Non-Christian attitudes toward Christians on Yahoo?

Good point!

To fellow answerers Laura, Gemma, Parrot, Prairie Crow, and Brendan G, some time ago I went back and reviewed the previous 500 questions to see where the balance lay. I found 21 posts in which Christians preached their religion, 7 in which Christians attacked others, and **124** in which atheists and others attacked Christians and their beliefs. Hardly a preponderance of Christian offenses!

Given any religion it is not usually the scriptural injunctions or conceptual viewpoints but the practicing methods that cause irritation and intolerance ingrained out of dogmatic convictions into them. For example the geocentric theory accepted authoritatively by the Church caused more harm than good to laity who opposed it out of simple and scientifically verifiable common sense although the church held deep and profound knowledge of the susceptibilities of human nature and moral virtues. Even more so will be inter- religious transactions which instead of seeking common causes of good and prosperity to all humanity free from fear and doubt by instilling faith and confidence only end up in hateful despising and mud slinging because of practicing intolerance. The ultimate goal of any virtuous religious faith is only to uplift humanity raise over self centered egoistic concerns and work towards common prosperity instead of mulling over disparities.Did this happen when Rev.Martin Luther protested against Papal Authority and exploitation and restore the true values of Christian Faith? The result was only a war waged between north and south German states which ruined economy and disrupted public life and the spark of which is still burning in Northern Ireland. Neither profound scientific knowledge nor astonishing technical and engineering marvels can vouch-safe for true and lasting human progress unless the virtues sought to be religiously inculcated in erring humanity help themselves raise above the shadows of ignorance caused by egoistic self concerns in spite of all the light of knowledge illuminating their minds scientifically,spiritually or otherwise.

I myself am not a christian, I do not sling mud at you or any other religious groups. I leave you alone....occasionally I may see a question that could have a humerous answer given and I do that but I am not putting down your religion. To each their own. Trying to convert people to ones religion is against "freewill" this board is not for that and those that do that should be reported.

Considering some of the truly hateful and false bile that spews out of some Christians' mouths, are you really surprised that you get return fire?

I'm not saying that all Christians do this. Personally I try to judge each individual based on their own behavior, not on what religion they follow. And I don't mind hearing what Christians have to say. But when someone accuses me of doing things I've never done and proceeds to drag my religious choices through the mud, then yes, I get a little crotchety. Wouldn't you?

This should not be a place for mudslinging. (Though a little friendly, healthy debate is OK.) I have respect for anyone's beliefs. I will not put anyone down for what they believe, but I WILL stand up for anyone that is being put down for what they believe or don't believe. If a Christian is saying that an atheists has no morals and deserves to burn in hell, then they will probably get an earful (or in this case an eyeful) from me. If an atheists is calling a Christian stupid because of their beliefs, then I will stand up for the one being put down.

First, it's not hateful to correct errors or disagree.

Sorry, but are you new here? The questions from Christians here come in five general varieties:

1. Thinly veiled, snarky proselytizing ("Don't evolutionists know that they will burn in the fires of Hell?")

2. Questions asked as if all the answerers are Christian ("What was your last prayer to Jesus?")

3. Attacks on other faiths and atheism, and gross generalizations ("Why do Pagans worship Satan?")

4. Pretended knowledge - calling something the truth when you can't provide non-Biblical proof ("Why won't you accept the reality of Jesus Christ?")

5. Attempts to suggest that Christians are being persecuted or discriminated against ("Why is no longer okay to say 'Merry Christmas?'")

Only occasionally do we see neutrally worded, honest questions from Christians about Christianity.

I'm not saying Christians are the only ones who do this, of course. But they're hardly blameless.

One of the answers up there demonstrates exactly why Christians kind of have a negative reputation here:

"Atheists don't believe in anything so why are they in this section of the answers anyway?"

It's ridiculous comments like that that we don't like. It's unfair and untrue generalizations about atheists and atheism that we don't like. It's comments like "atheists are lost" or "atheists are confused" or "atheists are hard-hearted" that we don't like. And don't even get me started on the number of Christians here who have tried to use "hell" to threaten or scare people.

Have you done any of those things? Maybe not. If you haven't, good job. But many Christians here have, and that's why many of us are kind of losing our patience.

Are atheists innocent here either? No, of course not. But if you honestly aren't seeing very many examples of Christians provoking others or offending people on this forum, then with all due respect, you're just not paying enough attention.

My answers and attitude vary with the question. Your question is sincere and respectful, you will get a sincere and respectful reply. Arrogant, discriminatory, hateful, or insulting questions get more aggresive replies. I don't know that we are really going to learn from one another. I don't want to stop you from believing in God. I don't want you to stop having faith because I don't. What I want is to be left in peace to believe as I believe. I don't want ANY religious beliefs taught in schools, or demonstrated in political arenas.

Atheists and Muslims are generally the most hateful towards Christians.

I agree. Christians or not, we should be here to help each other.