Why Do Christians Feel The Need To Bother People?

[Ashoka]

Whether it's at an LGBT event, a Pagan festival, or something as innocuous as a comic-con....street preachers abound. Christians harass women and other people who can have babies at clinics all the time.

This is just me asking you. Why do you guys feel the need to bother us so much? Can't you just leave us alone? Whatever happened to free will? Most of us grew up Christian, we know the Bible, we know about the "risks" we are taking. We non-Christians just want to live. Yes, technically in America it's protected under free speech. But can't you take a hint? We don't care. We want to live our lives.

Leave us alone.

(and yes, I know #notallchristians but it's enough of y'all for it to be a problem. Maybe you should address the issue at hand.)

 

[Notthedarkweb]

Whether it's at an LGBT event, a Pagan festival, or something as innocuous as a comic-con....street preachers abound. Christians harass women and other people who can have babies at clinics all the time.

This is just me asking you. Why do you guys feel the need to bother us so much? Can't you just leave us alone? Whatever happened to free will? Most of us grew up Christian, we know the Bible, we know about the "risks" we are taking. We non-Christians just want to live. Yes, technically in America it's protected under free speech. But can't you take a hint? We don't care. We want to live our lives.

Leave us alone.

(and yes, I know #notallchristians but it's enough of y'all for it to be a problem. Maybe you should address the issue at hand.)

As a queer Christian in an affirming church, the real answer is probably a toxic mixture of particular power relations and the use of religion as an ideology to mask those relations, right? It is what Kierkegaard famously called Christendom as opposed to Christ-ianity.

 

[ChristineM]

I think this goes back to the OT where they are taught to fear difference, to show distaste for difference, to object to difference, to destroy difference.

Ok the destroying it is not recommended now but they can still be quite voluble and intimidating about difference to their wishes.

As you say @Ashoka, #notallchristians but enough to cause a problem, and thdy know it

 

[Estro Felino]

It is Christian-like to respect other people's free will.
I think that's what a Christian should do.

 

[SomeRandom]

Whether it's at an LGBT event, a Pagan festival, or something as innocuous as a comic-con....street preachers abound. Christians harass women and other people who can have babies at clinics all the time.

This is just me asking you. Why do you guys feel the need to bother us so much? Can't you just leave us alone? Whatever happened to free will? Most of us grew up Christian, we know the Bible, we know about the "risks" we are taking. We non-Christians just want to live. Yes, technically in America it's protected under free speech. But can't you take a hint? We don't care. We want to live our lives.

Leave us alone.

(and yes, I know #notallchristians but it's enough of y'all for it to be a problem. Maybe you should address the issue at hand.)

Well, there is a common belief that if one does not “warn” others, then they are culpable for that soul going to Hell. Some sects take that to mean that if one does not go out and “preach the good word” their soul will end up in Hell for not warning their fellow man, when they had access to the “Truth TM.”
This can manifest in many ways and unfortunately one of those is indeed heckling and abusing others.
Which imo is not very Christ like, but whatever

And yes #notallchristians, obviously.
Most Christians I know are very “live and let live.”
Finding such abusive tactics to be abhorrent.
But I agree that it’s a problem

 

[Twilight Hue]

Whether it's at an LGBT event, a Pagan festival, or something as innocuous as a comic-con....street preachers abound. Christians harass women and other people who can have babies at clinics all the time.

This is just me asking you. Why do you guys feel the need to bother us so much? Can't you just leave us alone? Whatever happened to free will? Most of us grew up Christian, we know the Bible, we know about the "risks" we are taking. We non-Christians just want to live. Yes, technically in America it's protected under free speech. But can't you take a hint? We don't care. We want to live our lives.

Leave us alone.

(and yes, I know #notallchristians but it's enough of y'all for it to be a problem. Maybe you should address the issue at hand.)

There's this crazy verse.

Go ye into the world....

That's why they are problematic.

It might as well say

Go ye and crusade and create mayham.....

 

[Vinayaka]

Whether it's at an LGBT event, a Pagan festival, or something as innocuous as a comic-con....street preachers abound. Christians harass women and other people who can have babies at clinics all the time.

This is just me asking you. Why do you guys feel the need to bother us so much? Can't you just leave us alone? Whatever happened to free will? Most of us grew up Christian, we know the Bible, we know about the "risks" we are taking. We non-Christians just want to live. Yes, technically in America it's protected under free speech. But can't you take a hint? We don't care. We want to live our lives.

