Christophobia

[Pheehp]

i am personally just terrified of organised religion. theocracy would be the end of us all. these fears arent irrational to my mind (tho im sure ppl with phobias always see their fear as rational... so im not sure if im being phobic - curious)

 

[NothingButTheBlood]

I seriously doubt that if Christians were rounded up and placed in camps or disappeared the country would say a word.

 

[JGG]

I seriously doubt that if Christians were rounded up and placed in camps or disappeared the country would say a word.

And who do you think would round them up?

 

[FadingWhispers3]

I seriously doubt that if Christians were rounded up and placed in camps or disappeared the country would say a word.

You should move to America. Christians are quite safe here.

 

[NothingButTheBlood]

I am American.

 

[cobaltburrito]

I seriously doubt that if Christians were rounded up and placed in camps or disappeared the country would say a word.

Do you honestly feel that way?

The fact is that the majority of this nation is Christian in some shape or form.

 

[icbeckyc]

I can see why some could have a phobia when it comes to the Christian religion. There are some very loud obnoxious ones out there. They make me cringe. Just wanted to make a note. We aren't all like that. Alot of us sit and watch them on tv and go, oh no they're at it again. Of couse we have all probably offened a non believer because they don't agree with us, but I am willing to guess most nonbelievers have made a Christian upset at some point too. Anyways, just thought Iput in my 2 cents. lol

 

[JGG]

Yes I do. I think that certain Christians would over look others being picked up and many so called Christians don't really practice the faith. What do they care if church goers are hulled off. This is not a Christian nation.

Again, who do you see as the perpetrator of such a crime?

 

[CSmrw]

I seriously doubt that if Christians were rounded up and placed in camps or disappeared the country would say a word.

Either you are using a strange definition of the term "Christians" or you are flat wrong. If they herded any group up and put them in camps based on religious affiliation I personally would be screaming my head off and demanding that those in charge be thrown out by any means. The fact that they are doing something vaguley like that in Guantanamo has had me write a letter or two and I suspect many of the people in there are in fact dangerous people. But the principal is the main concern of true Americans.

 

[Garnet2727]

I'm probably a Christophobe because I have to admit that my fear of certain Christians borders on irrationality. After my experiences in Montgomery, AL with some Christians, I've reached a point that if someone in real life tells me they are a Christian I distance myself from that person immediately...politely but immediately. I find that I can no longer risk a new friendship with a Christian because of how badly I was treated and turned upon in Alabama. I'm not going those nightmares again.

I maintain relationships and friendships with Christians that I knew before then. Most of my family are Christians and I have several Christian friends whom I trust and enjoy.

So, I don't know. I'm probably throwing the baby out with the bath water with respect to new acquaintances yet I can't seem to stop my immediate and adverse reaction to "I'm a Christian."

 

[CSmrw]

I'm probably a Christophobe because I have to admit that my fear of certain Christians borders on irrationality. After my experiences in Montgomery, AL with some Christians, I've reached a point that if someone in real life tells me they are a Christian I distance myself from that person immediately...politely but immediately. I find that I can no longer risk a new friendship with a Christian because of how badly I was treated and turned upon in Alabama. I'm not going those nightmares again.

I maintain relationships and friendships with Christians that I knew before then. Most of my family are Christians and I have several Christian friends whom I trust and enjoy.

So, I don't know. I'm probably throwing the baby out with the bath water with respect to new acquaintances yet I can't seem to stop my immediate and adverse reaction to "I'm a Christian."

So now I gotta know what happened in 'bama...

 

[Garnet2727]

So now I gotta know what happened in 'bama...

I haven't written about it in a long time here so here's the Readers Digest version:

My tires were slashed and my windows were broken on my car because I had a Darwin fish on the back. The fish was ripped off and wrapped in a vile note which was left on my front seat. It left no doubt as to the reason for the crime. The police did come and take a report but I was advised that "People don't take well to those things here. You ought to be more careful."

I was harrassed and stalked by a street preacher. I eventually had to get an order of protection.

A co-worker attempted to "witness" to me while I was in the bathroom, properly disposing of solid waste.

No matter how many times and how politely I declined to discuss religion, I was continually asked my views and invited to church. It came to a head during a meeting where two of my co-workers stated their intended goal was for me to agree to come to church that Sunday. I politley declined and attempted to change the subject. They continued to ask why, why, why. Finally, one of them said, "What's the matter, are you some kind of atheist?" I made the mistake of replying, "Yes, I am." Well, it stopped the invitations but....

I was whispered about in hallways, just in my hearing, called that "Yankee Atheist" (I was born in Oklahoma...is that Yankee land?) and other kind names like "Satan Worshiper" "Devils Daughter" "Leftist Commie" (The last I find somewhat funny as politically I'm a moderate and far from a Communist.)

Pamphlets, tracts and scriptures were piled on my desk in my absence. To the point that there was almost a trashcan full every day. Once, my cube walls, my computer and my seat were completely covered with scriptures and tracts using duct tape. Ever try to get the residue of duct tape off of a computer screen?

A couple of days after this, my car was once again targeted. This time, completely covered with scriptures and tracts using duct tape. It took me 3 hours to get all the stuff off my car.

