Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Kvalhion · 03-21-2002, 12:46 PM

Some Christian tendencies that I find distasteful include their sense of duty to project their religion upon me, as if the only reason I am not religious is because I haven't heard all the good news about religion.

Another tendency in discussing religion with Christians is their tendency to repeat passages or sayings without criticially thinking about them. They believe many things without knowing why they believe them. When trying to drill down to the substance of the subject, invariably I realize there is little or no substance or pure erroneous concepts.

Probably the most disheartening tendency I see in Christians is all the time and effort they put into perpetuating their religion. Especially irritating is the "if only more" concept... for instance, if only more people were religious, things would be great. If only more people fed the hungry, things would be great. If only more people loved one another, things would be great. This is the "do it more" fallacy that Daniel Quinn points out in several of his books. If it doesn't work, do it more. The fact remains that salvationist religion has existed for thousands of years now, but people still believe that if only more people would become religious, things would suddenly improve. It is obvious these programs will never solve the problem they are (by their very nature)reacting to, yet people still put forth the time and effort reacting to conditions that already exist rather than working to prevent them from occurring in the first place.

Note that while I do find these beliefs or actions in many Christians, I would never judge or look down upon any person. My wife was a Christian when we got married (she is somewhere inbetween agnostic and Christian currently), and many friends and family are Christians. It's not the people themselves, it is the behavior.

sullster · 03-21-2002, 02:56 PM

The biggest thing I have against avid christians is that they willfully turn off their brains and uncritically accept many utterly absurd concepts and ideas. When you talk to them, you know they are deadended in certain ways of thinking. They have enclosed themselves in a simplistic myth world of imaginary beings and events. It is like being with someone high on a drug. No use talking about much, there is no one there who is thinking anymore.

JL · 03-21-2002, 04:48 PM

Ditto on the lack of intellectual and psychological hygiene.

Specifically the tyranical nature of their religion/deity.

Sandy · 03-21-2002, 05:39 PM

First, I can't think of anyone I hate at this moment in time. This is not to say I haven't hated a person or two on occasion. I don't particularly hate or even dislike christians themselves.

What I do hate is the "god is love" spin they try to give their particular diety. How anyone can read the otrocities supposedly ordered by the god of the Old Testament and call this god anything short of a monster is beyond my comprehension. What is even more beyond my comprehension is how anyone could worship such a monster.

Rational Ag · 03-21-2002, 05:53 PM

For me personally, it is the Christian's use of the word truth. I have really started to dislike that word in recent years (ever since college really, when all the mind-numbed Baptists would run around during resurrection week wearing shirts that had TRUTH in 6" high letters across their chests).

Really, at the root of the problem would not just be the word truth, but the consistent re-definition of words by Christians. They use a special bible-speak to redefine words such as faith, calling, enlightenment, darkness, light, etc.

Believing in something does not make it true. Every time I hear someone say the word truth these days it makes me cringe, even if they were using it innocently or in a non-religious fashion.

Basically I'm mad at Christians for ruining perfectly good words.

-Rational Ag

Sephiroth · 03-21-2002, 11:05 PM

Heh, these days, whenever I hear the word "truth" or "good man" used by someone I automatically assume the opposite.

HelenM · 03-22-2002, 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sephiroth:
<strong>Heh, these days, whenever I hear the word "truth" or "good man" used by someone I automatically assume the opposite.</strong>

That's interesting because I've observed that many Christians, when they hear the word "tolerance" from non-Christians, assume the opposite...

love
Helen

Kassiana · 03-22-2002, 04:56 AM

I tend to get along with liberals of every faith persuasion, and can stand moderates pretty well, too. Therefore I have no problem with Christians like John Spong, Unitarian Universalists, Andrew Greeley, my relatives, etc. (Well, I admit I think their religion is a bit silly, but that doesn't mean I hate them off the bat and I acknowledge my religion is VERY silly...)

I dislike fundamentalists of every stripe, religious, political, and social. They do not listen to those who oppose them, they merely presume based on their prior prejudices. They are affronted by my very existence. They feel the need to shove their religion at me every second of the day. And then they tell me they do it because either they "love me" or because what they believe "is right" (usually with little to no objective evidence, BTW). So I dislike conservative/fundamentalist Christians as much as I dislike conservative/fundamentalist atheists for the above reasons.

sidewinder · 03-22-2002, 05:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Friend:
<strong>Another Rephrase..

Have you had a bad experience with a Christian? What made that experience bad?

~ Friend ~

</strong>

I've never had an experience with a Christian that I would call "bad". I've probably had some tense moments with some Christians when discuss religion. I agree with most of the other comments about aspects I dislike about Christians and their religion. I think religion should become a more private matter for each individual. In other words, keep your religion to yourself.

MadMordigan · 03-22-2002, 05:36 AM

MadMordigan- Thanks for the response. That is one reason why there are so many factions with the Christian Religion. Each has their own moral and religious foundation.

