Why do non and anti Christians tell Christians how to be Christian?

[Polycarp_fan]

Why do non and anti Christians tell Christians how to be Christian?

What is the basis for justifying this?

They even go so far as to quote the Bible often, saying how Christ Jesus dealt with issues and how and why Christians should live their lives.

Why do non and anti Christians feel they have the perspective (and the right) to tell Christians what to do as Christians and how to be a Christian? Or, what it means to be a Christian if, you claim to be one?

Doesn't this mean that the Bible IS clear on the issues?

At least in terms of how a Christian should be a Christian?

 

[Andreusz]

You frequently tell atheists what they believe, and even though people try to point out that you're wrong, you never listen.

I was brought up in a very Christian environment, and have read the Bible several times. I also like to read books on theology. So I think I have a very good idea of what Christianity says, and what Christians are expected to believe.

 

[OphidiaPhile]

You frequently tell atheists what they believe, and even though people try to point out that you're wrong, you never listen.

I was brought up in a very Christian environment, and have read the Bible several times. I also like to read books on theology. So I think I have a very good idea of what Christianity says, and what Christians are expected to believe.

You beat me to, it it is a tit for tat response to Christians that feel like they have the high moral ground to dictate to society how to behave.


I was actually raised Baptist and at about 8 years old started to question the logic of God, by the age of 10 came to the conclusion that the more I was taught the more it was exactly like the fairy tales told to me as a child. One day I told the priest/pastor that God was an illogical idea and only dumb people believed it and was promptly kicked out of the church.

 

[Alexandrah]

I was raised Christian. I de-converted because although everyone around me claimed to be Christian I could not find Christ in their hearts, words, or actions.

Going to church and reading the bible does not make you a Christian, much in the same way that standing in a garage does not make you a car.

 

[jayem]

Why do non and anti Christians tell Christians how to be Christian?

What is the basis for justifying this?

They've learned it from the example of how Christians have treated each other. Which isn't so pretty, considering how Christians have fought wars with each other over whether the true church is Catholic or Protestant. They've fought about whether God is one person or three. Whether infants or adults should be baptised. Whether God choses who is saved or people make that choice. And lots of other such metaphysical silliness.

AFAIK, non-theists don't kill each other over whether evolution proceeds by steady change or puctuated equilibrium.

 

[cantata]

I guess they're making the effort to speak to Christians on their own terms.

 

[Axioma]

Because non-Christians are the only people who actually bother reading the Bible. Christians have priests who read the Bible for them and spoon-feed them select passages.

 

[Alexandrah]

AFAIK, non-theists don't kill each other over whether evolution proceeds by steady change or puctuated equilibrium.

 

[wanderingone]

Because non-Christians are the only people who actually bother reading the Bible. Christians have priests who read the Bible for them and spoon-feed them select passages.

We don't all have priests, and quite a few of us read the Bible but thanks for generalizing.

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[Axioma]

We don't all have priests, and quite a few of us read the Bible but thanks for generalizing.

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It is entirely possible I may have exaggerated for effect.

 

[wanderingone]

It is entirely possible I may have exaggerated for effect.

But you know I gotta call you on it

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In terms of the OP I can't fathom why one who believes someone who isn't a Christian has no valid point to make would care why atheists, agnostics, people of faiths other than Christian have anything to say about how to be a Christian.

In my own opinion I look at the tremendous number of Christians who insist that appearances are important in terms of their witness that intent doesn't matter if people can't see past the surface. That just the appearance of evil can turn people away from God.

If they truly believe this then being told by someone who is not of the same faith that they are doing something that appears to be in direct opposition to the faith they claim then they need to consider their witness, and at the very least be ready to discuss their actions with someone who questions how it lines up with the faith.

 

[lawtonfogle]

Why do non and anti Christians tell Christians how to be Christian?

What is the basis for justifying this?

They even go so far as to quote the Bible often, saying how Christ Jesus dealt with issues and how and why Christians should live their lives.

Why do non and anti Christians feel they have the perspective (and the right) to tell Christians what to do as Christians and how to be a Christian? Or, what it means to be a Christian if, you claim to be one?

Doesn't this mean that the Bible IS clear on the issues?

At least in terms of how a Christian should be a Christian?

As a fourth grader I corrected a Ph.D. on some of his math. While he had a complex proof for a certain phenomenon which I still probably can't understand, I thought about it a bit, and made a single counter example using simple math (nothing more than +-*/), and thus disproved his argument.

