Do Christians come across as ignorant and close minded?
Do Christians come across as ignorant and close minded when they oppose so many logical ideals and issues in life? Do the ignorant, close minded Christians shout the loudest and therefore represent what Christians are in the eyes of the world? What can intellectuals and open minded Christians do to change the image that the world has of Christians? How can we not come across as stupid? How can intellectuals redefine and shape what Christians are and think about issues that have shown Christians as ignorant and close minded? How can we make Christianity less of a turn off for intellectuals?
What do you think?
Share your thoughts.
posted by preacherman @ 8:33:00 AM
37 Comments:
Insisting on a 6 24 hour day period of creation as the only possible interpretation of Genesis 1-3 pretty much loses credibility.
Wendy,
Thanks for sharing.
I agree.
Stop being so theologically and politically minded that we are of loving value to the world. Love God. Love People. When we do that we do what Jesus wants. Its obvious he could care less about theology. But loving people, that's what's on his radar screen!
I meant to say "of NO loving value to the world."
I do think Christians often come across as stupid. It was a turn off for me for many years that I was not a Christian.
Most Christians are ignorant or close minded. Intellectual progressives are in the minority. I believe that as intellectuals we must do share our faith like any other Christian and showing the world logical conversations about God, Jesus, theology, science, social issues. Logical conversation goes along way with most in the world today.
Depends on the Christian.
I think Christians are afraid to think for themselves. They think or believe what they have been taught even if it goes against all logic.
Dumbing the gospel down is what Christians are good at...
I think it all boils down to humility. Christians have the sense that, because they're right about the resurrection, they're right about everything else too. And openness to learning from others in areas where we admit we don't know everything would help.
Christians often come across as ignorant or uninformed because so many claim to stand on scripture, but do not take the time to really understand what the verses mean or even where they're located. Lazy is probably a more appropriate adjective to use. Regarding major cultural issues, such as homosexuality, we quickly say it's a sin, but we don't know how to support that with scripture and we certainly don't know how love, grace and forgiveness apply. We say we are something and we act like something else. Obviously that turns off many non-believers.
"Do Christians come across as ignorant and close minded?"
Yep. We're always going to. We believe in a God, first of all – this supernatural being that created this entire universe and world.
Then we have this homeless dude – an ugly carpenter whose cousin eats bugs – who walks around claiming that he is God and that he can cure people of their sin.
Furthermore, we believe in sin. A logical thinker would claim that anything we want to do – besides killing, of course – is fine. If a dude wants to do that one chick that he meets at the club tonight, than he should be able to, and it's fine. But do I actually believe that? No. I believe God wants me to marry one woman.
Then I can have as much crazy hot sex that I want.
Speaking of sex, his mom said she didn’t get any, but some how she ended up with a kid. Her fiancé claimed that he had nothing to do with it, wanted to get rid of her (like any man would), but then claimed “an angel spoke to him” and that he would stick with The Virgin Preggers.
Now, because of this, we celebrate a holiday that on the surface is essentially the remembrance of your run-of-the-mill Jerry Springer episode.
I could tag on so many things which make us sound like lunatics. The problem is that we worry so much about sounding logical that we sometimes forget about faith part of Christianity... which is a big part.
Our intellect doesn't matter to God. Why else would the core of Christianity be so simple? Sure, intelligence is fine, and it is certainly a gift from God, but in the long run, it's not going to matter. Love matters, and that is love for God and love for the rest of human-kind. By loving God, we'll want to show similar love to the rest of human-kind, and through this, we will want to ultimately show them God's love.
It takes guts to believe in this stuff, and we're going to be criticized for it. You remember Matthew 10:22, I hope. “Hated” is too strong of a word in this case, for I’ve never met some one who wants to kill me, but I think it is analogous.
Basically, we need to get over it and go hard or go home.. No need to complain to others, and no need to appeal to others (as far as this goes).
However, the ignorance and close-mindedness that I believe can be fixed is that of Christians who do not know their stuff and are in it for the tradition. I believe that a lot of that has already been discussed. I also think that you know the types of Christians that I am referring to.
"GOD AND GUNS. 'MERIKA."
Equally so, I can also call those who are too liberally-thinking and try to make Christianity “logical” are ignorant and close-minded, for they cannot embrace a lot of what the scriptures have to say.
“CHRIST AND NIETZSCHE. PHILOSOPHY.”
There is a balance, and I will tell you right now that it isn’t “guns and Nietzsche”.
If I can believe a lot of what I mentioned beforehand, then I don't think it's too big of a leap to say that I believe that a donkey talked. I'm going to sound crazy with or without the donkey. Might as well throw dragons in this paragraph. I'll also say that God told some old guy to build a boat and put a bunch of animals on it.
God doesn't fit human-generated logic, neither does Jesus, and the Ghost certainly doesn't either. Bottom line is this: We're not going to escape our ignorant and close-minded stereotypes. But we can love people as much as we can and hopefully break the barrier by doing so.
Christians come across as ignorant and close minded? I hope so, because if you compromise the truth in order to fit into the world then you have turned your back on God and embraced the prince of this world, Satan. If you do not believe God's word when its says in English AND Hebrew that it was 6 literal 24 hour days, then why do you bother with the rest of the Bible? You've smashed the foundation. It is the only possible interpretation using intelligent analysis of the scripture and evidence in science (which evolutionists contort and conceal but creation scientists present logically using actual science instead of evolution philosophy...).
Anonymous, the word "yom" (day) is used in three senses in Genesis 1-3... and doesn't mean a 24 hour day in all three...
