I see a lot of this in my Comparative Religious Thought class. We've had some pretty heated discussions about basic Christian doctrine like hell and the idea of absolute truth, and it saddens me to hear people say things like "I'm a Christian, but I think all religions lead to the same place, just be a good person, etc." So when it's my turn to talk and I say something like how it's impossible for all religions to be equal and I do believe in absolute truth, I get looked at as a bigot, because the "true Christians" are the tolerant, open-minded ones. Yet few seem to believe me if I try to point out what the Bible actually says about certain things. Why call yourself a Christian if you don't believe the Bible?

I refuse to lie about what the Bible says and be little Miss Sunshine and Unicorns just to make people happy or because I worry about people thinking poorly of Christians because of me. If they don't want to hear the truth, they can ignore me, if they think badly of Christianity because I tell them the truth then I just pity them. But given that this is the internet, it is not as though any of it is remotely useful or important, anyway.

@Her_Journey@xanga - And sometimes ACTIONS speak louder than words...

Go right ahead, stand up for your beliefs. But don't do Stand Up Comedy for your beliefs. Because, let's face it, being moral and what not isn't funny.

Great post ~ ^_^

To stand up for your faith is the best thing you can do I think, because if you did not, you might miss out on someone who really needs to here it. If you struggle with this, you can always ask the Lord for help. This is the same if you are low in your faith!

I have anxiety, something I have to deal with everyday. I sometimes feel as if I am afraid to do something related to my faith because I worry what people would think of me. But despite that, I try to do what I wanted to do anyway because my faith matters to me more than someone hating me. And I want my faith to be more than my anxiety.

i agree, Christians shouldn't be afraid to stand up for their beliefs.  but Christianity as a whole looks like it needs to figure out exactly what those beliefs are.  and they should stop whining about being persecuted when people disagree with them.  

@praedatusest@xanga - "...because I think all of us confuse disagreeing with someone with respecting someone, especially Christians."

So you are saying I can't respectfully disagree with someone? Of course the two are completely different words but I did state that although I disagree with her personal belief that she was talking about, I can respect it and try to understand it. Whether you're Christian or not I think we should not sacrifice our own beliefs for others but it doesn't kill us to try to understand. Ignorance and choosing to not know anything else other then what you know now is not good at all.

"So my question is what does the Bible teach us, not so much about respecting other people's religions, but about how we should treat other people?"

That is a tough one for me to answer, especially since I am not Christian. I have read the Bible and had Bible study when I was younger. And as far as I can remember the Bible does say to treat others with respect and/or forgivness...generally. Even your enemies. So in a general sense that is fine enough. But when it comes to that question personally, for me, I think it is wrong not not at least try to get an understanding of others. Stand by your beliefs all you want, I encourage that, but do not shove the rest of the world out. It's there and it's not going to go away. But as I mentioned before, most religions are not sunshine and rainbows.

They have rules and when it comes to some of those rules, Christians try to change them because they know it makes other people uncomfortable or want to argue with them. And although the Bible, even Ill admit, can have good morals behind it, when you get into specifics about who God tells you is sinful/non-sinful, it's not a pretty thing for most people to talk about. But it is what it is and even I accept that.

Other then all that, if I mentioned anything that truly isn't in the Bible and my memory serves me wrong, say so. Although I am not Christian I still like learning and trying to understand other religions. That is just the way I am, as a human being in general.

This was a great post.  Thanks for writing it.  I especially like how
you identified that our desire to people-please is linked to
self-preservation.  Similarly, I think the best way to fight our
people-pleasing nature is to realize that God is the one who should be
in control of our preservation, not us.  I was thinking just tonight of
a time when I was out in a field and saw a huge bolt of lightening
flash across the sky.  Usually, seeing such a thing in a field would be
scary, but this particular time I was just amazed at how beautiful it
was and at the fact that the God who created that powerful bolt of
lightening loves and cares for me.  I slept soundly and peacefully in
my tent that night, listening to the rain hit the roof and the thunder
rumble and thinking about how the powerful God who created the storm is
on my side and how completely my life is in his hands.  Just reading
through Psalm 104 or God's speech in Job 38-41 will remind you of God's
awesome sovereignty too.   I think that's the understanding that we
have to come from if we're going to be bold for the gospel and stand up
for what we believe, either by our actions or words.  We have to be
connected to the fountain of God's grace so that that grace can flow
through us to others, loving because we know of his great love, serving
because we see how he served, having faith because we know he is
faithful, speaking the truth because we know God's word changes lives
since it has changed ours, and confident because we know he is with us
and he is sovereign.  Our lives, our reputations, and our purposes are
all in his hands, and we know that we can trust him to work in our
lives for good when we follow where he leads us ("And we know that in
all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been
called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28 NIV; "'For I know the
plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not
to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" - Jeremiah 29:11
NIV).

Thank you, Lord, for your work in our lives.  Thank you for leading us
in your purposes.  Fill us with your grace, and help us to be confident
in you and in doing the things that you have called us to do.  In
Jesus' name we pray.  Amen.

Okay it's nice to have a set of beliefs etc and to defend your beliefs if ever in a situation where you're asked to, but imposing them on others.... really?

As an ex atheist I NEVER attacked anyone based on their beliefs.... to me it seems like Christians have lack of self control due to the need to preach to everyone. You need to develop a sense of tolerance*. It is only right and doesn't make you seem like a rude dick who makes fast judgements about how what others believe in is wrong. I don't need you constantly bringing up Jesus etc etc in every conversation. It isn't  respectful of those who hold different beliefs. I never brought up how I didn't think God was real.... so why can't you respect my beliefs and not bring it up? It's such a one way street -____-

I just wish that people kept religion to themselves. It's very rude and imposing when you assume I want to hear about you and your beliefs. Unless I directly ask you, I don't need every sentence to be about the teachings of Jesus... I want a conversation, not a conversion....

@sarahzthoughts@xanga - I wish I knew more Christians like that :/ honestly... the ones I know will get into an argument with someone else that causes them to defend their beliefs and then they come to me and essentially preach to me about how the person was wrong in thinking so :/ it`s like a full on attempt to change my views as well as my Christian friends know I don´t choose to meddle in religion, and they direct some comments at me... :/ ergh... I´ve only ever come across Christians who impose their beliefs continiously without understanding that maybe some people want to be left alone. 

I need to work on my total surrender :/