Why are Christians so mean?
93272
Fred Phelps and the members of the Westboro Baptist Church *are* a fringe element. Most Christians would *not* picket the funeral of a deceased homosexual, or a deceased soldier who died in Iraq (yep, Fred Phelps does that too). He is a crazy man who just happens to have a few followers, and they are very vocal. \n\nHowever, many bad things in the world have been perpetrated in the name of Christianity, such as the Crusades, slavery, witch hunts, the persecution of homosexuals, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgendered person today. This does not make all Christians "mean" or "bad", just like all Russians are not tyrants because of Stalin and all Muslims are not out to destroy America because Al Queda makes attacks in the name of Islam and Allah. Individuals do bad things, groups are not to be defined by those individuals, even if there are a lot of them.\n\nFurthermore, the first 4 books of the Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers) are not, strictly speaking, Christian compositions. They are the first 4 books of the Jewish Torah, and the Christians "inherited" them. This is *not* an attempt to say that "it's not Christians who are crazy, it's the Jews!", but rather a clarification as to the origin of those texts. They certainly *are* Christian texts in that they are used extensively by Christians and form a great deal of basic Christian belief (the Creation, the Flood, the Abrahamic Promise, etc.). The Muslims *also* use these texts as a foundation for Islam, because they also consider themselves to be children of the Abrahamic Promise, descended from Abraham's elder son, Ishmael. Thus, these books are given credence by three of the world's major religions, making their "delusional" quality somewhat moot because of the sheer number of people who accept those "delusions" as true.\n\nThere are a great many Christians who do try to conduct themselves well, based on their intreptation of what that means. Now, I don't like their stance on abortion, but it comes from a genuine interest in the rights of the unborn, as people, as opposed to a genuine desire to degrade women to the simple status of breeding stock. Many Christians give charitable donations, such as for the tsunami or Hurricane Katrina, or other disasters. Many Christians go out of their way to be kind to other people. And many of these "kind" Christians don't go about blowing their "Look at me, I'm a Christian" whistle, the way the "mean" ones seem to do so often. \n\nSo, the answer would be that individual Christians are mean for the same reason that individual atheists, individual Muslims, individual police officers, individual cat-kicking children, or individual pizza delivery guys are mean. They just are, and it's not a reflection on the group at large.
1034832
Because it is already defensive....or maybe I should say offensive...it begins by excluding a group of people ( non-christians) which reeks of judgement ( only those  "good christians" will understand that) and sets the tone as one full of higher morals(judgement again...hhhmm recurring theme?) and that damn "holier than thou" attitude that so often comes along with "good christians".\nWhen Christ was actually around I don't think he seperated himself from anyone with a phrase..."oh, as the son of god.... I think...." he said we are all the same...\nmuch nicer than his followers I am afraid to say...
792122
To scare them.  Christians are punks
856822
Technically, Christians shouldn't be fighting anyone... we should always be striving to be "Christ-like" and therefore should be "turning the other cheek" when someone wrongs us.\n\nNow, realistically, we are human beings and there is a bit of the evolutionary survival of the fittest attitude in all of us... so if someone tries to physically cause harm to us, our instincts are to prevent it by either deflecting the physical abuse or fighting back to render the other person disabled and therefore unable to harm us.  While I do not advocate violence, I don't believe in standing by while you or someone else is abused.  \n\nAs a Christian the only thing you should be asking yourself is "what would Jesus do?"  You will always have your answer and then it is up to you as to whether or not you want to act on it.
771406
People hate because they are afraid of things they don't know much about. The Church goes against its own preachings by hating gays. Christianity says to love others, even if they are "sinners." You can argue about the nature of sin, but nowhere in the bible does it say "Good Christians bully gays." In fact, Jesus defends sinners as being only human and by saying,"He who throws the first stone..." Some Christians argue that gays are sinful, but few know what sodomy traditionally means. In biblical times, any sex that was done for just pleasure and not to make babies was viewed as a distraction to pleasing God and worshipping Him. So, naturally, gays were sinful for "having sex for fun." Nowadays, though, healthy relationships are driven by "fun sex", not the urge to make babies. Sexual attraction and a healthy sex life with your lover, not the need to make babies, is what primarily drives a healthy relationship of any kind! So in essence, what causes religiously-rooted homophobia is a misinterpretation of the bible. The other kind of homophobia is driven by people insecure in their own sexuality, and therefore need to bully others in order to feel powerful.\nEither way. I think your friend is just trying to find himself, so give him time.
