The beef people have with Christianity

As a Christian, I have found many people that tell me, "Don't push your beliefs on me!" I find this to be pretty interesting, as according to my beliefs, it is imperative that I 'push' my beliefs on non-believers. I'm not a fire and brimstone type of guy, I just enjoy talking about religion and Christian or non-Christian theology in general. I do believe that it is my position as a Christian to at least tell other people the Good News. The problem with Christianity is that according to the Bible, the world was created by God (you know the story), Jesus died (you know that story too). Christianity basically has an answer for a bunch of life's questions. So I have this world view, right? I believe that I am going to heaven because JC died in repentance for the worlds sins. So, due to that belief, I subsequently believe that non-believers are going to hell. I don't think there are 'multiple paths' to heaven. Because of this, I think some people have a beef with Christianity.

Forgive my lack of coherency, I'm an undergrad

What do you guys think?

What you do in your heart, actions and thoughts make you a good person. My religious views are my own.

The trouble is twofold, firstly christians don't only push their views on others in the form of discussion, but they want to do it by force as well by legislating non-christians to adhere to primitive christain moral views. Secondly christians are hypocrits, when others who are equally obliged to spread thier views push them on christians, they don't like it.

[Scott]

It is an interesting situation where people have different religions and some have none and some of those religions order their followers to try to convert the others. This is more problematic and is intolerable to me at least when the way followers of any religion try to push their religion on others is by violence, coercion and via the force of government (i.e. theocracy). However, when people simply use their right to free speech to preach their religious views as an attempt to convert others or push their religion, that may be annoying and lead to personal non-violent beef, but I think the vast majority people from any religion or non-religion and I agree it needs to be tolerated. Similarly, one may or may not lose friends and become unpopular by doing it, but one is also free to non-violently preach to others in settings where one needs permission whether implicit or explicit to be there and be speaking if one such permission such as say at a dinner party or at the office.

While I bet you are right most people don't like being preached at by a follower of a religion in which one does not believe and this would cause beef, in the right situation (e.g. not in most professional or social settings) I actually like the opportunity to exercise my philosophical skills by discussing religion with someone who is interested in trying to covert others. But that's only if the person is genuinely willing to be rational, i.e. trying to actually come up with valid, rational arguments, reasons and evidence for me to believe what they say is true is true rather than just repeatedly and only commit a fallacy of ipse dixit (the bare assertion fallacy). This is why I would invite Jehovah's Witnesses in for a chat if they came knocking on my door; the fact they think they can convince me intrigues me, a enjoy a reasonable, civil philosophical discussion, and even if they did proof to me they are right than wouldn't that make me better off knowing the truth? But most people would have beef with these door knocking advertisers of a certain religion.

I do believe that it is my position as a Christian to at least tell other people the Good News.

You feel an obligation to witness. Christians, with the best of intentions, do take Luke 14:23 too much to heart: And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

There is arrogance in this attitude, an assumption of moral superiority, as well as a suspicion that those who do not accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior must be ignorant, that either they have not heard the word—for who could hear the good news and fail to accept it?—or that they have not understood properly its message of love and salvation.

The fact is that many good and intelligent people do not accept Christianity for a whole host of very good and well-considered reasons, even though (or because) they were exposed to it as children. Christians often deny that anyone has the right to a belief different from theirs. When Pope Pius IX published his Syllabus of Errors in 1864, error XV was Every man is free to embrace and profess that religion which, guided by the light of reason, he shall consider true.

You are free to think as you like and so am I. You are free to preach your views and I am free to close my ears. You are free to come to my door and I am free to tell you to go away. At that point good manners dictate that you should desist from your proselytizing. My salvation is not your business and you were mistaken to think it was.

So I have this world view, right? I believe that I am going to heaven because JC died in repentance for the worlds sins. So, due to that belief, I subsequently believe that non-believers are going to hell. I don't think there are 'multiple paths' to heaven. Because of this, I think some people have a beef with Christianity.

To generalize, the basic problem with you having your world view is that you are dogmatic about it. Dogmatic attitudes generally cause believers to overlook, disregard, or otherwise subordinate the common social responsibilites of mutual respect, tolerance, and acceptance of diversity in favor of a self-righteous belief that their dogmatic responsibilities toward non-believers override these social responsibilities. Overly -zealous Christians are a prime example, but I've seen this behavior in the actions or writings of scientists, atheists, politicians, anybody who has an agenda and loses objectivity about how their beliefs actually are situated amidst the rest of the world.