Kinney, as Christians we can engage in intellectual debate and discussion. My daughter's school did this very recently. John Lennox was on tour in Australia. They invited him to spend a day at the school, where he spoke to all the staff, students and parents were invited. Some parents were surprised to hear that science and God can be reconciled!
http://johnlennox.org/index.php/en/
As an agnostic I have found that many Christians, not all but many of the Christians that I have tried to have conversation with about science, evolution, morality or God have been very offensive and close minded. It is like they were afraid to think on their own.
Wendy and Anon, let's be straight. God could create anything in the blink of an eye if he wanted to, he could take a 1,000 years if he wanted to, and he could very well take 24 hours if he wanted to.
If God decided "Hey, I'm going to work on this from the time that the sun rises until the sun sets just to see if I could limit myself" then we're good. However, if God decided "Hey, I'm going to have them write this using the word 'day' to show that I worked on these things in order because I'm outside of time" then we're good.
If the term "yom" is used in the three different ways, then I think we can all agree that we just simply do not know. This is a trivial matter, and all it does is cause unnecessary quarreling.
J.Lockhart, it's not a trivial matter.. the witness of some Christians who insist that a 6 24 hour day creation is the only possible way to interpret Genesis 1-3 keeps people from investigating the claims of Christ.
I think one thing that makes Christians come across as ignorant and close minded is their intolerance of opposing ideas and their active push to force others to live according to their religious standards. There is a common assumption by many (not all) Christians that they know better...this arrogant attitude alienate others who disagree.
TParker,
Thanks for your thoughts and adding to the discussion. I think we need to live and love the way Jesus did. Thanks again.
Jerry,
Sorry to here that. Is it because the loudest Christians get the most attention?
Stan,
Thanks for you comments. I agree that logical conversation does go along way. As Christians we must be willing come across not as ignorant or know it alls. That is challenging.
Anonymous,
Yes it does depend on the individual. Or do you think another question is what comes across as ignorant or close minded to one person may be totally different to another?
Becky,
Thanks for adding to the discussion. It is easier and more comfortable for most Christians to just go with what they have been taught, not thinking or questioning anything. Most people in the world like the status quo, familiarity, comfort.
Anonymous,
Christians and the church dumb down the gospel all the time. A fifth grader can understand the scripture just as good, if not better than a theology grad who knows that orignal Greek & Hebrew text. I know I have heard that many times working in and being around Christians.
Jenny,
Thanks for sahring and adding to the discussion. You are right Pride is a big thing that most need to die too. Can anyone one be right on everything all the time? I know I'm not. LOL We must strive to come across not as know it alls, and consider others. Thanks again for your thoughts on this.
Thom,
Thanks for your thoughts. I appreciate it. Is that way Paul says, "We must be willing and ready to give an answer."? I think Paul even wanted Chrisitnas to be ready to discuss why and what they believed about scripture and God and faith to anyone who asked.
J. Lockhart,
Thanks for addig to the discussion. YOu make lots of sense when it comes to this issue. I appreciate it.
Wendy, Anon, and J. Lockhart,
I think it comes down to pride and the Christian again. All ot of Christians think it is their job or calling to DEFEND God and Scripture. It is their job to PROVE God exists. God isn't against science. If Christians believe that GOd created all things and scriptures states it as well would that include science and mathmatics? They are not in oppositon. Yes. Christians and people make it more of big deal than it is.
Just Another Thought,
Thanks for sharing. I agree. We need to avoid arrogance and being right on every single thing. We need to allow for room to discuss with out judgement. I think maybe Paul was getting at something when he said, "I become all things to all men..."
@ Closed-minded Anonymous, classical mythological poetry (Genesis 1-3) is not, nor was never meant to be fact-based science. If you like, I can post the definitions for both "Poetry" and "Science" for the purpose of clarity.
@ Agnostic Anonymous, I am very sorry that your experiences with Christians have offended so. Sadly, while there are Christians on the forefront of biology, medicine, physics, hard maths, space exploration, etc., we are not, or have not been to date, as outspoken as our fundamentalist counterparts. Please feel free to check out my blog, and comments are always welcomed.
www.sharonbohn.blogspot.com
We have to let God do the talking not us. We Christians or rather humans have tendency to arrogance and judgements. This is evident in how we get the message of Jesus to others. We ram them at people's throat and force it on them. The word of God is preached not shared. A lot of churches think that it is their duty to spread the word of God. Jesus called us into faith in him first. We must be willing to build a loving relationship with the people we want to share God's gospel. Normally they our own families. We must know when to share our personal experience of God and when to give them space. We must be quiet and let God in their lives. We must trust God In calling them to him and their salvation. Although we are taught the way to salvation only thru Jesus. To beware of false prophets and teachings we are to apply these knowledge applies first and foremost to our own relationship with God. We cannot walk this earth and claim we are right with God and arrogantly preach his Gospel. That is us talking not God. We must pray always for a loving and humble way of bringing our brothers to him without condemnation. God Bless!
We have to be careful shouting the loudest, hurling judgements of death to all including unbelievers, gays , etc. We are not in the position to do so. We are still making mistakes and sinning even when continuously ask for forgiveness. The words of God in the Bible is for us. Allowing us into a relationship to him. Allowing us to be change, to be touched by him and to follow Him. It is not meant as our judgement of others. God makes us free of these judgements since he is the ultimate judge. We must walk with love, hoping this love will bring more people to Jesus. God Bless!
i think one of the reasons so many christians come off as closed minded is simply when they do not understand something they asume it is evil or unbiblical it is unwise to make asumptions about things the bible doesent realy adress. also in the atempt of most christians to establish the supremeacy of GOD the deminish the value of people who jesus died for yes GOD is much higher than people however people are also important how can we live life asthought its all about giveing GOD glory and still have any respect for people it is not posable
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