I am a Christian. I have found that when mentioned I am shunned. Everyone says, "Have an open mind". I find this confusing since Christianity is attacked from all angles. Perhaps it is due to some bad experiences that people bash us. I am told to be accepting of all people from all back grounds but I feel this acceptance rule does not apply to Christians. Now I realize some of you have one goal to disprove any religion. I just would like to know why I accept people for who they are and love them regardless of differences and I am laughed at over my beliefs. I do not stand around saying you will go to hell over this or that. When asked I will give my opinion and yes there are some things I believe are just wrong. The problem is when did it become OK to hate Christians when acceptance is the rule of the day.
Please be civil in answering. I am only doing research. Thanks.
2007-09-26 07:22:09 · 19 answers · asked by LucyLou 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
OK. apparently no one read the question. I never said we are taking over the world, hate homosexuals, and I am in no position to say where someone is..heaven or hell. This is the reaction I get from people when trying to ask a simple question...call it what you will..it is still hate. Why is hating Christianity OK and not OK for other religions or groups?
2007-09-26 07:30:35 · update #1
One more thing..I am able to have friends who are not Christians and do not believe what I believe. We don't argue over it all. We are friends because we find common interests. When someone says that they are atheist, agnostic, whatever...I don't rant at them about hell. I try to live a life of compassion and love for all...regardless of differences.
2007-09-26 07:41:05 · update #2
A very thought provoking question. One for which there is not a simple response (notice I am not saying there is no response, just not an easy one).
First, as always, we must look to the example set by Christ. Jesus said, "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household." Matthew 10:34-36.
This indicates how clearly Jesus knew that his message would bring strife to the life of believers. As Christians we are
called to spread the gospel and to share the good news of repentence and the forgiveness of sins through Jesus (see Acts 5:31).
However for someone to repent they must first know that they are doing wrong, which we are called to help them to acknowledge through the preaching of the gospel. (see Romans 10:14-15).
This call to repentence is asking someone to admit that they have violated God's law and his commandments. It is asking them to admit that they are need of a savior. (Read Romans 3:23, Isaiah 64:6)
This by its very nature will cause conflict, as Jesus said, " In this world you will have trouble, take heart I have overcome this world." John 16:33 If we follow his example we will meet resistence and conflict - it should be noted that Jesus spoke twice as much about hell as he did about heaven.
Our challenge is to always share this message in a spirit of gentleness and humility (read Collossians 3:12).
2007-09-26 08:20:21 · answer #1 · answered by Frank G 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I get along fine with Christians. My neighbour is an evangelical Christian and we debate back and forth all the time. Ultimately, actions speak louder than words.
You can profess all the belief and preach all you like. Basically all that concerns me is:
Are you a good person?
Are you condsiderate?
Are you rational and intelligent?
Are you uplifting to be around?
Some Christians are, some aren't.
Just don't expect to be coddled just because you are Christian. In addition, like I told my Christian neighbor, if you feel you have the liberty to critique and tear down mybeliefs, or call them, "false" etc, you cannot get offended when I do the same to yours.
Golden rule, remember?
2007-09-26 07:30:27 · answer #2 · answered by pixie_pagan 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Christians have brought any hatred upon themselves. When a group is tyrannical and controlling for millennia, there will eventually be a backlash.
Remember that disagreement and promotion of a different idea IS NOT HATE.
YOU are not a typical Christian. And your religious beliefs are laughable. I know it's hard to fall from the pedestal of majority, but you're going to have to step aside for some fresh thinking about the world.
2007-09-26 07:30:32 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I am about the same as you.... I do NOT bash anyone, I do however speak my beliefs....... but, the division between Christians and others is just a fact of life, or faith, however one wishes to put it, that has gone on through time, and will continue till the end of earth time...... each see there side as the *right* side, there is no or very little middle ground on which to meet....... we can agree to disagree that is about the ONLY thing we can do....... Go in peace....... God bless
2007-09-26 07:30:45 · answer #4 · answered by Annie 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
because Jesus as shown in New Testament and Tradition ,is either Liar, Lunatic or Lord. Jesus can't be all of the above
Jesus also can't be just a good teacher or admirable person according to His Gospel claims.
Christian ethics are very annoying to the powerful(especially prosperous nominal or worldly and ornery or arrogant Christians or unbelievers) and it riles people up. especially since Christianity has objective moral and theoligical norms and exclusive and ultimate claims.
2007-09-26 07:31:31 · answer #5 · answered by James O 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The way I see it, Christians are good people. No doubt.
However, God is an awesome God who loves you eternally.
But you're only a good person if you go to church often and read the Bible.
If God was a loving God, would it really matter?
Not to mention (from what I've seen), Christians tend to think being gay is a disease-or for mentally unstable people.
Again, if God was a loving God, would it really matter?
Christians mean well.
2007-09-26 07:30:34 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not a matter of hate, it's more a matter of disgust. When I see Christians saying oh Gandhi and Mother Teresa are in hell because they didn't accept Jesus, that just sickens me.
2007-09-26 07:25:42 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
It's OK, remember, Christ said, "they hated me first, so don't be surprised that they hate you as well."
We are apart in this world, here everything is confortable, we are like a splinter in the flesh, reminding people of what they want to forget, that there is a God, and that we all will be held accountable for our actions. Most hate that ideal
2007-09-26 07:37:23 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Any religion as diverse, widespread, divided, and common as Christianity will draw controversy. It's just how the world works.
2007-09-26 07:26:16 · answer #9 · answered by YouCannotKnowUnlessUAsk 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is an unfortunate but natural consequence of Christianity trying to control and convert people for centuries.
2007-09-26 07:25:46 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