Double Standard

The role of Christianity in the history of the US isn't the issue. The reason people make derogatory comments about Christianity is that there are specific Christians who make a mockery of their religion. Those Christians also happen to be a lot louder than all the other ones. It's true of a lot of religions in fact. The people of any religious group being interviewed in the newspaper, or talking about their religion on tv, are always the most obnoxious ones, and often the ones less in touch with the real meaning of the religion. It's only the extremists in any religion who are in the news. So we make fun of them.

I do not think it is just Christians with a bad name. I have heard bad things about Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. I rarely hear anything bad about Buddhism or Hinduism or the other world religions. But these 3 religions all have the same roots, are ALL very violent religions both today and in the past. While some people think Christians are "tolerant" of other religions - NO THEY AREN'T. They just want a chance to convert others to Christianity and they aren't even subtle about it. In the US they "assume" you are Christian BUT if you tell them you aren't, they pull back from you like you suddenly grew another head or something. They then do an immediate about face and become very willing to tell you ALL about Chritianity and try to get you to go to their church so you can be "saved". If you tell them you aren't interested - they either avoid you and tell others about the "heathen" or they don't believe you and keep trying to convert you. As a country we do have religious freedom BUT go to any small town or city and openly proclaim that you are not a Christian and see what happens. The large cities are more tolerant in public places but not in individual communities and neighborhoods.

You talk about double standards and then say christianity is the religion which is getting most critisism. What I have noticed is opposite to it. I suggest you do a search here on Mylot only with the topic 'religion' and find out for yourself which religion is taking most critisism. Islam is the religion on target here and everywhere, even in the media. People who do not know anything about it, simply stand up and pretend they are the most knowing and start bashing and name calling. Unfortunately most of them happen to my christian brothers and sisters, though some are other religions too. Muslims on the other hand have not done the same. The most effort I have seen so far here on MyLot is to defend and not to offense. Some of these people wo enjoy bashing Islam have moved to MySpace since they ware continuously getting replied here. I wish and hope, forums like this give us a chance to explain our point of view in a decent way instead of bashing, and name calling.

I think it's because people have to deal with Christians on a daily basis. And other religions aren't trying to convert us here in the US. And by the way, the US is not a Christian nation. We have freedom of religion here. I will tolerate Christian people just fine until they come up to me and try to save me. Or if they pound on my door and wish to tell me about the Bible. If they leave me alone, fine. If not, they'll get the hose if they come to my door. But so would any religion. I have no double standard. If you come to my door to convert me to Buddhism, I will spray you down with a hose too. It's not a double standard, it's just that Christians make themselves known and annoying far more than other religions do.

It is a shame when religion is used to non good purposes. Religion is the chance for bringint out all the good in us and yet some use it for hateful things. So sad. The differences make us interesting and the chance for learning is vast. There are many roads however one door to the promised land. We might be surprised who is in line with us when we prepare to enter! We do need to protect the freedom of speech and the right to practice the religion that is the right one for each of us.

I think that people in the US attack Christianity more than other religions because it is the majority religion. If you don't have any contact with those other religions and you don't really know much about them, it's rather ignorant to make comments about them. Many atheists here in the US where most likely raised with at least some exposure to Christianity, so they are speaking out about what they know.

Christianity can't be "forced out of the US" And maybe people are so hard on christians because of all the negative things associated with it. Such as all of the witch trials. No other religion has ever doe anything that horrible in the name of their god. well except for 9/11 I guess....

you obviously care little for poliical correctness!

I am a Catholic in Sri Lanka, so were my ancestors as far as I can remember and received a Catholic education and is active in the church. But I am a believer of Buddhism. I believe in rebirth and that everything that happens to us depends on the good and bad that we do. Sri Lanka is a Buddhist nation, and have no reservations about other religions practising here. But some factions are lobbying against missionaries who convert people by exploiting their poverty and offering money. But Buddhists as a whole do not oppose this and believe in free will. If your take history Christianity has shown intolerance towards other faiths and had crusades that killed for the sake of religion. But Buddhism has no such record. It is also not above criticism and anyone can challenge its concepts. Christianity came to the country through missionaries, shielded behind our British and Dutch invaders who plundered the top soil of the countries they invaded. But yet it has caught up and so many follow that faith today.

You are quite wrong. Why don't you ask the Native Americans just how tolorent the Christians are. Oh wait there are only a few left in this world. Maybe that's because the early Christian settlers hung them in spells of 13 (for Jesus and his 12 apostles) the ones they didn't kill they tried to convert or they took their land. And lets not for get the Templars, the Gnostics, the Cathars, the Essence, and the countless other religons that the Catholic Church eraticated. I think you should really research what you are talking about before you make such comments. And quite frankly the Eastern religons are tolorent of other religons. In India there is temples, mosques, and churches standing right next to each other. And you are so wrong about if Christianity was 'forced' out. Clearly you don't not realize that the Church doesn't actually run the governement. Not one religon would come in and take over the govenment and re-write the constitution. And the reason people make insulting commments is Christianity was because it was founded on fear and lies. And with very, very little to do with what Jesus taught. There are more hypocrites in Christianity then any other religon.

Christians have been educated with different fundamentals from other religions we believe "Thou shalt not kill, Love thy Neighbor" and all the basic good in man should be encouraged. Other religions kill in the name of their beliefs and to ensure their way to paradise.

