What is the major factor that makes non-Christians hate Christianity?

[Kam_Fanaian]

I find your post confusing, possibly because you linked to the same thread each time.

If there is animosity in the thread you linked to, I was unable to find it. I did not read every post, however, I just went through and read some posts.

Lol!!! My apologies

The SECOND link in my post should have been this one:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=4030

In general, anger and animosity exists between EVERY religious community that claims any form of exclusivity.

“Consort with the followers of all religions in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship” - Baha’u’llah

Thanks for the correction

Kam

 

[Andre1000]

Bit of a (sensible) conversation-stopper from the non-Christian point of view.

I know that my statement is not political correct and rude, but it is an old Catholic view on other religions. Also we both know the old stories from Israel and other religions.

 

[SteveLy]

13 Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. 14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. 15 So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. 16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. 17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Rev 12:13-17NKJV

'Nuff said

 

[St_Francis]

Lol!!! My apologies

The SECOND link in my post should have been this one:

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=4030

In general, anger and animosity exists between EVERY religious community that claims any form of exclusivity.

“Consort with the followers of all religions in a spirit of friendliness and fellowship” - Baha’u’llah

Thanks for the correction

Kam

Oh, good. I can’t say that I saw animosity in the first thread you posted, maybe because on the internet, you can’t hear the tone of voice, and to me, challenging what someone says is not a sign of animosity (but others seem to think it is, so sometimes I get in trouble for that ) Remember that we as Christians are supposed to “spread the Good News,” we believe that not doing so could be harmful to others.

 

[4Squarebaby]

Anything and everything must be sacrificed to the altars of freedom and autonomy. Any system that claims that one is wrong and must walk a certain path to survive must be destroyed.

I would disagree on the specific point but agree on the greater point that it is political. After all hatred is not shown as much to Islam because it is a minority faith and its admiherants are seen as racial minorities among the haters. On the specific point they do not care about freedom or liberty but rather equality and if your freedom must be sacrificed, through higher taxes, forcing you to buy abortions for others…then so be it

 

[BornAgain2010]

Additionally, there is a strain in American social thinking which is to denigrate people who dedicate themselves to things we cannot see. To dedicate oneself to finding a cure for cancer, that makes sense; to dedicate ourselves to serving God–not so much. We admire the vegetarian who gives up meat for the sake of mistreated animals; we scratch our heads at the one who says they don’t eat meat on Friday.

America is not as tolerant as some would like us to believe…

^
This is what Im talking about! There will always be adversaries, DUH. Though it does seem that America is destorying itself via spiritual negligence. Even atheists still have morals, but alas society does not make use of them.

But what I mean is, why do adversaries have such unquenchably villainous rage? I dont have any misgivings towards other groups, religious or otherwise. Sure, they may have differing opinions,…but that doesnt mean that ‘therein lies their damnation’.

Majority of my friends are actually atheist or agnostic. Of about 50 friends, only 10% or so are actually religious. Of that 10%, majority are Protestant or Pagan (non-Christian). I only have 2 or 3 Catholic friends. So really Im a minority within my own circle. Heh. I am lucky enough to have friends who are respectful and courteous towards me and my faith. And so I agree with the idea that since marginalized, that group would not suffer much criticism. It makes since even in evolution. We see that in animal behaviour.

But back to my point, and I know Im probably calling the kettle back. <-I never understand that phrase. I think the main reasons others hate us are hedonism, ignorance, and fear. I think people are afraid of losing what they’ll have to give up or turn away from in order to serve Christ and His Church. And even psychologists agree, fear is one of the strongest of all human emotions. Some just may never have taken the time to educate themselves (though probably not through any fault of their own).

But while adversaries and enemies are to be expected, what is the main contributing factor as to the practicality(real or percieved), that such culture-war provides?

Other than the obvious (cultism, religious violence, prosletyzation and forced conversion, etc.), other than that what is the worst possible thing that can come from religion?

 

[Hokomai]

But while adversaries and enemies are to be expected, what is the main contributing factor as to the practicality(real or percieved), that such culture-war provides?

Other than the obvious (cultism, religious violence, prosletyzation and forced conversion, etc.), other than that what is the worst possible thing that can come from religion?

Being wrong.

 

[IanGE]

Do you have any evidence that a significant proportion of non-Christians ‘hate’ Christians? If so, what is it?