To us non-believers, then, I can only paraphrase a previous poster: my salvation is none of your business despite the fact that you think it is. Therefore your attempt is rude, even negligent, and in the long-term nothing but destructive.

As a Christian, I have found many people that tell me, "Don't push your beliefs on me!" I find this to be pretty interesting, as according to my beliefs, it is imperative that I 'push' my beliefs on non-believers. I'm not a fire and brimstone type of guy, I just enjoy talking about religion and Christian or non-Christian theology in general. I do believe that it is my position as a Christian to at least tell other people the Good News. The problem with Christianity is that according to the Bible, the world was created by God (you know the story), Jesus died (you know that story too). Christianity basically has an answer for a bunch of life's questions. So I have this world view, right? I believe that I am going to heaven because JC died in repentance for the worlds sins. So, due to that belief, I subsequently believe that non-believers are going to hell. I don't think there are 'multiple paths' to heaven. Because of this, I think some people have a beef with Christianity.

Forgive my lack of coherency, I'm an undergrad

What do you guys think?

The bible and Christianity is understood differently by many churches and people that claim the title. Let me ask you a question. How would you feel if someone from another belief persuasion approached you the same way you approach people you think are non Christian? Would you be offended? Receptive? I believe in God and Christ. I do not believe in a literal hell. (much research of scripture and word meanings, etc.) I believe people should live and let live. 1 Peter 3:15 says to be ready with an answer who asks of the hope that is in you. (not a quote) No one has the right to force what they think is right onto another human being. Live your life so that you attract the curiosity of people so they will ask you what you believe, then no one will have a beef!

The bible and Christianity is understood differently by many churches and people that claim the title. Let me ask you a question. How would you feel if someone from another belief persuasion approached you the same way you approach people you think are non Christian? Would you be offended? Receptive? I believe in God and Christ. I do not believe in a literal hell. (much research of scripture and word meanings, etc.) I believe people should live and let live. 1 Peter 3:15 says to be ready with an answer who asks of the hope that is in you. (not a quote) No one has the right to force what they think is right onto another human being. Live your life so that you attract the curiosity of people so they will ask you what you believe, then no one will have a beef!

Isn't that just part of human life and natural, healthy discourse?

Prismatic,

It is in a believers system and a part of their duty to try and convert people to believing in Jesus. They cannot change this anymore than the sun can stop shinning. To that effect, I have written a book for that very purpose (proselytizing), but I haven't ever attempted to force my beliefs upon anyone; I understand how aggravating and annoying that must be... If someone is not interested in the good news then that's their choice.

I think that alot of people dislike the dogmatic aspect of Christianity, but I believe that dogmatism plays a part in everyones lives, all that changes is what we are dogmatic about, and how we express the dogmatism.

I don't think that Christians are more moral than other people (non-believers), but I do believe that trying to be a good Christian, does point the direction of a person's moral compass to "good" as it were. I think that it is a useful aspect of Christianity, that it has the ability to make people "more moral or moral," so to speak.

It is in a believers system and a part of their duty to try and convert people to believing in Jesus. They cannot change this anymore than the sun can stop shinning.

Indeed, but once the intended victim of their conversion attempts has demurred, they need to cease and desist and allow him the complete freedom of conscience to which he is entitled.

I think that it is a useful aspect of Christianity, that it has the ability to make people "more moral or moral," so to speak.

That is certainly one side of the coin. I do not question that Christianity has the ability to make people better—in fact I know many examples of that—but there is no guarantee it will and it also has the ability to make people worse, to make them cruel and unkind to those of other faiths. I know many examples of that as well and I'm sure you do too. The fundamentalist versions give people an erroneous view of the world and science. Most often Christianity leaves people simply unchanged in character, unimproved in any degree. I'll be glad to give examples if you need them.

The bible and Christianity is understood differently by many churches and people that claim the title. Let me ask you a question. How would you feel if someone from another belief persuasion approached you the same way you approach people you think are non Christian? Would you be offended? Receptive? I believe in God and Christ. I do not believe in a literal hell. (much research of scripture and word meanings, etc.) I believe people should live and let live. 1 Peter 3:15 says to be ready with an answer who asks of the hope that is in you. (not a quote) No one has the right to force what they think is right onto another human being. Live your life so that you attract the curiosity of people so they will ask you what you believe, then no one will have a beef!

