Backbiting and religious hypocrisy

[Epic Beard Man]

I was going to begin to ask the Christian members here why do Christians at least the ones here in the United States want to judge others on their religious faith (or their irreligious beliefs) yet many continuously do the one thing that is against their faith:backbiting. Although I believe I know the answer, the problem always continues to perplex me. I guess this thought stems from a lady I work with who because I'm not the very happy conversationalist and because I am at times stern and very much to the point (you have to be considering that I don't really have much time to gossip at work like others), she gossips about me "looking and acting mean." Of course others who truly know me defend me against her, but the idea of this is funny considering when I need to get patient information from her she is always listening to gospel music and discussing topics about "tha lawd" yet she continues to do the very thing that is against her religious faith which is talking negatively behind someone's back. Now the part I gave you guys when she referred to me as mean was PG-13 version, but I wonder if backbiting is something that is against one's faith why continue to do it yet exclaim a devotion to God while judging others yet continuously break your own religious rules?

When I challenge this to other Christians it seems that being human is the culprit, but I don't understand how something that is easily fixable like not opening your mouth negatively against another person is somehow human nature. I just find it hypocritical.

Thoughts?

 

[Enoch07]

When I challenge this to other Christians it seems that being human is the culprit, but I don't understand how something that is easily fixable like not opening your mouth negatively against another person is somehow human nature. I just find it hypocritical.

Thoughts?

Well you just proved the point about it being human nature. You are not a Christian and yet here you are talking about her behind her back. Albeit you've done it with more civilized language.

As far as someone breaking rules. That's human nature as well. You are not Christian and you break rules as well. Nobody's perfect.

 

[pearl]

I guess this thought stems from a lady I work with who because I'm not the very happy conversationalist and because I am at times stern and very much to the point (you have to be considering that I don't really have much time to gossip at work like others), she gossips about me "looking and acting mean."

The commandment You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor, forbids misrepresenting the truth in our relations with others including gossip. This moral prescription flows from the vocation of the holy people to bear witness to their God who is the truth and wills the truth. Offenses against the truth express by word or deed a refusal to commit oneself to moral uprightness: they are fundamental infidelities to God and, in this sense, they undermine the foundations of the covenant.

 

[A Vestigial Mote]

There's quite a bit going on in someone who does these things, I feel. They at once realize there are no real rules, and so do not really care, and also ascribe "good" to their own actions because they feel they are doing "right" by being religious, or always talking about God. In essence, they can "do no wrong" in their own minds, because they are being "a good Christian" in some ways, but while fundamentally (perhaps even subconsciously) understanding that there simply are no real rules. No one is going to come knocking on their door and punishing them for talking about people, and she obviously gets some amount of enjoyment out of it.

I honestly feel that, in all ways, people just need to be called out on their BS a lot more often, and without prejudice. Honestly, if people had more experience being called to task for dumb stuff they do, then they would have more experience accepting, internalizing and moving forward with or without changes. It wouldn't be a big deal. As it stands we live in a society where telling anyone anything negative about themselves is basically a taboo. It makes us nearly useless to one another, honestly. Just think about your "best friend" and what they are able to tell you. Actual, valuable information. Now think about what a stranger you meet face-to-face is going to feel able to tell you. Garbage is about the extent of it. "How are you liking this weather?"

And I, for one, do not feel that you are "talking behind her back" at all, because this is all completely anonymous. Her "back" is nowhere in the equation. None of us know who she is, nor who you really are. And so this is more just a relay of information and the telling of a story. There are literally no consequences that will get back to that woman or even anyone she knows unless you reveal her identity, or are talking to people who you both know and can decipher who she is. In my opinion, this doesn't count. For all I know, the woman may not even exist, and this really is a story. Makes it completely different than what @Enoch07 seems to think is going on.

 

[usfan]

It is obvious:

Only Christians have human failings, and are all hypocrites, because they cannot live up to the standards they raise.

It would be better to lower the standards, so that everyone could meet them, and not present such lofty expectations.

 

[leov]

I was going to begin to ask the Christian members here why do Christians at least the ones here in the United States want to judge others on their religious faith (or their irreligious beliefs) yet many continuously do the one thing that is against their faith:backbiting. Although I believe I know the answer, the problem always continues to perplex me. I guess this thought stems from a lady I work with who because I'm not the very happy conversationalist and because I am at times stern and very much to the point (you have to be considering that I don't really have much time to gossip at work like others), she gossips about me "looking and acting mean." Of course others who truly know me defend me against her, but the idea of this is funny considering when I need to get patient information from her she is always listening to gospel music and discussing topics about "tha lawd" yet she continues to do the very thing that is against her religious faith which is talking negatively behind someone's back. Now the part I gave you guys when she referred to me as mean was PG-13 version, but I wonder if backbiting is something that is against one's faith why continue to do it yet exclaim a devotion to God while judging others yet continuously break your own religious rules?

