Subtle digs at Christians

[nill]

I've encountered statements like the following:

"Most of my atheist friends are better Christians than those who claim to follow Jesus."

What do you make of it? Can that be true? Or share a similar one, along with your thoughts.

Here's another: (from post #18)

"As a Christian, the primary (if not only) reason you do good things is to please someone else (your invisible sky daddy, I've taken to calling him). As an atheist, the only reason I do good things is because it's the right thing to do. The Christian may think it's the right thing to do, too, of course, but obviously, one of us has ulterior motives, the other's motives are plain and simple and pure."

What say you? Is it true? Are Christians guilty of this? Or, if I could phrase it biblically, is "do all for the glory of God" a worse or too-complex motive than "do because it should be done"?

 

[r035198x]

I've heard that a lot from Christians here in the singles forum! There is lots of talk about how Christians are judgmental and hurtful while non Christians are understanding and more loving.
My experiences (maybe because of my region) are quite the opposite. Here many Christians are helpful and devote their time and money to help out the poor (we have many in poverty here).

 

[omanid]

There's a Bible verse that says that...

 

[Violetsrblue]

I've kind of seen it. There seem to be a lot of Christians who are really judgemental. But then I feel kind of judgmental for feeling that way.

 

[omanid]

It's true; Christians aren't perfect.

 

[nill]

My thoughts are that quantifying Christianity in terms of how good a person is misses the point and definition of "Christian." In other words, that one cannot say that an atheist is a better Christian than a believer unless his definition greatly differs from how the Bible describes one who is a believer, at least on a very fundamental level (i.e., regarding matters of imputed righteousness and forensic justification). So an atheist cannot be more of something than others when he does not share in any form in what they have.

 

[Wren]

I understand the point they are trying to make. And I'm one of those who have said in Singles that I've had more positive experiences with non-Christians than with Christians. As a Christian, it's frustrating to feel that the Christian community is your community and yet be treated like an outcast/outsider because you don't match their narrow definitions of a proper or true Christian. So, I don't see them as digs. I see them as just expressing what they feel and have observed.

 

[explodingboy]

I've encountered statements like the following:

"Most of my atheist friends are better Christians than those who claim to follow Jesus."

What do you make of it? Can that be true? Or share a similar one, along with your thoughts.

As a general rule of thumb it tends to be in regards to how one is treated by others, and as an Atheist there is no excuse to be anything but honest and decent, or a complete tit from the get go, where as the Christian has both motive and reason to be judgemental and a fickle individual.

It's has nothing to do with one being a better person than the other, just that via belief in an external justification one can act in a manner that is unwarranted in a friendship environment.

That is to say that an Atheist who hates me, has no reason to pretend otherwise, where as and I stress SOME of faith feel it necessary to fake concern and endearment when it suits them.

Either way people can be fickle, just most don't try to hide it.

 

[emkei]

may be the christian friends arent coplying to every thing they're told.which is fair

 

[crishmael]

At my workplace people were stunned to find out I was a Christian. They were surprised because the Christians in the office were rude gossips you never would trust with anything and fully fed into all the stereotypes of cultural Christianity. Decent and respectful behavior from a Christian was a surprise and that's a shame. So it's not a dig because sometimes it's the truth.

 

[Luther073082]

It depends though. . . because at some point simpily upholding one's own beliefs can be considered judgemental.

If I say that I belive something is a sin, in general, not to a particular person or situation and that belief that said thing is wrong is an unpopular belief, then you will get the judgemental label for just believeing a particular practice is morally wrong.

 

[Mochi]

Depends on what someone finds as judgmental and out of place. In today's society, making a statement that you know a certain truth is seen as offensive and Christians tend to do that very often.
An Atheist most likely looks more politically correct and polite in a post-modern world than a Christian who claims Jesus is their Savior.

 

[twnsrkr]

Atheist's are able to be more accepting of everyone because they typically have no allegiance to any moral standard but their own. A percentage of christians are the same way, so I don't think there would be much difference in behavior; unless your keeping the separation laws.

 

[lillivanilli]

A lot of these so-called "Christians" aren't truly Christians at all. Going to church on Sunday mornings doesn't make one a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.

Having an opinion about certain subjects does not make a person judgmental. But when they start having opinions on other PEOPLE who are saying/doing these certain subjects, that's when they are labeled as judging. As Christians we are not here to judge others; we are to love others. If somebody else is sinning (which we ALL do), that sin is between the person and God and it is not our place to throw out our opinions on the matter. So many Christians get that wrong.

 

[Wren]

I don't have a problem with people having opinions. I have plenty of those myself. My problem is when Christians decide that I'm not one of them because I was single, unmarried, and in my late 20s. That made me a selfish woman, who needed to repent before God. I was to get married (to whatever guy would take me) and have as many kids as my body was able to give. Obviously I left the church where I dealt with that, but I had been a member there and it was frustrating to be rejected for such sexist and rediculous reasons.

Now Christians are more likely to condemn me because I am politically and religiously progressive. (Keep in mind that I said religiously progressive and not liberal for a reason. Liberal Christians often don't believe that Jesus was anything other than a good man and great preacher, as well as other views that I don't share.)

Athiests on the other hand, don't care how I vote, which church I attend, if I'm married or not, and if I have children or not. They have an attitude that they'll mind their own business, as long as I show them the same respect.

 

[Jeneshisu]

Another perspective to throw out there..

People of other faiths outside of abrahamic religion or whatever religion they were brought up in... Or those who have "been around" a bit in regards to personal beliefs and different ideas tend to be more understanding and more accepting of what is innately human. They are more down to earth more often than not.

Where as Christians (most common in the US) and sometimes other self righteous individuals from other belief systems tend to miss the mark when it comes to socializing with others outside of their own beliefs. And whether they are consciously aware or not, they come off as smug and snide towards others.

Hugely common among pop atheist groups, reconstructionist pagans, and ofcourse various abrahamic faiths.

 

[JGG]

A lot of these so-called "Christians" aren't truly Christians at all. Going to church on Sunday mornings doesn't make one a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.

How about this: Going to church on Sunday mornings doesn't make one a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a mechanic.

Stronger analogy.

 

[nill]

Here's another:

"As a Christian, the primary (if not only) reason you do good things is to please someone else (your invisible sky daddy, I've taken to calling him). As an atheist, the only reason I do good things is because it's the right thing to do. The Christian may think it's the right thing to do, too, of course, but obviously, one of us has ulterior motives, the other's motives are plain and simple and pure."

What say you? Is it true? Are Christians guilty of this? Or, if I could phrase it biblically, is "do all for the glory of God" a worse or too-complex motive than "do because it should be done"?

 

[GOD is LOVE is GOD]

I've kind of seen it. There seem to be a lot of Christians who are really judgemental. But then I feel kind of judgmental for feeling that way.

Huh, I just had a thought....

Are Christians really MORE judgmental?? Or are we judged more harshly by others because we are Christian???

(i.e. A Christian makes a statement that could be seen as a judgment, but because he/she is a Christian, they should know better = AUTO-LABELED JUDGMENTAL)

 

[Isambard]

Huh, I just had a thought....

Are Christians really MORE judgmental?? Or are we judged more harshly by others because we are Christian???

(i.e. A Christian makes a statement that could be seen as a judgment, but because he/she is a Christian, they should know better = AUTO-LABELED JUDGMENTAL)

Nah, christians are just more judgmental. QED Check out any thread longer than 2pgs in the theology section of this forum. What you'll see is many-a-christian flinging e-poo at each other and getting that little gleam in their eye as they tell everyone else how they are going to burn in Hell.

Always good for a chuckle