Who else finds the Christian faith condescending?

Question

The Christian faith is full of instructions, don't do this, don't do that, you have to do this, you have to do that. When I used to attend Church, I never left feeling enlightened and good about myself, I always felt that I wasn't good enough and there was more that needed to be worked on, anyone else agree?

Margie, the Christian faith is the only one I have had direct exposure to, which is why I did not include other religions in my query, I simply do not know much about other religions.

Summer Breeze: This question isn't about morality, this question is about being instructed on how to live my life when I was given "free will" what is the point in being given free will if I can't exercise it? If you are suggesting that those who don't live by the bible word for word are immoral, then you are quite wrong, I do have many christian morals, I just choose not to live by all of them. And please, don't get me started on homosexuals. They can't choose who they love, just like you can't. It's not as easy as "going straight", that statement right there shows how your faith has aided your ignorance to the world around you.

Answer 1

I agree with you. I know how you feel. They lead you around like you're retarded or like you're a blind little child. "Don't do this, here do that..." does get condescending. Every time I left church, I was either angry or depressed because of their condescending and superior attitudes. I learned nothing, and I was never happy. Honestly, the only thing I ever got out of the Baptist church was a prescription for Prozac.

Answer 2

If it makes you feel that way, then I you are probably taking the wrong approach. Not to say that it is yet another thing you "did wrong", but that's not the way it's supposed to be. It's not about "religion" anyway, it's about a "relationship" with God. He loves you despite your flaws because you are the way he made you, and He certainly doesn't expect you to live up to all of those "instructions." In the Bible, it explains that Christ lives in and through you if you accept him into your heart. If he is in you, then isn't it safe to say that all of those "instructions" are possible to achieve????? Anything is possible through God. And yes, it usually does feel as if there is always work to be done on our personalities (and us in general), but that is where there is a gap between you and God. If you feel like you don't measure up, ask him to be in you and help you to live the right way. "Ask and you shall receive" is very true, and I hope that you read this and rethink the seemingly "condescending" nature of the Christian faith. Don't give up on it. God doesn't expect you to be all of those things all the time because humans can't help but sin. On earth, it is inescapable. I hope you find a way back to the Lord and stop looking at Christianity as a self to-do list.

Answer 3

I'm Jewish, and as far as the rules go, the Jewish religion is much worse. I suspect there are many thousands of rules, maybe tens of thousands. But I think the Jews are not so much "policemen" or "judges" as far as enforcing the rules and punishing rule breakers. I think that as long as I'm not worshipping idols, getting tattoos, raping and murdering people, or practicing homosexuality, no one is going to give me a hard time about how I live my life. Although the last thing is not as big a deal for the reform and many conservative congregations.

I think if you guys do something you aren't supposed to do you will be condemned by the people in charge and told you are going to hell. My biggest problem is that on the rare times I go to the synagogue, I will be asked to show up more often.

Answer 4

When you purchase a new electronic gadget or you're learning how to speak a language, often times you get a manual or a how-to-guide, that tells you what to do and what not to do, in order to use the product properly or learn the language right. The Bible is a sort of "guide for life." It tells you what you should do and what you shouldn't to enjoy life the way God intended it. When you don't follow the guidelines, something goes wrong. You can ask for forgiveness, and make amendments, do something wrong again and start from scratch, until you get it right.

The message of Christianity is a message of love. Come to Jesus and He will carry all your burdens, your sins, your mistakes. And He will make you a new creature, who needs guidance, and that will enjoy life in abundance.

Just take a look at the ways of the world: drugs, alcohol and tobacco abuse, murders, rapes, child abuse, broken families...

Answer 5

Your question is too broad and so are your comments. As such you can only expect the obvious, which means that there will be proponents as well as opponents. What exactly turned you off? Was it a genuinely legalistic church or your rebellious nature? There are churches that are legalistic and shouldn't be, but you need to know that the problem could lie within you.

