# I say "Christianity" What's the first thing you think of? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 30, 2012, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-christianity-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/633128 "2012-08-30T10:37:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-christianity-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/633128/21 "2012-08-30T13:13:58Z")
A nebulous, inescapable force that saturates everything around it. No specific thing. Like a constant a dust storm that continues to surprise me with all the places the dust piles up. Sometimes it’s good things, sometimes it’s not but it is everywhere. I haven’t been to a church in years yet I still find mounds of Christiainity in the people around me, TV, movies, the SDMB, even in the the expressions I use myself. So the word “Christianity” makes me picture a vague dust storm. It’s slightly annoying but not a real problem if I take proper care. ---
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-christianity-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/633128/22 "2012-08-30T13:14:57Z")
Stained glass and cathedrals. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-christianity-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/633128/23 "2012-08-30T13:28:29Z")
The Crusades ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-christianity-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/633128/24 "2012-08-30T13:37:33Z")
self-righteous hypocrite ---
**Author:** ![Kiros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/439d5e/32.png) [@Kiros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiros)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-christianity-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/633128/25 "2012-08-30T14:08:37Z")
“Ugh, leave me alone.” - I’ve been reading a bunch of political commentary this morning, so my mind went straight to Christianity’s influence on American politics and culture. And that was my reaction at this particular moment. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-christianity-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/633128/26 "2012-08-30T14:12:06Z")
Ignorant closeted homosexuals preaching bigotry and hate while looking for children to molest. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-christianity-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/633128/27 "2012-08-30T14:13:53Z")
The visual (I tend to think in pictures) is a collage of images of Christ and of saints known for their charitative works. The words that all translates to are charity, generosity, helpfulness. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-christianity-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/633128/28 "2012-08-30T14:17:51Z")
Crusades! It’s funny because none of the denominations bring the same response (including the obvious Catholicism) but the term “Christianity” itself touches me more as a rallying call. I’m born & raised Catholic and probably spend too much time playing middle age themed strategy games. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-christianity-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/633128/29 "2012-08-30T14:41:16Z")
Honestly, there is no “first thing” I think of: it’s too big and too close to me, and is connected with or represented by too many different people and institutions and ideas and cultural and historical artifacts for any one thing to be singled out. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-christianity-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/633128/30 "2012-08-30T14:43:10Z")
> [@Rodgers01](#): > > Stained glass and cathedrals. Pretty much this. The grandeur, the magic, the wonder of the old world buildings. I’ve thought enough about the actual religion as it exists today, and of the blood, deceit, and looting that funded and drove the construction of these marvelous buildings, that I don’t really even think about the twisted corruption of Jesus’ pleadings as it exists today. So, in essence, Christianity for me has nothing to do with Jesus. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-christianity-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/633128/31 "2012-08-30T14:48:35Z")
Ignorant mouth-breathers who are more superstitious than medieval peasants. I, too, have been reading politics this morning. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-christianity-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/633128/32 "2012-08-30T14:52:52Z")
The flock. In all its meanings. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-christianity-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/633128/33 "2012-08-30T14:55:13Z")
Funny hats. So, the trappings of Catholicism, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-christianity-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/633128/34 "2012-08-30T14:56:28Z")
Love God. Love your neighbor. That to me is the essence of Christianity, and what I strive to practice. I lose sleep over the fact that I’m pretty sure that when a LOT of people in the US hear you say Christianity they will think “mindless gay-bashing, anti-abortion, intolerant jackholes” and that when I say that I am a Christian they will assume I’m that. ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-christianity-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/633128/35 "2012-08-30T15:06:02Z")
Scummy televangelism, complete with ladies wearing WAY too much makeup nodding in complete agreement with the nonsense being spouted. ---
**Author:** ![Troppus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@Troppus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troppus)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-christianity-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/633128/36 "2012-08-30T15:24:38Z")
Gossips and busybodies who gather each Sunday and Wednesday to judge others and pat each other on the back for collectively damning the left and homosexuality. Unkind people who only help those who compliment their agenda. That sounds so much harsher than I feel, but I don’t know how else to explain it. Though I avoid people who fit this stereotype, I don’t dislike them and would do anything for them just like I would anyone else. They are people first, and value neutral until the conversation turns toward the certain doom of the sinners around us. When this occurs, I split, but I don’t dwell. I just assume they have been conditioned to think and behave this way, and I figure it’s no worse than my own preconceived notions of who they are. ---
**Author:** ![Troppus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@Troppus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troppus)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-christianity-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/633128/37 "2012-08-30T15:52:07Z")
> [@Troppus](#): > > Gossips and busybodies who gather each Sunday and Wednesday to judge others and pat each other on the back for collectively damning the left and homosexuality. Unkind people who only help those who compliment their agenda. er…com·ple·ment/ˈkämpləmənt/ ---
**Author:** ![MostlyClueless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@MostlyClueless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MostlyClueless)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-christianity-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/633128/38 "2012-08-30T16:14:37Z")
“Backwards” ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-christianity-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/633128/39 "2012-08-30T18:17:51Z")
Evil cultural imperialism. Conquistadors. The Cross and the Sword. “The Religion That Says No”. Endless doctrinal nitpicking. Sorry, but my first impression of Christianity is not a good one. Yes, on second thought I remember the music and the art and the soaring cathedrals, and I have seen firsthand the positive psychological effects that re-finding her faith has had on a friend, but there have been too many examples of hatred for me to be entirely comfortable with it. I’d say the same for any other religion that claims that it is the sole and exclusive way to the divine, rather than simply _a_ way; Christianity is simply the one that happens to be closest to me. ---
**Author:** ![Cornelius\_Tuggerson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Cornelius\_Tuggerson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cornelius_Tuggerson)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2012, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-christianity-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/633128/40 "2012-08-30T18:29:39Z")
I’d tell you but it would be too unexpected. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-christianity-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/633128.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-say-christianity-whats-the-first-thing-you-think-of/633128.md?page=3)