Why are so many Christians offended by the claim that more Pagans are "Christ-like"?

((((RACHEL!!!))))

in real life, most people assume that i'm christian. i let them assume that. i take it as a compliment, because i know that they are looking the good qualities, traits, morals and values and i have. although at the same time, i see it as closed minded to think that someone who has these positive traits MUST be christian because no other faith could have people who possess these qualities.

you should see the look of horror i have received from some christians when i tell them i'm pagan (a witch at that lol) they have a lovely look of disgust on their face and some will immediately shun you forever, even if they thought you were wonderful 2 minutes ago.

just this morning, primoa said in one of his answers that peru is drowning in paganism. that hurt my feelings. primo is a great guy, he and i get along well, but i just wish he didn't feel so strongly that his way is the "only" way.

anyway, christians get offended because they are taught that pagans are evil, and it's understandable that if they truly think we're evil, that it would be extremely offensive to them that we often behave more christ like than them.

hopefully more and more will have an open mind and heart like yourself and make decisions on their own about who is truly evil and who is not.

love you rachel!!!!

I agree. I do my best not to stereotype, but yes I have encountered more hatered, ridicule and rejection in the face of Christians than I have found in any other religious doctrine. What I find "funny" in reading some of the answers is that "Pagan's can't be Christ-Like because they don't believe what the bible says about Him".

Someone please explain to me how this is not so. If Pagan's show the same qualities and character traits that Christ portrayed, how are they NOT Christ like. Jesus DID NOT have a denomination that He followed!! There were no real divisions in the church at that time other than Jewish or Roman. Now, Jesus was a Jew, but he didn't "follow" their religious doctrine, does that make him any less Jewish?

Why, as a Christian, do you want to say to someone "Well yeah, you have all the same characteristics and personality traits that Christ had, but that doesn't make you Christ-like." That would be like telling a Math Genuis "Well you're great at Math and all, but because you don't look like or follow the exact path that Einstein did, sorry we just can't say your a genius."!

Come on people. God/insert deity did not create the separation is the religious doctrines man kind did. For those of you who hold so tightly to your faith that you can't even admit that someone who IS NOT Christian can still be Christ-Like, well I feel more sorry for you than I ever have. To think that the term Christ-Like can only apply to Christians, well you are missing out on a perfect example of how Christianity ISN'T the end all be all answer and there are those of us who live our lives as examples to all, and many of us are better Christians as Non-Christians than many of your fellow believers are Christians and claim the title of Christianity. It is very sad indeed when a good example is ridiculed as a good example.

The only reason I can think of that they would be offended is that it points out that maybe they aren't living up to what they claim they do. Another thing I've seen a lot of is Self-Righteousness - thinking that just because they claim to be a Christian that automatically means they are forgiven for everything they do (even those things they continue to do) - some just don't seem to learn from their own mistakes but relish pointing out the flaws in others.

And, maybe, since so many call us evil-doers, wicked, without morals... then even suggesting that we are "Christ-like" somehow reflects on them personally - again, this ties in with Self-Righteousness.

No, not all Christians do these things. It just seems this place draws a lot of those that do exactly that. Most of my family are Christians and they certainly do not act the way I see many in here do and it surprises them when I tell them how some do act. At first my own mother didn't believe me till I showed her... it wasn't long after that and all the media about Pat Robertson, Taggard, etc... that she quit using the label Christian. She still believes, but she expressed disgust at the actions of others in the group, stating "do not even have the Appearance of evil"

Rachel, this is the reason you are one of my favorite christians in this forum. Thank you for the question. I asked a similar question a few weeks back and got many of the same negative replies, but as you can see, you are definitely observing the same phenomena that I am, and taking notice where others simply put on their blinders and start swinging. Thanks for being an example of the change we'd like to see. Have a great day!

Edit: Here's what I got when I asked this question. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ar1Bz...