Isn't that just part of human life and natural, healthy discourse?

I am not sure what you mean in reference to the question I asked OP.

Indeed, but once the intended victim of their conversion attempts has demurred, they need to cease and desist and allow him the complete freedom of conscience to which he is entitled.

Agreed.

That is certainly one side of the coin. I do not question that Christianity has the ability to make people better—in fact I know many examples of that—but there is no guarantee it will and it also has the ability to make people worse, to make them cruel and unkind to those of other faiths. I know many examples of that as well and I'm sure you do too. The fundamentalist versions give people an erroneous view of the world and science. Most often Christianity leaves people simply unchanged in character, unimproved in any degree. I'll be glad to give examples if you need them.

Agreed, there's no need for you to give examples. I think that Christians, to avoid becoming closed mindedly dogmatic, need to have tolerance of other people's beliefs, and use reason and logic as well as faith in their belief.

I believe in God and Christ. I do not believe in a literal hell. (much research of scripture and word meanings, etc.)

What type of Hell do you think the Bible describes?

#Samcow167,

It was not too long ago in evolutionary time that human beings were beastly and still have the beast-part (reptillian) of the brain in them. As such human beings are still predominantly controlled by their instincts. One of this instinct is the primordial fear of inevitable death which generate terrible anxieties and existential angsts.

One of the ways to soothe the psychological angsts is to believe in a god that promise eternal life after physical death, thus immortality to counter existing mortality.

If one were to find real true potential treasures like a goldmine in an exploration, it is unlikely that any of majority of human beings would tell others or shout to the world of their finds and location of the potential gold.

However, where one consciously believed one has found 'potential' gold-mine with its hope of eternal happiness , but in fact are false gold (false gold = iron pyrite), their subconsciousness mind will try to cover the falseness so as not to dissipate those hopes. This analogy is applicable to a belief in god and its promise of salvation, heaven and eternal life which are all infact lies.

Often theists has low self-esteem and the only way to reinforce their 'true' (subconscious intuitively sensed as false) beliefs is to convince others to believe what they think is 'true'. The points is, despite that it is a lie, 'belief in a god that promise salvation' do work for the majority of people with a standard/generic evolved state. This is the same evolved state that made the majority vulnerable to con-jobs, scams, snake-oil and other bullsxxxs. The most efficient way to reinforce a lie as 'truth' is to get as many people to believe in it - power of majority.

I think it is inevitable that the majority of human being in this phase of evolution need faith in a god that promises eternal life (lies and delusion) to soothe their psychological angsts and existential anxieties. Other humans also rely on delusions and lies to get on with other aspects of their life. note sexual fantasies, imagined friends of children, MPD, etc.

I have no issue if the above is restricted to their private life and done in the closet. The beef with Abrahamic religions (Christians and Muslims) is they imposed their beliefs on others and selfishly step on others to ensure their own eternal survival, i.e. to the extent of killing non-belief to reinforce their lies as truth-by-majority. The Abrahamic religionists hinder the average progress of mankind, note creationism and all sort of reversion to barbaric cultures.

I think the maxim, 'to change others/the world, one must change first'. As such one must understand (know thyself) the basics and what is going inside one's brain and psyche so as to understand why they are so driven (subsconsciously) to proselytize their beliefs (proven lies).

Those who are humanly matured with high self-esteem (Maslow's self-actualized) do not go about pestering (or convincingly) others as they do not have any false beliefs or any insecurities to worry (subsconsciously) about.

I believe in God and Christ. I do not believe in a literal hell. (much research of scripture and word meanings, etc.)

What type of Hell do you think the Bible describes?

I believe in a loving God, so anything inconsistent with that is misunderstood context. I also do not think the bible
was necessarily meant to be combined together, as there are many books over a long period of time. I think there
has been human mistakes and additions and subtractions. If there is a place bad people are sent in an afterlife I
think it would be a place of correction. Only God knows all the reasons each individual is the way they are. I also
don't think a loving God would make some of his children in charge over the life/death of another. If mankind knows
how to give good gifts to his children wouldn't God do better? If you had 10 (any number) children, would you tell the
oldest a secret that held life and death over all your children and hope that child tells the others? Would you throw a
book onto earth and expect it to be read and understood by all when most of the world's people cannot read nor has
the freedom to live their lives the way they would like?
tentmaker.org has many articles about the hell concept and are excellent.