Misconceptions

[awitch]

Not sure.
I think he means misconceptions from outsiders looking in. Kinda hard to tell.

Yeah, I meant what does anyone not of the same faith/denomination as you commonly misunderstand. I emphasized "personal" so people would answer on an individual level instead of the faith in general.

 

[Robban]

QUOTE="awitch, post: 70085428, member: 219621"]Yeah, I meant what does anyone not of the same faith/denomination as you commonly misunderstand. I emphasized "personal" so people would answer on an individual level instead of the faith in general.[/QUOTE]

If it is personal then you don't trumpet it out,
Like in a marriage, you don't shout from the rooftops.

Ones actions or doings however can cause sometimes arkward questions,
because they seem to come from out of the blue,

Also, there is often the tiresome not really questions but more puzzled
utterences, "Why don't you do this or that?"
"Why can't you be like us?"

It's like a guy who helps his wife change the curtains once a week,
So his friend asks him if he is going to see the match,

"No" he replies,
"Why not" asks his friend,
"Because I am going to help my wife change the curtains"
"Why do you have to help your wife change the curtains every week?"
"Because she is my wife."

 

[Robban]

To add, maybe of interest maybe not.

(A few lines taken from the correspondece of the Rebbe)

"A man who finds a wife finds goodness and evokes favor from G-d who is good."

This refers to all types of goodness,
both material and spiritual,

If the verse is speaking about (the woman) herself............
if the verse is speaking about the Torah.

 

[Jane_the_Bane]

1. Not believing in dualist misconceptions about a spirit/matter-dichotomy renders me a hedonistic materialist who's just snipped off the "spirit"-part and kept the matter.
2. I just don't affirm that I believe in literal, personal god(s) (but know it deep down in my heart) because I want to sin more.
3. Not being [insert random religious affiliation here] means I'm unenlightened, in need of saving, and/or ignorant of the faith's tenets and beliefs.

 

[Jane_the_Bane]

Double post

 

[Jane_the_Bane]

Triple post.

 

[Sif]

What are the top three misconceptions about your personal faith (or lack thereof)?

1. That because I am not a Christian I am, for some reason, promiscuous
2. That I am because I am not a Christian and I an horrible and evil person
3. That the only reason I am not a Christian is because I love "sinning" and just want to go on "sinning"

 

[ViaCrucis]

2. Christians don't need to get married.

How is this a misconception? There is no requirement for Christians to be married. St. Paul himself believed celibacy to be a preferable condition than matrimony, the Lord Himself says that there are those who are "eunuchs" for the sake of the kingdom. Celibacy, as a choice, has a longstanding history and tradition in Christianity. The Church blesses both the celibate life and the married life; these are both equally blessed expressions of human sexuality in the Church.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[ViaCrucis]

1. That because I'm a Christian I must be anti-science.
2. That because I'm a Christian I must adhere to certain modernistic moralistic "norms" such as teetotalism.
3. That because I'm a Christian I must be a political conservative or a Republican.
4. That because I'm a Christian I must hate ____ (fill in the blank with any group of people: atheists, Muslims, Jews, LGBT, Pagans, etc)
5. That because I'm a Christian I must not be intelligent, or capable of rational thought, or that I can't think for myself.
6. That because I'm a Christian I must think that I'm better than other people.
7. Following from point 3; that all Christians are a monolithic group when it comes to political views.
8. Most personally, I think, is how I have often been told that because I accept science, or that I'm not a conservative, or (etc) I'm not a "real Christian"; specifically when I am told this by those who aren't Christian. I've even been given it as an intended compliment (which I don't consider it to be), that "Oh, you're not like those real Christians, you know what I mean, you aren't against evolution"--that's not a compliment, it's like telling a black person, "Oh, well you're not like regular black people, you speak well." or to a Muslim, "You know what I mean, you don't take your religion seriously like those Al Quada types". It's to assume the absolute worst about a group of people and then to think it a compliment that someone doesn't fit the prejudiced stereotype, that's not a compliment, it's just insulting.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[farout]

How is this a misconception? There is no requirement for Christians to be married. St. Paul himself believed celibacy to be a preferable condition than matrimony, the Lord Himself says that there are those who are "eunuchs" for the sake of the kingdom. Celibacy, as a choice, has a longstanding history and tradition in Christianity. The Church blesses both the celibate life and the married life; these are both equally blessed expressions of human sexuality in the Church.

-CryptoLutheran

I am refereeing to Christians living together and not getting married. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[Chesterton]

Yeah, I meant what does anyone not of the same faith/denomination as you commonly misunderstand. I emphasized "personal" so people would answer on an individual level instead of the faith in general.

