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

[Walter]

Most western democracies are/were founded based Christian culture and traditions. Are other countries more tolerant than western democracies? I think Precipicy has a burr up his/her a$$ because someone of the Christian persuasion refused Precipicy's advances.

 

[Dexter Sinister]

Most western democracies are/were founded based Christian culture and traditions. Are other countries more tolerant than western democracies?

The tolerance doesn't come from Christianity, it's the removal of the church's secular power that does it.

 

[darkbeaver]

Organized religion is not a suitable substitution for a personal philosophy.,it is simply a convenient mass consumer knockoff. The former builds you and you build the later. The marriage of matter and mind is god and the level of illumination of that relationship determines the validity and grade of the title Christian and it has always meant that and nothing else. The middle eastern fairy tale crushed that original meaning for the masses of current adherents who fail to understand that the very framers and fathers of the mystery teachngs would not recognize you as one of them nor would they admit you to their circles.

 

[Spade]

Organised religion is a culural and ethic anachronism somewhat out of place in a pluralistic society.

 

[Twila]

Organised religion is a culural and ethic anachronism somewhat out of place in a pluralistic society.

I've heard people say that the reason gov'ts like organized religion is because it keeps the masses quiet and occupied. This could be interpreted as Gov't approved warehousing/mass sedation of people to keep them from questioning the control being exerted over them. It could also be interpreted as just keeping them happy and content for no nefarious reason.


I'd like to believe it's for the benefit of the people, but sometimes my tin foil hat wants to come out and I think that all Gov't are giant behemoths of nafariousness that can do no good.

 

[Spade]

I've heard people say that the reason gov'ts like organized religion is because it keeps the masses quiet and occupied. This could be interpreted as Gov't approved warehousing/mass sedation of people to keep them from questioning the control being exerted over them. It could also be interpreted as just keeping them happy and content for no nefarious reason.


I'd like to believe it's for the benefit of the people, but sometimes my tin foil hat wants to come out and I think that all Gov't are giant behemoths of nafariousness that can do no good.

Certainly, in the States, government sees churchs as FEMA camps.

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

I've heard people say that the reason gov'ts like organized religion is because it keeps the masses quiet and occupied. This could be interpreted as Gov't approved warehousing/mass sedation of people to keep them from questioning the control being exerted over them.

Yeah, that's what Marx said, you little commie, you.

Outdated thinking. The government now has a much better way to keep the masses placid and munching their cuds. It's called television.

 

[Twila]

I saw a funny post on FB. It was a meme of sorts. It stated " What if I told you, you can be an atheist and not bash religion"

to which there were many bashing responses. Everything from "they (Christians) should grow a thicker skin" to" they (Christians) take every comment as bashing" to "They (Christians) should grow a thicker skin" (this one was a popular lament)

and I thought, it doesn't matter what side you stand on there are groups of people within both camps that say the same things over and over. This made me wonder, is it possible for people to discuss their beliefs and be respectful and respected by the other who has such different beliefs?

I don't believe I feel superior for my lack of faith or non belief in God. I keep my mind as open as possible and sometimes I fail to prevent a knee jerk reaction. But life is a work in progress. Once that work done...

 

[Sal]

Bingo. That was my experience in that intolerant "Christian" website - I mentioned Levirate marriage which clearly proves that Jesus continued to allow plural marriage but, somehow, that was not enough to convince the intolerant admin in that site. Then, despite his being a "Christian" who is supposed to refrain from sitting in judgment of anyone, the guy accuses me of promoting evil lifestyles. What a Pharisee!

we have to forgive the stupid and the fear full they just respond instinctively I think

 

[Twila]

Yeah, that's what Marx said, you little commie, you.

Outdated thinking. The government now has a much better way to keep the masses placid and munching their cuds. It's called television.

and drugs....lots of prescription drugs. Feeling weird? off? they have a drug for that. Have a nagging feeling you may have felt something? They have a drug for that.

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

and drugs....lots of prescription drugs. Feeling weird? off? they have a drug for that. Have a nagging feeling you may have felt something? They have a drug for that.

Specially for kids. See, we used to beat them into submission, now we drug them into submission. Cuz we're all enlightened and civilised now.