When I challenge this to other Christians it seems that being human is the culprit, but I don't understand how something that is easily fixable like not opening your mouth negatively against another person is somehow human nature. I just find it hypocritical.

Thoughts?

Being Christian is rather working on yourself within inner means , it is not making world better by working on others.

 

[shmogie]

I was going to begin to ask the Christian members here why do Christians at least the ones here in the United States want to judge others on their religious faith (or their irreligious beliefs) yet many continuously do the one thing that is against their faith:backbiting. Although I believe I know the answer, the problem always continues to perplex me. I guess this thought stems from a lady I work with who because I'm not the very happy conversationalist and because I am at times stern and very much to the point (you have to be considering that I don't really have much time to gossip at work like others), she gossips about me "looking and acting mean." Of course others who truly know me defend me against her, but the idea of this is funny considering when I need to get patient information from her she is always listening to gospel music and discussing topics about "tha lawd" yet she continues to do the very thing that is against her religious faith which is talking negatively behind someone's back. Now the part I gave you guys when she referred to me as mean was PG-13 version, but I wonder if backbiting is something that is against one's faith why continue to do it yet exclaim a devotion to God while judging others yet continuously break your own religious rules?

When I challenge this to other Christians it seems that being human is the culprit, but I don't understand how something that is easily fixable like not opening your mouth negatively against another person is somehow human nature. I just find it hypocritical.

Thoughts?

I would caution against your judging of tens of millions based upon your personal experiences. That sort of puts you into the same boat as your co worker.

One cannot judge the teachings of Christ by those who say they follow them. You will find shortcomings every time.

Christianity is about an individuals relationship to God. It is not about what we perceive as another's relationship to God.

I know from bitter experience how hard and narrow the path is, I daily say and do things I regret, knowing they are not how I am supposed to be. I can only continue to try and overcome.

If my salvation were based upon my behavior, I would throw in the towel.

As to your co worker, based upon your narrative, she seems not to be what she says she is. I use the word seems, because I cannot and will not judge anyone's relationship with God.

Christ addressed the problem you are having. He said there are two paths people can take in following Him. One is narrow and rocky and difficult to stay on. The other is wide and oh so very easy to walk, you can talk the talk, but don't have to walk the walk. He says those on the wide easy path will in the end be sorely disappointed.

 

[A Vestigial Mote]

It is obvious:

Only Christians have human failings, and are all hypocrites, because they cannot live up to the standards they raise.

It would be better to lower the standards, so that everyone could meet them, and not present such lofty expectations.

Of course, the reality is that those who subscribe to an intentional, dictated worldview (like Christianity most certainly does by holding forth The Bible plus denomination-specific addenda as the "standard" of ethics and moral direction) are very easily at risk of exposing themselves as hypocrites. You actually have a moral code by which you are supposed to live - so your breaking it is entirely obvious.

An atheist however, has a much more subtle and nuanced moral code. Much of it will be unique to himself/herself, and therefore unknown to others. And so it becomes much, much harder for anyone to even discern whether or not an atheist is being hypocritical with any of his/her actions. You would first have to know the atheist's position on the topic at hand to know whether or not his/her actions were even in violation of any of their principles.

Just about everybody knows what Christians are supposed to be doing (many times even better than Christians seem to know themselves), but just about nobody can know what any specific atheist is "supposed" to be doing.

 

[usfan]

Just about everybody knows what Christians are supposed to be doing (many times even better than Christians seem to know themselves), but just about nobody can know what any specific atheists is "supposed" to be doing.

..that makes Christians an easy target..

Amoralists, or relativists can tweak their moral standards to fit their behavior.. a much easier process!

“Making fun of born-again Christians is like hunting dairy cows with a high powered rifle and scope.” ~P.J. O'Rourke

 

[sun rise]

When I challenge this to other Christians it seems that being human is the culprit, but I don't understand how something that is easily fixable like not opening your mouth negatively against another person is somehow human nature. I just find it hypocritical.

I would define hypocrisy as having pretense - pretending to be something one is not. If someone has a higher standard, fails to live up to it and admits the failure, I would not call it pure hypocrisy.

To me, there's a difference between saying "I don't gossip" and "I know I should not gossip but I sometimes fail to live up to that ideal".

I daily say and do things I regret, knowing they are not how I am supposed to be. I can only continue to try and overcome.

