I hate to say it, but I'm not entirely sure that this is a Christian problem in so much as it's a "some people's heads will explode if they stop complaining" problem.
It's unfortunate that it's the Christian Right that are often the loudest and most obnoxious about such things. They end up giving a bad name to the good, quiet, respectful Christians who make up the majority of the faith.
You end up finding the same thing in all denominations and all faiths. Just recently a group of Seventh Day Adventists and Orthodox Jews were complaining bitterly that the last Harry Potter book was being released on a Saturday, their day of rest. They wailed and bemoaned the fact that people were working on the holy day and that they would have to wait until *gasp* Sunday to pick up their copies of the book.
You see it in Judaism, Islam, Pagan, and I'm sure it's there in Hindu, Buddhism, and Scientology too. There are just far too many people in the world who's lives are so small and so sad that all they have left is to complain. I think that the only reason you see it more in Christianity is because there are more Christians here than any other religion.
I just try to pity these people rather than let them get me mad ... mind you, it's hard when the Pagans start screaming about the 'Burning Times', but that's something else entirely.
Just try to hold onto and gain comfort from the few intelligent people posting out there, because god knows, they are few and far between.
I guess it all particularly bothers me because, the moment I tell someone that I'm a Christian, I'm instantly lumped in with the likes of people whose ideas and attitudes -- all wrapped in a "Christian" package -- I despise. I have a deeply-ingrained need to not be associated with those folks. So, that kept me away from Christianity for a looooooooooooong time. I did go back, obviously, but in some ways it is sometimes still under duress. At times, I don't even label myself, in my mind, as a "Christian." The word has too many negative connotations associated with it now. So now I tend to think of myself as a follower of Christ. I wouldn't presume to call myself a disciple. I'm more of an emulator. Or at least, that's my aspiration. I suppose that I need to get rid of the above attitude first... *sigh* But, like I said, it's deeply-ingrained.
But yes, people regardless of their spirituality do like to complain, don't they? It's just that Christians seem to be particular masters of it. :p
Funny you should mention "Burning Times." From where I sit, a good portion of the Christian camp is thoroughly convinced that the pagans/liberals/atheists/whatever are going to come and kill them. Like, a re-enactment of Roman times or something. On the other side, it's apparently thought that the Christians are going to oppress everyone, if not outrightly kill them. I suppose that'll change -- or at least lessen -- once there's no longer a Christian president around... ;)
It's unfortunate that it's the Christian Right that are often the loudest and most obnoxious about such things. They end up giving a bad name to the good, quiet, respectful Christians who make up the majority of the faith.
You end up finding the same thing in all denominations and all faiths. Just recently a group of Seventh Day Adventists and Orthodox Jews were complaining bitterly that the last Harry Potter book was being released on a Saturday, their day of rest. They wailed and bemoaned the fact that people were working on the holy day and that they would have to wait until *gasp* Sunday to pick up their copies of the book.
You see it in Judaism, Islam, Pagan, and I'm sure it's there in Hindu, Buddhism, and Scientology too. There are just far too many people in the world who's lives are so small and so sad that all they have left is to complain. I think that the only reason you see it more in Christianity is because there are more Christians here than any other religion.
I just try to pity these people rather than let them get me mad ... mind you, it's hard when the Pagans start screaming about the 'Burning Times', but that's something else entirely.
Just try to hold onto and gain comfort from the few intelligent people posting out there, because god knows, they are few and far between.
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But yes, people regardless of their spirituality do like to complain, don't they? It's just that Christians seem to be particular masters of it. :p
Funny you should mention "Burning Times." From where I sit, a good portion of the Christian camp is thoroughly convinced that the pagans/liberals/atheists/whatever are going to come and kill them. Like, a re-enactment of Roman times or something. On the other side, it's apparently thought that the Christians are going to oppress everyone, if not outrightly kill them. I suppose that'll change -- or at least lessen -- once there's no longer a Christian president around... ;)
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