Why are many Christians so intolerant of other religions and spiritual paths?

[Spade]

Cliffy is right. Motar and cj44 asked him to start this thread. To the "gentleman" who gave Cliffy and Darkbeaver reds for being obliging and expressing their points of view, shame. And Motar and cj44, please rectify this wong by "thumbing up".

Oh yes, Christians seem to be at the front on the fray, because they post on these forums, as is their right. If a Muslim were to post that Mohammed rode to heaven on a winged horse, I am certain those, that suggest the sun's stopping in the sky for three hours for Joshua is a myth, would say the same for the winged horse (spark plugs not withstanding!).

 

[Cliffy]

When Jesus healed the sick and the blind, did he make them endure a long winded sermon as a price to pay for the healing? Did he ask for their devotion or remuneration of any kind? He gave freely of his gifts. His main message was "Our Father, who art in heaven"... not worship me because I healed the sick and blind.

 

[SLM]

Are Christians really that much more intolerant as a whole than people of other faiths? Or is it that it would be predominantly the Christian point of view that we hear so much here in Western civilization?

That aside, spirituality and a relationship with God (if one has one) is a personal thing, and different for everyone. Different paths, one destination, that sort of thing.

 

[Cliffy]

Cliffy is right. Motar and cj44 asked him to start this thread. To the "gentleman" who gave Cliffy and Darkbeaver reds for being obliging and expressing their points of view, shame. And Motar and cj44, please rectify this wong by "thumbing up".

Oh yes, Christians seem to be at the front on the fray, because they post on these forums, as is their right. If a Muslim were to post that Mohammed rode to heaven on a winged horse, I am certain those, that suggest the sun's stopping in the sky for three hours for Joshua is a myth, would say the same for the winged horse (spark plugs not withstanding!).

There is only one "person" who has been upset with this thread so far. He is not hard to spot. You can recognize him by his sphincter lock.

 

[JLM]

There is only one "person" who has been upset with this thread so far. He is not hard to spot. You can recognize him by his sphincter lock.

It's a good thing idiots like him are few and far between....................you can only tolerate a limited number who "know everything"! -

 

[lone wolf]

I don't believe intolerance is restricted to any one religion - or political stripe. The worst surround themselves with like-minded people lest they have to come up with a thought-out response to the slightest of challenges. Goes to character....

 

[cj44]

For you, Motar and cj44.

Let's hear why you find it so difficult to follow Jesus' teaching of tolerance.

Cliffy - Please do allow me several posts to throroughly answer your question. Let me start with this. In regards to tolerance, it most certainly seems by your tagline that you have no use for the Bible. ("trying to get nourisment from a 2000 year old book...") Red letter version or other. From the majority of your posts throughout the months that I have been a member, it seems you dismiss the writings of most of all Jesus' disciples and also Paul. I am not understanding the disjunctive thought process. Not sure what scripture, if any you deem valid. When I read scripture as a whole and in context I do find it fits beautifully together. Paul & the disciples do not contradict Jesus. In regards to tolerance, I would not describe Jesus' words or teachings as promoting tolerance. If you will allow a Scripture quote from the mouth of Jesus.

“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword." I put this verse with the following, "love your neighbor as yourself" and I get to scratching my head. Should we all not read this as ask is this not a contrast in thought? What does Jesus mean to love our neighbor, yet He proclaims that he has not come to bring peace to earth, but a sword"? Really, we should all ask, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN???

Moreover, do you think it is easy or natural for a Christian to go to a brother, sister, mother, friend, and say what Jesus taught? "Hello brother. God loves you but you're a little ways off from what he actually taught. I know you don't think you are such a bad person, but you need to grasp the reason for Jesus' coming or else you are in danger of hell". Do you think that is easy to say to someone? "Hey mom, you're going to hell, please study the words of Jesus, repent, and then you will be right with God". These are some ice breakers. What makes it most difficult in sharing the Good News/The Gospel is that Christians know they have no room to talk. We know what kind of stinking sinners we are (now saved by grace) and then to go and tell someone "you need to be convicted of your sin by the Holy Spirit". Well, let me tell you that is not easy. Yet, I believe Jesus is who He said he was and I am then compelled to share the good news of salvation. The Christian teaching is an eye opener. It is not as though we march around our homes thinking everyone must believe as I do. Rather, it is I hope my neighbor has been blessed with the knowledge of salvation in Jesus Christ. I want to share that with him or her.

