I am asking this question because over the years I have met some folks paricularily some gay men and women who have rejected religion (ESP. Christianity) because of the harsh treatment and attitudes towards them from time to time. Also the same can be said for the racsist beliefs that was justified by misinterpreting the bible.
2007-06-30 21:12:26 · 24 answers · asked by chinavagabond94122 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Did you ever wonder if maybe it was their own convictions that drove them out.
2007-06-30 21:16:28 · answer #1 · answered by Mulereiner 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Hmmm doesn't the Bible say that in the end times there will be many false churches?
I'd say that in most cases, people driven away from their church are on to something. How can all churches be right anyway when the beliefs even within Christianity are so diverse? Someone's gotta be wrong...
Are you suggesting, then, that if I am in a bad religion, and I leave it, I am somehow worse off?
There is no such thing as the "Christian Religion" even though many atheists like to use that term.
2007-07-01 04:36:52 · answer #2 · answered by furshluginer 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Getting your feelings hurt is no reason to leave God. Life is hard. People are rude. And even Christians aren't perfect. (surprise surprise) Yes the offending people will pay for the damage they've done. Jesus warns of it in the Bible. He said "Woe to anyone who offends a baby Christian" (paraphrased)Because they are innocent and they are His. But if you have a person who can't hear the Truth without always being offended and turned off then it's their problem not the bearer. That's why a lot of people don't like the Bible in the first place, because it exposes their sins/wrong.
2007-07-01 04:21:30 · answer #3 · answered by Honee-Bee93 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Long before I came out, I used to attend church. The last time I went, the sermon was "God is Everywhere". So, the next Sunday came around, and as my parents were getting ready to leave for church, I was asked why I wasn't going. I told them,"since God was everywhere, God, and I, are going to stay home and watch the Duke/Michigan game".
I know it's lame, but it's also the truth. What really did it for me was the hypocrisy. Even at 14 I realized that there was enough in our everyday lives that I could really use a break from it on Sundays.
And that is exactly what I did.
2007-07-01 04:19:17 · answer #4 · answered by pastyfreek 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
People that have been driven away from religion will have their eyes opened just like the rest of us eventually will and the same with them as with us, will choose if they want to close their eyes or not, because in the end its not about religion its about God, I say dont go toward the "religion"go towards God let him talk to you. People are hypocrites and lyers and can only teach what they believe, if you let God be your teacher than He can teach you the Truth and who better to know it than He right? So it all depends if your friends will open up their eyes and their heart to God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit and that is a choice that they have to make it is our job as followers of God to help them but only they can decide where they want to go. God himself cannot MAKE them go to him. Maybe that is why YOU came across them cause God wants you to help them see, help them look to God for answers and not to religion.
It says in The Bible come just as you are sins and all and God will let you see and He will mold you but everything is the choice of the individual.
2007-07-01 04:33:13 · answer #5 · answered by angelbaby 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I actually would like to know the answer to this too....can people lose their salvation? I really don't know...
On the one hand I do believe it is a choice and that if people choose to live a life without God, they should have that right in the afterlife as well, but in so many cases I think people are really "chased away" from the church and God because of people who are closeminded.
All I know for sure is that God is forgiving and loving and that if anyone seeks after Him (even if they do so without the route of Christianity and the church), He'll see that and honor it.
I dont know if thats what you meant, but I hope so:-)
2007-07-01 04:18:29 · answer #6 · answered by kari 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Yep... God is very forgiving (Thanks to all who have said statements like this).
It's hard for me to say really. This is something that I approach in a sort of Agnostic Stance:
People that move away from religion are said to go to hell, but I'm not the judge of that. Therefore, I can't know. We know god as omnipotent, giving, forgiving, benevolent, et cetera... I think those are the kind of qualities that he looks for, and I think (From the point of view that I have some idea what is going to happen to them) those are the kind of things that I think we would be judged for.
2007-07-01 04:27:57 · answer #7 · answered by Kenshiro 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
This was one of the reasons why I left the Catholic church. Too judgmental and hypocritical. I'm not gay but I do know I was taught Jesus is tolerant and loving of EVERYONE. I don't know why some of these churches teach that and then turn out some of the people of their "own flock". doesn't make sense, does it?
2007-07-01 04:17:04 · answer #8 · answered by amyaz_98 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
They will blame the victim - it's what all 'good' bullies do.
They should realise … Jesus still loves them; the invisible sky critter loves them; they misread The Goat Herders’ Guide to the Galaxy; they shoulda found another church; etcetera, blah, blah, blah.
2007-07-01 04:33:49 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I may not be a christian but I know certainly what they would say for someone like me. "You're going to burn in hell." And I'd be singing "I'm on the highway to hell."
2007-07-01 04:41:44 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They will go on to lead very happy and fulfilling lives.
2007-07-01 04:16:49 · answer #11 · answered by Sneaky Shoelace 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