As it is written:
“ There is none righteous, no, not one;
There is none who understands;
There is none who seeks after God.
They have all turned aside;
They have together become unprofitable;
There is none who does good, no, not one."
Romans 3:10-12

Answer 6

First off, the purpose of going to church isn't about 'feeling good' or getting your weekly dose of 'spiritual highs'. It's about hearing the preaching of the word of God and praising the Lord - NOT about 'feeling good'.
Secondly, the reason why people turn away from and bash Christianity is because it is a religion that abides by morals. I'm a born again Christian myself and I'm living a happy, clean, decent and moral life. I'm not miserable or unhappy. I just simply don't live according the ways of the world nor do I go by what the world says is 'ok' and accepted as 'right'. which is: 'do what you wanna do, even if God says it's wrong'. That is it in a nutshell - people cannot abide by God's word - simply because they don't want to be restricted to what they can and can't do according to what God says. The lusts, lures and temptations of the world keep people away from abiding by God's word and, unless people turn to God and repent of their sins and profess Christ as their Savior, people will never understand what is morally right and wrong. Most people in this world today would rather live a life of sin and immorality than to be restricted to living a moral and clean, decent life. For instance, if someone who is used to sleeping around and they see nothing wrong with it, then of course, that person will be discouraged or outright against Christianity because they know that what they are doing is sinful, yet, they don't want to give up their sinful life to abide by God's word - simple as that. The same reason goes for homosexuals. They would rather live an immoral lifestyle than to go straight and life according to God's word - simple as that. I hope this clears that up.

1 John 5:3-5 says this: For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. v.4 - For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. v.5 - Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

Answer 7

It depends on what Christian faith you follow. Some churches believe the average person is incapable of being responsible for their own spiritual well being, so they dictate through rules and instruction how to live your life to ensure a heavenly existence after death. Churches do serve a purpose in providing guidance for those who need that sort of environment. Often we see the hypocritical nature of people professing to be Christians when they mistreat their fellow human beings. Jesus was not a Christian, he was a Jew. He belonged to a Jewish sect called the Essenes who believed that each person (men and women) was ultimately responsible for their own spiritual growth and development through attonement or reward for free will choices. You can see it in his teachings. Jesus did not believe worship of God required attendance in church or synagogue. He encouraged people to pray and worship in private. Find a good King James version of the Bible and read the New Testament. Also read the Nag Hammadi and the Dead Sea Scrolls to see what sort of teachings the Essenes believed in. You will find a kind and loving God. Jesus' immense wisdom speaks for itself. To explore further, read Paramahansa Yogananda's books. An organization founded on his teachings is called the Self-realization Fellowship. Just as Jesus did, he also taught the golden rule.. do unto others as you would have them do unto you. I also felt in my gut that Christian teachings were missing the point when I was a child. Through my own search over 35 years reading books, praying and meditating I have come to the conclusion that Jesus' teachings were more aligned with Knostic (means knowledge) teachings. The path is truly straight and narrow, but so beautiful if you strive to understand His true message. You don't need me or anyone else to tell you how to believe. Follow your gut instinct or gut feelings about what is wrong or right. If you trust in omnipotence of God and universal knowledge, you'll find messages and guidance all around you. Open yourself and allow yourself to walk the path. Paramahansa called it the divine romance - our own personal relationship with God.

Answer 8

I am sorry to hear that you have been shown a negative example of the Christian faith. The things you described is not of the true Christian faith. The most important element of the Christian faith is for us to understand that Jesus Christ died to free us from the things your described. The only commandments Jesus gave us were to Love God first, then love your neighbor next and to tell others of the good news of Jesus Christ.

Answer 9

I find some Christians can be quite condescending (and arrogant and rude as well), but I don't think I'd go so far as to say that the entire faith is like that. Jesus had a powerful message of love and tolerance. It's a pity that some Christians, in their self-centeredness and selfishness, have lost sight of that.

Case in point:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071026212225AADQPjH&r=w&pa=FZptHWf.BGRX3OFMiDdRVUgVtIz90Y15EqyAMw10xJExkwrCOQ--&paid=answered#MLBvDVTdVTmP4FU2ZLYg

For many people, Christianity is an excellent faith and very fulfilling. But there are many other faiths out there. It's a matter of finding the one that's the right fit for you.

Answer 10

I for one, agree. I havent been to church for some time now.I feel Im only gonna make more sins if I attend mass, especially if I dont agree with the preacher on his homily. Then have to listen to it ,saying this or that is the right thing to do or the wrong thing. I guess we have different interpretations on things and, whom are we to oppose any notions from a priest.