Leave us alone.

(and yes, I know #notallchristians but it's enough of y'all for it to be a problem. Maybe you should address the issue at hand.)

Teenagers like to do it too. I remember driving past a junior high school, and watching kids use the pedestrian crossing at a turtle's pace, while staring at me with a strange immature look of power, "Hey Mister, there ain't nothing you can do about this," laughing with their friends.

So I chock it up to immaturity mostly. They simply have yet to learn or acquire respect for other humans. In some past lifetime I'm sure I was just as annoying. So we live with it, and hope some day they'll just grow up.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

We are called to preach the Gospel to all nations so we can't just "leave people alone". People in free countries have a right to put their beliefs out there and many other groups do, as well. It used to be called the marketplace of ideas. There's groups I wish would shut up and keep their crap to themselves, but it's their right to "preach", too. There's more charitable ways to do this, though. The obnoxious behavior on behalf of some Christians is their own fault and they'll answer for it eventually.

 

[F1fan]

We are called to preach the Gospel to all nations so we can't just "leave people alone".

Who calls you to do this? And what makes them correct? And are you powerless to disobey them and make your own moral decision?

People in free countries have a right to put their beliefs out there and many other groups do, as well. It used to be called the marketplace of ideas.

It's debate. And some don't want it. They want their own peace of mind. So Christians should respect them.

There's groups I wish would shut up and keep their crap to themselves, but it's their right to "preach", too. There's more charitable ways to do this, though. The obnoxious behavior on behalf of some Christians is their own fault and they'll answer for it eventually.

What some Christians do goes beyond respect, and that is hypocritical and ironic to their ideals. The national problem int he USA is how the republicans are pushing evangelical policies, thus making Christianity political. The last three judges on the Supreme Court were picked to overturn Roe v Wade, and that is exactly what they did. This is the Christian agenda in America. They are hurting people. It's not just bothering people at their breakfast or at the mall about the "truth".

 

[Twilight Hue]

We are called to preach the Gospel to all nations so we can't just "leave people alone". People in free countries have a right to put their beliefs out there and many other groups do, as well. It used to be called the marketplace of ideas. There's groups I wish would shut up and keep their crap to themselves, but it's their right to "preach", too. There's more charitable ways to do this, though. The obnoxious behavior on behalf of some Christians is their own fault and they'll answer for it eventually.

I think leading by example serves much better than going about pestering others.

 

[Brian2]

Who calls you to do this? And what makes them correct? And are you powerless to disobey them and make your own moral decision?

I don't see in the Bible that Christians are told to push the Christian morality onto the world, that is not the gospel.

What some Christians do goes beyond respect, and that is hypocritical and ironic to their ideals. The national problem int he USA is how the republicans are pushing evangelical policies, thus making Christianity political. The last three judges on the Supreme Court were picked to overturn Roe v Wade, and that is exactly what they did. This is the Christian agenda in America. They are hurting people. It's not just bothering people at their breakfast or at the mall about the "truth".

That's just democracy. Atheist ideas are promoted in some parts of politics. If most of the US is supposedly Christian then it should not be surprising that Christian morality laws are promoted. What should be surprising is that in the US (a predominantly Christian nation) that there are so many anti Christian laws (or so I hear).

 

[Dao Hao Now]

That's just democracy. Atheist ideas are promoted in some parts of politics. If most of the US is supposedly Christian then it should not be surprising that Christian morality laws are promoted. What should be surprising is that in the US (a predominantly Christian nation) that there are so many anti Christian laws (or so I hear).

Might you give an example of an anti Christian law?

 

[Brian2]

Might you give an example of an anti Christian law?

No. There are no doubt plenty of laws that allow for non Christian morality and areas where it can be seen as offensive to wish people a Happy Christmas.

 

[syo]

They want to discuss religion too much, I guess.

 

[Aštra’el]

Whether it's at an LGBT event, a Pagan festival, or something as innocuous as a comic-con....street preachers abound. Christians harass women and other people who can have babies at clinics all the time.

This is just me asking you. Why do you guys feel the need to bother us so much? Can't you just leave us alone? Whatever happened to free will? Most of us grew up Christian, we know the Bible, we know about the "risks" we are taking. We non-Christians just want to live. Yes, technically in America it's protected under free speech. But can't you take a hint? We don't care. We want to live our lives.

Leave us alone.