Notice the difference between the first two answers and the rest of them. batgirl2good would have had all thumbs up, but she attacked ME and my beliefs, when I never mentioned a word about atheists in this question. I had to give her a thumb down for that, even though I liked the rest of her answer.

Man, that question has got a lot of facets.

I think it primarily has to do with the doctrine of justification and sanctification - many Christians believe that only if you are justified can you be truly sanctified. Most believe in some form of common grace - that anyone can do isolated good events - but they argue that the only people that can be truly be good are those that are justified.

But, everyone has a different idea of what it means to be justified. Some say that many are justified - therefore, we shouldn't be surprised to find 'good' people outside of the church. Others say that only a few are justified, so many who are in the church are not going to be 'good.'

I tend to think that a Christian should love good and hate evil, and thus should rejoice at every instance in which goodness is shown and evil reviled. We should be glad if the poor are taken care of, not matter if they are taken care of by a Christian or someone else.

I think that in general, Christians exhibit defensive behavior. Perhaps it is due to their own lack of faith. I tend to think that what many Christians have is not true faith, but seem to act "as if". I've heard the "fake it until you make it" sermon from a number of Preachers, who admonish their congregations to act as if they have true faith, promise that that faith shall come.

Having adopted a belief system does not make one immediately qualified to speak for an entire body of believers. Attending church on Sunday is not a sbustitute for significant academic research. Being a participant at a church service does not impart the qualities necessary to be a leader.

There is a qualitative difference between the faith and mission of Pagans and Christians. Christians are, for the most part, followers. They look to a set-apart clergy to lead them. In their faith, not all are called to be priests and apostles.

In Paganism, at least today, we all train to be priestesses and priests; it is our journey to become leaders, and it is the rare Pagan who does not act as such at least once.

For the solitary, to hold a ritual, one needs to have studied and planed the ritual. For those leading ritual, even more work is necessary. Paganism is an active religion, requiring study and leadership. Christianity tends to be more passive. You go to church and listen. You may go to Bible studies and such, but you are not called upon to lead the service.

Too, Christianity is a selfish (not in a bad way) faith. One believes because belief leads to salvation. Paganism is more of a self-less faith. We are Pagans not because we expect something from deity, but because it leads us to become better people. It helps us to be who and what we can be, which for the most part leads to service; caring for our planet and for each other.

Many Christian preachers make a living preaching. This goes against the morals of Paganism. There are few paid Pagan clergy. We don't make a living teaching or preaching. Some may earn a living writing books or selling jewelry and such. Some might earn money through readings and such, but as a rule, with all being clergy, there is no reason or way for us to make money by being a Pagan cleric.

Christians are offended because our religion is fundamentally different than theirs. They like to think that theirs is "the way", and when something works that isn't "their way", they become defensive. If their religion is the one and only right way, then others should be somehow deficient. When this happens, their confusion is displayed by an exhibition of offense.

Well, for at least some, I'm willing to believe it's embarassment. I mean, Jesus' message is well... sorta central. ;) If a reasonably sized group of non-Christians act in a way that's closer to Jesus' actions than his own followers do... well, rather inadvertantly, they make the Christians look bad. ::shrugs:: And that can definitely get under the skin of the folks who claim that only Christians can actu righteous.

Now I'm not going to say that those types are the majority of Christians, or even a sizable portion. But they do tend to make a lot of noise....

I do not necessarily agree with your word choice. Christ stood for two major things as He pointed out in the "Greatest Commandments." (1) To love God with everything. (2) To love others as we love ourselves. The first one kind of pushes that "Christ-like" word choice off of the mark. Do I agree that there are Pagans and tons of other people from other religions that act nicer and better than Christians? YES! That is just common. For the Biblical followers out there, look at the Pharisees.

I think that most christians think that a pagan is 'evil' and other nonsense. Of course, pagan doesn't mean that at all. Wicca is pagan, but, certainly a good way to 'follow' and to 'lead'.

I agree here on R&S the pagans are some of the friendliest people here and really everyone here could learn something from them about how to treat other people.