I was gonna answer differently 'til I saw this post. On a personal level I think misconceptions occur due to differences between worldly values and Christian values. Personal misconceptions I've actually experienced:

1. Violence - a man challenges me to a fight and I turn the other cheek and walk away, and I'm seen as a coward.

2. Sex - a woman, let's say, offers me her honor and I decline to honor her offer, and I'm seen as weird or queer, or somehow inadequate or something.

3. Money - I take a humble job which is beneath my qualifications and pays less than I could earn, because I want to live simply and I don't really care about money, and I'm seen as lazy or lacking ambition. Also, I don't sue a relative when I have a legitimate lawsuit, and I'm just seen as "stupid about money".

 

[redblue22]

1. I am the devil, antichrist, etc. and I have secret lying selfish dark motives. (some see positive or think I look the part.)
2. If I do good or share my beliefs, it is because I am trying earn points with God or work to get in heaven.
3. That my words and questions are meant to harm others or judge them or put them down sarcastically.
4. I am stupid and not a real [fill in the blank with compliment or positive assessment or career or whatever.]

 

[Jane_the_Bane]

I was gonna answer differently 'til I saw this post. On a personal level I think misconceptions occur due to differences between worldly values and Christian values. Personal misconceptions I've actually experienced:

1. Violence - a man challenges me to a fight and I turn the other cheek and walk away, and I'm seen as a coward.

2. Sex - a woman, let's say, offers me her honor and I decline to honor her offer, and I'm seen as weird or queer, or somehow inadequate or something.

3. Money - I take a humble job which is beneath my qualifications and pays less than I could earn, because I want to live simply and I don't really care about money, and I'm seen as lazy or lacking ambition. Also, I don't sue a relative when I have a legitimate lawsuit, and I'm just seen as "stupid about money".

What country are you from, Chesterton? Just so I can give it a wide berth.

I'm as sex-positive as it gets, and as a polyamorous, genderfluid pansexual, I'm probably as far removed from traditional Christian values as it gets. Yet I'd never think less of a person (male or female) for refusing a sexual offer.

 

[juvenissun]

[QUOTE="Zoness, post: 70079143, member: 229057"
3. Pagans have no morals, anything goes.[/QUOTE]

Pagans has too many personal morals. That simply says it has no moral.
For example, I am sure you have your morals. But many other pagans won't agree with you. And sometimes, the laws do not agree with you. When you collect all personal pagan morals together, it is pretty much equivalent to anything goes.

 

[awitch]

[QUOTE="Zoness, post: 70079143, member: 229057"
3. Pagans have no morals, anything goes.

Pagans has too many personal morals. That simply says it has no moral.
For example, I am sure you have your morals. But many other pagans won't agree with you. And sometimes, the laws do not agree with you. When you collect all personal pagan morals together, it is pretty much equivalent to anything goes.

That's clearly incorrect as we must still be able to function in society. You can't just declare that it's OK to kill someone and steal his wallet, obviously.

 

[juvenissun]

That's clearly incorrect as we must still be able to function in society. You can't just declare that it's OK to kill someone and steal his wallet, obviously.

Of course you can not. Basically because there is a law (force) there to stop you.
Take off the laws, then you can image the world of pagans.

I need money, and you are rich. Why can't I take some from you? I don't think it is immoral to do that.

 

[awitch]

Of course you can not. Basically because there is a law (force) there to stop you.
Take off the laws, then you can image the world of pagans.

I need money, and you are rich. Why can't I take some from you? I don't think it is immoral to do that.

Technically, the law doesn't stop you; it punishes you when you violate it. And I probably don't need to remind anyone that many people of all religions and none still violate the laws.

Are you suggesting that modern day Pagans would just go rampaging?

 

[juvenissun]

Technically, the law doesn't stop you; it punishes you when you violate it. And I probably don't need to remind anyone that many people of all religions and none still violate the laws.

Are you suggesting that modern day Pagans would just go rampaging?

Some movies described that.

Religious people violated the laws. They SHOULD NOT.
Pagans violated the laws. They think the law is wrong.

 

[Wolfe]

Technically, the law doesn't stop you; it punishes you when you violate it. And I probably don't need to remind anyone that many people of all religions and none still violate the laws.

Are you suggesting that modern day Pagans would just go rampaging?

I think he has that idea that pagans are tantamount to satan worshipers.
Or he's suggesting that as a pagan, you have nothing to stop you from doing bad things, but the law.
No God, or spirit, to drives you not . (I know you do have em but from what I hear you don't have to worship or even acknowledge them)
Not an expert on pagans though, so I'm not sure.

 

[Jane_the_Bane]

Isn't it funny to see all those crazy misconceptions at work, right in this very thread that deals with them?