What do you think of the statement, "Christianity is an intolerant religion?"?

Answer 1

If you ask almost any member of any Christian sect, I think they would say that Christianity is a very tolerant religion." They'll tell you that they are taught to love their fellow man, to turn the other cheek, to love their enemies.

But if you disagree with anything in their dogmatic doctrine, they'll lovingly tell you that you're going to hell. Unfortunately there are a lot of Christian sects because none of them agree on which dogma will get you into heaven. So the different sects effectively condemn each other to hell.

Rationality, logic, common sense have nothing to do with it. It's the old, "it was good enough for my grand pappy, it was good enough for my pa, so it's good enough for me." They were told what to believe. I guess, to them, it makes sense to believe it. The concept of lemmings comes to mind.

They deny anybody the right to their search for truth unless it's the truth as they see it. And if you admit that you don't know the truth, they accept that as absolute proof anything you say is wrong. But, if you press them for proof of their version of the truth... better believe it or you're going to hell.

An example is the old creation v. evolution thing. Nobody knows the answer. Science freely admits it doesn't know the answer. It is searching for the the truth. Religion claims to know the truth. Why do they deny science the right to search for it? Perhaps one day, science will turn over a rock that proves religion right. One would think religion would welcome that search.

But Christianity hasn't fared too well historically with regard to science. Let's see. The earth was flat. Then the earth was the center of the universe. Then the earth was the center of the solar system. Man was the only intelligent being on the planet. Science tried to support that, but every time they picked a criteria for intelligence, they found some critter able to meet that criteria. So religion said, "Man's the only critter with a soul." Yet nobody can prove man has a soul. But if it was good enough for my grand pappy, and my pa...

I don't think Christianity is intolerant. I think it's just most of the people who profess to follow it. They condemn without knowing what is they're condemning. They don't even have a firm grip on what they think they're defending. But they've bought the dogma... if it doesn't agree with us, it's evil and if it's human, it's going to hell. And to prevent that unlikely event from occurring, they go out of their way to force their dogma down other people's throats.

Answer 2

First:
The statement usually includes the idea that tolerance is always right and good. That's obviously not true, but most people act like it is. Should Americans be tolerant of militant Muslims who want to eradicate us? Should parents tolerate pedophiles who want to have sex with their children? The answers are simple...but, when it comes to maligning someone, intolerance is often seen as the worst of all possible character flaws. In reality, the real question is whether anyone's intolerance is valid.

Second:
While individual people might be intolerant, religions can't be intolerant. Religions teach things, and the things they teach are supposed to accurately reflect reality. When those things accurately reflect reality, they're true. When those things don't accurately reflect reality, they're false.

Usually, when someone says that Christianity is intolerant, they mean one of several things:

A. God, as described by certain individuals, seems intolerant.
B. God, as described in the Bible, seems intolerant.
C. Christians seem intolerant.

Any of those might be true. The question is whether that 'seeming intolerance' is a good thing, a bad thing, or simply a misconception. I welcome questions or responses from anybody who truly thinks that the God described in the Bible is intolerant at my website, found here: http://www.godwords.org/

Answer 3

Christians are to love everyone, no matter what their beliefs. As the saying goes, "hate the sin, but love the sinner." It is our duty to try to show people the Truth and spread the Gospel, but we cannot force it on people (many Roman emperors and the Crusaders did that, and the results were dreadful). The only way that it is intolerant is that Christians SHOULD believe that Jesus is the only path to God. Unfortunately, many don't; that is why the Episcopal Church is in danger of splitting. Jesus himself said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Answer 4

If you get down to the basics of Christianity, it isn't intolerant. Although it teaches that certain types of lifestyles are wrong, it also teaches to love thy neighbor and to turn the other cheek. I think the phrase would read correctly if it were written "Christianity is a tolerant religion with intolerant followers" because I don't think most christians actually love their neighbors (only the ones they choose), nor do they turn the other cheek.

Answer 5

Christianity itself is not intolerant. but Christians have been known to be. over the years Christians have things in the name of Christianity that the bible will tell you is a sin ...The best line from Christianity is when Jesus said unto the people" he who is without sin throw the first stone".

Answer 6

It's no more intolerant than any other religion. By the very nature of religious groups they are intolerant of others.

Answer 7

I think that it is a fair statement.

Did Jesus tolerate the disrespect shown by the Temple merchants, Jewish leaders of the day or Peter when he said; 'This will never happen to you' when Jesus told them about His pending death? No, He didn't. Those that truly believe in the Savior will be just as intolerant as He is about the truth.
God Bless You

Answer 8

I wouldn't lump it all into one category, but by the responses of some so called "Christians" on here it makes me feel as though many are intolerant. Maybe just ignorant.

Answer 9

Depends on the century and place. It is like saying the day is warm. So general it means little.
Christianity has been liberal to dogmatic. Flexible to ribgid. Psychotics have used it to do great harm and other more nobel folks to do much good.
The core of christianity is judism so it is basicly intolerant, inflexible and dogmatic. Depends on how it is enforced and by whom.

Answer 10

I'd say that of the religions, Islam is far less tolerant than Christianity. At least with Christianity, the non-Christian is the one who suffers by God's hand on an individual basis, where with Islam, you get points for blowing up non-believers.