5 Things They Get Wrong About Christianity
Christianity is a great faith that has been integral to America’s success and so perhaps those of us that are Christians should spend a bit more time tackling the misperceptions about our faith that are out there.
1) Christianity Requires Us To Hate People We Disagree With: Christians have been instructed to love the sinner and hate the sin, which is good because we’re all sinners. Christians also frequently have rules we are supposed to follow that we wouldn’t have necessarily come up with ourselves. For example, if I were writing the rules, I’d very selfishly make it morally acceptable to have sex outside of marriage. Nevertheless, sex outside of marriage is a sin regardless of how I may feel about it. Those are just the rules, but there are no rules that require Christians to hate people who disagree with them. Quite the opposite, in fact. Are there Christians who spew venom and hatred at people they disagree with morally anyway? Of course, because being Christian doesn’t transcend being human and we humans often tend to be petty, hateful creatures. At least Christianity as it should be practiced tries to get us to transcend our hateful tendencies.
2) Christians Are Anti-Science: I’ve never actually met a Christian in America or, for that matter, anyone I think is fair to call “anti-science.” However, I have met a great number of people who feel very comfortable disregarding scientific evidence when it conflicts with their ideological agenda, policy goals or self-interest. Percentage wise, people of that sort seem to be all over the map with regard to their religion, lack of religion or ideology. Sometimes, people like to claim Christians are anti-science if they disbelieve in evolution. This is quite silly seeing as how if evolution exists, that was merely the manner which God chose to create and change life. As a Christian, I see no scientific conclusions from Big Bang on down that potentially conflict with my faith. The vast majority of us see it the same way.
3) Christians Want A Theocracy: In my 47 years on this earth, I have yet to ever actually meet a Christian who wants a theocracy although I have met quite a few who’ve correctly complained that the 1st Amendment is being incorrectly interpreted to be much more hostile to religion than the Founders ever intended. The idea that devout Christians would like to overthrow our republic to replace it with…oh, I don’t know, the Pope, Franklin Graham and Joel Osteen is quite ridiculous. On the other hand, it is true that Christians do quite often advocate for policies they agree with and the rights they believe they have under the Constitution. Every other group in America does exactly the same thing; so I see no reason why Christians should be any different.
4) Christians Are Intolerant: American culture has grown extremely intolerant and ironically many of the least tolerant people are the ones screaming the loudest about other people’s supposed intolerance. If Christians are supposed to be intolerant, I guess I’d have to ask, “Compared to whom?” There are violent riots on college campuses to stop alternate viewpoints from being heard. People on the Left and Right habitually disregard all comments from people who disagree with them. Simply holding a conservative view is enough to cost you your job in Hollywood or a newsroom. The mildest disagreements can produce oceans of abuse on social media. Maybe at one point in American history when Christians were dominant, you could claim that we were intolerant, but if anything, far too many Christians are willing to shrug off or ignore insults, offensive policies and even blasphemy. Christians may be TOO TOLERANT in comparison to the rest of American culture.
5) Christians Are Hypocrites: It’s always a great scandal when someone who professes to be a Christian cheats on his wife, gets caught with a prostitute or otherwise sins. That’s fine as far as it goes. In fact, we’d likely be better off if Americans were more scandalized by the immoral behavior of prominent people, Christian or otherwise. However, there seems to be some sort of expectation that Christians will never do that sort of thing. Christians do not have such expectations. We know better. We know we’re weak; we’re fallible and broken creatures embracing Christianity in an effort to get well. We will NEVER reach our goal. We will never be perfect like Christ. However, a man who shoots at the stars and falls short may still reach the moon. We can’t be perfect, but we can be better. If this is hypocrisy, be glad of it. The alternative, where people refuse to condemn horrible behavior on the grounds that they may harbor a desire to do such a thing in the darkest corners of their heart would lead to an abominable society that none of us want to live in. https://townhall.com/columnists/johnhawkins/2018/02/17/5-things-they-get-wrong-about-christianity-n2450555
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I agree, that is not how Christianity is supposed to work. The proper Christian would not hate someone simply because they are sinful. The prime example here would be homosexuals. A homosexual (per the NT) is a sinner. Per the OT, a homosexual is put to death. You figure that out. But in principle, Christianity (NT) means viewing a homosexual as a sinner - and not one to be scorned or hated. Trouble is ... when a religion teaches that homosexuality is a sin, the end result is that homosexuals are scorned or hated. It is what it is.
