Why is the world hostile to Christians?

[Mr. Dictator]

coughpatrobertsoncough

some people do give christians horrible names, i know plenty and theyre all just really happy people

more power to em

 

[punkbass2000]

I have talked to quite a number of people about how they feel at this point, and, in my experience, almost everyone feels that the world is hostile towards them. They attach it to different causes, often, but nonetheless that seems to be the underlying predictament. Personnally, I'm inclined to attribute this to the Modern Western sense of self, which I think is highly inflated. Indeed, I suggest that with what constitutes the average person's "self", it would be impossible to not be violated in one sense or another on a daily basis, and quite more often that in many cases. It seems to also be common to assume that things are not one's fault. If one is being constantly violated, and one considers it to not be one's fault, then it seems fairly natural to conclude that the world is being hostile towards one.

 

[Mauer]

If you think the world, or in particular US society is particularly hostile to Christians I'm afraid you're deluding yourself.

If I may offer a slightly humorous rebuttal to the notion that Christianity in the United States is treated with anything less than a broad degree of acceptance please take a look at the link below

Life in Our Anti-Christian America

I didn't specify, in general the world, govt stuctures, personal opinions and so on, are generally geared against biblically rooted christians. I didn't say they were outwardly hostile, but there are many different ways of being hostile towards someone without actually beating them with a mallet.

 

[h4ppy]

I don't even know what this means. All Christians were Roman Catholic until the Greek Orthodox Church split in 1054, right?

I hope you are joking.

 

[North King]

The world is hostile to Christians?

I'm afraid you're still living in the world of 1975 years ago...

Seriously, now, what makes you think the world is against you? More so than anyone else? Everyone has their own personal struggles and prejudices to overcome, Christians no more or less than anyone else.

 

[bhsup]

I'm probably what you could call on the conservative side of Protestant Christianity, and honestly I just don't see any sort of day to day hostility towards Christians around here (meaning my physical home, but hey also not around CFC overall). Disagreement from time to time, sure. Hostility, not really.

Organized nationwide efforts to strip the nation of all religious references by fringe radical groups with too much visibility (ACLU anyone?), sure that happens, but that's not your average, everyday American.

 

[Mauer]

The world is hostile to Christians?

I'm afraid you're still living in the world of 1975 years ago...

Seriously, now, what makes you think the world is against you? More so than anyone else? Everyone has their own personal struggles and prejudices to overcome, Christians no more or less than anyone else.

Well, I certainly understand that there are stuggles in all walks of life, and I didn't mean to make it sound as if Christians were the only ones with such struggles. Just curious about this aspect.

 

[Hotpoint]

I didn't specify, in general the world, govt stuctures, personal opinions and so on, are generally geared against biblically rooted christians. I didn't say they were outwardly hostile, but there are many different ways of being hostile towards someone without actually beating them with a mallet.

Governments (at least the good ones) aren't as a rule geared against Christianity so much as they are carefully neutral towards any religion, as well they should be. If the Government is pro-Christian it must be by definition against those who disagree with some of the tenets of the particularly favoured Christian subset, be those dissenters followers of another faith or followers of no faith at all.

Neutrality is not hostility. I think you seek (I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and say sub-conciously perhaps) pre-eminance for your beliefs rather than a benign attitude towards them.

 

[Mise]

I have talked to quite a number of people about how they feel at this point, and, in my experience, almost everyone feels that the world is hostile towards them. They attach it to different causes, often, but nonetheless that seems to be the underlying predictament. Personnally, I'm inclined to attribute this to the Modern Western sense of self, which I think is highly inflated. Indeed, I suggest that with what constitutes the average person's "self", it would be impossible to not be violated in one sense or another on a daily basis, and quite more often that in many cases. It seems to also be common to assume that things are not one's fault. If one is being constantly violated, and one considers it to not be one's fault, then it seems fairly natural to conclude that the world is being hostile towards one.

Wow, your posts always make me do this: O_O

I also laughed a little.

 

[Cheetah]

I've never thought about that world being hostile towards chistians.

Could it be that a number of people are hostile towards religion in general?

Anyways, I turned agnostic a few years ago, but that was never because of the christians I know. AFAIK they're all just like my friends who's not christian. And I have no problem with hanging out with christians.

I'll admit that I think it's a little weird when one of my friends talk about people talking in tongues in her congregation, etc. But I have no problem talking with her, and I've even helped her write a sermon once.


As a last note though, I wouldn't be unhappy if more of my friends stopped believing.

