common misconceptions about Christianity (hell, experience, atheist, LDS, pray)

[Bennettresearch]

Originally Posted by lilithu

Thanks Scott.

So no one here has run into misconceptions about Christianity in general from non-Christians? I couldn't think of any either and almost decided to skip this part (common misconceptions) when it came to Christianity. In contrast, there are many misconceptions about Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism... I guess this is the benefit of living in a mostly Christian society.

Hi Lil,

Actually this is a tough post to answer. Unless someone has had someone else in their face, they are hard pressed to come up with examples. I am Christian and have experience the intolerance of other Christian, those who have strong demoninational ties, and found it to be puzzling. Even though i can't quote Jesus directly on this, I have come to believe that Christians are supposed to practice tolerance of other religions. Keeping the debate friendly so to speak. I do have a funny anecdote however.

I was working as an auto tech on comission and business was slow. So I said one day that I was going to go home and pray to the money God for more business. This brought on a very viscious attack from this guy from Lebanon who was Christian. I don't know for sure but I think that he was Catholic. Anyway, talk about being over sensitive and lacking any humor, this guy takes the cake.

[Bennettresearch]

Originally Posted by StewpidLoser

I apparently haven't been a Christian long enough to experience any harmful misconceptions in the workplace. On this board however, it's the folks who assume that because I'm a Christian, I cannot think for myself. They call it "blind faith." Even when I was convincing and educating myself that there is no God.... especially a "personal" God who cares about a pathetic selfish loser like me, I saw evidence of Him. To me, my faith is far from blind. Answered prayer (including the "No" answers ) and the evidence of God's existence that I see every day only serve to confirm His existence and the reason for my faith.

At work, what offends me is folks using God's name as various expletives .

Hi Stew,

Good point about the no answers. We all must have enough humility to acknowledge when we may have been mistaken. Religion cannot satisfy all of one's wants and desires because we humans over-reach sometimes. This is from a perspective of the Spirit and not from religious institutions.

[lilithu]

Originally Posted by Scott1

Benefit? No.... but you are right... I don't have occasion to interact with many non-Christians... there just are not a lot of them in the circles I travel...

There are always benefits to being in the majority. Christians have the "luxury" of being able to choose whether or not to interact with people outside their faith (and deal with ignorance about their faith). A Muslim or a Hindu (for examples) living in the U.S. does not have that choice. Of course, this is nothing inherent about Christianity. For Christians living in India or Turkey, Hindus and Muslims have that benefit respectively and Christians there are probably much more aware of misconceptions that they would have to defend themselves against on a regular basis. And I'm sure you've experienced some of this yourself being Catholic in a mostly Protestant country.

Originally Posted by Scott1

might be something I attempt to change in the future.. thanks!

As always Scott, you are a great ambassador for your faith.

[Scott1]

Originally Posted by lilithu

And I'm sure you've experienced some of this yourself being Catholic in a mostly Protestant country.

Yep... but also my time in Africa showed me that (in my experience) non-Christians tend not to prostletize as much.

[michel]

Lilith, Namaste,


I am a 'New Boy' in Christianity (although I have always loved Christ and believed in trying to follow his example) - which I would have thought meant I have been a Christian all along.

I must admit to feeling somewhat baffled by the rows and rows of different 'brands' of Christianity. To me, they seem sad and rather picky (though I want to upset no one by saying that). I guess I must be a 'loose' Christian, if there is such a thing.

I feel most upset by the fact that LDS people are made to feel unwanted; heck, this is a religion of Love and compassion, and healing..........

There are other problems too; the ones about telling people that they will burn forever in hell if they don't do that and the other; I can't be doing with that. It is God's place to judge, not mine. And I am not prepared to be part of a press gang with a loud hailer.

I am saddened by the feeling that I need to justify my religion to others - and have decided that I don't actually need to. I have Faith and that is enough for me; all I want to do is to help foster peace and love - and if I can heal people along the way, then please God use me as a go-between to help that along. I have absolutely no problem with what other people believe in; why should I even do so?

It feels almost as if I should be standing (or sitting) here, saying "I can't take all this aggravation, pomp, following rules......." - I'll go back to what I was before declaring myself a Christian. Then I realize I was a Christian anyway.

Sorry, I bet you didn't bargain on having such a muddle-headed reply from a square peg in a round hole...........

[lilithu]

Originally Posted by Bennettresearch

Hi Lil,

Actually this is a tough post to answer. Unless someone has had someone else in their face, they are hard pressed to come up with examples. I am Christian and have experience the intolerance of other Christian, those who have strong demoninational ties, and found it to be puzzling. Even though i can't quote Jesus directly on this, I have come to believe that Christians are supposed to practice tolerance of other religions. Keeping the debate friendly so to speak.

I can't think of a direct quote either, but I know this much: Jesus said "love thy neighbor" and when he was asked who our neighbors were, he didn't answer "the people who look and believe the same as you do." Instead he gave the parable of the good Samaritan, a man from Samaria who helped a Jew in need even tho these peoples were traditionally hostile towards each other.

Originally Posted by Bennettresearch

I do have a funny anecdote however.

I was working as an auto tech on comission and business was slow. So I said one day that I was going to go home and pray to the money God for more business. This brought on a very viscious attack from this guy from Lebanon who was Christian. I don't know for sure but I think that he was Catholic. Anyway, talk about being over sensitive and lacking any humor, this guy takes the cake.

lol! what a shame. well I guess he would not appreciate my regular, albeit unintentional, sacrifices to the cheese gods. (see my RF webpage if you don't understand). If we can't have a sense of humour about religion then we are all doomed.

[Snowbear]

Originally Posted by lilithu

So no one here has run into misconceptions about Christianity in general from non-Christians?

How about the assumption that Christian faith is blind?
How about the assumption that "Love your neighbor" and "turn the other cheek" means Christians don't (or won't) defend themselves from attack or won't go to war? (I realize a few won't, but as a generalization, it's not true).

[lilithu]

Originally Posted by StewpidLoser

How about the assumption that Christian faith is blind?

While I share your frustrations here, this is not an assumption that is specific to the Christian faith. This is an assumption made against people of all faiths. You may hear it made against Christians more but that's because our society is mostly Christian. Trust me, the guys who say that you're blind do not think that the Hindus are seeing much more clearly.

Originally Posted by StewpidLoser

How about the assumption that "Love your neighbor" and "turn the other cheek" means Christians don't (or won't) defend themselves from attack or won't go to war? (I realize a few won't, but as a generalization, it's not true).

Umm... how many people do you know really have the misconception that Christians will not go to war?

[Terrywoodenpic]

When I was making the Alter for my Church . It was my Sikh dentist who was the only person who asked to contribute. Obviously Sikh's have no problem with Christians. Or with our faith.

Terry
_____________________
Amen! Truly I say to you: Gather in my name. I am with you.