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Original poster

Should Christians be hated?

433 replies

plaingirly · 05/04/2013 19:50

Random question! I opened my Bible on Matthew 10 and verse 22 says :

And all nations will hate you because you are my followers. But everyone who endures to the end will be saved.

I think there is another verse similar but can't remember it.

So if someone is really a follower of Jesus will people hate them and if people don't hate them are they not strong enough in their faith?

I don't really want to be hated! Smile Also at work we have to get along with people so having them hate us wouldn't be ideal. Unless the verses are more specific or maybe aimed at the disciples.

OP posts:
Italiangreyhound · 24/04/2013 22:12

Someone night be burning a steak, oh no it was shepherd's pie!

sunshine401 · 24/04/2013 22:23

Should all Muslims be hated??
Should everyone religious or not be hated??

Hating someone because of their religion is not very good is it.

Some people believe some people don't. It should not change how we act with those people.

PedroYoniLikesCrisps · 24/04/2013 22:38

Some people believe some people don't. It should not change how we act with those people.

Agreed. Unless someone's beliefs start interfering with my life (whether these are religious beliefs or other).

Italiangreyhound · 25/04/2013 00:46

Pedro I know I am gonna regret asking this Wink but are anyone's beliefs interfering with your life? [ducks and runs for cover] Grin.

PedroYoniLikesCrisps · 25/04/2013 07:42

That depends..... Not directly person to person (not right this minute anyway), but given the influence of the church over British politics and the measures we take in this country to protect ourselves from Muslim terrorists (as two broad examples), religious beliefs most certainly have a profound effect on the way we live in the 21st century.

sieglinde · 25/04/2013 08:17

Sieglinde We could have done with you on the YEC thread. He assumed the only people who accept evolution MUST be atheists - and that any Christians who accept it must not truly understand it!!

Well, if you do go for YEC 2: The Battle for All, count me in. This viewpoint - above - is just plain wrong factually. One thing to be said for RCs is that NONE OF US are fundamentalists. (Sorry, gang - I've just been so ridiculously busy lately...)

Pedro, do you see our Muslim terrorist issues as simply the outcome of religion? I don't. I think there are lots of other factors woven in - most Muslims are not terrorists and don't hate the West, but those that do usually have un/nonreligious issues about territory and pride and national boundaries.

sieglinde · 25/04/2013 08:19

Reading quick cos I have to rush off, but yeah I guess Italiangreyhound & sieglinde that we're on the same page. Maybe sometimes I lay it on a bit thick, but it seems like the only way to make the point. I'm not accustomed to people who actually listen to what I'm saying.

Good to know, back. Or bacon ;)

All I'd add is that sometimes laying it on thick makes it harder and not easier for people to hear what you are saying.

PedroYoniLikesCrisps · 25/04/2013 11:22

YEC 2 is off and running. Although whether we get our favourite creationist back on remains to be seen.

Pedro, do you see our Muslim terrorist issues as simply the outcome of religion? I don't. I think there are lots of other factors woven in - most Muslims are not terrorists and don't hate the West, but those that do usually have un/nonreligious issues about territory and pride and national boundaries.

I completely agree that most Muslims are not terrorists. I would never suggest for a moment that they were. But to suggest that terrorism carried out by people who happen to be Muslims is not religiously motivated would be wrong. For starters, a lot of the territory issues are precisely because of religious claims to land. And those extremists who attack the west (I'm sure I don't need to provide a list of high profile examples) do their work in the name of their god to rid the world of infidels and to sacrifice themselves as martyrs in order to enjoy their 72 virgins in the afterlife. I'm really not sure how these acts could be any more religiously motivated.

So back to the point, yes the world I live in is influenced by religious people asserting their beliefs in various ways.

LizzyDay · 25/04/2013 11:57

Just popping on (I'm supposed to be working...) to say that religious discrimination in English state schools is a biggie for me.

Many people have a vastly reduced choice of local schools due to this outrageous practice, especially in areas where school places are very squeezed already.

sieglinde · 25/04/2013 13:40

Yes, Pedro - it's a bit like Stalin and atheism, in a way Grin. Few motives are unmixed. What's hard is deciding when religion is the main factor, or only one of many factors. My sense is that fundamentalist Islam is a necessary but NOT a sufficient condition for Muslim terrorism.

Without unnecessary strife, what's your source for the motivation of terrorists re: virgins?

sieglinde · 25/04/2013 13:42

Can't find YEC 2 in my seconds of remaining lunchbreak - links?

LizzyDay · 25/04/2013 13:49

YEC2

sieglinde · 25/04/2013 15:10

Thanks.

SolidGoldBrass · 25/04/2013 18:49

As is doing the rounds on Facebook at the moment: equating all Muslims with the suicide-bomber scumbags is like equating all Christians with the Westboro Baptists Church.

The fact that religion is a crock of shit doesn't stop some religious people being perfectly nice human beings with some rather silly opinions.

Oh and regarding the fairies - I am still waiting for someone to make a decent attempt at arguing why, if your imaginary friend is to be respected, other people's imaginary friends such as fairies and pixies and ghosts and aliens, are not worth of exactly the same amount of respect (ie fuck all, in my case, but I think that's fair).

Italiangreyhound · 25/04/2013 18:50

SGB are there any people who actively believe in fairies?

LizzyDay · 25/04/2013 19:43

Well my DD does - and I'm sure you wouldn't have to look to hard to find an Elvish cult somewhere.

I know some grown ups who believe in angels - is that much different?

sieglinde · 25/04/2013 20:25

Italian, yes, there are lots of neopagans who do. Some sweet old ladies as well.

No, angels are not really very much like fairies.

SolidGoldBrass · 25/04/2013 20:35

Belief in fairies/ghosts/pixies/magic is still fairly widespread, though less so than it used to be. Every culture has its supernatural beings, nasty and nice. In terms of timespan and amount of stories, there is no real difference between fairies, ghosts, monsters and gods, it's just that some mythologies are supposed to be taken seriously and others not so. It'll be down to social control and profit, of course, as that's what all organised religions are for, but it seems to me that a pantheistic cult would probably work just as effectively as a monotheistic one.

LizzyDay · 25/04/2013 20:50

No, angels are not really very much like fairies.

I suppose it depends who you ask?

PedroYoniLikesCrisps · 25/04/2013 21:36

Fairies are exactly like angels just smaller.

People with wings basically.

The only difference I can ascertain is that fairies have more insect-like wings and angels are more bird-like.

Italiangreyhound · 25/04/2013 22:45

Pedro you sound like an expert have you seen any? Wink

Italiangreyhound · 25/04/2013 22:46

My DD believes in the tooth fairy. The difference, of course, is that I know where those pound coins come from.... and it's not Tinkerbell!

Italiangreyhound · 25/04/2013 22:48

SGB, really? In terms of timespan and amount of stories, there is no real difference between fairies, ghosts, monsters and gods, it's just that some mythologies are supposed to be taken seriously and others not so. Do you mean there are just as many stories about God as there are about fairies?

PedroYoniLikesCrisps · 26/04/2013 06:24

Pedro you sound like an expert have you seen any?

Yes, they mostly turn up at fancy dress parties!

headinhands · 26/04/2013 08:08

Wether it was meant to be 'taken seriously' or not is no indicator of veracity. What about the Viking/Greek gods. They were taken seriously by most of the population, but I assume you have no problem dismissing those deities? furthermore, as sgb points out the reason they are meant to be taken seriously are for deeply subversive intentions i.e.. social control etc.