Why is Christianity so negative?

[Kaitlin08]

It is a general statement for everyone.

What do you think of my post?

 

[Walter Kovacs]

I've been a Christian mostly my entire life. But I can't help but notice the more time passes, how negative and dreary Christianity is. A few points that have led me to this conclusion:

The over-emphasis on sin and the dark side of humanity. If taken to the extreme, it could potentially lead to some problems with one's self image.

The emphasis on death, blood, killing (in the Bible), sacrifices and other morbid things.

The downplay of anything good or positive in this world. Christians often forsake the beauty and goodness that this world has to offer, in hoping for the next.

Hellfire and brimstone teaching. God is always angry and ready to condemn people because "He is just", Christians say.

The arrogance and zeal of being religious. 'If you're not of MY particular brand of Christianity, you are going to hell, or at very least, in serious error and are a heretic.'

The condemnation of having money, of trying to have a good life, of desiring a family, a spouse or trying to do something worthwhile with your life. Dreams, in general, are bad, unless it directly involves the spreading of Christianity, it is taught.

The huge emphasis on suffering, trials and tribulations. No one said life is easy, but why would you intentionally TRY to make your life worse? 'It is foolish to suffer deliberately,' mental health professionals tell us.

The justification of religious violence, genocide, natural disasters (as punishments from God), etc.

Marriage and family is generally downplayed, while celibacy is exalted as a spiritual virtue.

Christians tend to neglect any good in their lives simply for 'spiritual' reasons. This world doesn't matter - ONLY eternity matters.

There's probably more, but that is what comes to me off the top of my head. I'm finding it difficult to really appreciate a faith that is so overtly focused on the negative aspects of life. It really seems like a half-empty religion, when I think about it.

Read what Jesus taught, and quit complaining about how modern day people screw it up. Problem solved.

 

[SullivanZ]

Read what Jesus taught, and quit complaining about how modern day people screw it up. Problem solved.

Trite answer.

Who is "complaining?" Rather, it is more a simple statement of fact and truth.

 

[Walter Kovacs]

Trite answer.

Allrighty. But Jesus never really did anything you're complaining about here. That's where I'd look. But since that's 'trite' (why looking to God for answers would be 'trite' is beyond me) I'll take my leave.

 

[Kaitlin08]

Trite answer.

Who is "complaining?" Rather, it is more a simple statement of fact and truth.

This seems a little rude to Walter. Is it possible you don't believe in objective truth, Sullivan? It seems like you think Christianity is wrong because Christians don't live up to it, in other words, that the behavior of Christians makes it clear their religion is false. Is that an accurate statement of your view?

 

[SullivanZ]

It seems like you think Christianity is wrong because Christians don't live up to it, in other words, that the behavior of Christians makes it clear their religion is false. Is that an accurate statement of your view?

No it isn't.

 

[Everlasting33]

Sullivan,

I totally agree with your post. I have experienced most of it in the church and communications with Christians. I think the reason being that religion is often "marketed" to those deepest in suffering and pain and I would venture to say many leaders in the church feed off this.

From my experiences within the church and Liberty University, arriving at a place to God primarily because of suffering and pain is superficial and the relationship is likely to end. God is seen not as a Healer but a genie.

 

[SullivanZ]

I think the reason being that religion is often "marketed" to those deepest in suffering and pain and I would venture to say many leaders in the church feed off this.

From my experiences within the church and Liberty University, arriving at a place to God primarily because of suffering and pain is superficial and the relationship is likely to end. God is seen not as a Healer but a genie.

Hmm, that is an interesting view.

Many other cults (like the Jehovah's Witnesses and others) also prey off of people's pain and at their weakest moments, in order to draw them into their belief systems.

Could Christianity be guilty of doing the same?

 

[Kaitlin08]

No it isn't.

Then what is your view, and why does it matter that Christians don't understand their own religion?

 

[Everlasting33]

Hmm, that is an interesting view.

Many other cults (like the Jehovah's Witnesses and others) also prey off of people's pain and at their weakest moments, in order to draw them into their belief systems.

Could Christianity be guilty of doing the same?

I think the message of many churches is this. For instance, my previous pastors would center their sermons (nearly all of them in some aspect) around suffering and trials. That was their way of attempting to connect the group with God.

For the longest time as a teenager, I couldn't connect to God except through my suffering and bad days. What kind of message did I receive as a child? Makes me wonder, you know?

 

[SullivanZ]

I think the message of many churches is this. For instance, my previous pastors would center their sermons (nearly all of them in some aspect) around suffering and trials. That was their way of attempting to connect the group with God.

For the longest time as a teenager, I couldn't connect to God except through my suffering and bad days. What kind of message did I receive as a child? Makes me wonder, you know?

That's awful, in my opinion.

I found God through personal experience and, actually, in response to the blessings I had received from Him, and acknowledging that they clearly had to have come from a Source (being God, of course).

God can help people in times of sorrow, but to use that to try and get people into the faith, is a weak idea, in my view.

Nevertheless, traditional religion teaches that suffering is godliness and gain. From a psychological perspective, to exalt suffering is plain unhealthy. (Which is not to say that good cannot come out of suffering, it can and does. But that still is not a reason to exalt suffering either.)

 

[Romanseight2005]

Sullivan,

I totally agree with your post. I have experienced most of it in the church and communications with Christians. I think the reason being that religion is often "marketed" to those deepest in suffering and pain and I would venture to say many leaders in the church feed off this.

