Christianity in America?

Question

Okay, I've sorta realized this. And no, I'm not anti-Christian or anti-American. I've been Catholic schooled for 4 years, and I'm Hindu, and plan on remaining that way forever. I'm 13.

So anyways.

Say you have a group of friends. Like High School or Middle School aged friends. Out of that group of like 10 people, one of them is Jewish or Muslim or Hindu or Buddhist. The rest of the kids are some Christian denomination.
I've noticed, that the kid who isn't Christian, feels ashamed or embarassed that they are another religion.
Example: Say that group of friends plans on going out to dinner or a movie one night. But the non-Christian kid can't come because there is some religious festival going on. I've realized in myself, and other of my friends, that they feel bad about that. Then the Christian kids make fun of their non-Christian friend. But if it's vise versa, it's like the non Christian kids already knows there's a Christian holiday coming up.

Like Easter or Christmas or Ash Wednesday.
What I am trying to say, is that I feel that Christianity is advertised in such a way in America, other people feel bad. It's had to explain....
What do yo think?

Answer 1

Once you are a member of a minority religious/ethnic group, you ought to learn that the majority cannot always make you feel comfortable by giving up their own customs. What you need to do is to accept cultural/religious diversity. That means sharing with others what you can and withdrawing yourself when you begin to feel awkward. The roles can also reverse. For example, you may have a function [Diwali] in the US in which the majority of people attending would be Hindu. Now, if a Christian or a Muslim walks in, should you end that celebration? I don't think so.

The key is to enjoy diversity as a spectator rather than insisting on being a participant in everything and demanding neutrality.

Answer 2

People will always feel bad about something but being a Christian should definitely not be one of them. However your Christian friends should try to demonstrate Gods love and concern for one another regardless of what religion they are.

Answer 3

What if a Christian was living in, say India, and had to explain why he had to take off Christmas or Easter? Same problem, I suppose. You just have to deal with the fact that you are different from your friends, since you are a minority in their country. Your true friends will understand.

Answer 4

Kids will be kids, but still need the guidance of an adult to show them the way regardless of religion or lack there of.
Now about you? I'm not getting the I'm Hindu in Catholic school thing care to tell more?

Answer 5

I believe you are very astute and quite right. As the dominant religion, every expects you to follow Christian ways, and other religions are "different." The discrimination is a bit of a problem.

Answer 6

why did someone say America was based on Christianity above me?? it was based on a group of people leaving a land to seek religious freedoms.... including any and all get it.

Anyways Christianity is overly commercialized in the USA and they ostracize other religions.

Answer 7

for a 13 year old you are more astute than many who lived alot longer than you.
Christianity in America does indeed imbue the entire culture with a certain myopic viewpoint that has a tendency to ignore people of other faiths.

Answer 8

That's just wrong...I swear Christianity has some kind of pack mentality behind their attempts at fostering "community", and try to use their religion's social aspects as its best asset (as the doctrine itself is of little importance nowadays).

Answer 9

It's because christianity is more common in the US. If you were in India, it would be the christians feeling left out.

Answer 10

of course it's advertized that way. christians have always thought they were the only way into the after life or whatever, and so does every other religion.