# Why are Christians so full of hate? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 2, 2018, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-christians-so-full-of-hate/811670 "2018-04-02T21:16:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2018, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-christians-so-full-of-hate/811670/161 "2018-04-04T18:31:33Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > “All Lives Matter” can insinuate that the person saying it thinks there is no imbalance in the system, that(as far as she/he is concerned) there is no problem that needs to be rectified. I think “All Lives Should Matter” is a better way to acknowledge that there is still work to be done. I don’t follow. By your logic, shouldn’t you add that “Black Lives Should Matter” would be a better way to acknowledge that there’s still work to be done? But, of course, we don’t ask for that — just as we don’t ask _“Black Lives Matter? What, are you saying that ONLY black lives matter, or should matter? Or are you saying that Black Lives Matter more, or should matter more?”_ We don’t do that; we grant that the idea is that a black life matters, and _should_ matter, just as much as a white life, or any other life: that black lives matter, and _should_ matter, in a manner equal to all other lives. Which is, near as I can tell, the same sentiment that various folks express as “all lives matter”. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2018, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-christians-so-full-of-hate/811670/162 "2018-04-04T18:34:34Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > we grant that the idea is that a black life matters, and _should_ matter, just as much as a white life, or any other life: that black lives matter, and _should_ matter, in a manner equal to all other lives. Which is, near as I can tell, the same sentiment that various folks express as “all lives matter”. “We” _don’t_ grant that; “we” merely \*claim \*we’re not racist and dismiss all evidence that “we” are. Except for those of “us” who know better. A gentle correction that “all lives matter” is a way to express that denial, however sincere the speaker believes himself to be. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2018, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-christians-so-full-of-hate/811670/163 "2018-04-04T18:35:36Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > I guess now’s not the time for me to continue with “well what if there were another group of people who also aren’t being saved by a ship but they’re in the middle of a rather large lake so some of them can swim to shore.” What if the ship arrives too late to save a drowning witch? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2018, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-christians-so-full-of-hate/811670/164 "2018-04-04T18:47:44Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > > [@The Other Waldo Pepper](#): > > > > we grant that the idea is that a black life matters, and should matter, just as much as a white life, or any other life: that black lives matter, and should matter, in a manner equal to all other lives. Which is, near as I can tell, the same sentiment that various folks express as “all lives matter”. > > “We" _don’t_ grant that; “we” merely \*claim \*we’re not racist and dismiss all evidence that “we” are. Except for those of “us” who know better. A gentle correction that “all lives matter” is a way to express that denial, however sincere the speaker believes himself to be. Well, I can’t speak for _you,_ of course — possibly you’re using “we” to mean you’re one of those who claim not to be racist, possibly you’re using “us” to mean you’re one of those who knows better; I can’t really say your point interests me all that much either way — and, as I don’t happen to be one of those making sincere use of the phrase that “all lives matter”, you’re not speaking for me, either. So why did you reply by copy-and-pasting my quote? It’s nothing to do with me. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2018, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-christians-so-full-of-hate/811670/165 "2018-04-04T18:59:15Z")
The real, core problem with American Christianity, which I lived and breathed as part of my teen and early adult years, having grown up in a fairly conservative Baptist church is this. There’s God. Christians are the chosen of God. Then there’s Satan. Everything not in the first group belongs to Satan and is evil, seductive, corrupting and false. It exists SOLELY for the purposes of corrupting humans and leading them astray. Hinduism? Satanic seduction. Animism? Satanic delusions. Athiesm? _Here’s…SATAN!_ Therefore, Christians are under threat from Satan every day, and most of the world is his. So there’s US and there’s THEM, and THEMS EVIL!!! And hey, you SHOULD get angry when you’re fighting evil. You should be hard, just like the Israelites when they were claiming the promised land. You should be like Jesus with the money changers! But here’s the thing, Christian kiddies. You’re making the entire world your enemy and yourself a martyr, due to your own hate, hysteria and delusional beliefs. You’re locking yourself in a web of fear and anger, because you’re proclaiming the vast majority of the world as “Satanic” and thus, evil that oppresses you. When in fact the world doesn’t give a shit about you and just wants to live their own lives and own beliefs. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2018, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-christians-so-full-of-hate/811670/166 "2018-04-04T19:16:13Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > I can’t really say your point interests me all that much either way Yet it’s worth your time to respond to. Huh. > [@](#): > > I don’t happen to be one of those making sincere use of the phrase that “all lives matter”, you’re not speaking for me, either. I’m addressing those who do make that claim, which your use of “we” would tend to imply includes you. If it didn’t, “they” would have been a better pronoun for you to use. > [@](#): > > So why did you reply by copy-and-pasting my quote? It’s nothing to do with me. You’re disavowing your own assertion so soon? All righty then. