why are christians so critical of other denominations in christianity? i always here so much bashing of christians by other christians from different denominations. the ones i see picked on the most are catholics, jehova's witnesses, and mormons. are other religions as judgmental of other members within their faith as christianity?
2007-12-12 15:29:08 · 27 answers · asked by just curious (A.A.A.A.) 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Muslims are pretty critical of different denominations. Look at the Sunnis, Shiites, Kurds, etc.
2007-12-12 15:31:45 · answer #1 · answered by ǝɔnɐs ǝɯosǝʍɐ Lazarus'd- DEI 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
What you may be calling "criticism" can be someone trying to
spell out what they believe and why.
And it may not mean as much as you think it does. I am a Christian, and I could attend many denominations and feel totally comfortable there...and yet not agree on every single thing. We would agree on the most important things. I would even agree with many of the same things with Catholics...but not Jehovah Witnesses or Mormons because they add and change too much to be the same faith.
If you believe something, you can defend it....and you don't need to force it on someone else. One thing God allows us all is to "choose this day, Whom you will serve". He gives us each a choice and sendyHis Son for that reason. He doesn't force anyone to love Him....and neither should we.
Some Christians get so concerned about those who don't know Him, that they go overboard in trying to convince them...because they are genuinely concerned they will end up lost for all eternity. If you saw someone drowning and saw a way they could be saved, wouldn't you try? That is what with good intentions some do....but the truth is only God can save them.
And some differences concern Christians because they feel they could be dangerous....some church leadership have written in their by-laws things that their own people don't know are there. The Mormons come under this...and so do the Jehovah Witnesses. Is that judgmental to point out the truth?
What should they do...just ignore it? In the case of a national voting campaign, that just isn't going to happen. If you believe it, defend it!...And the rest of the people deserve to know what they believe....it could impact you!
If some Christians are overly critical then they aren't listening to what God tells them...."judge not, that you be not judged"...and "in the measure you judge others, you will be judged yourself". Maybe for their own sake, they should pay attention....God means it!
2007-12-12 15:44:52 · answer #2 · answered by samantha 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Buddhists probably don't care that much what different denominations do. Some Christian denominations are very tollerant...such as Unity. Grouping denominations as Christian, Muslim, etc might not be the best way to judge them...but more interesting might be to group them according to tollerance of other people.
The big issue is this: if you are a religious person and you have to tollerate someone with beliefs different than your own, then you are intrinsically admitting that what you believe might not be 100% correct...either because the real truth cannot be known or (and this is THE REAL TRUTH) because -- being a religion -- your beliefs have no real foundation. So...to some degree...tolerating beliefs different than your own is admitting that your beliefs (and, thus, your denomination) might not be right...but religion is all about selling "the truth" (although it's all false). And finding "the truth" is all about interpreting documents (like the Bible) which are not as divinely inspired as we have all been lead to believe.
2007-12-12 15:41:54 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
they are only dissociating from you because the cult leaders are telling them to do so. The governing body of JW do not follow those same standards as detail by people who were at that level and decided to quit. Those people in the upper echelons want expansion and funds to live it up in their higher ranks, They may deny it, and their member would fight you tooth and nail to the defend the so call faithful and discreet slave which they are not,. IT is a new religion or cult. It has only over ninety years since the inception. Along the way they have made various prophecies that have fail. They deciphered revelation with flaws of all kinds. Therefore, your parents are following blind guides rather than actually supporting you. They should not expect you to make that personal decision without ultimatums or putting fear in your mind such as the end is coming and you are not fit to make. Nobody can utter those words with total certainty because all fall short of the glory daily in the same manner they consider serious wrong doing: lying, cheating, shady business practices, roving eyes to the opposite sex, would disqualify a person for the kingdom. All of the JW have practice those traits and are practicing it right now. Also they have added those unnecessary magazines and books to help others to understand the Bible. The Bible was written for all to read and understand at their own time and speed. Why would another magazine and extra books would be needed when the Bible is the tool that he provided for people? They think the bible is not complete so they feel their magazines make complete? Doubtful. JW have to many flaws. They don't want to admitted. They are arrogant as they walk on the street approaching people condescendingly so they can truly understand the way, but no body needs them. You have to make your decisions and read the Bible for yourself if that is what you want. The Bible is the true word and life giver, not Jehovah's Witnesses.