From my experiences within the church and Liberty University, arriving at a place to God primarily because of suffering and pain is superficial and the relationship is likely to end. God is seen not as a Healer but a genie.

This is interesting. Could you elaborate on this?

 

[Slash198765]

Christianity is not Religion. yes to be religious is all negative, but Christianity the life of God in a human being.Christianity is Gospel.Gospel means good news.. Beware of some teachings out there,Jesus said Go ye into the world and preach Gospel(Good News).Wats the Good news to the sinner=life has come, to the poor=no more poverty.not hell fire and all that stuff.Maybe it because many dont know yet the reason why Jesus came.He said i have come that they might have life to the full.He brought life not hell. i recommend that you must listen to Pastor Chris on youtube.Get the tapes play them all the time.it wont be long before you realise the power of the gospel.God loves us so much.John 3:16 if you read it closely it didnt say For God loved the world. It says for God SO loved the world. He loved us to an extend that he ended up giving.It is the Love of God on us that propelled his giving.Read Psalm 119:67.keep the word and you will experinve the greatness of Christianity. also check out Genoark on Youtube. God Bless!!!

 

[from scratch]

I've been a Christian mostly my entire life. But I can't help but notice the more time passes, how negative and dreary Christianity is. A few points that have led me to this conclusion:

The over-emphasis on sin and the dark side of humanity. If taken to the extreme, it could potentially lead to some problems with one's self image.

The emphasis on death, blood, killing (in the Bible), sacrifices and other morbid things.

The downplay of anything good or positive in this world. Christians often forsake the beauty and goodness that this world has to offer, in hoping for the next.

Hellfire and brimstone teaching. God is always angry and ready to condemn people because "He is just", Christians say.

The arrogance and zeal of being religious. 'If you're not of MY particular brand of Christianity, you are going to hell, or at very least, in serious error and are a heretic.'

The condemnation of having money, of trying to have a good life, of desiring a family, a spouse or trying to do something worthwhile with your life. Dreams, in general, are bad, unless it directly involves the spreading of Christianity, it is taught.

The huge emphasis on suffering, trials and tribulations. No one said life is easy, but why would you intentionally TRY to make your life worse? 'It is foolish to suffer deliberately,' mental health professionals tell us.

The justification of religious violence, genocide, natural disasters (as punishments from God), etc.

Marriage and family is generally downplayed, while celibacy is exalted as a spiritual virtue.

Christians tend to neglect any good in their lives simply for 'spiritual' reasons. This world doesn't matter - ONLY eternity matters.

There's probably more, but that is what comes to me off the top of my head. I'm finding it difficult to really appreciate a faith that is so overtly focused on the negative aspects of life. It really seems like a half-empty religion, when I think about it.

It appears to me that your view of Christianity is coming from the wrong place. Mine comes from the Bible and no where else. I let what I heard at church confuse me for more than 40 years even though I understood myuch of what they said was flat out wrong.

 

[from scratch]

Sullivan,

I totally agree with your post. I have experienced most of it in the church and communications with Christians. I think the reason being that religion is often "marketed" to those deepest in suffering and pain and I would venture to say many leaders in the church feed off this.

From my experiences within the church and Liberty University, arriving at a place to God primarily because of suffering and pain is superficial and the relationship is likely to end. God is seen not as a Healer but a genie.

Yeppers - solving all our temporal problems. Love is looked at the same way by many - what can I get from it. I'm still single.

 

[from scratch]

Then what is your view, and why does it matter that Christians don't understand their own religion?

Because people who call themselves Christians won't read their love letter.

 

[mark46]

Then you are looking for faith in all the wrong places.

Seriously, there are Christians who seem to act as you perceive. Let's not judge them. Just avoid them.

Join an open, warm loving church that emphasizes the positives. Jesus came that we might have life. He lived to show us how to live a life of love. He died that we might draw closer to God. He rose that we might have everlasting life. He us sent the Holy Spirit so that we might have a guide and a comforter for all of our lives. He gave us the power in the Spirit that we might be his hands and feet now that he is not physically present. To BE JESUS to the world is in no way negative.

There are lots of Christian communities who celebrate God's second book, his Creation. They celebrate life here on earth. They focus on a life conformed to Jesus. They focus on what Jesus would do. But, even more important, they look to see what God has called them to do each day, in their own lives, in their fmilies, in their communities. Jesus gave the example of how to act in Matthew's Gospel. And what have you done for the weakest among you?

Jesus does not ask us to focu on heaven. We are to accept his gift of eternal life; sure we are. But then the REAL question is what to do with the rest of our lives.

I would suggest that you read or listen to some of Tony Compolo's stuff. Much is available on the web. Lots of the sermons are free.
Tony Campolo
Ahttp://www.amazon.com/Kingdom-God-Party-Radical-Family/dp/0849933994s Tony Capolo says, "The Kingdom Of God Is A Party"

If it matters, Campolo is a politically left, fundamentalist, evangelical Baptist. His primary ministries are education, evangelism and helping the poor throughout the world.

Christians tend to neglect any good in their lives simply for 'spiritual' reasons. This world doesn't matter - ONLY eternity matters.

There's probably more, but that is what comes to me off the top of my head. I'm finding it difficult to really appreciate a faith that is so overtly focused on the negative aspects of life. It really seems like a half-empty religion, when I think about it.