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2018, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-christians-so-full-of-hate/811670/167 "2018-04-04T19:27:43Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > I’m addressing those who do make that claim, which your use of “we” would tend to imply includes you. If it didn’t, “they” would have been a better pronoun for you to use. Well, read it again, because you apparently missed it the first time: I said that “we”, including me, grant that folks who say that black lives matter mean that a black life matters — and should matter — as much as a white life, or any other life; and that black lives matter, and should matter, in a manner equal to other lives. I’m not disavowing that assertion; you of course have that wrong. I merely note that making such an assertion _in no way_ requires me to any of the other stuff you went on about; there are a great many things it does my require of me. It doesn’t require me to lump myself in with those who say All Lives Matter; it doesn’t require me to be one of those who claim not to be racist, or to be one of those who knows better, or to be dismissive or to be in denial or any of the stuff you went on about in reply. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2018, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-christians-so-full-of-hate/811670/168 "2018-04-04T19:35:01Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > I don’t follow. By your logic, shouldn’t you add that “Black Lives Should Matter” would be a better way to acknowledge that there’s still work to be done? > > But, of course, we don’t ask for that — just as we don’t ask _“Black Lives Matter? What, are you saying that ONLY black lives matter, or should matter? Or are you saying that Black Lives Matter more, or should matter more?”_ Except that’s specifically and explicitly one of the criticisms of BLM that underlies the “All Lives Matter” meme - [here’s a cite from this very thread.](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=20881799&postcount=66) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2018, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-christians-so-full-of-hate/811670/169 "2018-04-04T19:48:35Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Except that’s specifically and explicitly one of the criticisms of BLM that underlies the “All Lives Matter” meme - [here’s a cite from this very thread.](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=20881799&postcount=66) Yes, _some_ folks make that criticism of those who say that Black Lives Matter. And some folks make a criticism of those who say that All Lives Matter. _I,_ though, grant that plenty of folks say Black Lives Matter without meaning an “only” or a “more”, just as I grant that plenty of folks say All Lives Matter without meaning anything other than that same sentiment. And, as far as I can tell, I’m far from alone in that. ---
**Author:** ![sps49sd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@sps49sd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sps49sd)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2018, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-christians-so-full-of-hate/811670/170 "2018-04-04T19:50:08Z")
> [@FloatyGimpy](#): > > It’s invalidating the whole Black Lives Matter movement. It’s saying “no, actually, you don’t matter”. Of course “you” matter. What invalidates Black Lives Matter is how it was born, using Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown as their inspiration. Martin reached home just fine, then went out of his way to confront and assail Zimmerman (per the trial testimony). Brown was fighting with an officer, “hands up don’t shoot” turned out to be a lie. Their ends were tragic, and I understand parents would be devastated, but to use these and similar incidents of resisting arrest to inflame emotions is not likely get the change they want (and did you read the BLM manifesto?). Police do get the benefit of the doubt because of their job, but in general they are held accountable when they do go too far. ---
**Author:** ![sps49sd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@sps49sd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sps49sd)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2018, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-christians-so-full-of-hate/811670/171 "2018-04-04T19:52:54Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Christians are the chosen of God. Isn’t it that Christians choose Jesus/ God? ---
**Author:** ![Brayne\_Ded](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Brayne\_Ded](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brayne_Ded)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2018, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-christians-so-full-of-hate/811670/172 "2018-04-04T20:05:12Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > anyone who can see that your words and conduct are almost universally contrary to Christ’s teachings. you know, the people who love to preface things with “I’m a good Christian” but when pressed about their knowledge of the Bible, they only remember a few verses from Leviticus. Is a good knowledge of the Bible a prerequisite for being a Christian? Or is it more a question of the key tenets and the moral philosophy? ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2018, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-christians-so-full-of-hate/811670/173 "2018-04-04T20:10:06Z")
> [@sps49sd](#): > > Of course “you” matter. > > What invalidates Black Lives Matter is how it was born, using Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown as their inspiration. Martin reached home just fine, then went out of his way to confront and assail Zimmerman (per the trial testimony). Brown was fighting with an officer, “hands up don’t shoot” turned out to be a lie. Their ends were tragic, and I understand parents would be devastated, but to use these and similar incidents of resisting arrest to inflame emotions is not likely get the change they want (and did you read the BLM manifesto?). > > Police do get the benefit of the doubt because of their job, but in general they are held accountable when they do go too far. Wow, this is amazing. And completely wrong. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2018, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-christians-so-full-of-hate/811670/174 "2018-04-04T20:10:33Z")