(and yes, I know #notallchristians but it's enough of y'all for it to be a problem. Maybe you should address the issue at hand.)

Who are you talking to? I mean are there Christians on this website who are out here oppressing you?

From what I see they are a minority on RF. Many who show up appear genuinely excited to participate in awesome discussions about religion… but are instead met with the constant nonstop complaining, and the obsessive hate and antagonism towards Christianity, Conservatives, Republicans, and Right-wing views in general. So they leave and you are left with your echo chamber. The few who remain… I commend them for their perseverance.

 

[1213]

Whether it's at an LGBT event, a Pagan festival, or something as innocuous as a comic-con....street preachers abound. Christians harass women and other people who can have babies at clinics all the time.

This is just me asking you. Why do you guys feel the need to bother us so much? Can't you just leave us alone...

Nowadays we have whole pride month where alphabet propaganda is pushed to everyone. In comparison to that some rare preacher is extremely small disturbance. So, if preachers leave you alone, should LGB... group also leave others alone and keep their issues private?

 

[Ashoka]

Nowadays we have whole pride month where alphabet propaganda is pushed to everyone. In comparison to that some rare preacher is extremely small disturbance. So, if preachers leave you alone, should LGB... group also leave others alone and keep their issues private?

The difference is, Christians willfully and purposefully go into gatherings that are not for them, and invade spaces that are not for them. The LGBT community wants to be accepted in society. We don't go door to door. We don't disrupt church services (though there have been isolated incidents). We don't stand outside hospitals and call women the w word because she's making a decision about her body.

It's not "rare" it happens everyday at clinics, in pagan spaces, in places where proselytizing is unwelcome. And those who don't often tolerate it, though they stay silent.

Who are you talking to? I mean are there Christians on this website who are out here oppressing you?

It's not that there are specific Christians on this forum, it's a general statement about how Christians will invade spaces, such as in the thread about a neo-pagan festival, that are not for them. They will do this, again, at clinics, at community festivals and gatherings for the LGBT community...it's invasive, annoying, and needs to stop.

We are called to preach the Gospel to all nations so we can't just "leave people alone". People in free countries have a right to put their beliefs out there and many other groups do, as well. It used to be called the marketplace of ideas. There's groups I wish would shut up and keep their crap to themselves, but it's their right to "preach", too. There's more charitable ways to do this, though. The obnoxious behavior on behalf of some Christians is their own fault and they'll answer for it eventually.

Yes, but it's a thin line between sharing your beliefs and harassment. When it becomes harassment, then we have a problem. Honestly? If a Christian wants to share their story about how Christianity helped them, go for it. I actually have no problem with that. It becomes a problem when Christians say that we must believe, and then threaten us with eternal hell if we don't.

 

[F1fan]

I don't see in the Bible that Christians are told to push the Christian morality onto the world, that is not the gospel.

So you're saying that the Christians who assume they have a duty to spread the word are wrong?

That's just democracy.

Democracies should follow the will of the people, with certain limits. When a religious group takes over political power and impose their beliefs onto society it is no longer a democracy. What the republicans did to ensure they got a majority of far right extremist judges was unethical and bad faith. It was all legal, but it was bad faith, and going against the ethical norms. It's just bad politics more than just democracy.

Atheist ideas are promoted in some parts of politics.

Really, what atheist ideas are you referring to? And where are they being promoted?

[quoteIf most of the US is supposedly Christian then it should not be surprising that Christian morality laws are promoted. [/quote]
The problem there is no set "Christian morality". Liberal Christians disagree on many moral issues from conservative Christians. In the case of abortion and other issues like book banning it is only conservative Christians imposing their moral beliefs, and many moderate and liberal Christians disagree. But the conservative Christians are aligning with republicans and imposing unpopular ideas onto all of society.

What should be surprising is that in the US (a predominantly Christian nation) that there are so many anti Christian laws (or so I hear).

Really, here's an extraordinary claim, do you have any examples and evidence?

 

[Dao Hao Now]

No. There are no doubt plenty of laws that allow for non Christian morality and areas where it can be seen as offensive to wish people a Happy Christmas.

So, you say there are anti Christian laws qualified with “(or so I hear)” and when asked for an example of one of these laws, you can’t give one, but say there is no doubt plenty of them?

If you wish to be taken seriously, you’ll have to do better than that.

Is it possible all these “laws” you “hear” about are in your imagination?

 

[Brian2]

Caring enough to bother people is better than indifference.