Nonchristian vs Antichristian

There's a big difference

Published on February 15, 2006 By JillUser In Religion

I think everyone who doesn't consider themselves christian has gotten accused of being antichristian at one time or another. I have gotten accused many times. Ironically the accusers are people with some sort of martyr complex who assume that they will be persecuted for being christian. They take issue with me in anticipation of my taking issue with them.

I am not denying that there are plenty of people on the planet who actually are antichristian. I just find it odd when I or some of the kindest people I know have been labeled as such. It isn't a 'you're either with me or against me' subject.

I am also perplexed as to why so many christians can't fathom anyone believing in God without believing Jesus is his son. I can understand why they can believe in Jesus not because it makes sense to me but because I am open minded and realize that other people have different experiences in life than what I have experienced in my own. Those experiences help form how we see the world and how we fit in it. If you see only your path, your way as being the only way, then you are not open minded.

Comments (Page 7)

shadesofgrey

on Feb 16, 2006

where is the line between disagreement and intolerance? Is it when you can no longer agree to disagree?

The definition of intolerant is: Unwilling to tolerate differences in opinions, practices, or beliefs, especially religious beliefs.

I think that when you start calling someone who doesn't agree with what you think a 'hypocrite' or antiChristian, you are demonstrating intolerance. BenUser's point was basically, "do whatever you want to do, just don't preach at me." Seems pretty tolerant to me.

I don't have to agree with something to be tolerant of it. Here's a good example. When I was in school, one of the students decided to wear a Nazi uniform to class. Our principal, who was Jewish, took this as a great way to teach by example. He told us that while he didn't agree with the student, the student had the right to express himself and therefore the wearing of the Nazi uniform would be tolerated. He didn't agree, he simply didn't prohibit. That's what tolerance is.

JillUser

on Feb 16, 2006

Well put Shades.

Gid, we will have to agree to disagree on Ben. Like I said, I agree that he has a way of being condescending. I feel condescended all the time by christians who tell me that I'm not christian merely because I'm not truly seeking or basically I haven't done my homework on the subject. I couldn't even tell you how many times christians have told me "I was just like you ___ yrs ago until I learned the truth".

As far as tolerance goes, I think that homosexuality is disgusting and unnatural but would never judge someone merely because they are homosexual. Am I intolerant? Am I Anti-gay?

Adventure-Dude

on Feb 16, 2006

I think that when you start calling someone who doesn't agree with what you think a 'hypocrite' or antiChristian, you are demonstrating intolerance.

No a hypocrite is completely different.

And I was asking a rhetorical question. Guess I wasn't very persuasive.

I think that homosexuality is disgusting and unnatural but would never judge someone merely because they are homosexual. Am I intolerant? Am I Anti-gay?

No Jill, because you are able to agree to disagree. As long as you are not forcing your point of view on them. I see my rhetorical questions were not seen as rhetoric.

HC1240

on Feb 16, 2006

Where did you get this info Marcie? Everything I have ever read says that it is doubtful they ever even met. Paul even persecuted christians until he had a vision of Jesus on a journey to Damascus.

I think you're right, Jill. If you look at the book of Acts, Paul details specific events that led up to his conversion (one of them being Stephen's death) and I think it would be out of character for him to NOT mention meeting Jesus if he had. Besides... there were some questioning the authenticity of his apostleship. I always believed that was because he hadn't physically been with Jesus. In 1 Cor. 15:8 Paul is recording Jesus' appearing to the apostles and says this about himself: "Then last of all he was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time." That's what I take that to mean... that he wasn't walking with Jesus before the ascension... not until that day on the road to Damascus. We can't know for sure, of course, so it's all speculation.

Most know that I consider myself to be a conservative evangelical Christian. Jesus did say, "He who is not with me is against me," so I can see where the "us vs. them" mentality comes from... but I also remember the scripture that says my battle is not against flesh and blood, but is a spiritual one. Satan is my enemy, not someone that holds to a different belief system than I do. It's important to keep that in focus. I don't ever want to be the cause of someone deciding against Christ. In my mind, that would be worse than leading noone TO Him. I do take the responsibility of sharing my faith seriously. I believe I'm called to participate in the Great Commission... I just don't think that beating people over the head with it is the best way to "win friends and influence people." I will never deny my God. I won't hide my faith.... and given the opporunity to share what Christ means to me -- I'll take it without hesitation... but I'm not going to degrade others for believing something different. Instead I choose to pray. It's a more powerful tool than anything that might come out of my mouth (or fingers).