> [@Brayne\_Ded](#): > > Is a good knowledge of the Bible a prerequisite for being a Christian? Or is it more a question of the key tenets and the moral philosophy? Knowledge of the bible is a prerequisite for judging others according to it. (Fun fact, proper knowledge of the bible implies that one wouldn’t.) ---
**Author:** ![Brayne\_Ded](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Brayne\_Ded](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brayne_Ded)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2018, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-christians-so-full-of-hate/811670/175 "2018-04-04T20:11:11Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > The real, core problem with American Christianity, which I lived and breathed as part of my teen and early adult years, having grown up in a fairly conservative Baptist church is this. > > There’s God. Christians are the chosen of God. > > Then there’s Satan. Everything not in the first group belongs to Satan and is evil, seductive, corrupting and false. It exists SOLELY for the purposes of corrupting humans and leading them astray. Hinduism? Satanic seduction. Animism? Satanic delusions. Atheism? _Here’s…SATAN!_ I’m no Bible scholar, but just how often is Satan referenced? Apart from “Satan, get thee behind me”. I seem to remember that he doesn’t get much press coverage. Am I to understand that American Christianity, particularly in its Southern Baptist form, gives him undue prominence? And Islam uses him as well, since everyone needs a good bogeyman. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2018, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-christians-so-full-of-hate/811670/176 "2018-04-04T20:11:59Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Yes, _some_ folks make that criticism of those who say that Black Lives Matter. In my experience, it’s “most.” Most people I’ve encountered who use the phrase “All Lives Matter” are specifically denying the issues around racial inequality in law enforcement, are are deliberately denigrating BLM as a movement. I understand that your experience has been different, but your “plenty” is no less anecdotal than my “most.” ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2018, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-christians-so-full-of-hate/811670/177 "2018-04-04T20:15:06Z")
> [@Brayne\_Ded](#): > > I’m no Bible scholar, but just how often is Satan referenced? Apart from “Satan, get thee behind me”. I seem to remember that he doesn’t get much press coverage. Am I to understand that American Christianity, particularly in its Southern Baptist form, gives him undue prominence? And Islam uses him as well, since everyone needs a good bogeyman. > **[US Baptists pray for 'Satan's Hindu slaves'](https://www.theguardian.com/world/1999/nov/03/jamesmeek)** > > Just weeks after outraging US Jewish leaders with a booklet aimed at converting Jews to Christianity, the country's biggest Protestant denomination has done it again with a campaign to convert "900 million people lost in the hopeless darkness of... ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2018, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-christians-so-full-of-hate/811670/178 "2018-04-04T20:30:13Z")
> [@Brayne\_Ded](#): > > I’m no Bible scholar, but just how often is Satan referenced? Apart from “Satan, get thee behind me”. I seem to remember that he doesn’t get much press coverage. Am I to understand that American Christianity, particularly in its Southern Baptist form, gives him undue prominence? And Islam uses him as well, since everyone needs a good bogeyman. Well, he did tempt Jesus in the desert, which gave us the example of how to resist his temptations. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2018, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-christians-so-full-of-hate/811670/179 "2018-04-04T20:43:45Z")
> [@Brayne\_Ded](#): > > Am I to understand that American Christianity, particularly in its Southern Baptist form, gives him undue prominence? Most definitely. Members of conservative / fundamentalist churches in the US are very likely to believe that [Satan / the Devil is an active participant in the evils of the world](https://www.thedailybeast.com/why-american-christians-love-satan), and that he works to tempt people away from God though many vehicles (including, depending on the era, rock music, dancing, Halloween, Dungeons & Dragons, etc., etc.) It’s also a particular theme in the infamous [Jack Chick tracts](https://www.vox.com/culture/2016/11/8/13426962/jack-chick-alt-right-fundamentalism-tracts-catholics-trump). ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2018, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-christians-so-full-of-hate/811670/180 "2018-04-04T20:50:26Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Most definitely. Members of conservative / fundamentalist churches in the US are very likely to believe that [Satan / the Devil is an active participant in the evils of the world](https://www.thedailybeast.com/why-american-christians-love-satan), and that he works to tempt people away from God though many vehicles (including, depending on the era, rock music, dancing, Halloween, Dungeons & Dragons, etc., etc.) Don’t forget Harry Potter. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-christians-so-full-of-hate/811670.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-christians-so-full-of-hate/811670.md?page=10)