Do you consider some Christians to be uncivilized?

Question

How do you differentiate between those who follow Christianity, voodoo or other idols? At some level are they very similar? Are Christians worse, or more misguided because often they have had more access to other options?

Answer 1

I like this question as I've pondered it myself. If you look at all religions they are quite similar in context. They basically point you to the achievement of a good and moral society. Now, I don't know about all religions but the ones that I do know I will give my input. Religions beyond Christianity point to "you" to achieve goodness. You are the creator of your own universe and you hold the keys to "good".

Christianity (as far as I know) is the only religion that says man cannot produce good. Only God is good. Man needs a savior to free them from the bondage of sin and evil. It is a gift from God. It begins from within as God takes our heart of stone and gives us a heart after Him and his ways. I think others miss that because in the first chapters of the bible, the old testament, there are alot of rules to follow. Lots of do's and don't's. I'll try and explain this way: The law that our nation lives under does not change a man's heart. What it does is that it keeps order. It keeps us from being an uncivlized society where man just acts on his impulses, whether good or bad. Many times it is the "fear" of ending up in jail that stops me from acting on my impulses. Also, it gives you some parameters on weighing good and evil.

Yet, God has said that what matters is in the heart. It is only God that can change the heart. So, he sent his Son to die as punishment for our sins. Now when we confess our sins and accept Jesus in our lives, our sins are washed away. Then comes the process of renewal in Christ. The process of understanding that your old nature is "Crucified with Christ" and your righteousness is the righteousness of Christ, your Lord and Savior.

So basically, the law that God gave was a way to keep order until his Son, Jesus Christ, came into the world to die for our sins. Now, all who except this extravagant gift, free of charge, paid by the blood of Jesus, can receive a new heart and the change begins to take place from within.

Yes, religions can be very similar and for me, as a follower of Christ, that is where the danger lies. Since the beginning the temptation has been to "be like God". We are not God and we cannot become God. Yet, God in his generosity that superceeds anything we deserve and in his outrageous love, has paved the way for us to have his nature in us, for Him to abide in us.

Now that's awesome.

I don't know if I quite understand your last question. I guess they can be misguided. For me, it is pretty easy to distinguish the difference. Like I said, most religions, at their core, point to "you" being your own God and creating your own universe. In Christianity is the knowledge that sin and evil is part of my makeup due to rejecting God and following my own way.

I think what other people see is the disagreements in doctrines in the Christian community. It is sad that doctrines have divided us in many ways. Just don't make the mistake I have made before. Don't judge God by man. We are fallible. God is not. Yet even in this I see the beauty of God. That God would still choose us in our immaturities and mess.

---Read your last question again and came back to add this. Unfortunately some Christians think they are better than those that are not. This is a big error and we owe the whole world an apology for that. God chooses people in order to show his goodness and glory so that the whole world will see it and be drawn to him. If we are better (and I hesitate to use that word because of what it sounds like) it has nothing to do with us. For, at the core of all men is a sinful nature. We are only better in the sense of what God has done in us. Nothing on our part but all of Him. This gift is given to us not so that we can look down on everyone else and think we are better, it is to show the goodness of God to a dying world apart from Him. That is why the bible speaks of judgement beginning in the house of God for the world profanes his name because of us. Instead of seeing this free gift for what it is, we have become "prideful" and full of ourselves, looking down on others. God is a good God and a just God. Throughout the bible He used those that were not following him to oppose his people and He himself backed them up. Why, because we abuse this extravagant gift given to us, have become prideful, and have not represented God for who He is. Yet God has committed himself to showing his glory and goodness to the whole world and even if we fail, He won't fail us or in accomplishing his will. But don't be fooled. God is a righteous God who hates pride. He will humble the prideful and raise the humble.

Answer 2

People follow religion for one of the following reasons: ignorance, need, or convinced belief.

Long ago religions popped up as a means to explain what couldn't be explained. Mankind didn't have the ability to explain things like lightning, plagues, etc. and so it became the actions of a god.

These days people either believe from the need for guidance, or because they've been told time and time again to do so, and finally it sticks.

I don't differentiate between religions. All current day religions are spawned from those early beliefs of the unexplained. They've adapted, but they are rooted in that. I don't consider any misguided, different beliefs for different people. However, the baseline for why they exist in the first place are the same across the board.

Answer 3

Yes, some Christians are uncivilized, but you could find people that fit that term in any group on Earth. What is your point? If there are Christians that could be considered uncivilized, they are not following their religion. Just because someone calls themselves a Christian doesn't mean that they act like one. Yes, they should know better and that makes it even worse, but that doesn't diminish Christianity and its teachings at all.

Answer 4

i differentiate (most) Christians from others because I have never had a Wiccan or a Budhist question, harrasss, judge, or feverently try to make me believe that my spritual beliefs are wrong and that I am doomed if I am not like them. Yes, I feel that many of them are misguided and uncivilized. I don't think it is because they have more options, I just think they are this way because they live in fear, denial are lazy and bullies. It is not an option for them to just live and let live. It is not an option for them to refrain from pointing the finger.

Answer 5

If you look at the basis of most religions they don't differ all that much in morals and expectations or even in doctrine. They really only differ in dogma and tradition. As far as Christians being uncivilized...the fundamental fantics sure. But I would say that of all religions. Forcing your thinking on someone makes you no better then Hitler.

Answer 6

Some "Christians" are down right hypocritical. Like those that commit adultery monday to saturday then ask for forgiveness on sunday.

Answer 7

Anyone who thinks the mass destruction of huge numbers of humans for any reason is uncivilized and barbaric

Answer 8

look at the fruit they produce as in are they gentle, kind, meek, or self- controlled. if they produce those they are true Christians. we aren't uncivilized it's just some are not rue Christians.

Answer 9

I consider alot of people on here uncivilized

Answer 10

People are over-civilized and have lost touch with the natural world.

Answer 11

You know, this is a stupid question. We all know there are uncivilized people in every group in the world.