Christians are very pro-science ... right up until a scientific finding contradicts a belief. Then you see the problem. The YEC's are a perfect example of people who are most definitely anti-science when science disagrees with their beliefs. No doubt about it.
Christians, for the most part, do not want a theocracy. What they want are laws that complement their faith. While not technically a theocracy, this is a far cry from a secular government. That is why there is push-back.
Well, just look at how some Christians react when someone does not conform to what they believe is correct behavior. Of course Christians are all over the map, so really we are speaking more about the fundamentalists. Most Christians, in my experience, are reasonably tolerant (they basically downplay their religious teachings).
Christians are human beings so of course they will be hypocritical. Happens all the time. The reason you see such a big deal being made is because Christians tend to hold themselves to a high moral standard. Thus they become obvious targets when they fail to hold to their own standards. Christians are indeed hypocrites (along with everyone else) so there is no denying that fact.
Well said.
I agree with almost everything you said except for the above line. They don't hold themselves to high moral standards because in their minds they've already achieved it, they are already going to heaven. They expect others, who are not part of their religion to hold themselves up to that Christian's believed moral standard.
Many (not all) Christians feel that they are already in "the club" and therefore can sit back and judge everyone else, without realizing that the standards by which they judge have gone past anything they have met themselves. After all, if just anybody could join "the club" then they wouldn't be special for being in that "club" already.
"And when everyone's super, no one will be." - Syndrome
I put it another way: They shape their "moral standard" as needed to achieve the political and social goals they have. There's no fixed point but that of getting something they want or getting rid of something they don't want.
I heard it all my life from Southern Baptists, "Once Saved Always Saved". Some of the worst mofos you would ever want to meet went through life causing pain and havoc to men women and children thinking they were off scottfree because they'd been saved.
Okay how about 'Christ posed rather high standards for his followers'. Nobody loves (or even can tolerate) everyone. Pure altruism is not something one typically finds in a human being.
So (now per my point) when a Christian violates (routinely) the idealized view of Christianity it is difficult to avoid the criticism of hypocrisy.
I have always been highly skeptical of groups like Evangelical Christians and the strength of their convictions. But given their staunch support of Donald Trump, the man who is essentially the antithesis of everything they claim to believe, I am now certain that they are a completely morally hollow group. For them the ends ALWAYS justify the means, and as such are devoid of any real moral foundation.
I have heard that saying, but there is much discussion that needs to be done.. A person can indeed be saved, but the Bible makes it clear that a person can also commit apostasy, which is turning their back on it and rejecting it. The way the Bible talks it seems like this is a very bad thing because its like you know the truth and then you willfully turn from it.
The other side of the argument would be like predestination, God already knows you are going to be saved long before you were even born. So in essence that person couldn't possibly fall from the grace of God.
I used to be scared myself because there are many times in my life I have fallen away with backsliding and just leaving God out of my life.. I worried about losing my salvation.. but a Pastor friend of mine told me, if you have that feeling that you are worried about losing your salvation, means you have not lost it. Someone who no longer cares, or isnt worried, those are the ones in danger but they can always come back around and get on track
I voted for Trump, but I dont condone him entirely. There are numerous issues I have with him but between him and Hillary it was a no brainer. America is a much better place having him in office than had we gotten Hillary.
Trump isnt a perfect person, and despite his flaws, he sincerely wants to make America great again and the things he is doing in office is making that happen. Is he the most moral person in office? Not even close, but him and I are the same with being sinful and making mistakes in life. I hate and love when I make mistakes because I know not what to do next time. I learn from the wrongs I do. I dont a perfect President.
Okay,
#1- Don't know that anyone has said that Christians are required to hate people they disagree with. But the Bible absolutely calls for harsh punishments or death for various infractions, one is being an infidel.
#2- Christianity throughout its history has been more or less accepting of scientific research and progress, right up until it directly contradicts what the religion teaches. Take the Heliocentric model of the solar system, or the Theory of Evolution. It took Christian institutions quite some time to admit that the Earth does in fact orbit the sun, the Catholic Church denied it for like 400 years. Nothing needs to be said about Christianity and evolution.
#3- Christianity calls for theocracy via the very fact that it advocates specific laws, and punishments for violating those laws, that people are to adhere to. In other words, government. A government based upon religious teachings and beliefs is a theocracy. Now most modern Christians do not directly advocate that their beliefs be enacted into law and imposed on the populace, but some do and many want laws that favor their religion. Hop on You Tube sometime, their rants are easy to find.
