I Am Becoming Conviced That...

[ChristineES]

... That most of the biggest criticizers of Christianity don't really understand it all that well. I hear misconceptions of my faith all the time. It doesn't really bother me, as before I was a Christians, I was just as clueless. I guess I just wanted release a little frustration.

 

[angellous_evangellous]

Yes, that's frustrating.

But keep in mind that the great majority of Christians don't understand Christianity, either.

 

[ChristineES]

Yes, that's frustrating.

But keep in mind that the great majority of Christians don't understand Christianity, either.

Yeah, that's a good point, too.

 

[ChristineES]

I wish someone would remove this thread. I was irritated when I wrote it, for good reason, but...

 

[Thief]

Understanding Christianity?....

Reading the New Testament will show His own disciples did not understand Him.

And considering the way the New Testament developed into it's current form...
I doubt a clear understanding is common.

Too much dogma and ritual has taken over what should have been simple.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Throughout the History of Christendom, until modern times.
Scholarship, universities and the greatest minds were directed solely to wards the study of Christianity. Universities taught nothing that did not support this work.

From the time of Christ, the greatest minds concentrated their efforts on increasingly esoteric reasoning. Establishing logical paths of thought that moved further and further from simple faith.

Today this inheritance inhibits, most of us, from seeing the wood from the trees.
We do not have the specialist learning to understand all the nuances of dogma on which our particular churches are based.

We rebel, either by abandoning our faith or taking more directly emotional paths delivered by new and more satisfying Church styles.

Christianity is no longer characterised by deep thought and obedience. it is often characterised by heightened emotion, joy and mass hysteria, led by pastors who specialise in controlling emotion for maximum financial gain.

Where now lies Christian Faith and Love.

 

[Renji]

I agree with this. And, it's a good thing that Christine has voiced it out

 

[Kathryn]

Throughout the History of Christendom, until modern times.
Scholarship, universities and the greatest minds were directed solely to wards the study of Christianity. Universities taught nothing that did not support this work.

From the time of Christ, the greatest minds concentrated their efforts on increasingly esoteric reasoning. Establishing logical paths of thought that moved further and further from simple faith.

Today this inheritance inhibits, most of us, from seeing the wood from the trees.
We do not have the specialist learning to understand all the nuances of dogma on which our particular churches are based.

We rebel, either by abandoning our faith or taking more directly emotional paths delivered by new and more satisfying Church styles.

Christianity is no longer characterised by deep thought and obedience. it is often characterised by heightened emotion, joy and mass hysteria, led by pastors who specialise in controlling emotion for maximum financial gain.

Where now lies Christian Faith and Love.

Truer words were never spoken! :clap

It is not up to the churches, it is not up to the universities, it is not up to missionaries - it is up to each of us INDIVIDUALLY to seek this very readily available depth of knowledge, since as Terry pointed out, it's not being forwarded by many, if any, established institutions.

Seek ye first the kingdom of God.

 

[Willamena]

... That most of the biggest criticizers of Christianity don't really understand it all that well.

Ya think?

 

[Draka]

I posted a response to this thread, in good conscious and in support of the OP. I guess someone took it as if I was arguing or trying to be mean. I really don't know as that was not my intent. If the rules of who can post here have changed and I can only post questions from now on then this will be my last post in this DIR. I don't know what I did wrong, but I apologize for whatever I did to upset someone. It certainly was not what I was trying to do. :sorry1:

 

[angellous_evangellous]

I don't think that we should assume that opponents of Christianity don't understand it. That insults their intelligence, almost de facto.

It is possible to understand Christianity and disagree with it, and then express this disagreement with some vitriol. One would hope that when someone comes to an understanding of Christianity they would at least respect it enough not to artlessly attack it, but we know that's not always the case.

The best thing that Christians can do is win respect first and qualifying understanding later.

 

[Breathe]

... That most of the biggest criticizers of Christianity don't really understand it all that well. I hear misconceptions of my faith all the time. It doesn't really bother me, as before I was a Christians, I was just as clueless. I guess I just wanted release a little frustration.

Do any of the Christians here have an opinion as to why this is the case?
This has been something I've noticed as well.

