Why do certain religious folks feel the need to insult???

Question

I realize that people of all different religions insult others who have different beliefs, including atheists. But this question is directed to (not all) the Christians, being that I recently was verbally attacked by a group of fundamentalist Christians. I am an atheist, and my definition of evil is bringing harm to another human being. My feeling is that if you do something that doesn't hurt anyone or doesn't have the capacity to hurt someone (like drunk driving), then it's ok to do. I have always tried my best to be a good person. I have made mistakes because I'm not perfect, but I don't intentionally try and hurt others. So why is it that although my personal beliefs have no effect on these so called Christians, then why did this group of Christians feel the need to yell at me and call me evil and tell me I'm going to hell? Why can't you just privately disagree with me, and leave me alone the same way I leave you alone?

By verbally attacked, I meant they did it in person, not on here.

I know drunk driving has the capacity to hurt someone, thats why I put it as an example of something that may not hurt someone, but has the capacity to.

Answer 1

because they are opinionated snobs. They think they are better than you, because they actually believe they are going to heaven. yet, God said to "Judge Not!" They are in for a burning surprise.

Answer 2

If this happened on YA, well, it IS a public forum. Because you used the term "verbal" I am somewhat confused as to where you were confronted. However, Gotta have a thick skin around here. And, well, you posted the question.
Hopefully you also have a sincere desire to learn.

I applaud your basic definition of evil, it echos the Messiah's, it is straight out of the Bible, so you and He have something in common:

Matthew 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

Matthew 22:36 Master, which is the chief rule in the law?
37 And he said to him, Have love for the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.
38 This is the first and greatest rule. 39 And a second like it is this, Have love for your neighbour as for yourself. 40 On these two rules all the law and the prophets are based.

All Yashua's teachings were basically of mercy towards our fellow man. More Christians need to understand that these passages also mean that we are not to cram our beliefs down others throats, since that is something we would not want happening to us (But it does, of course!).

Now, again, this is a public forum. If you read the majority of posts from atheist, there is a constant attack on Chirst. Not just Christianity, but Christ Himself. We, as Christians, need to address those attacks. We are kinda damned if we do and damned if we don't when we do answer them.

I am very passionate and dogmatic about my beliefs, I have spent more than 20 years studying and proving them (And I tried really really hard to disprove them at one time!). On YA, since it is an open public forum, I probably come across as more harsh than I acutally am in person. I try to live by the words of Yashua quoted above, but, like you, I make mistakes. Christains are not perfect either. However, I do just try to tell the plain unvarnished truth right from the Bible. And sometimes it is harsh. It conflicts with most peoples preconcieved ideas about what the book actually says.

My basic disagreement with you, and most on this forum, is over who has the right to set rules in our lives and what those rules are.

Oh, and the next time someone tells you that you are going to hell, tell them that you will see them there.....because there is no such place.

Answer 3

I think we first must define what a Christian is. A Christian is an adherent to the teachings of Jesus Christ to the obedience of His absolute command, "follow me". Now if we look at following Jesus and what that meant it would reflect a life of love, compassion, forgiveness, peace, righteous anger, reverence and unity with God, miracles, healings, and of course I could go and on. Another important aspect of Christianity is the acceptance of Jesus Christ as the Son of God, belief in His virgin birth, death on the cross and resurrection from the dead. I am sure that you are familiar with the scripture that states "if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that He rose form the dead, you are saved." I believe that sometimes people professing Christianity forget that it is a two part process. It is a head and a heart thing. What we believe in our heads must connect with our hearts. If we truly are adherents of Jesus, then what is in our hearts should reflect the qualities that I gave earlier.

