiesm, perhaps many no longer quite in contact approximately accuracy in historic arguments. some are very bitter. So those previous episodes make christians look so undesirable, that they've a tendency to talk of them lots, and concentration on them lots, fairly than making an common appraisal. it quite is like politicians, and positively like a number of our yahoo disputations - all and sundry is prepared to win the argument, so arise with the stuff that makes the different side look undesirable and idiotic. Telling them that James Clerk-Maxwell and Faraday have been very dedicated christians does not for that reason glue of their minds, it quite is information they do no longer opt to look at; except of direction they're attempting to be independent. yet people are frequently creatures of emotions and prejudices.

Answer 5

I've never known one to refer to any prominent Christian that hasn't been on tv a lot; besides,their postings do not suggest a high level of education. I think most on this site are teenagers or tweenies. Otherwise,they tend to be rather babyish. To respond to some of the above - what are mainstream Christian "doing" about fundies,it's a free country,and anyway they delelete Catholics very quickly,or anyone who criticises jews. As far as the question here is concerned ,it is in equal measures ignorance and duplicity.

Answer 6

I believe they base their perception on experience. They have not acknowledged anything good about God and they have not seen or experienced anything,as far as they are concerned.Blind to the truth,selfish and enjoy their lifestyle,not wanting to change, television is a good tool to spread the Gospel of Christ! People called Jesus Crazy, so he said, if they said that about him just think what the world thinks about you. A servant is not above his master in such things. We do not concern ourselves with opinion polls. The truth of the word of God will come forth in due time.

Answer 7

Many of us non-Christians base our assumptions on fundamentalists not because they're the ones on TV, but because they're the ones who make the most noise in general. They're also the ones claiming to know Christianity the best, and they do seem to take their Bibles the most seriously.

If "mainstream" Christians think that they're being misrepresented, what are they doing about it?

Answer 8

Nope, I base my perception of Christianity on the Christians I have actually met in real life.

Answer 9

I think they are aware of it but just like it makes good tv it also makes for good insults. It is much easier to lump us into a group that has damaged credibility than to accept the fact that some may have merit and warrant a closer look.

Answer 10

I don't watch television other that the weather report and the news. Movies come from blockbuster or the movie theater.