Well, 9/11 wasn’t exactly a hearts and flowers day.. Strange, but I lived in India during the dreadful partition Hindu-Muslim slaughter when India was given its Independence and Pakistan created. Christians would paint crosses on their walls and were left alone by both contestants. Hindu and Muslim friends also took to painting crosses on their doors to save themselves!
But I think the worst angst is directed by Christians at Christians. Protestant/Catholic hate is not limited to Ireland. Or is it Fear? One mob’s interpretation of a single line in the Bible rejected by another is usually enough to create an everlasting ecumenical divide. In Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, all churches held an ecumenical week every year. Only a High-Church C of E priest, Father John and I did the rounds of evening services. We also have annual ecumenical services here in Swindon, Wiltshire. Several Church of England, Methodist and Baptist members attend our Catholic services but only my wife and I attend theirs.
I was once told by a Hindu friend that Hinduism wasn’t a “religion” as such but embraced all those who agreed to follow the Vedas: a collection of wise suggestions as to how to live together in Society. These were not God-based, but assembled over hundreds/thousands of years of trial and error. My friend told me no one-god was imposed on Hindus so they were welcomed to use their own family gods so long as they followed the common vedaic customs of live and let live. He told me, “you would be welcomed in Hinduism with your Christian God.” THAT is tolerance.
PS On one of our visits to India I had to take a photo of my wife standing before an icon seller’s cart. Prominent among the pictures of the variious Hindu deities was the Sacred Heart of Jesus!.

 

[epan]

what is the major factor that makes non-Christians hate Christianity?

is it differences on doctrinal issues, or is it that they (non-Christians) are more inclined to hedonism, ignorance, inability to grasp religion logically (that part I can actually sympathize with…to a point), they dont get back enough from they put in, people are selfish, lack of will, what is the major reason why people cant stand Christians nowadays?

I dont mean this in regards to conversion, just general attitude towards each other. I really would like to see some fences being mended in this senseless culture war.

I think its ignorance, lack of will to educate themselves (who WANTS to take the time?), hedonism (people arent accustomed to the joy that sacrifice brings or the satisfaction of serving), and fear. I think alot of people are afraid of what they’ll have to give up or turn away from in order to serve Christ and his Church.

I think those are the main reasons. If not, those are certainly the prevailing philosophies of society.

Im not ‘calling out’ non-Christians or agnostics or atheists. Im just trying to understand why people now days are so militant when it comes to villifying Christianity?

I don’t think that non-christians hate Christianity. It is the behavior of some Christians which is offensive, particularly when they want to impose their views on others, or they are aggressive proselytizers. There are atheist proselytizers too, whom many find offensive, but I don’t think this is representative of the “average” non-christian.

 

[Hokomai]

Well, 9/11 wasn’t exactly a hearts and flowers day.. Strange, but I lived in India during the dreadful partition Hindu-Muslim slaughter when India was given its Independence and Pakistan created. Christians would paint crosses on their walls and were left alone by both contestants. Hindu and Muslim friends also took to painting crosses on their doors to save themselves!
But I think the worst angst is directed by Christians at Christians. Protestant/Catholic hate is not limited to Ireland. Or is it Fear? One mob’s interpretation of a single line in the Bible rejected by another is usually enough to create an everlasting ecumenical divide. In Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, all churches held an ecumenical week every year. Only a High-Church C of E priest, Father John and I did the rounds of evening services. We also have annual ecumenical services here in Swindon, Wiltshire. Several Church of England, Methodist and Baptist members attend our Catholic services but only my wife and I attend theirs.
I was once told by a Hindu friend that Hinduism wasn’t a “religion” as such but embraced all those who agreed to follow the Vedas: a collection of wise suggestions as to how to live together in Society. These were not God-based, but assembled over hundreds/thousands of years of trial and error. My friend told me no one-god was imposed on Hindus so they were welcomed to use their own family gods so long as they followed the common vedaic customs of live and let live. He told me, “you would be welcomed in Hinduism with your Christian God.” THAT is tolerance.
PS On one of our visits to India I had to take a photo of my wife standing before an icon seller’s cart. Prominent among the pictures of the variious Hindu deities was the Sacred Heart of Jesus!.

Yes I quite like the ‘open to all’ approach of Hinduism, although I think I once offended a fellow non-believer raised as a Hindu by asking how it was possible to stop believing in all the Hindu Gods, as there are so many! My Hindu sister-in-law is a feminist and is particularly fond of items of Marian devotion. 9/11 I think does not demonstrate that there are very large numbers of people who oppose Christianity or Christians. It showed there are small organised groups of fanatical and brave terrorists who hate the United States, and things they associate with it, from a deluded religious perspective.

 

[billt9]

This is not a new thing. The church has been hated in every age and always will be.

Remember; Jesus said,
“If the world hates you, remember it hated me first”

AND:

Joh 3:19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.
Joh 3:20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.

 

[cprich]

Well said and God bless you.