It is unfortunate that in all religions we have fanatics that attack persons different from themselves, abuse freedom of speech, and do not understand the concept of love. No, I do not agree with your beliefs as an atheist. Yet. I know that the same God that made me also made you and He does not love you any less that He loves me. While I do not agree with you, I value you as a person of worth and I respect that worth. Yes, Christians believe that if one does not accept Jesus they are condemned to hell. The Holy Bible teaches this but also teaches invitation to eternal life. However, there is never an excuse for screaming it in anger or insulting one of God's children. I offer a few excuses: Maybe they are head Christians and that is debatable to whether they are true Christians. Another is they are immature Christians who believe but have no understanding and are not led by the Holy Spirit. Third, they may be evil themselves and are attacking you so that you would not desire to know the love and power of Christ. Four, the third one sounds pretty good! Five, people are people. We cannot allow another person's behavior to define who we are or behave.

To sum this all up. Try to forget them. Please, at least try reading the book of John in the New Testament. Decide for yourself. If you do not believe in God, try asking before you read, If you are real God, then show me you in these Words (John). Can't lose anything but you can gain life as you have not known it before. God be with you and I am sorry that you have been insulted.

Answer 4

I can't tell you why, perhaps fearcely defending their "religion"! I am a christian practicing my beliefs but not religious, and I told it time and time again that beliefs (in God or man or what ever) is something that is of a Private CHOICE. I have the right not to chose God. If there are consequences you will take it like a man, as it is for me.

But you're right no one has the right to insult you, call you names or put you down. The only think I believe we all have a right to do, nay the obligation, is to love, care, respect and forgive our fellow men.

Please try to forgive that person who hurt you, and go on not hurting others. In the future, no one knows what will happen, some people change their beliefs, but it's up to them.

I'd like to invite you to read this page I made if you may:
http://www.geocities.com/monfille/Testimony.htm
You can later let me know what you think.

Answer 5

It is truly amazing how many Christians leave their Christian values in the pocket of their Sunday best.
Truthfully, I know atheists that are more "Christian" than some Christians that I know.
You are not alone in your frustration.
Something to consider... have you ever noticed that when you really know something, that you don't care what other people think? Because you KNOW it. Right?
Well, when people don't know for sure, they're more apt to be defensive and offensive.
Follow your heart and your head. Keep on keeping on and let the haters reap theirs... you get back what you put out there eventually.

Answer 6

Christians confuse integrity with "Christian Like behavior."
In my experience just about all other groups have more integrity than the evangelical christians, who feel that hiding behind their religion gives them the right to be abusive to others. This is clearly not integrity, christian like behavior but smacks of hypocrisy and mendacity.

Continue to be as good a person as you can be and don't let others opinion of you bother you so much.

Answer 7

First of all i want to apologize for my peers. Some people forget that Jesus taught love. Ephesians 5:29,31 says"let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth,but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers (31) let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour,and evil speaking, be put away from you with malice. i am telling you that you do need to have Christ in you life, but i am telling you in love. God is real...look around you. Life, this world, the galaxies, human life is no accident. God loves you, he wants you to believe in him. Is it so hard to believe that you are that important to someone. He made you in the image of him.

Answer 8

Oh I guess i will guess the Candidate. nicely the comments have been probable appropriate to different stupid issues that individual reported to. now and lower back human beings decide because of the fact they are Narcissistic. now and lower back human beings decide because of the fact they don't have each and every of the data. God is incredibly the only one that would desire to decide us.

Answer 9

Well, you are in the religion section. Not that that gives Christians a right to bash you but Christians do believe that atheists will go to hell because that's what the Bible says. That's not a bash but the truth.

Answer 10

Some people let their enthusiasm run away with them to the point of being obnoxious.

Some people are just obnoxious, and that's that.

I do not agree with the oft-found custom of jeering at another because he does not agree with your beliefs.

Telling him what you believe, so that he can have the chance *if he wants to take it* to be as richly blessed as you are is one thing, and I have no quarrel with it. Reviling him for not accepting what you say is another, and I have no use for it.

For a good illustration of what I consider to be the most-to-the-point way to tell another person what you believe, read the 17th chapter of Acts.

Answer 11

Driving drunk does have the capacity to hurt someone....All different people insult others..checkout blackmails post.