Nice article, Jill. I agree with you. Not everyone who is not Christian is "anti-Christian", at least in the sense we generally think of. I think we're all searching... I see that as a good thing. I pray we all find the answers we seek.

Adventure-Dude

on Feb 16, 2006

Jesus did say, "He who is not with me is against me," so I can see where the "us vs. them" mentality comes from...

I know SO many Christians who look down upon the Saducees and Pharisees for their legalistic views but I see the very same traits from them. Bottom line have FAITH in G-D. Period.

It seems to me that we know the road but we are arguing which side of the road we should drive on. How fast we should go.

shadesofgrey

on Feb 16, 2006

No a hypocrite is completely different.

It's namecalling. That's my point.

Adventure-Dude

on Feb 16, 2006

It's namecalling. That's my point.

Okay point taken. Thanks for clarifying

JillUser

on Feb 16, 2006

No Jill, because you are able to agree to disagree. As long as you are not forcing your point of view on them. I see my rhetorical questions were not seen as rhetoric.

Ironic, you complained about your rhetorical questions not seen as rhetoric in the same paragraph as you answered my rhetorical questions. I asked those questions not because I needed them answered rather to make a point about intolerance.

JillUser

on Feb 16, 2006

Nice article, Jill. I agree with you. Not everyone who is not Christian is "anti-Christian", at least in the sense we generally think of. I think we're all searching... I see that as a good thing. I pray we all find the answers we seek.

Thanks for the kind comment HC. Thanks also for adding the info about St. Paul.

100

Dr Guy

on Feb 16, 2006

think that my Christian way is the only way to "heaven"...does that make me not open minded? I don't think so. I think every religion has that belief...

The Jewish religion specifically says that non-Jews can go to heaven (or new earth or whatever you want to call it) if they are good people. The laws of the Bible apply only to Jews. A Jew has to follow them to go to heaven, a non-Jew does

I am Christian, and I dont think it is my way or the hiway. But then I guess that is my Jewish Roots coming through.

101

Dr Guy

on Feb 16, 2006

For a nonbeliever, there is a similarity between the resurrection and santa claus--they don't believe that either are real. I'm not sure how it is intolerant to state a belief.

Jesus died, He was real. santa Claus was never real. Gid's point is if you are going to equate a belief based upon known history, with childhood fantasies, you have already shown your prejudice and closed mindedness as well as your intolerance. Non beleivers can doubt the resurection, but to equate a historical figure with imaginary ones is just plain stupid.

102

Adventure-Dude

on Feb 16, 2006

Jill, isn't it fun

103

JillUser

on Feb 16, 2006

Jesus died, He was real. santa Claus was never real.

Reexamine what you just said Dr. Guy. Noone equated Jesus with Santa. The comparison was between the resurrection and Santa. There is no more proof that the resurrection happened then that Santa exists. You can't prove or disprove either. I know it sounds crazy but there are grown people who believe in Santa. They wish for a new job, snow on their vacation, whatever, and credit it to the magic of Santa.

To a nonchristian, the story of the virgin birth and resurrection seem equally mythical.

Non beleivers can doubt the resurection, but to equate a historical figure with imaginary ones is just plain stupid.

BenUser only doubted the virgin birth and resurrection. He never suggested Jesus didn't exist.

104

shadesofgrey

on Feb 16, 2006

Dr. Guy:

I suggest you reread what BenUser wrote, because he didn't compare Jesus to Santa Claus. He said:

If someone wants to believe in the virgin birth and resurrection, the tooth fairy, Santa Claus, martians, ghosts, vampires, or any other myth, so be it... whatever gets you through the night. I become anti-whatever when someone thinks they are better than everyone else, simply because of his or her beliefs.

He compared the virgin birth and the resurrection to santa and myths. There is no history that proves that either of these events happened. Before you start throwing around the term "stupid" you should double check what was actually written.

105

shadesofgrey

on Feb 16, 2006

Sorry Jill, I think we were typing at the same time.

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