 

[pboily]

What is this martyr complex that people have? I know Christians were sent to the Lions in Ancient Rome, and I know that Black-Americans were denied education and equality in the (not-so-distant) past, and I know that women weren't allowed to vote until the turn of the century, and I know that homosexuals aren't allowed to marry, and I know that Jewish folks got murdered in the WWII, and I know that Ann Coulter is unfairly painted as a firebrand by the media, and I know that everybody feels like a martyr. Some of the poor feel that they have nothing going for them and some of the rich think it is unfair that they should pay taxes. Some Christians feel there is a war on Christmas and some atheist fear they'll be forced to pray in school in a few years. Everybody feels the rest of the world is against them. Is it paranoia? Maybe they're really after you? Who knows... but what I know is that Evolution and Christianity are lightning rods. Easy targets because they are powerful and, at the same time, vulnerable. Ironic.

Here's the thing that bothers me.
1. If we try to live our own lives and let others live their own lives, we turn our backs on the Holocausts of the World and say: not my problem.
2. If we try to protect everybody from everything bad, we create social dictatorships.

So 1. and 2. are no good. Fine, we go with what everybody else goes with:

3. Find some middle ground. And that's where the fiercest battles are foughts.

EDIT: Again, not very much On-Topic, but it's linked, somehow.

 

[Mauer]

Governments (at least the good ones) aren't as a rule geared against Christianity so much as they are carefully neutral towards any religion, as well they should be. If the Government is pro-Christian it must be by definition against those who disagree with some of the tenets of the particularly favoured Christian subset, be those dissenters followers of another faith or followers of no faith at all.

Point taken.

Neutrality is not hostility. I think you seek (I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and say sub-conciously perhaps) pre-eminance for your beliefs rather than a benign attitude towards them.

Well, you must try and understand that I certainly have a different view of things than an unbeliever does.

 

[Mauer]

Here's the thing that bothers me.
1. If we try to live our own lives and let others live their own lives, we turn our backs on the Holocausts of the World and say: not my problem.
2. If we try to protect everybody from everything bad, we create social dictatorships.

So 1. and 2. are no good. Fine, we go with what everybody else goes with:

3. Find some middle ground. And that's where the fiercest battles are foughts.

EDIT: Again, not very much On-Topic, but it's linked, somehow.

Well it is indeed on topic. And I certainly agree with your two points as well. I'd submit to you that MobBoss is correct in his post, in that personal accountability has been somewhat forgotten.

 

[Hotpoint]

Well, you must try and understand that I certainly have a different view of things than an unbeliever does.

Don't worry I know plenty of believers and am familiar with their outlook. Back in my youth I actually went to Catholic School for a start (I was the token atheist )

 

[IamSid]

Because of the Spanish Inquisition.

 

[Mr. Dictator]

Because of the Spanish Inquisition.

no one expects the Spanish Inquisition!!

 

[El_Machinae]

would you mind clarifying the difference between moderate and extreme christianity?

I tend to think of it as ...

A fundamentalist thinks there is more to their religion than "do unto others as you would have them do unto you" and "love the Lord thy God". They think they know how Christianity is 'supposed' to be above those two commandments, and aren't afraid to act on their moral convictions, even if it hurts people.

 

[Odin2006]

Fundies think being "persecuted" is not being allowed to force thier beliefs on others and are reminded that this country was founded on Enlightenment principles, not Christianity.

 

[El_Machinae]

El_M how were you betrayed? PM me if you want, I am interested in what man can do that makes people turn away from God.

Hmmn, I guess that came across as vitriolic. Sorry.

The 'lie' that I was told was: God cares and God intervenes and God answers prayer.

One of those three are false, because my prayers to ask why God allowed innocent people to suffer horribly were never answered. (ie, He didn't care enough to intervene and He didn't care enough to answer an honest question)

In addition, God (apparently) loves you and doubting Thomas enough to provide proof of His existence and Plan, but does not love me enough to give me my needed answers. (Needed, such that there was real confusion regarding my questions of the 'problem of Evil').

So, I was left with a choice:

- fight my feelings of resentment towards a God who doesn't answer desperate prayers, ie. try to forgive what I think to be a callous creator OR
- stop believing in God (and thus making any feelings of resentment towards Him illogical)

Since the God that the Christians describe is not actually logical (to me), I figured it was more healthy to not believe in God (and thus, releasing that negative emotion) than hate Him.

In other words, there's more proof (definite proof) that God doesn't exist (as describe by any Christian) than that He does. In addition, I realise that any human is fallible, so it is possible that any human authority on God is mistaken, so there is no reasonable authority to assume He exists despite my doubts.

 

[Xanikk999]

Fundies think being "persecuted" is not being allowed to force thier beliefs on others and are reminded that this country was founded on Enlightenment principles, not Christianity.

I just want to point out that some of the signers of the declaration of independece were athiest! If anyone wants to argue that i can try to find some proof online.