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

[lilithu]

Namaste Yall! I am helping to develop a workshop aimed at fostering greater understanding and respect between people of different faiths in the workplace. This issue is very important to me and I would like to do the best job I can. And I could use your help. My question to you is: what in your experience, are the most common and/or most harmful misconceptions about Christianity that you've encountered from non-Christians? Or from Christians of other denominations? Your responses will help me to focus the workshop more effectively.

Thanks!
-lilith

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by lilithu

Namaste Yall! I am helping to develop a workshop aimed at fostering greater understanding and respect between people of different faiths in the workplace. This issue is very important to me and I would like to do the best job I can. And I could use your help. My question to you is: what in your experience, are the most common and/or most harmful misconceptions about Christianity that you've encountered from non-Christians? Or from Christians of other denominations? Your responses will help me to focus the workshop more effectively.

Thanks!
-lilith

In terms of misconceptions about my denomination from Christians of other denominations, it would definitely be that I'm not a Christian at all. It's harmful because it's hurtful. It divides Christians when we start trying to say, "I'm a Christian but you're not." How many Jews do that to one another? Do Orthodox Jews say to Conservative Jews, "You're not a real Jew."? Maybe, but I kind of doubt it.

Furthermore, there are more misconceptions about what Mormons actually believe and practice than I can even begin to count. And they are primarily misconceptions that people insist upon perpetrating no matter how many times they are corrected.

[nutshell]

^^^Ditto to Katzpur. Most of the stuff out there about Mormons is just plain wrong. Prime example: "Godmakers." This book and movie is full of lies and has even been opposed by scholarly non-Mormons that recognize its obvious contempt for the LDS Ch

[Victor]

Originally Posted by lilithu

Namaste Yall! I am helping to develop a workshop aimed at fostering greater understanding and respect between people of different faiths in the workplace. This issue is very important to me and I would like to do the best job I can. And I could use your help. My question to you is: what in your experience, are the most common and/or most harmful misconceptions about Christianity that you've encountered from non-Christians? Or from Christians of other denominations? Your responses will help me to focus the workshop more effectively.

Thanks!
-lilith

The greatest misconception is that people (atheist and theist) try to form God in their own liking. Huge problem. Will you embrace God if you found out that he does in fact strike people dead? Or that he doesn't like something you are so attached to?

I don't think many people do. Many people go where ever their cup of filled. Fuzzy feelings surpasses truth.

Will you embrace truth whether you like what you find or not?

For many, I think the answer is no.

Hope that helps.
Peace
~Victor

[Snowbear]

Originally Posted by lilithu

...what in your experience, are the most common and/or most harmful misconceptions about Christianity that you've encountered from non-Christians?...

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 .

[lilithu]

Namaste Yall, thanks for your responses!

Katzpur and nutshell, unfortunately, I will not have time to specifically address LDS since it's a world religions class and Christianity is only one of seven religions I will be talking about in the course of three hours. However, since you bring it up and since I know this has been an issue with Catholics too, I think I will make the time to talk generally about how some Christians acuse other Christians of not being Christian and how hurtful that is to the people and also to the Christian faith in general.

Victor and Stewpidloser, I think you both raise legitimate concerns but unfortunately they fall beyond the scope of this workshop. My intent is to foster greater understanding and respect between people of different religions, whom one might meet in the workplace. We will not be addressing atheism, nor advocating any "correct" way to look at God. But thanks tho!

-lilith

[Scott1]

Originally Posted by lilithu

My question to you is: what in your experience, are the most common and/or most harmful misconceptions about Christianity that you've encountered from non-Christians? Or from Christians of other denominations? Your responses will help me to focus the workshop more effectively.

For me it has been from other Christians who view the Papacy as the source of our faith, and not Christ.

Other than that, I've had no problems... I am a member of a Baptist bible study and a Mormon BOM study group... they accept my interest in their groups (both view me as non-Christian/non-saved etc...) as an attempt to learn and grow personally without having doubt about my faith... we all get along fine.

God bless you and best of "luck" on your workshop!

[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.

[Scott1]

Originally Posted by lilithu

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.

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