#4- Some Christians are intolerant, others aren't. Christian fundamentalists are intolerant of anything that does not conform to their view of the world, just like all religious fundamentalists. Most Christians, for the most part, are tolerant of differing views and beliefs.
#5- Everyone is a hypocrite to one degree or another. Some Christians are worse than most because of publicly and forcefully they support or condemn something, and then turn out to be doing the opposite. Best way to avoid being completely blasted for hypocrisy is to not gain a reputation based on a single issue.
Well, now you're putting science up against mythology and these people don't take kindly to having their myths challenged by knowledge. Time was you'd have been burned for this and I'm not sure that isn't still in the minds of some believers even now.
Oh trust me, I am 100% positive that if the Christians start writing their beliefs into law you and I will not be long for this world.
At least in the US and western Europe we're finally reaching the end of a very long reign of Christian theocracy. We still have a few blue laws here and a few anti-LGBT laws but most folks no longer tolerate such theocratic BS.
Why do you keep posting this garbage, c4p? You post reams of it in your holy roller group, and literally nobody but me ever comments on it, and my comments aren’t complimentary. So you bring it to the front page and get the same negative reaction. This is just internet pollution.
He can only work with what he has.
It's an abbreviation for morons that were corn-holed by failin' palin in 2008.
They were "husked" you might say.
They all volunteered.
I agree. A very good example are the bible-babbling Republicans in South Carolina who have filed a bill which seeks to label same-sex marriage (and presumably mixed-race marriage) as "Parody Marriage":
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More here:
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So this brings up the question of whether the GOP and Christianity should be labeled as hate groups. It should be noted that the national GOP platform contains similar anti-LGBT provisions, and Christianity itself has been predominantly misogynistic, racist and anti-LGBT since at least the era of Thomas Aquinas.
Unbelievable! And yet, unsurprising too.
So Christians can ignore the 10 Commandments, right? After all, those are OT.
Is that why so many Christians oppose same sex marriage or label gays as "abominations" or "hellbound?"
These kinds of Christians are fucking hilarious. They act like the Bible is God's word, and yet toss out the shit that they know is wrong like this morning's trash. It really is funny watching them try to reconcile the OT and the NT.
In a face palm, eye roll sort of way.
Why should non-believers, or anyone for that matter, simply accept something just because what you or some "holy book" says? Especially since certain claims is completely unsubstantiated?
Asking questions or challenging certain assertions is "trolling" now? Seems like you can't handle a challenge.
"Truth" requires facts to be considered truth. Not because of what you believe to be "truth." "Heart" has nothing to do with it. We're open MINDED to facts or evidence, which never seems to be presented. I doubt your mind is not open to the possibility that what you consider to be "truth" might be wrong!
All you seem to do is whine about it whenever someone challenges or questions religious assertions.
Of course, because when religious based BS is exposed for all to see, the only recourse in cowardly fashion is to lock a thread and start over somewhere else.
And you're wrong as usual, it's that simple!
Stop acting like you are. Who gives a flying Sht what Gordy has to say.. as if he knows what he is talking about, and as if what he says is even credible at all.
What a fine example of Christianity that is.
Dont hold me to the standard. I am a backsliden Christian right now that is on a warpath. Oh i will come back around eventually but right now I plan on tearing apart the crap that comes out of peoples mouths on here.
I dont really care what you have to say either, and could care less of what standard you try to hold me to.. Its not your place unless you a Christian that plans to rebuke a fellow Christians actions.
I would call that hypocrisy.
You're investing an awful lot of time and emotional energy into responding to comments you don't care about.
And you don't make the rules about who I rebuke
Just like people who dont believe in God spend 99 % of their time trying to prove hes not real LOL> I find that painstakingly funny.
And if I am being insulting then its because I no longer care about what happens to me, my account, or holding back how I feel about many people on here.
Liberalism , democratic has done way too much damage to this nation, and its about time to call it out for the evil that is is.
I've not seen anyone try to prove that your god isn't real. Logical people recognize that they can't prove a negative. Russell's teapot, and so forth.
I've seen several challenge you to prove that he is, and you've failed to come through every single time.
And surely you must realize that if you put yourself out there as a Christian, and hold that Christians are virtuous just because they're Christians, your behaviour when not virtuous reflects badly on both you and the religion you want everyone to believe makes you virtuous.
Is that like an extended vacation away from xtian values and devotion to jesus? The 10 commandments become suggestions?
Fighting logic and well-founded evidence with nonsense and emotion is not going to be an effective tactic for you.