In case you haven't seen my previous post (since it was in the introductions section), I am doing this for a project in one of my college courses. It is a "community immersion project". As it is a prejudice and discrimination class, stereotypes are an important topic within the class. For my project, I hoped to encourage discussion between atheists and Christians, two groups of people who don't always get along. I asked atheists on here to give stereotypes or misconceptions they feel that Christians have towards atheists. I also did the same with Christians concerning atheists. Here are the results I got from the Christians.
For those of you who have commented already, I have changed my post. If you want to change/add to your own, you are free to do so.
1. Christians are not intellectual -There have been, and still are, brilliant Christians who embrace logic, reason, and critical thinking
2. Christians are anti-science -There have been, and still are, Christians in various fields of science
3. Christians are anti-personal growth -There are plenty of Christians who continuously strive to improve themselves
4. Christians cherry-picking from the Bible -There are many Christians who take the Bible too seriously to cherry-pick it
5. Christians are haters of people not like them - Christians are capable of welcoming others that are not the same as them.
6. Christians have never really thought deeply about our beliefs - that we're Christian just because that's what our upbringing taught us. - Many Christians were actually former atheists even, and at one time believed something very differently. They find Christianity on their own, and examine it on their own, independent of what their parents say.
7. Christians are only Christian because we fear hell -Might be true for some, but Christians can have other reasons for being Christians
8. Christians think they're more moral than others - See #3. Many feel that they need to improve themselves.
9. Christians are just the product of the home they were raised in - See #6
10. Christians are looking at everything with a lot of preconceived ideas and are not open minded enough - Many are.
11. Christians are hypocritical - Not all of them display attributes of a hypocrite.
12. Christians are illogical - Christians are capable of using logic and reasoning, just like anyone else.
13. Christians always imposed their views upon others & warp cultural identity - There are numerous examples of Christians being oppressed.
14. Christians believe anything - See #12
15. Christians accept the Christian Faith on blind faith - Christians are capable of believing this based on the evidence they see fitting.
16. Christians grovel beneath a Creator they can’t see or experience - Many Christians do feel that they experience "the creator" in a meaningful way.
17. Christians are less than intelligent , logical, and possess no ability to think for themselves - See #12
These are all the things that Christians have told me that they believe atheists often don't understand about Christianss. Now that you know this, I have a few questions I'd like to ask.
1. Did you have any of these stereotypes or misconceptions about Christians? If so, which ones?
2. Do you believe that any of these aren't simply stereotypes or misconceptions, but are facts about Christians? How so?
3. Knowing that these are simply stereotypes or misconceptions, do you feel that this will change the way that you approach a Christian in the future? How so?
4. Do you have any final comments?
If you could take the time to respond to this, I would greatly appreciate it, as the assignment is due this Friday. Thank you all and have a wonderful day/night/afternoon! :)
Quote from: theorange4 on October 28, 2014, 09:40:43 PM
1. Christians are not intellectual- the rank and file no, but the educated ones slant their knowledge to accommodate their beliefs
2. Christians are anti-science- Not anti-science, but their focus isn't on it
3. Christians are anti-personal growth- Depends on how you define personal growth. They would disagree
4. Christians cherry-picking from the Bible- yes
5. Christians are haters of people not like them- distrusting is a better word
6. Christians have never really thought deeply about our beliefs - that we're Christian just because that's what our upbringing taught us- cognitive dissonance; they can't accept anyone would shun religion
7. Christians are only Christian because we fear hell- Not completely true, but a big reason
8. Christians think they're more moral than others- definitely true
9. Christians are just the product of the home they were raised in.-Mostly, but others convert because they lack something
10. Christians are looking at everything with a lot of preconceived ideas and are not open minded enough -mostly true
11. Christians are hypocritical- true, but you'd never convince them of that
12. Christians are illogical.- they simply don't examine their beliefs enough to apply logic
13. Christians always imposed their views upon others & warp cultural identity- only in extreme situations
14. Christians believe anything- They believe what they are led/taught to believe
15. Christians accept the Christian Faith on blind faith- Yes, mostly
16. Christians grovel beneath a Creator they can’t see or experience- They would never think of it that way
17. Christians are less than intelligent , logical, and possess no ability to think for themselves -Again, cognitive dissonance- they are intelligent, they just don't apply it.
These are all the things that Christians have told me that they believe atheists often don't understand about Christianss. Now that you know this, I have a few questions I'd like to ask.