 

[fallingblood]

Do any of the Christians here have an opinion as to why this is the case?
This has been something I've noticed as well.

Christianity is extremely diverse, and many people are not willing to acknowledge that. It is this diversity though that I enjoy, and why I was willing to acknowledge that I am as well a Christian.

It seems to me, at least in recent debates here, that some simply refuse to see that Christians can believe a number of things. They demand that all Christians follow the same basic tenants, and when someone goes outside of that narrow view, they accuse them of not being Christian (Christians do this as well. I have been told by a few Christians that I can't use the title, which I find funny).

For these individuals, I think more of a hatred or intolerance for other beliefs is what is fueling the problem. There are many people of other beliefs that do have misconceptions of Christianity, but are willing to at least listen and learn more about the religion. And that is wonderful. However, the ones who refuse to listen, and assume that they must be right, and try to define Christianity for any other religion, are, in my opinion, only doing so because of hatred and intolerance.

This can be seen with any religion though.

 

[ChristineES]

Ya think?

This is not a debate. I was voicing a frustration because of a debate I was having. I put here in the DIR so it wouldn't be a debate. Doesn't a person have a right to want to vent their frustration?

 

[ChristineES]

I think the intent of this thread was taken out of context. It wasn't supposed to be a debate. If I had wanted it to be a debate, I would have put in religious debates. I do get the feeling sometimes that some of the people I debate with over in the debates don't know a thing about what I am talking about or throw doctrine at me that I, personally, never even followed. It's almost as if they expect me to follow everything they believe about it
Christianity is VERY diverse, we all know that there are many denominations because of it. A Baptist would act differently than a Catholic or a Mormon or a JW. There are hundreds of different Baptists alone, much less all the other denominations which would number into the thousands. There are some minor differences in doctrine in some cases and some really major differences in others. I really think there are a few people who don't seem to understand that.
And I certainly did not mean atheists. I meant mostly anti-theists. And I meant a few, very few people. I know I said "most", but we tend to exaggerate when we vent sometimes or at least I do. I guess I didn't expect people to really know this.
I am not sorry I wrote it, as I was pretty frustrated in another debate I was having at the time.

 

[Badran]

***Mod post***

Please note that this is the Christianity DIR. Members who do not belong to that group can only post respectful questions.​

 

[lunamoth]

I think the intent of this thread was taken out of context. It wasn't supposed to be a debate. If I had wanted it to be a debate, I would have put in religious debates. I do get the feeling sometimes that some of the people I debate with over in the debates don't know a thing about what I am talking about or throw doctrine at me that I, personally, never even followed. It's almost as if they expect me to follow everything they believe about it
Christianity is VERY diverse, we all know that there are many denominations because of it. A Baptist would act differently than a Catholic or a Mormon or a JW. There are hundreds of different Baptists alone, much less all the other denominations which would number into the thousands. There are some minor differences in doctrine in some cases and some really major differences in others. I really think there are a few people who don't seem to understand that.
And I certainly did not mean atheists. I meant mostly anti-theists. And I meant a few, very few people. I know I said "most", but we tend to exaggerate when we vent sometimes or at least I do. I guess I didn't expect people to really know this.
I am not sorry I wrote it, as I was pretty frustrated in another debate I was having at the time.

I hear you Christine - it's a good point. Frankly, I just get worn out and often feel like people are more interested in twisting my words to what they want them to mean, instead of trying to understand my POV. I know debate threads are debate and that is what most people who come here want to do, but it is exhausting.

Anyway - I agree with your observations and understand the need to vent.

 

[SCHIZO]

The only one that understands riddles (parables) is the riddlemaker himself. Words are open for interpretation. They can mean anything within their own form. Without context there is no known intent on their meaning. Something that the bible has and lacks at the same time. The true context of the meaning of words can only be found in the direct moment. Books tend to leave out context, meaning that words are left open to interpretation. One has to be immersed within the experience of the time and the people in order to receive the true conception of the moment (it's intended meaning). It has been much argument of what exactly the bible means because there is no direct experience to draw from. Historical books are invalid by this way because we never know what the true intent of meaning was. We can approximate the meaning of words but they will still remain an area of contention.