2016-05-23 08:00:23 · answer #4 · answered by maribel 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most Christians get along better than most Muslims. Even with those Cults that call themselves Christians, (Like Mormons and Jehovahs Witnesses, who are so far from any other Christian denomination that no others even consider them Christians) Even among those groups and other Christians you don't often see anyone getting killed.
I am non-denominational because I prefer to associate with all who are in the body of Christ.
2007-12-12 15:41:12 · answer #5 · answered by Thrice Blessed 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, let's see; the Sunni's seem to have a hard time staying alive, with the Shiites ( both Islamic "denominations" killing them at every chance. I don't see Christians bearing arms against one another or blowing each other up.
Does that answer you question?
Christianity, like other religions, is open to interpretation by a free people. We can't agree on how wide to build a highway, or who to elect president, so why would you think we would all agree on one denominations tenets of faith?
2007-12-12 15:35:09 · answer #6 · answered by seeitmiway32 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is true that Jehovah's Witnesses are not loved by everyone.
http://jw-media.org/newsroom/human_rights.htm
Some people hate Jehovah's Witnesses out of ignorance, or over some misunderstanding. A few may have had a bad personal experience with an individual who claimed to be a Jehovah's Witness, and prejudicially extended their animus to this entire Christian religion.
However, it seems that the majority of anti-Witness hatred is motivated by religious intolerance and bigotry. A few may even be motivated against their Christian worship by the unseen 'god of this system of things', Satan the Devil.
(2 Corinthians 4:4) the god of this system of things has blinded the minds of the unbelievers
Interestingly, such "hatred" should be expected by true Christians in this time of the end, and it actually helps identify Jehovah's Witnesses as Christ's true disciples:
(John 15:19) If you were part of the world, the world would be fond of what is its own. Now because you are no part of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, on this account the world hates you.
(Luke 6:22) Happy are you whenever men hate you, and whenever they exclude you and reproach you and cast out your name as wicked for the sake of the Son of man.
(1 Peter 4:4) Because you do not continue running with them in this course to the same low sink of debauchery, they are puzzled and go on speaking abusively of you.
(2 Timothy 4:3-5) For there will be a period of time when they will not put up with the healthful teaching, but, in accord with their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves to have their ears tickled; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, whereas they will be turned aside to false stories. You, though, keep your senses in all things, suffer evil, do the work of an evangelizer, fully accomplish your ministry.
It seems signficant that the relatively small religion of Jehovah's Witnesses are the ones best known for their worldwide preaching work. Yet Jesus commanded that ALL who would call themselves "Christian" perform this public work:
(Matthew 28:19,20) Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you. And, look! I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.
Learn more:
http://watchtower.co.uk/e/jt/index.htm
http://watchtower.co.uk/e/20030301/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.co.uk/e/20020401/article_01.htm
2007-12-12 20:52:37 · answer #7 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Orthodox Jews will commonly rip on their "less religious" counterparts in the conservative, reform, and other liberal movements of Judaism. Many Ultra Orthodox will not even consider them part of the Jewish community. Conversely, liberal Jews often look at the Orthodox and Ultra-Orthodox as crazy and outdated.
Also, Ashkenazic (European in origin) Jews and Sephardic (Middle Eastern in origin) often do not take each others traditions very seriously. More seriously Ashkenazic racism against Sephardim was and is prevelant in Israel and was once pretty prevelant among the immigrant waves of Jews to America at the begginning of the century.
In Brooklyn today, some would say Syrian and Sephardic Jews take an askance look at the ashkenazim of the area.
2007-12-12 15:37:01 · answer #8 · answered by Joseph W 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not all "Christians" are so critical. It is just the ones that make there believers so insecure they must go out and "get" other people who do not believe EXACTLY as they do. Main, fundamentalist Christians are like this.
I am Wiccan and have found other Wiccans and Pagans to be a loving and very accepting lot!
2007-12-12 15:33:44 · answer #9 · answered by Wolf's Mate 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ummm...Some Muslims kill each other over a difference that seems to be as small as how you hold your hands when you pray.
Some Neo-Pagans do alot of trash talking about other Neo-Pagans. (Recons, I'm looking at you, you smug historically precise so&sos. ;) )
Certain Satanists of differing kinds just loathe the sight of eachother. This must hurt, considering so few people of other faiths are happy to see either of them.
Christians do alot of talk'n smack about each other, but they are also more noticable because their are so many of them. I do not think they have the market cornered on infighting.
Foolishness is a part of the human condition.
2007-12-12 18:02:06 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