What's with the guilt? Can't the beliefs stand on their own merit?
2007-10-11 17:38:41 · 31 answers · asked by -Tequila17 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Some wonderful answers here. And I am, for all intents and purposes, an athiest. Mainly because I do not like the control that christians inflict on people. Some answerers said that guilt is a way of knowing I did something wrong. I don't need guilt to be inflicted upon me to know I have done something wrong and to know that I must make amends. Guilt is a terroristic tactic and I have NEVER appreciated someone trying to make me feel guilty.
2007-10-11 18:07:10 · update #1
Mr. Agappe and Larry M. You seem to embody what Jesus was trying to accomplish. Thank you for that. Christ, like many other spiritual giants, (Buddha, Ghandi) had a wonderful message of hope for humankind. It's most christians that give a bad name to the message. A priest one told me that christians are the leading cause of atheism. I hope you two continue reminding us that christ was about love and love cannot be forced upon someone by guilt. Thank you for your message. Peace.
2007-10-11 18:12:26 · update #2
So they would feel soooo guilty about stuff that they would never ever question what they are being told.
2007-10-11 19:15:24 · answer #1 · answered by Saturn554 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Christians do not press guilt on their fellow followers. In the first place, guilt is brought about by the conviction by the Holy Spirit. After guilt, there would be repentance. With repentance there would be joy of having been changed to a new person.
Being a new person would be living in fellowship with each other. Any brother/sister in Christ would try to help correct each other with a caring attitude whenever the other go wrong. There is nothing wrong about that. They are living as one body of Christ.
2007-10-12 00:50:39 · answer #2 · answered by Nicky 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I can understand why you think this way... however...
Christianity is not supposed to be a faith of guilt.
"For if we confess your sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."- 1 John 1:9
"For it is by Grace that you have been saved, through faith, and this is not of yourselves - it is the gift of God, not by works so that no one can boast."- Ephesians 2:8-9
"As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us."- Psalm 103:12
"I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more," says the Lord." - Isaiah 43:25
"The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against Him."- Daniel 9:9
Sure, some non-biblical guilt tactics have crept into Christianity through religious practices over time...
However, guilt is not what Christ came to give us...
No, not guilt... but relief and forgiveness.
Sure, guilt usually is the product of sin... however... it is unhealthy to hold on to... even though it does usually motivate us to stop doing wrong.
Satan is known as "the accuser," the bringer of guilt... even after we have been forgiven.
I hope this has been informative and helpful.
God bless,
-Mr. Agappae, a Christian
2007-10-12 00:55:20 · answer #3 · answered by Mr. Agappae 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The belief comes first. Guilt is not used on followers. Once there is belief, there is awareness of our wrong doing. With awareness of wrong doing is associated guilt. It's called having a conscience.
2007-10-12 00:59:17 · answer #4 · answered by Dynamic H 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most learn guilt I believe from their Christian parents along with a good dose of fear. The Bible speaks of many gods, waring gods. They battled to see who was the Most High God.
Most all used this so they could HAVE CONTROL, CONTROL, CONTROL, of the people. No wonder, If they were disobedient they would surely feel guilty because of the unspeakable punishment they would recieve if they were caught, stoning was one of them ouch!
2007-10-12 01:14:27 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm not aware that it does.... The Christians I know don't use guilt at all. They use nothing....
Sounds to me like one of those loud mouths that can't keep his trap shut in the first place he jypt....
I know what you mean... but how can you use the end of a book to make your point every time... really.
Isn't all that stuff about God in the end... I don't know but I'm not into the job...
2007-10-12 01:57:26 · answer #6 · answered by The Coroner of China 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Please do not get religion confused with Christ like, as Christ told us to hold nothing against any one as this is his path, not Guilt. He cured those who others said were untouchable and forgave others who others would never. Love is talked about many more times than any other emotion by Christ. I also truly love all of you as He does also.
He told us of many who would come as false leaders to make many have no Faith.
2007-10-12 00:56:05 · answer #7 · answered by Larry M 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
If God's Word makes you feel convicted, then maybe you should heed what it says. Christians don't try to make you feel guilty. If you are guilty of sin, then you are guilty of sin, just like everyone else. We have all felt guilt in our lives because of sin. If we repent of our sins, and accept Jesus, then, our sins will be forgiven, and we can start again with a clean slate, hence the guilt will be lifted.
2007-10-12 00:49:28 · answer #8 · answered by byHisgrace 7 · 0⤊ 3⤋
You are VERY insightful, and thus a poor candidate, luckily, for being brainwashed by a "religion" run by power trippers and greed mongers.
Popular religions tend to be run by sociopaths who are in it for the money and the ability to control others. Gives them a real "buzz". Pathetic of course, but very prevalent.
Many unthinking people fall for the "trip", to their detriment. This has been popular for millennia. And, the technique is used in many areas, not just "religion" to the great advantage of the perpetrators.
Remain among the small percentage of wise individuals who sees through the manipulations, and go your own way as the individualist you are. A far far better path :))))
2007-10-12 00:48:25 · answer #9 · answered by drakke1 6 · 6⤊ 2⤋
its not the the religion it self that uses guilt but the people behind it, and like every religion they try to use guilt to lour the people into it. every religion has its highlights and defects thats what you have to look for in a religion when choosing one dont go to those who are in it but to the religion itself.
2007-10-12 01:07:55 · answer #10 · answered by ? 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Becasue only when one addresses the issue of his sinfulness before God can that person experience true repentance and forgiveness. Christianity is not just believing with the mind through acknowledgement of sound doctrines and theology; Christianity is responding to the call of repentance and go to God for forgiveness and cleansing.
2007-10-12 00:51:09 · answer #11 · answered by paulyaranon007 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