Everybody knows there is something in us that naturally wants to have adversaries: in elementary school, it's the boys against the girls, later on it's the Ford drivers against the Chevy drivers. Here it's the creationists vs. the evolutionists, the atheists against the believers, the fundamentalists against everybody else. It's absurd.
How much of this is involved in your church? Who are the people you see as the enemy, or the unsaved, or the heathens? How does your church define itself against those others?
2007-11-14 04:32:58 · 16 answers · asked by Acorn 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
If I found an indication of that kind of thinking in the United Methodist Book of Doctrine, I would leave the church today!
Jesus taught to love our enemies.
"Us vs them" is grossly un-Christ-like.
respect regards peace
2007-11-14 04:39:35 · answer #1 · answered by Green is my Favorite Color 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
it depends on the denomination. I have attended several different ones in my lifetime.
People are not the enemy, Satan is.
The unsaved are the ones not baptized. It has nothing to do with denomination.
In the small town I live in, it is the non-believers vs. the believers. Each denomination thinks they are the perfect ones and everyone else is wrong. That is why I decided not to attend formal services when I moved here.
I believe you should live by the rules in the New Testatment and don't worry about anyone else. Do not judge others.
2007-11-14 08:24:10 · answer #2 · answered by Frosty 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I see myself as the Heathen... because I am one. The religion I follow is not based on us versus Christians or other groups because, frankly, it would be a waste of time. I have better things to do with my time than
1 - Try to convert others to it (if my religion is not for you, so be it)
2 - Worry about someone else' path (I believe there is a right path for all of us, and this is why there are so many differences and it is a good thing)
3 - We define ourslves as who we are, and not against who we are. Defining oneself by a negative is very unhealthy you know.
I don't see anyone as the enemy except those who try to stifle my right to self-expression and hurt others. Bring it on. :)
2007-11-14 04:46:51 · answer #3 · answered by MC 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is usually found a lot within churches as well as between churches. Especially when you cross denominational boundaries.
Even more so when you jump major theological groups like the RCC, LDS, JW, and other Protestants.
I don't know about other religions, generally the pagans are the most open of the groups from my experiences.
2007-11-14 04:40:43 · answer #4 · answered by Emperor Insania Says Bye! 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hello Jon M.First of all may I point out I am a Christian Spiritualist.I go to a Spiritualist church.Sadly there are even opposing factions in that.But that is really what our world is about.Opposition to another's views.Do you not agree that when Jesus suggested to 'turn the other cheek' that is exactly one positive piece of advice that many of us fail to heed?Me personally I won't get caught up in the 'us versus them' argument. I don't care what you believe, I know when I die, I'll find out either there is a heaven, or I will be in total oblivion.Can we not enjoy our earthly life without turmoil?
2007-11-14 05:20:44 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, no athiest is telling me how to live my life. (All they ask is that I return the favor, which I have no problem with.) For that matter, no Muslim ever has either. Most of the Sikhs I know are also content to leave me to my own religious pursuits. And the Jews I know couldn't care less what my beliefs are. Is it really that strange then that I would side with them rather than a Christian who is showing their judgmental side?
2016-05-23 03:36:16 · answer #6 · answered by ashlee 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you are right. How can I believe that being a southern baptist is the way to be.
yet, I believe in my own mind I have proof of God. (I know, I know, but I have satisfied my theory with prophecy and what I know about people) the rest of it all falls into how I view history and politics. I really have to go way back, but I don't even know where to start. I have a 119 IQ and I'm college educated. How can it be. It certainly is a motor for my faith. Could all of it be a gift from God?
2007-11-14 04:47:43 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Us vs Them" plays into every social group in existence. It's a necessary effect of group identity, for, as soon as there's an "us", there is automatically a "them". Human tendencies towards anger, greed, and ignorance then have free reign to demonize the "thems" and glorify the "us's".
2007-11-14 04:40:28 · answer #8 · answered by Sophrosyne 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's not us vs them (at least it shouldnt be!!)
Sometimes I wish ppl would just live their lives and not worry so much want they should br opposed to b/c your religion says.... thats silly. I think that that is the trick of the emeny to keep ppl off focus.
2007-11-14 04:42:17 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Without an "evil" to defend themselves against, religions would have no reason to exist.
2007-11-14 04:39:20 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