1. Did you have any of these stereotypes or misconceptions about Christians? If so, which ones?- No- I was a Christian.
2. Do you believe that any of these aren't simply stereotypes or misconceptions, but are facts about Christians? How so?
3. Knowing that these are simply stereotypes or misconceptions, do you feel that this will change the way that you approach a Christian in the future? How so? No. I was a Christian
4. Do you have any final comments?
#2 Some are stereotypes and some misconceptions, some facts. Depends on the question and the person it is applied to
If you could take the time to respond to this, I would greatly appreciate it, as the assignment is due this Friday. Thank you all and have a wonderful day/night/afternoon! :)
The majority of us were Christians at one point. The majority of Christians have never been Atheists.
Okay. I must note that most of these criticisms will be towards the nitwits that come onto our forum to argue and prostheletyze and generally make themselves nucences. I'm sure that in many ways such people are atypical.
Quote from: theorange4 on October 28, 2014, 09:40:43 PM
1. Christians are not intellectual
It's very hard to argue against this when one can easily knock a Christian off script when they come here to prostheletyze. However, in disciplines not intersecting with their religion many of them do indeed prove quite smart. It's just that they have this very small little blind spot that is very galling once exposed.
Quote from: theorange4 on October 28, 2014, 09:40:43 PM
2. Christians are anti-science
When a Christian puts their faith over a conclusion of science, they are anti-science. Sadly, this happens more often than you think.
Quote from: theorange4 on October 28, 2014, 09:40:43 PM
3. Christians are anti-personal growth
I guess spiritual growth counts, though your mileage may vary.
Quote from: theorange4 on October 28, 2014, 09:40:43 PM
4. Christians cherry-picking from the Bible
Usually Christian priests cherry-pick their Bible for them. A lot have no idea that they have been fed a sanatized version of the Bible. However, when verses like Exodus 21 come up, most Christians are forced to either cherry-pick, reveal themselves to be immoral twits, or admit that the passage is troubling.
I guarantee you that every Christian who claims to take the Bible literally is, in fact, cherry-picking.
Quote from: theorange4 on October 28, 2014, 09:40:43 PM
5. Christians are haters of people not like them
History is rife with examples, and as such any respect to atheists is probably better described as "grudging tollerance", which is next of kin. It also doesn't help that atheists were described as the most hated minority in America not long ago.
Quote from: theorange4 on October 28, 2014, 09:40:43 PM
6. Christians have never really thought deeply about our beliefs - that we're Christian just because that's what our upbringing taught us
Most Christians who come here are not that type. The Christians who have thought about it don't make a big fuss about it because they realize that it is a matter of faith and that faith doesn't transfer to other people.
Quote from: theorange4 on October 28, 2014, 09:40:43 PM
7. Christians are only Christian because we fear hell
No. Christians tend to be Christians because they were raised Christian. Even those that have thought about it tend to come from a Christian background.
Quote from: theorange4 on October 28, 2014, 09:40:43 PM
8. Christians think they're more moral than others
It's hard to argue with this when many of the bloodiest wars and protracted conflicts have been between Christians of different sects. And again, atheists = most hated minority.
Quote from: theorange4 on October 28, 2014, 09:40:43 PM
9. Christians are just the product of the home they were raised in.
As is any of us. This statement has no content.
Quote from: theorange4 on October 28, 2014, 09:40:43 PM
10. Christians are looking at everything with a lot of preconceived ideas and are not open minded enough
Hard to argue against when we've repeatedly exposed those preconceived ideas, and others refuse to accept that we're "really atheists."
Quote from: theorange4 on October 28, 2014, 09:40:43 PM
11. Christians are hypocritical
I guarantee you that every Christian who claims live by the Bible is, in fact, hypocritical. Unless they are in a mental home or in an isolated cult, for it is
impossible to live by the Bible in the modern world.
Quote from: theorange4 on October 28, 2014, 09:40:43 PM
12. Christians are illogical.
The honest, deep thinking ones admit and accept that they are illogical. In fact, you would be hard pressed to find anyone who isn't illogical about
something.Quote from: theorange4 on October 28, 2014, 09:40:43 PM
13. Christians always imposed their views upon others & warp cultural identity
Christians trying to erase Church/State separation fit into this catagory. Christians who understand that Church/State separation protects them too don't.
Quote from: theorange4 on October 28, 2014, 09:40:43 PM
14. Christians believe anything
Definitely false. Some Christians don't even believe that I don't believe in God, but insist that in fact I do believe in Him and am just rebelling.
