Common Misconceptions (salvation, evolution, creation, hell, America)

[No*s]

Orthodoxy:

Orthodoxy is a form of Roman Catholicism. -- In all actuality, we have some very real differences. To some Orthodox the RCC and the Protestants actually look more similar.

Orthodoxy doesn't actively persue missions -- We have always translated the Bible into the languages of the people, and brought it to them. Most missionary efforts have been hampered by little things like Islamic conquest and Communist revolutions.

Orthodox Christians aren't supposed to read the Bible -- Jus the opposite is encouraged.

Orthodox Christians worship Mary and images -- We do no such thing.

The Emperor Constantine restructured the Church into a pagan structure and destroyed any view that opposed the Trinity, thus creating the Orthodox (or RCC if the person is talking to them) -- In reality, Constantine did not, and could not, do any such thing. He didn't have the power as a post-revolutionary, and the Church had just undergone a major persecution, so they had stood by and been maimed, but acquiesced to Constantine? Ludicrous. Further, Constantine's son Constantius actively sought to undo much of Nicea and other Councils. It wasn't until 381 until anything remotely similar to the conditions required by the argument could exist.

Jehovah's Witnesses

JWs believe that if you have a blood transfusion, you will go to Hell. -- That's very hard for a religion that doesn't believe in Hell.

Roman Catholic Church:

Roman Catholics opposed the translation of the Bible into the language of the common man. -- That is patently false. They have a history of translating the Bible even after the schism. It was only some translations that they were opposed to (those from schismatic groups in particular).

The Council of Trent forbade the reading of the Bible -- Nothing of the sort happened, and nobody can ever produce proof (and the same is true of numerous other conceptions).

Catholics pray the Rosary and hail Mary to be forgiven -- Nothing of the sort happens.

Neo-Pagans

Neo-pagans deliberately worship the devil. -- Nope. They do have a "Horned God" that I suspect is of Celtic origins, but they don't worship the devil

Christianity in general:

Christianity is not ancient. -- This is more an attitude than a misconception. Christianity is 2000 years old, and at its inception still considered a part of Judaism and even co-worshipped with the Jews, which brings it back to Abraham.

[Scuba Pete]

NetDoc's Top Ten Misconceptions by the religious right.

10) We are right... YOU are not.

9) Women should be seen but not heard.

8) We have the only authorized interpretation of the Bible.

7) God hates Gay people. (Sure he died on the cross for them too, but that's besides the point. After all they are icky.)

6) God is a Republican.

5) Satan is a Democrat.

4) God wants us to be bigoted.

3) God helps those who are rich already.

2) God makes as little sense as we do.

1) Oh yeah, we are right... YOU are not. Deal with it.

[Albino]

Lots of great info here. Thanks everyone, keep it up

[painted wolf]

hmm...

1) native americans arn't around anymore
2) ok, so thier around but only on reservations
3) ok so thier everywhere but they don't follow thier religions, they are extinct
4) ok, but thier not realy practicing thier religion, they are just pretending
5)they don't really have a 'religion' anyway. Its all just a bunch of superstisions and mumbo-jumbo
6) insert just about anything from a book on 'native wisdom/spirituality' in the new age section of the book store.

wa:do

[linwood]

The Council of Trent forbade the reading of the Bible -- Nothing of the sort happened, and nobody can ever produce proof (and the same is true of numerous other conceptions).

Are you saying the Bible was never on the Prohibited Books List published by the Catholic Church or just that it wasn`t put there by the council of Trent?

[robtex]

Albino maybe it would help to look into the jihad. I don't know know alot about it except it has to do with an enternal personal struggle instead of a religious war involving death. It is an islamic religious thing.

Also, as pointed out here Anton Lavey's version of Satanism doesn't worship a red fella with horns. He was an atheist and the church he set up was a play-on-words on Christanity.

[ayani]

painted wolf-

unfortunately, not much in the media these days does anything to dispel those myths. many people are too eager to suck up what gets written by "plastic medicine men" for a mass-market. sorry, but reading a couple books written by someone calling themselves "suzanna butterfly rain" does not make you an expert on indigenous traditions or people...

[DeepShadow]

Found this one here on this site, unfortunately. It would have been off-topic to correct the poster there, so I may have to start a thread to pull in all these and correct them.

"A cult is a selective group associated in one area. Like Mormons, they are considered a cult, because their religion is only in America and states that only America is holy."

First, our religion is not only in America. At last report, worldwide membership had nearly reached 12.3 million members at the end of 2004. U.S. membership is around 5.5 million, according to the 2005 Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches, making it the fourth-largest denomination in the United States. You do the math.

http://www.lds.org/library/display/0...3019-1,00.html

Second, we do not believe that only America is holy. We believe that Christ came to America after his resurrection and ascention in the Old World.

Whether we are considered a cult...that depends on who you ask, obviously.

[Majikthise]

Atheists are not devil worshippers.We don't even believe the devil exists.

Atheism is not a religion as all we really have in common is the belief that god and religion were created by men.

All atheists do not love coffee.(yuck)

All atheists do not read Aynn Rand(did I spell that right?).

Religion is not required to have morals and ethics.