I know you’re already expecting another one of my sarcastic observances about your faith. If you are, you can stop reading. This post isn’t about that.
This post is about my observations, but it’s also written in the hopes of giving you the answer to the question most of you probably have when you read posts like my other ones, and the posts of all the other non christians out there:
Why all the hate?
Since this is a general post, I won’t be getting personal, but you might like to at least consider the points I make before you launch into the usual rant. So here goes.
The first issue is built right into your belief system: witnessing.
The thing is, if the bible makes you happy, then that’s great. It’s the ad nauseum prayers, declarations of adoration for your deity and the non stop thanking of god for everything that goes right in your life that grates.
I understand WHY you’re told to witness – either to prove your faith, or to convert others, but trust me, those of us who don’t want to BE converted aren’t impressed. Save it for bible study or for like minded people, and stop clogging up our facebook pages and everywhere else with it, and you won’t get nearly as much hate for it. Trust me.
The other thing is one that not only you are guilty of – all the organised religions out there do it.
That is to assume that you, and only you, have the secret to everything, and that everyone else is either a misguided fool or hasn’t seen the light yet.
If you haven’t already considered it, then here’s a link to a site where it’s all spelled out: http://www.religioustolerance.org/worldrel.htm. There are 19 MAJOR religions in the world, and many more smaller ones. That’s not counting non religious people, of which there are many sub sets as well.
When you go into raptures about your faith, chances are you’re offending someone who has a different belief to you.
Then there’s the issue of persecution. It’s become the rallying cry of christians everywhere – when christianity was taken out of schools, for instance, or whenever something else happens that puts your faith back where it belongs – in church.
The thing is, however, that it seems as though you haven’t considered that forcing your beliefs on others, as happened quite a lot in the past, both here and elsewhere, is also a form of persecution. Making kids like me sit through RI classes in school, when we did not believe, was in itself persecution. The threat of excommunication, the burning of the Albigensians and all the other things that have been done in the name of the church through the centuries are also persecution. To be fair, you should be glad that your turn came around so late in the day. Things used to be a lot less civil.
Religion belongs in the church and your own home. It does not belong in schools, in science labs, on television or in any other public place. Your belief does not automatically confer a divine right to have your way onto you – just like mine does not.
The bottom line is, while I can’t speak for anyone else, since I do not know their minds, you bring it on yourself.
Then there’s the need to poke holes in science – which is an exercise in futility really, because science tends to poke it’s own holes in theories that are incorrect.
Trust me – your thoughts and comments on the subject matter do not make an ounce of difference to the people doing the studies out there, BUT, chances are, in another 200 years, their theories will have been refined and replaced by something slightly different. Science evolves and changes on it’s own, driven by the need to understand and learn. Nothing any of us have to say about it will change that.
Every time I have posted an anti christian article on this site, it has been as a knee jerk reaction to something that’s posted by a christian in the first place. Yes, it’s petty, I know, but it’s a tit for tat sort of scenario.
I mentioned, in retaliation, the other day, that christians are their own worst marketing department though, and this site serves as the perfect means of observation for that particular theory. I have to admit that the somewhat perverse desire to see that particular truth in action is sometimes also what leads me to poke sticks into the soft, squishy, less than concrete parts of the christian faith – just to see you all take the bait.
So far, every single time, some very unchristian comments have come from most of you. More fodder for the 'opposition' I am afraid. Turn the other cheek, or don't comment. You will get more respect that way.
Unless you have a rational, logical, non religion based proof, however, when those questions are asked, it’s best not to answer. We’re all just going to point out that it’s illogical, and if you quote a bible verse, oi vey! Expect to be called out on how the bible cannot be proof of the bible!
I don’t know how you are going to change the perceptions that people have of christianity – and to be quite honest, I would not like to be the person who had to come up with that particular marketing plan. But the fact is, if you want to have less hate directed at you, try not to rub your religion in the faces of everyone else out there, and try to expand your minds, just a little.
Someone else on here mentioned that atheists seem to know more about the bible than many christians. That’s often true, and they tend to know a little something about many other belief systems too. Even if you’re not interested in changing your faith, perhaps you should do the same?
Discover why Buddhists don’t believe in eating animals. Learn how various beliefs in reincarnation work. Discover something about the neo pagan faiths, and consider them all, with respect, as world views that differ from yours. Knowledge is not evil – the absence of knowledge is – and if your faith can’t handle a little bit of learning, then maybe it’s not as rock solid as you thought it was?
Faith does not have to mean ignorance, and learning about what others believe shows tolerance and understanding - both of which I believe are rather big deals in the christian doctrine.
The irony of the reduction in christian believers out there is that it’s often the christians themselves who drive people away.
Consider that for a moment before you comment, and then go ahead and do your worst.
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