Actually, thank you dude. It is refreshing to have an xian stop by and ask questions, instead of assuming she knows it all and giving us the 'answers' she thinks we need.

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03-21-2002, 12:46 PM	#11
Kvalhion Regular Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Southern CA Posts: 441	Some Christian tendencies that I find distasteful include their sense of duty to project their religion upon me, as if the only reason I am not religious is because I haven't heard all the good news about religion. Another tendency in discussing religion with Christians is their tendency to repeat passages or sayings without criticially thinking about them. They believe many things without knowing why they believe them. When trying to drill down to the substance of the subject, invariably I realize there is little or no substance or pure erroneous concepts. Probably the most disheartening tendency I see in Christians is all the time and effort they put into perpetuating their religion. Especially irritating is the "if only more" concept... for instance, if only more people were religious, things would be great. If only more people fed the hungry, things would be great. If only more people loved one another, things would be great. This is the "do it more" fallacy that Daniel Quinn points out in several of his books. If it doesn't work, do it more. The fact remains that salvationist religion has existed for thousands of years now, but people still believe that if only more people would become religious, things would suddenly improve. It is obvious these programs will never solve the problem they are (by their very nature)reacting to, yet people still put forth the time and effort reacting to conditions that already exist rather than working to prevent them from occurring in the first place. Note that while I do find these beliefs or actions in many Christians, I would never judge or look down upon any person. My wife was a Christian when we got married (she is somewhere inbetween agnostic and Christian currently), and many friends and family are Christians. It's not the people themselves, it is the behavior.

03-21-2002, 02:56 PM	#12
sullster Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: North of Boston Posts: 1,392	The biggest thing I have against avid christians is that they willfully turn off their brains and uncritically accept many utterly absurd concepts and ideas. When you talk to them, you know they are deadended in certain ways of thinking. They have enclosed themselves in a simplistic myth world of imaginary beings and events. It is like being with someone high on a drug. No use talking about much, there is no one there who is thinking anymore.

03-21-2002, 04:48 PM	#13
JL Regular Member Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Mawkish Virtue, NC Posts: 151	Ditto on the lack of intellectual and psychological hygiene. Specifically the tyranical nature of their religion/deity.

03-21-2002, 05:39 PM	#14
Sandy Junior Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Charlotte, NC USA Posts: 45	First, I can't think of anyone I hate at this moment in time. This is not to say I haven't hated a person or two on occasion. I don't particularly hate or even dislike christians themselves. What I do hate is the "god is love" spin they try to give their particular diety. How anyone can read the otrocities supposedly ordered by the god of the Old Testament and call this god anything short of a monster is beyond my comprehension. What is even more beyond my comprehension is how anyone could worship such a monster.

03-21-2002, 05:53 PM	#15
Rational Ag Regular Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Houston Posts: 136	For me personally, it is the Christian's use of the word truth. I have really started to dislike that word in recent years (ever since college really, when all the mind-numbed Baptists would run around during resurrection week wearing shirts that had TRUTH in 6" high letters across their chests). Really, at the root of the problem would not just be the word truth, but the consistent re-definition of words by Christians. They use a special bible-speak to redefine words such as faith, calling, enlightenment, darkness, light, etc. Believing in something does not make it true. Every time I hear someone say the word truth these days it makes me cringe, even if they were using it innocently or in a non-religious fashion. Basically I'm mad at Christians for ruining perfectly good words. -Rational Ag

03-21-2002, 11:05 PM	#16
Sephiroth Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Georgia, USA Posts: 625	Heh, these days, whenever I hear the word "truth" or "good man" used by someone I automatically assume the opposite.

03-22-2002, 04:56 AM	#18
Kassiana Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: USA Posts: 5,046	I tend to get along with liberals of every faith persuasion, and can stand moderates pretty well, too. Therefore I have no problem with Christians like John Spong, Unitarian Universalists, Andrew Greeley, my relatives, etc. (Well, I admit I think their religion is a bit silly, but that doesn't mean I hate them off the bat and I acknowledge my religion is VERY silly...) I dislike fundamentalists of every stripe, religious, political, and social. They do not listen to those who oppose them, they merely presume based on their prior prejudices. They are affronted by my very existence. They feel the need to shove their religion at me every second of the day. And then they tell me they do it because either they "love me" or because what they believe "is right" (usually with little to no objective evidence, BTW). So I dislike conservative/fundamentalist Christians as much as I dislike conservative/fundamentalist atheists for the above reasons.

03-22-2002, 05:36 AM	#20
MadMordigan Beloved Deceased Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Vancouver BC Canada Posts: 2,704	MadMordigan- Thanks for the response. That is one reason why there are so many factions with the Christian Religion. Each has their own moral and religious foundation. Actually, thank you dude. It is refreshing to have an xian stop by and ask questions, instead of assuming she knows it all and giving us the 'answers' she thinks we need.

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