Tsk, tsk!
Matthew 22
4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.

5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: (KJV)

You're brutal Spade.

 

[Motar]

You're brutal Spade.

I am truly grateful to God for Spade's presence and participation in these discussions, cj. Spade is like a catfish placed in this tank by the Lord to vigorously engage us and keep us fresh until we get to market : )

 

[cj44]

I am truly grateful to God for Spade's presence and participation in these discussions, cj. Spade is like a catfish placed in this tank by the Lord to vigorously engage us and keep us fresh until we get to market : )

Indeed he is a sharp tooth to my brain.

 

[Spade]

Another spring of intolerance is fed by the false notions of heaven and hell.
The Big Questions - Does Hell Exist - YouTube

 

[gerryh]

Are Christians really that much more intolerant as a whole than people of other faiths? Or is it that it would be predominantly the Christian point of view that we hear so much here in Western civilization?

That aside, spirituality and a relationship with God (if one has one) is a personal thing, and different for everyone. Different paths, one destination, that sort of thing.

This thread is not about those of other faiths and is not comparing Christians to those of other faiths.

Your second paragraph, cj has already stated that it is wrong and has implied that those that believe that will be going to hell.

Cliffy - Please do allow me several posts to throroughly answer your question. Let me start with this. In regards to tolerance, it most certainly seems by your tagline that you have no use for the Bible. ("trying to get nourisment from a 2000 year old book...") Red letter version or other. From the majority of your posts throughout the months that I have been a member, it seems you dismiss the writings of most of all Jesus' disciples and also Paul. I am not understanding the disjunctive thought process. Not sure what scripture, if any you deem valid. When I read scripture as a whole and in context I do find it fits beautifully together. Paul & the disciples do not contradict Jesus. In regards to tolerance, I would not describe Jesus' words or teachings as promoting tolerance. If you will allow a Scripture quote from the mouth of Jesus.

“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword." I put this verse with the following, "love your neighbor as yourself" and I get to scratching my head. Should we all not read this as ask is this not a contrast in thought? What does Jesus mean to love our neighbor, yet He proclaims that he has not come to bring peace to earth, but a sword"? Really, we should all ask, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN???

Then YOU answer it. What do YOU think it means. I know what I think it means. I think it means the same thing as a lot of Mosaic and Levitican Law, and that is that it is NOT all Jesus's words, but instead, the words of man.

Moreover, do you think it is easy or natural for a Christian to go to a brother, sister, mother, friend, and say what Jesus taught? "Hello brother. God loves you but you're a little ways off from what he actually taught. I know you don't think you are such a bad person, but you need to grasp the reason for Jesus' coming or else you are in danger of hell". Do you think that is easy to say to someone? "Hey mom, you're going to hell, please study the words of Jesus, repent, and then you will be right with God". These are some ice breakers. What makes it most difficult in sharing the Good News/The Gospel is that Christians know they have no room to talk. We know what kind of stinking sinners we are (now saved by grace) and then to go and tell someone "you need to be convicted of your sin by the Holy Spirit". Well, let me tell you that is not easy. Yet, I believe Jesus is who He said he was and I am then compelled to share the good news of salvation. The Christian teaching is an eye opener. It is not as though we march around our homes thinking everyone must believe as I do. Rather, it is I hope my neighbor has been blessed with the knowledge of salvation in Jesus Christ. I want to share that with him or her.

Well, it rolls off your tongue so easily. As if joyously. "Be like me or suffer the fires of Hell"

 

[Motar]

"One of the pet words of this age is tolerance. It is a good word, but we have tried to stretch it over too great an area. We have applied it, too often, where it does not belong. The word tolerant means liberal and broad-minded. In one sense, it implies the compromise of one’s convictions, a yielding of ground upon important issues. We have become tolerant about divorce, the use of alcohol, delinquency, wickedness in high places, immorality, crime and godlessness. We have been sapped of conviction, drained of our beliefs, and we are bereft of our faith.