Quote from: theorange4 on October 28, 2014, 09:40:43 PM
15. Christians accept the Christian Faith on blind faith
Most do. Those that don't, when pressed, I tend to find have accepted Christian faith with rather shoddy reasoning. The honest and intellectual ones cop to this, which I think is perfectly respectible.
Quote from: theorange4 on October 28, 2014, 09:40:43 PM
16. Christians grovel beneath a Creator they can’t see or experience
Hard to argue with when the term for a good Christian is "God-fearing." Note that this is a
self-description.Quote from: theorange4 on October 28, 2014, 09:40:43 PM
17. Christians are less than intelligent , logical, and possess no ability to think for themselves
Repeat of earlier prejudices.
Quote from: theorange4 on October 28, 2014, 09:40:43 PM
These are all the things that Christians have told me that they believe atheists often don't understand about Christianss.
There are very few stereotypes that fit everyone. However, those who tend to come here and make trouble do tend to fit certain stereotypes to a tee.
Quote from: theorange4 on October 28, 2014, 09:40:43 PM
Now that you know this, I have a few questions I'd like to ask.
1. Did you have any of these stereotypes or misconceptions about Christians? If so, which ones?
I had long ago realized that most demographics don't fit into one simple mold, or stereotype, so I quickly try to stamp them out when I notice. That said, I am quite hard pressed to argue with a few of them, which I have noted above.
Quote from: theorange4 on October 28, 2014, 09:40:43 PM
2. Do you believe that any of these aren't simply stereotypes or misconceptions, but are facts about Christians? How so?
I've met enough Christians... hell, I've met enough
people to know that no large group of people fits a stereotype, and as such each is inaccurate to some degree. On the other hand, a few quite definitely fit the mold of some (even most) of them.
Quote from: theorange4 on October 28, 2014, 09:40:43 PM
3. Knowing that these are simply stereotypes or misconceptions, do you feel that this will change the way that you approach a Christian in the future? How so?
I don't think that a stereotype can be dismissed on anyone's say-so, even the party that the stereotype is applied against, however I have also observed that most stereotypes are false in the general case.
That said, there are a few loonies roving around that do in fact fit most of those stereotypes to a tee. As such, I don't serve invective until I'm sure it's deserved, and only then if I feel like it.
Quote from: theorange4 on October 28, 2014, 09:40:43 PM
4. Do you have any final comments?
No, I think that covers it. At least, about the stereotype part.
Quote from: theorange4 on October 28, 2014, 09:40:43 PM
If you could take the time to respond to this, I would greatly appreciate it, as the assignment is due this Friday. Thank you all and have a wonderful day/night/afternoon! :)
My participation notwithstanding, I must say I am really vexed that you are using us as a subject for study, as an assignment, instead of trying to be an actual member of this community. I hope this is a mistaken impression, or some of that invective may be directed at you.
Quote from: theorange4 on October 28, 2014, 09:40:43 PM
These are all the things that Christians have told me that they believe atheists often don't understand about Christianss. Now that you know this, I have a few questions I'd like to ask.
1. Did you have any of these stereotypes or misconceptions about Christians? If so, which ones?
I always try not to hold stereotypes and misconceptions. And I live in a place in which most people who would identify as christian are so different on the subject. Most of those that I meet don't bring it up by themselves and that's even the elderly who are statistically more likely to be devout. And most people I meet operate in a correct and for the most part logical manner in their lives. The fact that they believe in a certain something in their lives that holds no evidence, in other words, doesn't come up and as such I don't really grow a lot of stereotypes.
And while some of these things may be pinned on some christians, other can't. And I wouldn't have liked it if people'd made an entire profile about me if they'd found out I was a catholic. (Wich I was up to like six or seven years ago.)
That being said, I must say something about numbers 4 and 15.
2. Do you believe that any of these aren't simply stereotypes or misconceptions, but are facts about Christians? How so?
Number 4 is undeniably true for every Christian, Jew and Muslim. And probably for a bunch of other religions of whom I do not know the texts to well. And the reason why this is is that there are unmistakable contradictions in the texts of these three religions. And with that it becomes impossible to accept the Bible as true without discarding some verses of it. You can not accept two contradicting verses at the same time.
Also, I don't think there is a difference between faith and blind faith. So number 15 is a weird one to me. Faith is accepting something to be true without evidence and/or in spite of contradictory evidence. So blind faith is the same as you do not see any real evidence. So if you have faith, you have blind faith. That's the point.
3. Knowing that these are simply stereotypes or misconceptions, do you feel that this will change the way that you approach a Christian in the future? How so?