 

[Twila]

Specially for kids. See, we used to beat them into submission, now we drug them into submission. Cuz we're all enlightened and civilised now.

I wish we were enlightened and civilised. I can't imagine what adults are going to be like in 20 yrs. We already have shortages for prescription drugs and it's only going to get worse. What's going to happen when these now grown ups aren't able to get their mood stabalizers and happy pills? How are they going to cope? What lies will they generate to explain their behavoir?

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

I wish we were enlightened and civilised. I can't imagine what adults are going to be like in 20 yrs. We already have shortages for prescription drugs and it's only going to get worse. What's going to happen when these now grown ups aren't able to get their mood stabalizers and happy pills? How are they going to cope? What lies will they generate to explain their behavoir?

Guess we'll just have to substitute alcohol and random violence.

 

[darkbeaver]

I saw a funny post on FB. It was a meme of sorts. It stated " What if I told you, you can be an atheist and not bash religion"

to which there were many bashing responses. Everything from "they (Christians) should grow a thicker skin" to" they (Christians) take every comment as bashing" to "They (Christians) should grow a thicker skin" (this one was a popular lament)

and I thought, it doesn't matter what side you stand on there are groups of people within both camps that say the same things over and over. This made me wonder, is it possible for people to discuss their beliefs and be respectful and respected by the other who has such different beliefs?

I don't believe I feel superior for my lack of faith or non belief in God. I keep my mind as open as possible and sometimes I fail to prevent a knee jerk reaction. But life is a work in progress. Once that work done...

You said it all in your last sentence, the mind open is necessary to discover the deeper knowledge of natural works which reveal God in their complexity. That God might not be what you had in mind. Life is work, only work will set you free. No pain no gain, garbage in garbage out etc,. These aint new ideas.

The tolerance doesn't come from Christianity, it's the removal of the church's secular power that does it.

Banking is secular ain't it?

 

[Cliffy]

Banking is secular ain't it?

Me thinks suckular is a better word.

 

[Walter]

The tolerance doesn't come from Christianity, it's the removal of the church's secular power that does it.

Drivel. China and the Soviet Union come to mind.

 

[darkbeaver]

Most western democracies are/were founded based Christian culture and traditions. Are other countries more tolerant than western democracies? I think Precipicy has a burr up his/her a$$ because someone of the Christian persuasion refused Precipicy's advances.

Probably why they're all up to their ears in debt and dummies.

 

[Dexter Sinister]

Drivel. China and the Soviet Union come to mind.

Your ignorance of history and reality come to mind. The excesses of those states were not due to a lack of religion, they were attempts to replace the role religion plays with another ideology, which has much in common with the more fundamentalist sorts of religion. The only reason the Christian churches are as tolerant as they are in much of the West is because they haven't the power to be anything else. When they did have the power... well, read up a bit on life in mediaeval Europe, and examine contemporary nations where religion has the power of the state behind it.

And I suppose in your usual way you'll just give me another red one for that rather than trying to form a cogent argument against it.

 

[Sal]

For you, Motar and cj44.

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

So back to the OP for me.

Actually I find cj44 and Motar very respectful and tolerant of Jesus' teachings. I find them both to be humorous and supportive when debating.

As for the title; Why are so many Christians so intolerant of other religions?

Well it's just like the rest of the population, people are comfortable with what they know. People are comfortable with what they have been instructed to believe. People are comfortable with similar.

Christians are no more intolerant than anyone else. It's just a matter of them attempting to reinforce what they believe allows them to survive in an uncertain world.

 

[Walter]

Your ignorance of history and reality come to mind. The excesses of those states were not due to a lack of religion, they were attempts to replace the role religion plays with another ideology, which has much in common with the more fundamentalist sorts of religion. The only reason the Christian churches are as tolerant as they are in much of the West is because they haven't the power to be anything else. When they did have the power... well, read up a bit on life in mediaeval Europe, and examine contemporary nations where religion has the power of the state behind it.

And I suppose in your usual way you'll just give me another red one for that rather than trying to form a cogent argument against it.

You're right, western democracies are very intolerant of non-Christians.