Christians are the only group that insists everyone else live by their beliefs?
Many Jewish people see it as against God to eat pork yet they have never attempted to mandate an anti pork ammendment to the constitution. They simply don't eat it.
Many other religions have laws that the people simply follow, realizing that not everyone believes as they do and accepting such dissent.
Why is it that Christians feel the need to force everyone to follow their faith whether they believe in it or not?
I know that there are lines in their Bible telling them to preach their gospel but did I miss the references to enacting laws forcing people to comply?
2007-09-23 07:22:52 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
dunno.
Most of the Christians I know assume that God is their private property and all the truth in the world is their sacred writ. Historically, Christianity has never been tolerant of other franchises. They insist that theirs is the only burger in town and if you get one someplace else your a fool for eating and going to hell if you enjoy it. Why is this? I think the obvious answer is more psychological that theological - Christianity operates on a conflict paradigm that has been historically fueled by fear and oppression. It doesn't seem to be comfortable with the idea that another idea might be just as valid.Conflict paradigms have at their base dualistic thinking which, ironically, remove choices. Ironically because central to Christian thought is the idea of free will.
2007-09-23 07:33:31 · answer #1 · answered by bonejuggler 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
What laws are you talking about?
As far as I know, no Christian has ever tried to pass a law stating that folks should not eat meat on Friday...although I know many who are real sticklers on that one.
I know of no law that says a person must give ten percent of their income to the church, or any other charity, although we do allow folks to claim charitable gifts as tax deductions.
There are Christian sects who have quite strict rules about how women ought to dress, but there has never been any thought of passing a law requiring all women to dress that way.
On the other hand, I do see people who are not Christians trying to change the laws about marriage...alot of Christians think it would be a bad idea to change the traditional family unit, since the union between a man and a woman is where we all have our beginnings. But then, there are also folks who are not Christians who feel the same way. Then there are those who feel that marriage in the United States has become pretty meaningless anyhow.
I also see folks who are not Christians who have changed a great many of our laws, making it legal, for instance, to murder a child in his mother's womb, which was once an unthinkable crime in our country. A great many Christians are upset about that, since one of our most sacred values is human life.
Actually, when you come down to it, Christians are a "peculiar people", in that we do not have much respect for value systems that depersonalize any one, or laws that are not in accordance with the will of our God. We don't really care what you might think is "legal" or "illegal"...we have a King, and He doesn't live in Washington. He makes our laws, and we obey them to the best of our ability...but we don't expect those who don't know our God to hold themselves to the same standards. We can't do it, either, without God's help...as Christianity has sadly proven, over and over again. As a human organization, it cannot work. Our Lord's Kingdom is not of this world...and that's where we are going.
Care to come along?
2007-09-23 14:53:50 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
"And he (Jesus) said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mark 16:15-16).
We don't want anyone to be damned. We truly care about your eternal life!! Most Christians, and I am one of them, are more to themselves when it comes to this topic. Very few are brave enough to really get the word out. We need to be more bold about Christs salvation to all the world. There are people on here who condemn and damn other people. That is not for us to judge. We need to definitely make our point be known if there is an open opportunity because unless you are born again you will not see the kingdom of heaven. Those are Jesus words, not mine. We want to make sure that people at least have the chance to make that conscious decision.
2007-09-23 14:35:00 · answer #3 · answered by Kaliko 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
You don't HAVE to do anything anybody Else's way. God does not want you to come to HIM by force, but HE does want you to come to HIM by choice.
Some people just know what they are talking about because they have experienced the forgiveness, what true freedom really means and feels like and want to share it. Most people do not believe, because they have not experienced any of it.
But hey ... I'm confused...either you want God to leave you alone or you want Him to run your life. He's oppressive ... or he's not oppressive enough....stop that person from drinking and killing a mother and child driving home drunk but dont infringe on my fun ... Which way should it be? You get to chose.
2007-09-23 14:39:53 · answer #4 · answered by thundercatt9 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Exactly what laws have been forced by Christians? Not to kill? Are Christians the only ones who believe that? I certainly hope not! Not to lie? I guess you believe perjury is a good thing.
2007-09-23 14:32:50 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well, Christianity is not the only one. Can you think of countries in the world where one would face great penalties if he/she announced he/she was an atheist? I can think of a few non-Christian countries.
2007-09-23 14:42:10 · answer #6 · answered by Darth Cheney 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I am a Christian and I have NEVER insisted that anyone do anything.
I have seen atheists as well as Muslims here who try to coerce their beliefs upon others.
If, as you say, Christians "force" others, then why have those people you say that "forced to follow their faith" become Christians? They did not "force" anyone to do anything.
2007-09-23 14:29:04 · answer #7 · answered by batgirl2good 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Funny how they all deny it.
Apparently no Christian ever blew up an abortion clinic. No Christian ever proposed legislation making homosexual marriage illegal. No Chrisitan even tried to outlaw abortion. The list goes on...
2007-09-24 19:38:13 · answer #8 · answered by t_rex_is_mad 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That is such crap. You have people all over the place who will always think what they do is best, and everyone else is wrong.
2007-09-23 14:29:55 · answer #9 · answered by ♥ Leo ♥ 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Also Jews don't believe in trying to convert everyone on the planet.
2007-09-23 14:30:37 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