Why do people strongly dislike Christians?

[hamashiachagape]

I have to disagree. People in the ancient near east were way too spiritual in their thinking to intellectualize Love and Compassion.

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Right..we've already demonstrated to the contrary with Yeshua's definition of keeping his commandments, and Paul's expression in 1 Corinthians 13.

We''ll need an example from your post dated source, the Quran perhaps, please?

 

[SageTree]

Why do people strongly dislike Christians? Over and over again I constantly hear folks say that they strongly dislike Christians. Why? Jesus' message was one of love. Christians should be loved, not strongly disliked.

anybody?

love,

tuck

I would say because people often 'hate on' the things they see the most in the news and know the least about through experience. The same reason people hate most things in this world. Which is a sad way to carry on.

In kind
SageTree

 

[hamashiachagape]

I would say because people often 'hate on' the things they see the most in the news and know the least about through experience. The same reason people hate most things in this world. Which is a sad way to carry on.

In kind
SageTree

Well, I think the reason is different than the reason people hate most things in the world.

But you do have a point on the first sentence. Its important to research material and find out the truth for yourself.

 

[Jane_the_Bane]

Personally, I do not dislike Christians. I feel a healthy disdain for extremism and fanatism (regardless of the world view behind them), and have a very low tolerance for people who want to shove their religion or world view down everybody else's throat.

That applies just as much to the most obnoxious evangelicals/fundamentalists as it does to the crusading "New Atheists", Communist revolutionaries, free market proselytizers, radical ecoterrorists, Big Money lobby puppets and so on and so forth.

 

[He's Coming Soon]

We should be. What is love though? One must define that first, in Ancient Near East terms. Ahava, and Agape primarily is a good description of what we mean. Its more of a tough love. Not a love that says we can do whatever we want to do. There is respect involved too, both for God and our fellow man. So if we love the Lord our God with all our hearts, and follow his commands, then love can be exemplified through us.

Love God, one another, "Be"

​

 

[hamashiachagape]

Personally, I do not dislike Christians. I feel a healthy disdain for extremism and fanatism (regardless of the world view behind them), and have a very low tolerance for people who want to shove their religion or world view down everybody else's throat.

That applies just as much to the most obnoxious evangelicals/fundamentalists as it does to the crusading "New Atheists", Communist revolutionaries, free market proselytizers, radical ecoterrorists, Big Money lobby puppets and so on and so forth.

You know, thats right. And God does not call us to act this way. Instead, we are supposed to dust our feet off and move to another area. It is a free will decision as to whether you accept God or not. However, there is another understanding that comes along with this. A responsibility in fact. If one decides to reject God's commandments, he/she will face consequences for their actions.

 

[merryheart]

I disagree with this. Its supporting an Agnostic concept of love. And I happen to believe that, well, even according to Josh McDowell terms, Agnostic theology and philosophy knows too much about itself.

I believe the essence of God is too big for our puny minds. After all, his ways are higher than our ways (to the Muslim, this doesn't mean we can't have a finite knowledge about God though). But remember, that Jesus says, "if you love me, you'll keep my commandments." Thats where the expression really is.

how can you call what i said agnostic?

 

[hamashiachagape]

how can you call what i said agnostic?

You seemed, and I might be wrong regarding your understanding as opposed to what was inclined through the statement being made, that God's love was inconceivable to our puny minds. I don't think you meant that, but I wanted to correct the statement moreso than anything else.

A more appropriate response I believe is that love can be defined, and has been defined for humans to understand via the means of God. The true depth as to how far this extenuates is only understood by God.

 

[merryheart]

I disagree with this. Its supporting an Agnostic concept of love. And I happen to believe that, well, even according to Josh McDowell terms, Agnostic theology and philosophy knows too much about itself.

I believe the essence of God is too big for our puny minds. After all, his ways are higher than our ways (to the Muslim, this doesn't mean we can't have a finite knowledge about God though). But remember, that Jesus says, "if you love me, you'll keep my commandments." Thats where the expression really is.

You seemed, and I might be wrong regarding your understanding as opposed to what was inclined through the statement being made, that God's love was inconceivable to our puny minds. I don't think you meant that, but I wanted to correct the statement moreso than anything else.

God's love *is* too big for our puny minds. Try downloading some of it sometime, and you will see

God has revealed to us some ways to grab ahold of that love - in the life of Jesus, and in the revelation to Paul that he recorded in I cor 13 among others - however - God's love is not contained or boxed in any way by our ability to comprehend it. nothing agnostic here... agnosticism says that there may or may not be a supreme being, and that the agnostic doesnt really care. that would *not* be me.