I don't have to be a biologist to say when their science fails, only a basic understanding of biology, logic, and the scientific method. I don't need to be a lawyer or a philosopher to say a law is injust. As such, one doesn't need to be a Christian to say "Your doing it wrong!"

 

[acropolis]

well, christians spend a lot of time telling non-christians how to live, so it's only fair.

 

[Sylvanspirits]

The Bible is quite clear on how a Christian should be a Christian, and I'd say that even if I didn't believe. What atheists and other non-Christians disagree with is the claim to divinity. However, you don't have to believe in something to point out what it says. A lot of athiests are considerably well read when it comes to religion, and I honestly think more Christians could stand to examine the Bible themselves.

Personally, I find seeing how it was translated from the Greek and Hebrew sources fascinating, and that it really gives some insight into several passages, since some Greek and Hebrew words don't really have exact equivalents in the English language.

 

[PassionFruit]

Because half the time it seems that many Christians don't seem to follow the teachings of Christ.

Growing up as a Christian I had my share of seeing considerable hypocrisy from many Christians. So yes, you could say that the bible is clear on how to be Christian even though people may still have very different interpretations.

A lot of athiests are considerably well read when it comes to religion, and I honestly think more Christians could stand to examine the Bible themselves.

I would agree. I mean, I've spoken to a lot of self professed Christians and sometimes when I speak to them I wonder if they've actually read their bibles. :o

 

[jcook922]

Why do non and anti Christians tell Christians how to be Christian?

What is the basis for justifying this?

They even go so far as to quote the Bible often, saying how Christ Jesus dealt with issues and how and why Christians should live their lives.

Why do non and anti Christians feel they have the perspective (and the right) to tell Christians what to do as Christians and how to be a Christian? Or, what it means to be a Christian if, you claim to be one?

Doesn't this mean that the Bible IS clear on the issues?

At least in terms of how a Christian should be a Christian?

Because Christians try to tell Secularists how to be Secular, and how to live our lives, or even interfere in how said lives are lived. Golden rule.

 

[PassionFruit]

Because Christians try to tell Secularists how to be Secular, and how to live our lives, or even interfere in how said lives are lived. Golden rule.

Hmmm......you know I was always under the impression that you have those Christians who tell secular folks that they're immoral.

 

[Holy Roller]

One day I told the priest/pastor that God was an illogical idea and only dumb people believed it and was promptly kicked out of the church.

Then why do you feel offended whenever I question the quality of your intellect?
Why are you allowed to but I can't?

 

[Holy Roller]

They've learned it from the example of how Christians have treated each other. Which isn't so pretty, considering how Christians have fought wars with each other over whether the true church is Catholic or Protestant. They've fought about whether God is one person or three. Whether infants or adults should be baptised. Whether God choses who is saved or people make that choice. And lots of other such metaphysical silliness.

AFAIK, non-theists don't kill each other over whether evolution proceeds by steady change or puctuated equilibrium.

Shouldn't you at least do some reading of western history before making an uneducated, boorish statement like this?
Tell me. What is it going to be? Did Christians commit atrocities in the name of religion during the crusades or didn't they? Or did they fight amongst themselves during the crusades? Or did they join together and ruthlessly kill Muslims just to acquire Jerusalem? Or did they lend support to the Byzantine empire when Emperor Alexander was being overrun by Turks?

Which one is it, jayem?

It has to be one of these reasons!

My G-d, Atheists are so confused about western history it's not even funny!

 

[wanderingone]

One day I told the priest/pastor that God was an illogical idea and only dumb people believed it and was promptly kicked out of the church.

Somehow I'm not surprised that calling people "dumb" isn't well received. Depending on the situation I'm inclined to say kicking someone out of the church for such commentary may or may not have been appropriate.

I understand that atheist find the belief in any deity to be illogical. I find the behavior of some believers towards those who don't believe to be particularly atrocious. Some folks look at atheists as though they were some kind of puppy torturing sadists and treat them worse. I don't appreciate snarky comments (is snarky a word?) from people who aren't Christian about Christians in general. (any more than most atheists appreciate similar comments about atheists in general)

If one asks for some level of reasonable debate and discussion the only way to have it is to avoid silly insults. If one is here just to bait the believers I wonder why they wouldn't have better things to do. I also wonder why some Christians take the bait.