Why are Christians such a hateful bunch?

Through history, Christians are responsible for the vast majority of slaughter. But they cleverly got Jews and Arabs to blame each other

Evangelicals are the most hateful and most cruel among them all. Gay men incur most of their wrath, as we painfully experience. The 1980s were a living hell.

No one hates as much as a religious person.

Truthfully the right wing of any religion is crazy and hateful—but in the US, the Evangelicals have taken power and forcing their beliefs on everyone else. They detest gays and all the GOP’s anti gay stances are because of them.

It's hilarious that they don't see that in the Gospels they're the Pharisees that Jesus condemned.

I now make a distinction between people who claim they are "Christian" vs. those I see who are truly "Christlike."

They should try reading the Gospels every now and again.

Religion attracted the low-functioning through the ages, largely incapable of critical thinking. There a e good parables and 'stories' from which meaningful thought can be provoked, however the lower-functioning christians don't seem to be capable of broad thinking, in the end hiding behind their allegiance to the doctrine, and becoming glaring hypocrites in the process.

In the first couple of centuries of Christianity it must have seen like a significant moral improvement over the greedy, callous dysfunctions of the Roman empire. Since it got into power, however, it quickly outdid ancient Rome in ruthless appetite for money and conquest. As world religions go I don't rate it that highly.

What about the religion of peace?

I hate all religions

They live in fear and hate anyone who doesn't.

Christians aren't half as hateful as your average anti-Trumper on DL.

That's funny. Thought I had all the trolls blocked.

Blame the letters and teachings of St. Paul. The Gospels preach love and had Paul’s bigoted letters not been added to the New Testament, we’d be better off.

My neighbor is a right wing Christian. She has no respect for our Mexican American and Guam neighbors but she will ask them for favors. She was spouting some crap about Trump being a good Christian and I asked her how she reconciles her Christian beliefs with her racist beliefs. I said "You only value people if their skin is white, you talk shit about our neighbors but you will go to them for help and then talk shit about them again. I said Jesus had brown skin and she shouted " No he didn't ".

Wow, for years I've only ever waved at my neighbor

They're contrarians. They hate everyone Christ loved.

It’s a culture of obedience steeped in empty platitudes.

Because God tells them exactly what they want to hear.

[Quote]No one hates as much as a religious person.

Amen!

R11 is a moron. I say that as hatefully as I can.

They are the worst! Lacroix and Dior used to make fun of my lisp!

If they really "believed", they wouldn't act this way. They're really doubters.

They use religion as a cover for their personal prejudices

Aka using “religion as a shield”. They do this because in America, we’re not allowed to call someone’s religion stupid. Well I’m here to say it. Your religion is stupid!

The central tenets of Christianity are supposed to be “love thy neighbor” and “judge not.”

It’s that simple.

It’s also that difficult

Technically the primary tenets are love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, will and mind and love your neighbor as yourself. All the law and the prophets hang on these two commands.

The judge not unless you want to be judged by the same measure is there, but not in the top two and proceeds from the love your neighbor as yourself.

Gosh, R11 you sound angry.

The love your God thing is there just to justify the existence of the church and to keep it going financially and socially.

The second tenet is the part that is attempting to make the world a better place to exist in.

I respectfully disagree R27. The church is not God. A church is a body of believers and support for the church proceeds from the second tenet. It’s often easier and more peaceful to worship God in the absence of other people.

R28, you may want to explain that to the Catholic Church

The Catholic Church actively tries to squash the whole “I can communicate with God myself” movement. Most big religions have that segment to contend with and they threaten the Church’s power

Hah! I believe Martin Luther did try to communicate that to the Catholic Church R29 and all he got for his efforts was excommunicated and a thirty year war.

Apparently Martin Luther was also a raging asshole

love your neighbor as yourself

I'd love to see a Xtian Trumper who does this.

I ran into a 70-something Xtian woman biker acquaintance of mine and her husband at a motorcycle shop yesterday. We were swapping stories, and her husband said in a jolly tone, "You're our kind of people!"

I said, "Well, I can put a quick stop to that! Did you guys vote for Trump?" And of course they had. They stopped the discourse pretty quickly.

But you know how you rehearse those things you'd like to say to someone but you know you never will? I thought to myself, I'd like to say, "If you voted for Trump, you and I share no moral values at all. You either have a hole where your heart's supposed to be, or you never use your head for anything."

Just like Jesus preached.

Who amongst us on DL isn’t a raging asshole at times?

They all throw stones but were taught may the first man without sin cast the first stone.

And they love the Old Testament even though Christianity is more about the New Testament.