 

[hamashiachagape]

God's love *is* too big for our puny minds. Try downloading some of it sometime, and you will see

God has revealed to us some ways to grab ahold of that love - in the life of Jesus, and in the revelation to Paul that he recorded in I cor 13 among others - however - God's love is not contained or boxed in any way by our ability to comprehend it. nothing agnostic here... agnosticism says that there may or may not be a supreme being, and that the agnostic doesnt really care. that would *not* be me.

Even by your admission that we are capable of downloading, you are agreeing with me.

God is not the author of confusion. Since this is so, it follows his definitions are those of truth. Since love has been defined through the word for us...it necessarily follows that God simply has a more infinite understanding of this, while our finite minds are only able to understand a part.

 

[The4thrider]

I appreciate this objective truth.

No problem, I call it like i see it. Everyone needs a jester.

 

[dlamberth]

Right..we've already demonstrated to the contrary with Yeshua's definition of keeping his commandments, and Paul's expression in 1 Corinthians 13.

We''ll need an example from your post dated source, the Quran perhaps, please?

The Middle-Eastern languages of Hebrew, Aramaic and Arabic are very spiritual in nature. The language Paul wrote in which is Greek is not spiritual at all. Greek is more like English in that regard. My pesonal oppinion is that much got lost in the Greek because it isn't a spiritual language.

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[hamashiachagape]

The Middle-Eastern languages of Hebrew, Aramaic and Arabic are very spiritual in nature. The language Paul wrote in which is Greek is not spiritual at all. Greek is more like English in that regard. My pesonal oppinion is that much got lost in the Greek because it isn't a spiritual language.

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No they are conceptual in nature. Theres a difference.

Not so. You've jumped from language to culture here. ANE culture to Hellenistic to be exact. The understanding is what is of importance. You're thinking of the understanding of the nation of Greece vs. the understanding of a Jew. Don't forget who Paul was.....Romans 3:1.

 

[merryheart]

Even by your admission that we are capable of downloading, you are agreeing with me.

nawwwwww.... if you try - you will overflow

 

[dlamberth]

Even by your admission that we are capable of downloading, you are agreeing with me.

God is not the author of confusion. Since this is so, it follows his definitions are those of truth. Since love has been defined through the word for us...it necessarily follows that God simply has a more infinite understanding of this, while our finite minds are only able to understand a part.

Though our minds have a finite understanding of love, our hearts are able to fully express it and experience it. Human Beings, more than any other of God's Creations are made to respond to Love. In the potential of Love, I feel that God has blessed His Human Creation.

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[hamashiachagape]

Though our minds have a finite understanding of love, our hearts are able to fully express it and experience it. Human Beings, more than any other of God's Creations are made to respond to Love. In the potential of Love, I feel that God has blessed His Human Creation.

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Based off of a modernistic definition of love this makes sense.

The second sentence I agree with. As with the third.

Again, based off of what I'm talking about, we're looking at somethin totally different.

 

[SageTree]

Well, I think the reason is different than the reason people hate most things in the world.

But you do have a point on the first sentence. Its important to research material and find out the truth for yourself.

Fair enough...

I don't usually paint such broad stroke and would like to hear if you want take a pass with it perhaps? Unless you'd wish you get more specific of course.


Basically what I was getting at is that people don't 'hate' everything, but there are more than a couple people who talk firmly about things they don't know anything about.

Namaste
SageTree

 

[hamashiachagape]

Fair enough...

I don't usually paint such broad stroke and would like to hear if you want take a pass with it perhaps? Unless you'd wish you get more specific of course.


Basically what I was getting at is that people don't 'hate' everything, but there are more than a couple people who talk firmly about things they don't know anything about.

Namaste
SageTree

. Pretty spot on there.

 

[merryheart]

Ephesians 3
14For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15from whom his whole family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

 

[dlamberth]

No they are conceptual in nature. Theres a difference.

Not so. You've jumped from language to culture here. ANE culture to be exact. The understanding is what is of importance. You're thinking of the understanding of the nation of Greece vs. the understanding of a Jew. Don't forget who Paul was.....Romans 3:1.

Language is culture. If a culture speaks a language with spiritual images, that culture become spiritual in nature. The ancient middle-eastern desert lovers of God were very spiritual in their understanding of the world. The spiritual was their vision of life itself, including Love and Compassion. The Greek, not so.


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