Not really. Because, like I said, I value and treat a person based on how (s)he as a person seems throught the interaction I have with them. And it doesn't change the fact that they believe in something without evidence. So the point I debate from still holds.
4. Do you have any final comments?
Good luck with your assignment.
If you could take the time to respond to this, I would greatly appreciate it, as the assignment is due this Friday. Thank you all and have a wonderful day/night/afternoon! :)
I can usually spot them by looking in to their eyes.... Their empty, soulless, brainwashed eyes.
Sent from your mom
It's funny because I have several mental images of 'Christians', mostly bad, but a smattering of good. There's good father Flannigan running the orphanage for wayward boys, but behind closed doors he turns into a raging child rapist.. The nice guy on the corner handing out literature, but after hours hangs out in gay bars then the next morning bashes gay people.. I could go on and on here, but I think perhaps you get the gist..
All of them are over-generalizations...but all of them are found above the average among Christians who come to post in atheist communities. I imagine atheists who post in Christian communities might be more likely to fit a stereotype on average, too. The people you 'meet' online in areas for discussion are a self-selecting minority who find discussion of the particular topic at hand stimulating.
There are also regional variations. I live in South Carolina. The Christians I'm most likely to encounter are way more likely to fit those stereotypes than an atheist I meet. I expect I would have a different experience in New Hampshire, where fundamentalism is a little less rampant.
That said, it's rarely fair to pre-judge an individual based on their identity.
TIL Christians aren't universally bad, stupid people. OP thinks that is some huge revelation. It's not.
Quote from: Hakurei Reimu on October 28, 2014, 10:45:14 PM
My participation notwithstanding, I must say I am really vexed that you are using us as a subject for study, as an assignment, instead of trying to be an actual member of this community. I hope this is a mistaken impression, or some of that invective may be directed at you.
I appreciate your guys' answer so far. I don't want you to get the impression that I am only using you guys for this assignment. I do plan to come on here more frequently. I have actually been wanting to find a forum like this to talk about religion. YouTube is simply less than a desirable place for me to do so, because of dishonest trolls. Like I said, I don't want you to be under the impression that I don't want to be more involved beyond just this project.
Quote from: Mister Agenda on October 29, 2014, 09:54:02 AM
All of them are over-generalizations...but all of them are found above the average among Christians who come to post in atheist communities. I imagine atheists who post in Christian communities might be more likely to fit a stereotype on average, too. The people you 'meet' online in areas for discussion are a self-selecting minority who find discussion of the particular topic at hand stimulating.
There are also regional variations. I live in South Carolina. The Christians I'm most likely to encounter are way more likely to fit those stereotypes than an atheist I meet. I expect I would have a different experience in New Hampshire, where fundamentalism is a little less rampant.
That said, it's rarely fair to pre-judge an individual based on their identity.
In Columbia here MA.. When I refused to hold hands and pray at a dinner I almost expected to be on the evening news as the baby eating Yankee.. :lol:
1. Christians are not intellectual--This country is generally anti intellectual. Christians are no different; except they make it a special point that faith trumps reason. That makes them almost by definition anti-intellectual.
2. Christians are anti-science--All see science as limited. God exists outside science--and is not bound by any scientific laws--so they may not be anti-science, they see science as of lesser importance than God.
3. Christians are anti-personal growth--Not really. They simply see personal growth than the typical atheist; for a christian, personal growth involves growing toward god.
4. Christians cherry-picking from the Bible--This is a fact. Anybody who uses reason cannot escape this as a fact.
5. Christians are haters of people not like them--All of us belong to one group or another. A very common trait of any group is make a 'us' and 'them' separation in the real world. Christians are one of the best at doing this--as is all organized religion. Christian history is founded upon this idea.
6. Christians have never really thought deeply about our beliefs - that we're Christian just because that's what our upbringing taught us--This is true quite a bit of the time. It is common for a person to return to his/her beliefs as a child as they age.
7. Christians are only Christian because we fear hell--That depends upon the flavor of christian you are. Some find hell to be very real and a very real fear of it.
8. Christians think they're more moral than others--Of course. Why else would they remain christian?
9. Christians are just the product of the home they were raised in.--See #6.
10. Christians are looking at everything with a lot of preconceived ideas and are not open minded enough--Most christians are taught that faith trumps reason, so if one questions or wants to apply reason, they are told that that is the way the devil leads christians astray. Christians don't want to examine their beliefs in any reasonable way.
