One problem I have with Christianity is that (at least in the USA), the vast majority of Christians are part of the Religious Right and a lot of them promote bigotry and have the view that tolerance is a bad thing. They also think that progressives (or "liberals") are evil and immoral.
I think the major problem that you see is that a few "Christians" in the world go around and give the "name" a bad reputation--a stereotype, if you will. Is it not any different than what you just claimed we do of "people like you?" However, I am not even familiar with this "Religious Right" you refer to, but I'm not sure I have to in order to respond.
To a Christian, the Bible is God's living Word, and was spoken through His Spirit by men on earth. Therefore, it is His word. Therefore, all things in His Book are holy, inerrant, to me--and many of the things contained within are rules on how we are to live.
God has never condoned intolerance. In fact, liberals are not our enemies, they are our mission field. Many people have done evil in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Did you know that the Bible is actually not against anger or retribution? Only unwarranted or evil anger. We are called to love our neighbor, but to hate their sin. Many have erroneously used this to promote an environment of hate or harm in Jesus' name. THIS IS NOT OF CHRISTIANITY, and I apologize on their behalf.
I consider myself progressive, I'm pro-tolerance, pro-peace, pro-choice, pro-equal rights, anti-war, and anti-discrimination. I also accept modern science (including evolution) and don't believe that a literal interpretation of the bible has all the answers. In other words, all of the things that Christianity is against.
You're right. We are against many of these things. The most heart-strickening one to me is "pro-choice". This is because this particular choice involves the killing of what God has told us is life.
Christianity, however, does not promote things you are opposed to either. In the Bible, we are to love our neighbor and our enemy. Therefore, you might say that it promotes peace. However, there are times when war is good and righteous, and a necessity. When God is with us, we will not fail in battle, and therefore it is blessed. God says it His will that none should perish, so he too is pro-peace.
Discrimination and Equal-rights are touchy subjects due to recent news casts and pre-formed views on how Christians feel about it. Don't believe everything you hear or read, I think there are many erroneous reports out there. It has long been said that Christians are opposed to equal rights. That is so not true (hold on, there's a catch and I'll get to it).
Men and women for example. Neither one is to be above the other. Equal rights are supported by the Bible in this sense. However, men and women do have different roles to play in life (in a general sense). Men and women in marriage are to be equally submissive to each other. The Bible never says there should be unequal rights here.
There is no basis for a Christian argument against equal rights for people of different races either. Color of skin and/or origin are not a factor--we are all the same in God's eyes, and it is the duty of a Christian to learn to look through God's eyes.
Other religions--this is tricky. I would not say that they are worthy of less, should be treated like less of people or anything. In fact, I'm saying that they are my equal. I just recognize that there is but one true God (one and only 1), and therefore all other religions are misguided and lead to nothing. That sounds mean, but it's true--but that also does not mean that I think any less of them. They're God's creations too.
Now when you get into stuff like gay rights and things like this, then I outright say that no Christian should sit idly by while they try to push laws in their favor. It is very clearly in defiance to God's commands and wishes for us. Being gay is not genetic or anything else, it is a choice, a sin like any other. It is something that Christ can help them turn from, and something I pray for every night. We are all sinners, we are no more than they, but I have by God's grace been saved, and I pray that all others will too.
The true Church would never promote the ideas you grew up with. I'm sorry that was your experience. I pray now that the Holy Spirit will confirm in your heart what the truth is--because only He can do that. Only the Holy Spirit can tell you what the truth is regarding spiritual matters.
Here is what Christianity really is: Love. Through and through. We are all sinners, and none better than others. But Christ died for our sins and BOUGHT our forgiveness. This salvation I did not earn by my good works or "sinless life", but by God's grace, and it was freely given. Any one can share in this GIFT. You but have to confess it with your mouth, and then "become a new creation through death and resurrection with Christ" (i.e. become baptised). Christianity is giving my life over to Him who created me, to Him who has the power to save my eternal soul. Christians do not live their lives for themselves, but for a higher purpose, for the love of Christ to be spread across the whole of the earth.
No one can have a problem with that unless they've never felt God's love before...and I will pray for anyone who feels that way.
God Bless.