The sciences, however, are narrow-minded. There is no room for careless broad-mindedness in the laboratory. Water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit at sea level; it is never 100 degrees nor 189 degrees, nor 211. Fresh water freezes at 32 degrees; it is never 23 degrees nor 31. Mathematics is also narrow-minded. The sum of two plus two is four, never three-and-a-half. Geometry is narrow-minded. It says that a straight line is the shortest distance between two points on a plane. A compass is narrow-minded; it always points to the magnetic north. If it were broad-minded, ships at sea and planes in the air would be in danger. If you should ask a man the directions to New York City and he said, “Oh, just take any road you wish, they all lead to New York,” you would question both his sanity and his truthfulness. Nevertheless, we have somehow gotten it into our minds that “all roads lead to Heaven.”

But Jesus Christ, who journeyed from Heaven to Earth and back to Heaven again, who knew the way better than anyone who ever lived, said, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it (Matthew 7:13-14)."
The Sin of Tolerance | Decision Magazine | BGEA

In the words of Billy Graham above, we find universal physical laws at play in the boiling/freezing temperatures of water. We would never tolerate other values for these since we know the truth. There are also universal spiritual/moral laws at work in the universe. We would never tolerate human slavery as morally upright as we have come to know the truth.

So tolerance (in the truest sense of the word) and truth are incompatible. Is there such a thing then as Christian tolerance? Or is there another term that better fits the Christian response to untruth?

 

[gerryh]

Ah yes, Billy Graham. One of the top ten grossing "Pastors" in the world today. He makes one heck of living condemning homosexuals and anyone that doesn't toe HIS line to Hell. GREAT example of tolerance.


and the boiling and freezing of water, I can change those temperature values just by adding or taking away pressure.

IOr is there another term that better fits the Christian response to untruth?

Who's version of "truth", because your "truth" and my "truth" don't match up at all.

 

[Cliffy]

For some 15 hundred years, the natives of the Americas never heard of Jesus or the god of the bible. They had no way of knowing about it. Those that say the only way into heaven is through the professed belief in JC have condemned all people, who never heard of the word, to hell. That is the good news they want to peddle. If they believe in a loving and kind creator, then why is it so difficult to see that the word was given to all people, in all geographical locations in every historical time frame? The bible is the account of the word given to Jews 2000 years ago, according to their understanding. The Australian Aborigines, the Chinese, the native Americans, the Africans were all given the word according to their understanding or god is not a loving god. Period.

 

[SLM]

This thread is not about those of other faiths and is not comparing Christians to those of other faiths.

Oh I knew what the thread was about when I first saw it, I was sort of following the other thread about Baptism. But it was a thought that occurred to me just because of how Cliffy worded the thread title.

Your second paragraph, cj has already stated that it is wrong and has implied that those that believe that will be going to hell.

They or he/she can imply to their hearts desire, I'm really not concerned. Sad a bit that some find such a narrow and restrictive view in what I've always thought was supposed to be an uplifting message.

 

[Goober]

Myself I have never met an intolerant, judgmental Atheist.

 

[SLM]

Myself I have never met an intolerant, judgmental Atheist.

Sarcasm suits you, lol.

 

[lone wolf]

Myself I have never met an intolerant, judgmental Atheist.

Very cryptic.... If you actually met one - even an intolerant one - you wouldn't have been by yourself ;-)

 

[Spade]

Myself I have never met an intolerant, judgmental Atheist.

You must get out more.

PS to the Brimstoners,
"Hell is empty and all the devils are here!"
-WS from The Tempest.

Girl Goes To Hell And Lives paints pictures of hell, hell pictures, Korean Girl paints hell is real - YouTube

We all know what heaven is like!
Edmonton Oilers Boys On The Bus Video - YouTube

Because,
"Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the Sons of men.".
Mark 3:28

 

[cj44]

This thread is not about those of other faiths and is not comparing Christians to those of other faiths.

Your second paragraph, cj has already stated that it is wrong and has implied that those that believe that will be going to hell.



Then YOU answer it. What do YOU think it means. I know what I think it means. I think it means the same thing as a lot of Mosaic and Levitican Law, and that is that it is NOT all Jesus's words, but instead, the words of man.



Well, it rolls off your tongue so easily. As if joyously. "Be like me or suffer the fires of Hell"

Don't shoot the messenger, Gerry. I stand by the words of Jesus. He was either a liar, lunatic or Lord. I believe he is Lord and I believe the words He has spoken to be the truth.