11. Christians are hypocritical--All followers of organized religion are hypocritical--all of them; it is simply a fact.
12. Christians are illogical.--Yes, because faith trumps reason. They are the very definition of illogical. And they relish it and roll in it like it is a stink to be proud of!
13. Christians always imposed their views upon others & warp cultural identity--Many flavors are tasked to do just that. Not all, but a very vocal minority do that--just look at our current politics and how the religious want to control womens bodies and rights.
14. Christians believe anything--No, not anything. But anything that is presented to prove their faith is well placed.
15. Christians accept the Christian Faith on blind faith --Yep. Once again, faith trumps reason.
16. Christians grovel beneath a Creator they can’t see or experience--Many trick themselves into believing they can and do communicate with god. And groveling is a good way of stating it.
17. Christians are less than intelligent , logical, and possess no ability to think for themselves--Devout christians put themselves under the yoke of whatever hierarchy is present in their particular flavor of christianity. The hierarchy insists that they check their intelligence and reasoning ability at the door when the come to worship.
These are all the things that Christians have told me that they believe atheists often don't understand about Christianss. Now that you know this, I have a few questions I'd like to ask.
1. Did you have any of these stereotypes or misconceptions about Christians? If so, which ones? Any group is made up of individuals. I find that christian individuals are just that--individual and varied. I have met, know and love many christians. They are all different. But once they get into their religious stance, they evidence those attitudes addressed above. As a group these 'stereotypes' are not stereotypes but reality.
2. Do you believe that any of these aren't simply stereotypes or misconceptions, but are facts about Christians? How so? I've explained that above.
3. Knowing that these are simply stereotypes or misconceptions, do you feel that this will change the way that you approach a Christian in the future? How so? This will not change anything about how I approach christians. I approach them as a person. And I treat them with the respect all people deserve. And take it from there.
4. Do you have any final comments? The real problem with any and all organized religions is the hierarchy. They use the tenets of whatever religion they are pushing to control and manipulate the people below them. The overall outcome is never good in the long run and usually not even in the short come. I firmly believe that if all organized religions were to disappear, out world would be much, much better off. Religion is a bane, not a boon.
If you could take the time to respond to this, I would greatly appreciate it, as the assignment is due this Friday. Thank you all and have a wonderful day/night/afternoon! :)
[/quote]
Christians are believers in an imaginary Man in the sky that made the universe---in other words they are groping for answers to the unknown and too lazy to actually find out and say, "God did it," God saves us from death and looks out for us."---reasoning from ignorance, delusions, and not questing authority. That sums it up for me. Solitary
Quote from: Solitary on October 29, 2014, 03:26:53 PM
Christians are believers in an imaginary Man in the sky that made the universe---in other words they are groping for answers to the unknown and too lazy to actually find out and say, "God did it," God saves us from death and looks out for us."---reasoning from ignorance, delusions, and not questing authority.
...and they vote in droves. FSM have mercy.
Interesting thread.
Here is a thought experiment: replace the word Christians with Muslims and you are in dangerous territory.
Watch for the screams of bigot, racist, hater, islamophobe fly around.
But we won't do that. It would be disrespectful.
And probably unhealthy. You never know who is reading this.
Sorry for the interruption. Carry on...
Quote from: AllPurposeAtheist on October 29, 2014, 12:57:04 PM
In Columbia here MA.. When I refused to hold hands and pray at a dinner I almost expected to be on the evening news as the baby eating Yankee.. :lol:
I know the feeling. When told someone at work that I'm an atheist (after a conversation where my side was 'I don't go to church'. I'm just not very religious I guess. No, actually I don't still believe in God') the first thing she said was 'Does that mean you worship the Devil?'
Also in Columbia. We might know each other if you're in the Freethought Society of the Midlands.
Thank you to everyone that has responded to my post. I hope that this will meet the requirements for my assignment. It was nice to hear all of your opinions! :)
Also, I will post a link to the website that I used to get these stereotypes, as well as the christians responding to atheist stereotypes, once I get my assignment turned. You are free to continue commenting, of course. I appreciate all of you that took the time to respond! :) Don't worry, I do intend to continue to use this website beyond just this project.
Here's the post that I obtained the stereotypes from:
http://www.christianforums.com/t7848743/
Here's the post where people responded to your stereotypes:
http://www.christianforums.com/t7848916/
I hope you enjoy reading this.
Quote12. Atheists don't know how to be good, or even what good is - Atheists are capable of doing good and feeling god, and determining if something is good or not.
You might want to change this...