Evangelists sometimes forget that their DUTY is simply to spread the GOOD News, sow seeds; conversion is the Holy Spirit’s job. In Greek “angel” is a message bearer; Ev or “Eu” is a prefix meaning “WOW!” “FANTABULOUS” not just ‘Good’ news. They (sorry WE) also forget that God has given all humanity Free Will. If someone resists conviction by the Holy Spirit, God shrugs His shoulders but STILL continues to love the resistor and hope he will turn to Jesus (and Him) of his own God-given free will. To get angry and condemn those who resist our evangelizing views is giving in to an ego trip.
I can well understand the hatred between Catholics and Protestants in Ireland: it is an issue that goes beyond religion into the mists of history. I could not understand the division as passed own to me through my Irish Catholic Grandma, but even as a youngster I grasped that I was supposed to LOVE ALL people. How else could I “convert” (yes, I thought THAT was my duty!) them unless I truly cared for their spiritual after-life. I didn’t think in those high-falutin’ thoughts back then, of course, I just didn’t want ANYONE going to Hell - and still do!
I once asked the Lord about real good people who weren’t Christians, like Gandhi. He said, “I will know them, Ian, when I judge them”, In other words, keep your schnook out!

 

[Lion_of_Narnia]

In general, anger and animosity exists between EVERY religious community that claims any form of exclusivity.

You nailed it, Kam. That’s being very human. Holds to almost any “truth claim”, even apart from religion–but especially so in that field. We are talking about “ultimate importance issues”.

In short

1. Christianity claims a unique insight on religious truth–while we, especially we Catholics, will say that almost all other faith have some elements of truth, we hold that we hold the clearest most accurate position.–that annoys the relativists, the pantheists, the indifferentianists, etc…It certainly annoys the Muslims
2. We are commanded to preach this. No option on this whatsoever

 

[Hunter24]

Generaly its a feeling that Christians want to impose their religion and morality on others. Also, radical protestants running around screaming hate while saying they worship a loving god dosn’t help.I personaly have no problem with Catholics, Orthodox, or mainline Protestants, its the outlying, radical protestant groups who give Christians a bad name.

People picketing soldiers funerals, yelling that god killed him because the U.S. tolerates gays shur dosn’t help a religions image. Nor does people picketing with signs saying"God hates gays", or the burning of korans, or the general “Im better than you, burn in hell” attitude of some people. Oh and lets not forget the burning of Harry Potter books, which just serves to make the christian religion a laughing stalk because anyone who has read them realizes there isn’t an ounce of religion in them. And the door to door preaching, please JWs!!! STOP!!!

Really its the actions of the Evangelical/Fundimentalist Protestants. To be honest it drives me nuts. unfortunately these peoples actions get reflected on Christianity as a whole.

 

[Publisher]

what is the major factor that makes non-Christians hate Christianity?

is it differences on doctrinal issues, or is it that they (non-Christians) are more inclined to hedonism, ignorance, inability to grasp religion logically (that part I can actually sympathize with…to a point), they dont get back enough from they put in, people are selfish, lack of will, what is the major reason why people cant stand Christians nowadays?

I dont mean this in regards to conversion, just general attitude towards each other. I really would like to see some fences being mended in this senseless culture war.

I think its ignorance, lack of will to educate themselves (who WANTS to take the time?), hedonism (people arent accustomed to the joy that sacrifice brings or the satisfaction of serving), and fear. I think alot of people are afraid of what they’ll have to give up or turn away from in order to serve Christ and his Church.

I think those are the main reasons. If not, those are certainly the prevailing philosophies of society.

Im not ‘calling out’ non-Christians or agnostics or atheists. Im just trying to understand why people now days are so militant when it comes to villifying Christianity?

Probalby the same thing that causes the majority of Christians to hate non-Christians…it’s how people are.

 

[Lion_of_Narnia]

According to Professor Kreeft, this sort of thing really annoys people:

"By Catholic standards, the religions of the world can be ranked by how much truth they teach.

• Catholicism is first, with Orthodoxy equal except for the one issue of papal authority.
• Then comes Protestantism and any “separated brethren” who keep the Christian essentials as found in Scripture.
• Third comes traditional Judaism, which worships the same God but not via Christ.
• Fourth is Islam, greatest of the theistic heresies.
• Fifth, Hinduism, a mystical pantheism;
• Sixth, Buddhism, a pantheism without a theos;
• Seventh, modern Judaism, Unitarianism, Confucianism, Modernism, and secular humanism, none of which have either mysticism or supernatural religion but only ethics;
• Eighth, idolatry; and
• Ninth, Satanism.

To collapse these nine levels is like thinking the earth is flat"
http://www.integratedcatholiclife.org/2012/07/dr-kreeft-the-uniqueness-of-christianity/

 

[Hunter24]

According to Professor Kreeft, this sort of thing really annoys people:

"By Catholic standards, the religions of the world can be ranked by how much truth they teach.