542079
Sad isn't it.  They aren't very serious about their Christianity are they?
234091
because certain christians think that they are the "chosen ones" and they have a right to do whatever they please because god will forgive them.\n\nha! i say they are the biggest hypocrites of them all!
871355
its too bad people are not behaving.  Some Christians are not reporting silly stuff ya know,  and I have been hasseled by non-christians types.  Some think that freedom of speech is a reason to be rude (report button is kinda free speech and rude I think though there are times when it has a purpose)  and some think if they are not rude others will dismiss what they have to say without understanding,  as if being rude is an exclaimation point.  I just write off people who are rude crude and socially unacceptable as cowards in this dark closet and since they have no ability to articulate I assume they are not much good at thinking and when I see their avatar i just skip it.
446281
People who are only religious tend to be that way.\n\nIt is not so with true Christians. The only problem is that there are so many religious people out there giving the true Christains and Jesus himself a bad name.\n\nIt was the same way in Jesus' time. Jesus constantly rebuked the religious people of His day. They fought all of the time. But Jesus himself was not like them at all. \nEven still, people are still flawed, but Jesus is not. HIs love is perfect and unfailing. He loves you like crazy, no matter what anyone else says or does.\nGod bless.
445559
The one thing some Christians have against them (I am Christian as well) is how they treat others.  Our pastor recently said in a sermon,  " I'll tell you, if I was a non-believer and was thinking about becoming a Christian, the one thing that would stop me is how we treat others and ourselves."\n\nI have to agree.  The way you bring people to love Jesus is by love, prayer, and grace.  Not by bashing them for not being Christian.  Truth is:  we are all sinners and being Christian does NOT make us superior, yet we act as though it should.  We are ALL God's children.  EVERY sin is equal in God's eyes.\n\n\nWhy would anyone respect us if we approach them in an accusing, judgemental manner?!\n\nThere is hypocrisy in ALL faiths and ALL people because we are all sinners.  Please understand...no one is perfect except Jesus Christ.  Being a follower of Christ in no way makes our sins invisible.\n\nI am embarrassed and apologetic for the image some of us have portrayed.
865335
even if athiests are uglier then christians (which im not agreeing with, because both sides have their disrespectful people in them)... however christians are held to higher standards as they have a book to base morals from whereas athiests have their self for basis of morality.
205797
all christians are "bad" because we are all sinners. But God loves and forgives us. There should be no judgement among christians.
409653
Well as a Christian I would argue that not all Christians are like that by any means. Sadly like all religions there are charlatans who take advantage of people and compel them to do terrible things, (Pat Robertson calling for the assasination of Hugo Chavez, for example) and distort religion for their own sinister purposes. These particular 'Christian' leaders (Robertson, Fallwell, Swaggart, Baker, Dobson, ect) contradict the original teachings of Jesus Christ on almost everything. But I hope you don't lump ALL Christians in with them. To be honest they would probably do the same thing to Jesus now that the Pharisees and Saducees did to him in the 1st century: they accused him of sedition (calling him an enemy of Caesar), accused him of heresy (for not sticking to their rigid, burdensome, and unmerciful traditions), and eventually killed him. So by no means are all Christians fanatics, many of us are decent, respectable people who simply wish to practice our faith  without infringing on others' beliefs.
409896
because christians act fishy  or smell funny ps mr klaw youre so cool:D (gah im a suck up)
495306
Because not all Christians are wise people and allow themselves to be tickled easily.\nChristians that actually read and are spiritually involved are offended less easy and often simply don't reply.\nTo many people claim their Cristian without even having a clue of what they believe in.
581118
Very good question. \nbeing that christians are taught to be kind and accepting of everyone. The messages does not always get through. It's kinda funny to hear christians rant and rave and act very unchristian like.
764919
Many Christians I've known can empathize with those people because they do the same thing, sneak around and commit adultery, steal, cheat, that sort of thing. Seriously, there is an emotional masochism in certain people that makes religion very attractive to them -- heaven knows (pun) there is a load of masochism and guilt in Christianity, which many Christians enthusiastically suffer and rejoice in. \n\nSome masochists are drawn to Christianity because it supports their "me sinner / me saved" emotionally self-punishing psychosis.