That is what I mean.

 

[usfan]

As to your co worker, based upon your narrative, she seems not to be what she says she is. I use the word seems, because I cannot and will not judge anyone's relationship with God.

Also, there is always another side. And in my experience, open Christians are easy targets of shaming and ridicule.

Human beings miss the mark. That is part of the gospel message.

There is also redemption, for those who will receive it.. one does not have to achieve perfection, first.. thankfully.

 

[usfan]

Being Christian is rather working on yourself within inner means , it is not making world better by working on others.

Exactly. The latter is Progressivism, with a religious hijack..

 

[A Vestigial Mote]

..that makes Christians an easy target..

Amoralists, or relativists can tweak their moral standards to fit their behavior.. a much easier process!

“Making fun of born-again Christians is like hunting dairy cows with a high powered rifle and scope.” ~P.J. O'Rourke

I would imagine that does happen. People justifying their actions to themselves, and letting that justification shape the future forming of their principles. Almost like habit-forming.

Although, I would contend that everyone does this to an extent. It's how some religious leaders become power hungry, or start trying to control their "flock" a bit more each day, or first use their position to take advantage of some poor child. There is even blatant evidence that some religious/cult-ish leaders have produced their own religious propaganda that informs their followers what God thinks or allows, while ameliorating the more sordid bits of what they have added onto God, so that it doesn't seem to so starkly contrast with The Bible - where the original direction was supposed to have come from.

Try reading up on "The Children of God" group, started by David Berg in 1968. You'll see exactly what I mean.

 

[Revoltingest]

I've known Christians who are hypocrites, & Christians who aren't.
As a group, they'll never be perfect until robots are programmed
to be Christians.

 

[80s fashion girl]

They (the back-biting, hypocritical Christians) obviously have not read (most likely), or if have read, have not taken seriously the following scriptures (also not preached in most churches):

1 John 3:7-10 Little children let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.

He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

Whoever has been born of God dos not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.

In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.

 

[viole]

Also, there is always another side. And in my experience, open Christians are easy targets of shaming and ridicule.

Well, we all know what the best antidote against ridicule is.

Ciao

- fiole

 

[metis]

I was going to begin to ask the Christian members here why do Christians at least the ones here in the United States want to judge others on their religious faith (or their irreligious beliefs) yet many continuously do the one thing that is against their faith:backbiting.

Catholicism basically forbids this, and in over 50 years of hearing homilies (sermons), there was not one incident whereas another denomination or religion was criticized. However, this certainly wasn't the case in the fundamentalist Protestant church I grew up in.

 

[sooda]

I was going to begin to ask the Christian members here why do Christians at least the ones here in the United States want to judge others on their religious faith (or their irreligious beliefs) yet many continuously do the one thing that is against their faith:backbiting. Although I believe I know the answer, the problem always continues to perplex me. I guess this thought stems from a lady I work with who because I'm not the very happy conversationalist and because I am at times stern and very much to the point (you have to be considering that I don't really have much time to gossip at work like others), she gossips about me "looking and acting mean." Of course others who truly know me defend me against her, but the idea of this is funny considering when I need to get patient information from her she is always listening to gospel music and discussing topics about "tha lawd" yet she continues to do the very thing that is against her religious faith which is talking negatively behind someone's back. Now the part I gave you guys when she referred to me as mean was PG-13 version, but I wonder if backbiting is something that is against one's faith why continue to do it yet exclaim a devotion to God while judging others yet continuously break your own religious rules?

When I challenge this to other Christians it seems that being human is the culprit, but I don't understand how something that is easily fixable like not opening your mouth negatively against another person is somehow human nature. I just find it hypocritical.

Thoughts?

She might be happier and more productive working for someone who belongs to the same church she attends. Shop around and find her another job.

 

[Epic Beard Man]

Well you just proved the point about it being human nature. You are not a Christian and yet here you are talking about her behind her back. Albeit you've done it with more civilized language.

As far as someone breaking rules. That's human nature as well. You are not Christian and you break rules as well. Nobody's perfect.

Talking about someone is different than talking bad about someone. You don’t know her even if you were at my hospital. I never mentioned her name nor what her title is. I didn’t bad mouth her. This isn’t human nature this is me using an example but thanks for playing “who can try and act smart.”

 

[Epic Beard Man]

Being Christian is rather working on yourself within inner means , it is not making world better by working on others.

Right. Which is why I think when you worship it ought to be a private matter between you and the one you worship. But there are some Christians that make it known they love Jesus and try and judge people based on that but although it’s annoying it’s fine by me but I hate the judgmental attitude when they constantly break what is commanded to them.