I was marginalized in ways I shan't take the time to describe here. I shan't describe the numerous and unwelcome attempts to "witness" to me despite my repeated pleas to be left alone. I shan't describe the times that I was confronted in anger or in scorn. Eventually, I was fired. And this was at a State agency.

Like I said, Reader's Digest version and only a small part of the garbage I went through.

 

[CSmrw]

Wow. I mean wow. Part of me, the "man" part of me who once threatened the guy who beat up my mom when I was a kid, that part wishes I could have been there. The adult part of me...wishes I could have been there.

 

[cobaltburrito]

Ah, Garnet, you had a eventful time in my former home state.
Although I never experienced the level of harassment you did, I know what it is you are talking about.

 

[Rae]

I've been afraid to admit I'm a non-Christian before because of the lousy way I'd be treated if I did, yes. There are numerous prejudiced Christians out there who do treat non-Christians unfairly. I've seen the Christian writings that demonize my faith and all members of it. I've seen even moderate to liberal Christians say horrible, hateful, hurtful things about non-Christians and atheists. The only way I'll let people know my religious affiliation in real life is if I already have a good reason to believe they aren't biased, like being part of my church or role-playing community.

 

[tocis]

Christians can have a strong tendency to judge others and to impose on others. We ignore the lessons of Jesus and the Bible and instead follow a twisted group-think method of "saving everyone" but we never consider the fact that when we're going out and imposing our beliefs on others that we're forcing our opinions onto others in an unsolicited manner.

Exactly. For the very same reason I would never try to proselytize for whatever faith, even if that faith would tell me to do so. Well, these are bold words of course, but in my current situation this is exactly what I think. For, either one already "hears the call" - then she'll go searching for the caller all by herself. I might offer some help along the way, but only if asked. Or, one doesn't hear the call - then she's likely to dismiss all I could ever say to try and convert her. So what's the point really?

We (and obviously I'm generalizing, but I've seen these things happen) hand out pamphlets telling people they're going to go to hell if they don't live the right type of life when instead we should just offer up the positive impacts God has had on our life when asked for our thoughts and opinions.

Yup. So many christians try to impress me (well, both me personally, and all non-christians) with quotes from their holy book et al, at the same time acting in clear contradiction of the scripture they present. What could impress me (and indeed does, from time to time) is actually being a good example. Sadly, this type of christian seems to be extremely rare - at least online.
Was it Ghandi who once said "I like your Christ, but I don't like your christians. Your christians are so unlike your Christ"?

We condemn movies, plays, and other arts as being tools of the devil, but at the same time we expect freedom of religion. How are others not entitled to have those same freedoms in their own beliefs?

Exactly. The blade cuts both ways, and to ignore that is to send the message "I don't care (self-censored) about you, I just want another head for my converted-believers-belt"... whether you want it or not.
Everyone is entitled to her own opinion. That's fine. If you think that, for example, evolutionary biology is of the devil, fine with me (though I admit I find that thought quite silly). But if you start running around and trying to convince others of that same thing, you better either have some very good objective evidence, or you're gonna do your faith a whopping disservice.
With the evolution/creationism "controversy" just being one of many examples actually. Not wanting to turn this into an evo/crea debate.

 

[tocis]

I seriously doubt that if Christians were rounded up and placed in camps or disappeared the country would say a word.

Fundamentalists, maybe. Depending on the degree of violation of your constitution they indulge in.
Christians, no. That would be unconstitutional to the extreme, and unless your democracy is nothing but a sham anymore anyway, there should be one Niflhel of an outcry.

 

[tocis]

I can see why some could have a phobia when it comes to the Christian religion. There are some very loud obnoxious ones out there. They make me cringe. Just wanted to make a note. We aren't all like that. Alot of us sit and watch them on tv and go, oh no they're at it again.

Good to hear that... although methinks this begs for the same question that is commonly asked of the moderate/liberal muslims quite often. The raving mad fundamentalists do damage to you as well as to the ones they choose to be The Enemy. What do you do to send the message, clear and loud, that you aren't like them?
Doesn't necessarily apply to you personally, but as a whole it seems to me that the "cool christians" are saddeningly silent while the fundamentalists occupy more and more of what symbolizes their faith in the public eye.

 

[tocis]

Yes I do. I think that certain Christians would over look others being picked up and many so called Christians don't really practice the faith.

Aaah, but what is your faith?
Christianity can mean "Love your neighbor, that's all that's important". Easily backed up by the bible.
It can also mean "Hunt down and kill everyone who doesn't believe exactly like you do". Just as easily backed up by the bible.
Unfortunately the bible isn't really clear about what of the contradictory commandments are the ones you really have to follow.

What do they care if church goers are hulled off. This is not a Christian nation.

Non sequitur. Just because the US aren't (yet?) an officially christian nation does not mean that no one will care if christians are persecuted.

 

[tocis]

...I was marginalized in ways I shan't take the time to describe here. I shan't describe the numerous and unwelcome attempts to "witness" to me despite my repeated pleas to be left alone. I shan't describe the times that I was confronted in anger or in scorn. Eventually, I was fired. And this was at a State agency...

(Emphasis mine)

Does anyone in this thread still dare to claim "This is not a christian nation"? Not officially, granted. But looking at the way things are...