There was freedom of religion in Ancient Kemet - or Egypt thousands of years before USA was in existence. I think there was even freedom of religion in Greece and Rome at times - You say Christianity is tolerant, but how tolerant are we? We think that if you are not like us then you are a heathen - evil - axis of terror - etc.. Most Christians believe that if you are not like them then you will go to hell. And another thing - We Christians are the first to go to other countries and throw the bible up "in the name of God" and by the time the natives know what is going on - the natives have all the bibles and the Europeans have all the land. Europeans manifest destiny has never been to tolerant. If one is truly living the bible and Being Jesus instead of waiting for Jesus then I think all the points you made are valid. But Religion has been used as a form of control and great power that the true essence of the word has been lost and people just use the bible as a mask to hide there true identity or motives. I think there are good people in all religions and they say the next evolution of the mind will be when we all realize we are praising the same God. Before I went to Germany I thought that all Germans were like Hitler - But when I got there they were very good people and they treated me like family - The point is that people in other countries label us by what they are shown in the media and what they have been taught. It seems like everyone in the world Identifies Americans with Bush, Chainy, our crooked leaders, slavery, stealing land, our music, the immorality throughout the USA ..... all the negatives. They do not really know us - the normal people through out the USA who wants peace, love and harmony like everyone else - The ones of us who could never afford to go to another country - etc... That is why I think forums like these are good - we realize that we are really all the same. But I understand why Christians are always "dissed" when the talk about Christians they talk about the immoral ones - Not the ones who walk like Jesus. We do the same thing! We think all Muslims are terrorists - All Indians have dots an their head, etc... We Americans and other European countries are the most arrogant people on the planet - Alexandr the "Great" is still living - we want to Hellenize the world and make them be like us because we are right and they are wrong. As if we have the only business plan that work. I feel you tho... Those who truly follow the word respects everyone - that is what's taught - But it seems like these days that is a very small % of people.

I think one of the major problems with your theory here is the assumption that the USA is or will be a theocracy. You say that if Christianity is forced out of the USA, an intolerant religion will take over. But the USA is not a theocracy. The religion of the founding fathers isn't the issue at all; the issue is that the USA was founded as a democracy, and with religious freedom as a part of its structure. Besides which, I don't know of anyone who is trying to force Christianity out of the USA. All people are trying to do is uphold the religious freedom our country was founded on, which means not putting Christianity above any other religion here. As for the tolerance Christianity shows other religions, most of us non-Christians haven't experienced that tolerance from Christians on a personal level as much as we have experienced intolerance. There are a small handful of very tolerant Christians I know (one of whom is my husband) and then there is the huge mass of intolerant ones I have met. I know enough about Christian doctrine to know that there is a basis for both views within the doctrine itself. If you think about the things said by Jesus himself, you would realize that he meant for his people to be tolerant and loving. That doesn't mean it happens. It's not fun to grow up as a member of a minority religion, even in the USA. And the people who work so hard to make our lives miserable in the name of saving us, however unfairly, claim the name of Christian.

People have an intolerance for Christianity because Christianity requires them to deal with God's punishment for sin. If there is no Christianity, there is no penalty for sin--they think. Nothing could be further from the truth, however. Hindus, Buddhists and the like believe they can avoid God's punishment through reincarnation. Islam denies Jesus as the savior, to again avoid God's punishment.

I don't think Christianity will be totally pushed out of the US because if they do that they would have to push out all the other religions as well. Or what a mess there would be. Because there are idiots that would do dumb things. Like those that go after abortion clinis and bomb those and the ones that kill doctors. I am a Christian but I don't believe in bombing abortion clinics and killing doctors or downing everyone elses religions. If they want to talk religion I do in a calm manner. I listen to them and they listen to me and we go on our merry lil way. But like everything else there are idiots in every religion.

I think your belief that Christians as whole are tolerant people is correct but the behavious of the Chursh is questionable. For that matter I will specifically talk about about the role of Missionaries in the World History of Imperialism. To have a start, just visit the following links --- 1. www.joshuaproject.net This site is dedicated to spreading the worrd of the Gospel through out the world. Now my objection is why do Christians think that everyone other than the Christ is SATAN. Now is it not an act of intolerance. And all this is funded by the Christian People. 2. www.chick.com/reading/tracts/0070/000_1 This is derogation and inflammatory account of Hindu Deities done by Christian Publishing House Chick, who publishes literature for conversion. 3. A fact from the history that Christians have been living in the India for last 2000 years. If Hindus whould have been intolerant how that was possible. 4. For that matter Chief of ruling Party in India is a Christian. WHAT WILL YOU SAY ABOUT THIS ?????? NO ONE OTHER THAN JESUS CAN SAVE YOU. I agree that this necessary and great if practised by the born Christians as it helps to keep the faith on him. But when used as an instrument to convert others, this is only a piece of imperialism and nothing else.

Well I don't live in the USA, so cannot speak about it. But I mock and make all kinds (and I mean it) of derogatory comments against all religions, except one (Islam). Why not Islam? Do anyone here remember what the followers of the peace religion did about those drawings of their prophet? Gee, they are so peaceful, they must love the peace that cemeteries have. (ops, that may sound as a derogatory against Islam, sorry).

Personally, I think it stems from the fact that as Christians our country was so in touch with tolerating others and their beliefs due to our own struggles as Christians that we've become out of hand with that "tolerance" of others. We've turned it into a falseness where it sounds good to say "oh they're right, we have no right being us"... when the reality is "us" or the Christian ways were what our country was founded on for the majority AND is what the majority of people/citizens are. Accepting ALL religions is something we should continue to do, but tossing our own religion aside to do so isn't acceptable at all.

I would love that you read read Matthew 5:10-15. Jesus said we should always be happy when men persecute us and say all bad thing concerning us. So Just keep calm. God will fight for Himself.

Blessed are you when people persecute you and speak evil against you in my name sake. When real christians (followers of Jesus Christ)are persecuted, they are blessed. When followers of chritianism (note the -ism) are persecuted, they deserve it. There is a big difference between foolishness of preaching and foolish preaching. This so called christianity is not preaching the true essence of Christ's teaching.