The Christian stereotype is one that has been around for a while, and one that I have noticed since I became one in the 6th grade. I think we all know the stereotype. Crazed, fanatical, judgmental, out of touch with society? I am sure we dress like pilgrims is somewhere in there too. We all live on compounds, running around calling people heathens, and banishing you to hell for not listening to us. And yes there are some people out there who are exactly like that, but I assure you, it is not the majority. Now my next statement might sound “out-there” to you but I hope you keep reading. The main reason that one would think we are a bunch of crazies is…get ready…the media. Now wait…I am not going to go on a tirade about the evils of the media and the world at large. Frankly, it’s not even the media’s fault. When you flip on to the news what do you see? All the crazed cults who are being raided by the FBI for child molestation or are amassing enough automatic weapons to invade most of South America. You don’t really hear about local churches achieving great success in community outreach programs, making their local area much better. You don’t hear about how they have changed people’s lives, helping single mom’s make ends meet, starting programs to reach out to the homeless, or have started successful alcohol and drug rehabilitation programs. Churches, true churches that reside in communities and neighborhoods are a valuable asset to their respective local areas.
The people in these churches aren’t really crazy either. They don’t run around shouting judgments at you, they won’t shove their faith down your throat. Remember, Christianity is all about FAITH. When I meet someone and I tell them I am a Christian sometimes they seem to want to try to convince me that I am either insane or wrong. I am neither, I just have faith in that what I believe is true. Just like you have faith that what you believe, be it evolution or Buddhism, or that slightly cool Star Wars religion is right, so do I. Anyway, it’s nice I got that out of the way but I digress. Yeah we aren’t all crazy. I for instance, don’t dress like the characters in “The Village”, I shop at a lot of stores. I am not out of touch with society, I watch the news, I enjoy R rated movies (I am a pretty big Superbad fan actually…), I have an iPhone and even a Macbook Air. I listen to all kinds of music, even if it has the parental advisory. I don’t run around forcing my beliefs on you, and if you want to hear them that’s cool just let me know. But I assure you what you see on TV or in that moronic movie Saved (which in no way impacted my crush on Mandy Moore) is not the case.
I was watching CNN today, and Rick Sanchez was interviewing Tony Alamo, who is being accused of child molestation and child pornography, among other things. Basically the entire time he went on about the evils of society, citing ludicrous examples and Bible verses taken completely out of context rambling on about all the “faggots” in the world, and how the “government is the anti-christ”, and basically telling Rick Sanchez he is going to hell. He kept his cool thankfully, but I almost wanted to call in and start refuting everything that man said and making a primary point that he does NOT represent us. It’s people, lunatics, like Tony Alamo, who take what we believe and spin it into a radical, tainted message for their benefit. They use The Bible to justify terrible acts, and to judge and push people away. This situation was the reason I decided to post this. I just don’t want true Christians, good, kind people to be unfairly grouped in to organizations like these.
Anyway, feel free to voice your opinion on this. Agree or Disagree? If you have a valid, calm, thought and present it like an adult I will be glad to hear you out and reply. I keep a very open mind so I value your feedback. If you are going to be a moron who wants to yell, scream and be ignorant, don’t even bother cause I moderate comments. Peace Out and thanks for listening.
I absolutely couldn’t agree more with your thoughts. Even though I did not witness the interview of Rick Sanchez with Tony Alamo, I am glad you had the opportunity to counteract on CNN and look forward to watching!
May it be so.
Sad thing is, around the Bible Belt, it does become a crazy religion where everybody is shoving their self-righteousness down your throat. True christianity is hard to find sometimes.
Thanks for throwing this out there.
No “everyone”, or even “most” Christians in the Bible belt go around shoving their beliefs down peoples’ throats. I’ve lived in Texas for 53 years and have never, ever been approached by a Christian, ever. Fact is, I think many Christians are fearful of what others might think should an approach be made, and there aren’t many Christians around that even know enough about God or the Bible to make an informed statement to others, anyway.
IMO, most Christians go to church in order to be around other “good” people, as a social club, not to learn about God or Jesus Christ. If they did, there would be a great cry across the nation of how little churches actually teach those two major topics. I think Christians are so much like the rest of the world, that no one would even recognize them as being a Christian, which is probably okay by them. Sad (not that I think Christians should be Fringe freaks).
Couldn’t agree more Jordan, thanks for reading…
hi
thanks for this article! I couldn’t agree more on this as I have been trying to explain christianty and the sterotypes myself to friends and such, this is great writing please keep it up
I think I might love you. *hugs this article*
lol if this is the Hannah I think it is, then thanks for reading…
My article would hug you back if it had arms…
I agree. The Christian stereotype is SO annoying and I hate how many people think it’s actually true.
But I also think you can be very serious about Christianity, so that you come close to fitting the stereotype (as in, you -do- refrain from R-rated movies or sex-themed music, or even if you’re in one of those religions that believes Harry Potter and Halloween are evil [I only fit the first two things I said]) without fitting the part of trying to force your religion on the rest of the world, or hating atheists, or wanting to kill gay people… et cetera.
From the other side of the fence (well, there are a lot of sides) I can say I agree with you. This article (like yourself I’d bet) is very well spoken and well put. You’re absolutely correct that the media does put out the worst of the folks out there – I cringed when I saw the Pagan pride article that had a circle of 50 year olds dressed like fairies, dancing in a circle.
I’ll throw my two cents in this way – I like rational discussion. I won’t scream at anyone if they won’t scream at me. (And oft times I’ll just shake my head and walk away if they do happen to scream at me. It happens.)
k
Believe it or not katarthis, I’ve been yelled at too haha. Thanks for the comment.
Sadly, the fact remains, we live in a world where the credibility and morality of the many is judged by the actions of the fanatical few.
Since how I feel has pretty much been summed up by all the previous posts, I would just like to add one thing. God knows what we go through. He knew what we were going to go through thousands of years before we even came into existence. We are supposed to endure these times and the countless critics we are subjected to.
Franctly, I am thankful for the critics and even the religious fanatics. Although they do give many good Christians a bad reputation, they also motivate and empower us. I mean, I know when I see those articles and interviews that speak of Christianity almost as a plague upon the world, I go back into my Bible, pray, and take a look at myself to see where I need my improvements.
We have a purpose and a mission. And regardless of how the odds are against us, that purpose remains the same.
Wow Jordan, that was surprisingly well thought out…nicely done.
I could not agree more with the stereotype, and how people judge us based on one loon, like that hispanic dude who had 666 tatooed on him and said he’s the next Christ, or that one dude down in Texas i think who says that only he can have sex.
I wish people would actually do research on Christianity itself, instead of just generalizing from what they see and hear in the media.