• Catholicism is first, with Orthodoxy equal except for the one issue of papal authority.
• Then comes Protestantism and any “separated brethren” who keep the Christian essentials as found in Scripture.
• Third comes traditional Judaism, which worships the same God but not via Christ.
• Fourth is Islam, greatest of the theistic heresies.
• Fifth, Hinduism, a mystical pantheism;
• Sixth, Buddhism, a pantheism without a theos;
• Seventh, modern Judaism, Unitarianism, Confucianism, Modernism, and secular humanism, none of which have either mysticism or supernatural religion but only ethics;
• Eighth, idolatry; and
• Ninth, Satanism.

To collapse these nine levels is like thinking the earth is flat"
http://www.integratedcatholiclife.org/2012/07/dr-kreef-the-uniqueness-of-christianity/

I’m interested to know why modern and ancient Judeism are seperate?

 

[CopticChristian]

what is the major factor that makes non-Christians hate Christianity?

is it differences on doctrinal issues, or is it that they (non-Christians) are more inclined to hedonism, ignorance, inability to grasp religion logically (that part I can actually sympathize with…to a point), they dont get back enough from they put in, people are selfish, lack of will, what is the major reason why people cant stand Christians nowadays?

I dont mean this in regards to conversion, just general attitude towards each other. I really would like to see some fences being mended in this senseless culture war.

I think its ignorance, lack of will to educate themselves (who WANTS to take the time?), hedonism (people arent accustomed to the joy that sacrifice brings or the satisfaction of serving), and fear. I think alot of people are afraid of what they’ll have to give up or turn away from in order to serve Christ and his Church.

I think those are the main reasons. If not, those are certainly the prevailing philosophies of society.

Im not ‘calling out’ non-Christians or agnostics or atheists. Im just trying to understand why people now days are so militant when it comes to villifying Christianity?

Born,

There are many reasons.

Greg Laurie says that people do not accept Christ in the altar call because they do not want to face their sin.

My response to that is that I would not accept Christ at his preaching in response to an altar call because I do not want to be Protestant.

A Calvinin friend I know says that Christianity is hated because of the need to accept Hell.

That may well be however this is coming from a Calvinist that believes there are the elect and the non-elect so I am not sure how that figures. If you are the elect what is there to fear?

Confusion is my answer. People are confused.

CBN, 700 Club, Daystar, newspapers, radio…if you know nothing and listen…when you hear about Christians…who are they talking about? Everyone is lumped in without explanation and when you consider some of the stuff that some of us do then there is confusion and lack of understanding.

This is not like talking about KFC chicken where everyone knows about the Colonel and the secret recipe and it is chicken…

When you talk about chicken then you have to distinguish where you got it.

I believe that lack of accurate information and confusion may be a big part of it.

 

[Lokabrenna]

I’m interested to know why modern and ancient Judeism are seperate?

My guess is because ancient Judaism was temple-based whereas in modern Judaism the focus has shifted to individual rabbis, divided into Orthodox, Reform, Conservative, etc. and (in some cases) a person who is “Jewish” doesn’t necessarily practice Judaism (it’s a cultural marker). I went to school with one.

I think Kreeft would be pretty surprised to learn that modern “idolators” have supernatural components AND ethics, but I think that list in general is pretty hilarious.

 

[BornAgain2010]

Born,

There are many reasons.

Greg Laurie says that people do not accept Christ in the altar call because they do not want to face their sin.

My response to that is that I would not accept Christ at his preaching in response to an altar call because I do not want to be Protestant.

A Calvinin friend I know says that Christianity is hated because of the need to accept Hell.

That may well be however this is coming from a Calvinist that believes there are the elect and the non-elect so I am not sure how that figures. If you are the elect what is there to fear?

Confusion is my answer. People are confused.

CBN, 700 Club, Daystar, newspapers, radio…if you know nothing and listen…when you hear about Christians…who are they talking about? Everyone is lumped in without explanation and when you consider some of the stuff that some of us do then there is confusion and lack of understanding.

This is not like talking about KFC chicken where everyone knows about the Colonel and the secret recipe and it is chicken…

When you talk about chicken then you have to distinguish where you got it.

I believe that lack of accurate information and confusion may be a big part of it.

what the heck is an altar call? I hear these are really big in non-denom and fellowship. does everybody rush up to the altar all at once and toss money to the ‘pastor’ or what is exactly? also why do protestant preachers YELL AT THEIR CONGREGATIONS? To me thats rather rude. Christ probably didnt yell at his Apostles.

Also I was watching Rod Parsley (I only watch him to poke fun and make comments) Rod Parsley had a commercial where he was selling Holy Water for 3 or 4 bucks a bottle. To myself I said, ‘oh well…we get ours free at my Parish.’ Also doesnt Revelation say something about buying and selling, you’d think Protestants knew their eschatology better seeing as theyre kinda broken-record about it.