The church scares me...?

Question

My friend took me to church the other day. First time I have been to church in years. My friend asked me to go because they were doing this thing on the atheist movement and I am an atheist. I'm not part of the atheist movement I just don't believe in God. It turned out to be nothing more than a 2 hour hate rant. Basically the guy doing to speech said every hateful thing in the book about atheists. I sat there for the whole 2 hours thinking to myself, what the hell did I do to you buddy???? That was a rude awakening for me as to how much people really hate me for no reason other than I do not believe as they do. I am going to be way more cautious of Christians for now on. If they hate me that much, who knows what they might do to me.

Answer 1

yes we have plans for you rascally atheists ... give me a break ...

Answer 2

it incredibly is definitely no longer a typical incidence. I a approach or the different doubt it exchange right into a Roman Catholic Church on a Wednesday evening for bible learn, besides. attempt yet another church, commence with Sunday centers, in simple terms be conscious first and spot the way you experience. hear to the bulletins, while you're soft, bypass to the espresso and refreshments after provider. See how the individuals take care of you. while you're uncomfortable with any of it, attempt yet another church the subsequent week. For generally a reserved, non-judgmental environment, i want to advise a community Episcopal Church to commence. If it incredibly is too reserved, you desire Presbyterian. study the doctrine later, yet hit upon a place you're soft. those human beings will probable no longer descent upon you like a %. of wolves which you will possibly locate in Pentecostal church homes, mutually with Assemblies of God, 4 sq.. yet that must be your variety, besides, examine it out, and don't permit one group scare you. stable success,, God Bless you (i think of he's best your seek and could help to steer you to the properly suited place for your self)

Answer 3

I think it was a bad idea for your friend to take you to church on such a topic. I guess atheists are also criticizing Christians and the church probably wants a leg to stand on so that atheists don't throw the religion down the gutter. Its a reaction to the media etc and their view on Christians. I think it was more against atheists who hate Christians not atheists who just don't care. BTW what denomination was that? Cause they sound pretty dodgy. Not all Christians are like this. If they were proper Christians I don't think they should be criticizing.

Answer 4

I'm sorry that you do not believe in God. I'm sorry that he gave the perceptions to you that he did. I wasn't there so I can't speak for him or for you. I believe in God. I am a Christian who believes in all of the fundamental doctrines: that Jesus is the only way to heaven, the Trinity, that Jesus was born of a virgin, that the Bible speaks the truth, and that Jesus is coming again.

Many people today believe that "fundamentalist" Christians are those who try to force their morality on others, and to my shame, such as been the case in many instances. This does nobody good. I cry for those more concerned with morals than with others knowing Christ, who alone can change hearts.

It is my hope that your friend and you are able to discuss the Bible, and that you do not take the word of those today called "fundamentalists" nor do you take the word of unbelievers -- or the word of those who equate "love" with having NO standards of morality. I'm not talking about making you obey our rules, when you don't claim to be a Christian, I'm talking about CHRISTIANS living as Christians.

You can cut through all the hype by finding the truth for yourself. There are different points of view out there and nobody can come to a decision on the truth without looking at every side. All I'd ask is that you look at all sides before coming to an opinion.

Rhonda F.

Answer 5

I've found of late, that since everyone has different beliefs, and religion seems to be more of a driving force that has everyone focused primarily on terrorism and the need to know the difference between "good" and "evil," that in order to start putting an end to the prejudice and violence, only one person needs to stand up and take no notice of what is being said.

Constantly thinking and worrying on how others see you is more going to make the slurs and prejudice worse in the long run, so try accepting that it is the way some people think, and then forget about it.

It will be their problem if they can't accept people who have different beliefs and opinions, and you strike me less as the type of person who would devout your life to paying much attention to things that affect your life in very little ways.

Answer 6

To judge all churches and Christians on the rantings of one person is wrong. I've run into some nutty Christians who feel they are 'doing the Christian thing' but are just misled or mis-taught. We're not all like that.
If preachers would preach from the Bible and not from the media, more folks would be accepting of Christianity.
A Christian would not HATE an atheist. He/she would pray that person comes to trust Christ as Lord and Savior. A Christian would not HATE anyone, for that matter. We are admonished by Jesus to 'love your neighbor as yourself.'
I have heard of a church in Topeka, KS who use God's Word to sow hatred. Do a google.com search on WESTBORO BAPTIST CHURCH, its pastor FRED PHELPS and/or his daughter SHIRLEY PHELPS. About 80% of the congregation is family. They go to military funerals with signs that say THANK GOD FOR DEAD SOLDIERS, THANK GOD FOR IEDS, GOD HATES AMERICA, GOD HATES F@@@, and so on. They cannot be loving Christians. They have been misled by their pastor. They seem to be in it for the money because they record everything they do, and push people with their nonsense until someone reacts. Then they SUE (I believe there are FIVE lawyers in their congregation).
I would hope no one would think Christians are like those people in the WBC.

Answer 7

I am sorry you had that experience. Christians don't hate you. Or anyone else. Christians follow Christ. If what you say is true, this person wasn't doing that. Jesus doesn't hate you.

How did your friend feel about the experience? I would hope your friend was properly mortified that you had to endure that, especially as your first experience in a church in a long time.

Nastiness comes in many forms; I've seen plenty from atheists, as well; please don't judge Christianity based on one poor example of a Christian.

Answer 8

I would saw this is a terrible church. I think God would not like it either. As far as my feelings on God...I never have thought of "him" as someone sitting in the clouds on a throne but rather I see him in the super big things like the ocean and the super small thing like the complexity of a leaf. I can't see air...but I have faith it is there. I guess that is the same with God. But again...as for this "church," I would ask your friend why you were asked to go. I would ask why they preach hate not love and if your friend thought they could convert you by preaching hate.

Answer 9

Hey! You're doing what they're doing generalizing on a whole population when really they don't know anything about it.

In my church, we never do anything like that, we respect other people's beliefs and do not make people feel afraid or bad about what they believe in.

It's an awful thing to generalize, you've experienced it first hand. Not all Christians do this and we don't like being generalized either.

I'd avoid that Christian church too, being myself a Christian as well. I don't associate with people that hate or lecture about things they don't know anything about.

Answer 10

well did he know you were an atheist?? cause he was talkin to other good chrisian people and telling them why he thinks its bad and wrong. if he knew you were he probably would have been more like a teacher and explained it more. or maybe thats just the way he is, you have to understand that preachers are just people that study and talk about god. they have different opinions than others, so if you don't like the way that person put it then don't judge all christians or preachers or churches.

Answer 11

As soon as I relized where it was heading, I would have made some kinda statement or remark about what he was saying, anything to get a word in, but mainly so that I could also point out I was an atheist.

See how easy it is for him to say all that hate ****, with an atheist right in front of him.

and a kid i'm guessing at that!

He'd be screwed. He can't just hate on you (atheist) for two hours if your right there.