# Your feelings about Christianity vs. feelings about other religions **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 17, 2019, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-feelings-about-christianity-vs-feelings-about-other-religions/834115 "2019-05-17T14:00:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2019, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-feelings-about-christianity-vs-feelings-about-other-religions/834115/61 "2019-05-19T00:06:16Z")
I think the dominant religion in a particular country or region always, or almost always, does the most harm in that region/country. So Christianity (really, certain varieties of Christianity) does the most harm in the US of any religions; certain varieties of Islam do the most harm in majority Muslim countries; certain varieties of Judaism do the most harm in Israel; etc. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2019, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-feelings-about-christianity-vs-feelings-about-other-religions/834115/62 "2019-05-19T01:10:39Z")
I voted “negatively” but that’s only because it’s the religion I’m most familiar with and the most likely to affect me. Of the major world religions, traditional Christianity has the most convoluted and least plausible story to me. God loved the world so much that he sacrificed his only son so that any one who believes in him will be saved from the sin inherited from Adam and Eve, who gave into temptation and disobeyed god by eating a stupid apple that a snake convinced them was okay? People seriously are supposed to accept this as true and beautiful, and not sheer madness? Being pressured for a long time to believe the unbelievable does make me view Christianity negatively. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2019, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-feelings-about-christianity-vs-feelings-about-other-religions/834115/63 "2019-05-19T03:10:17Z")
I think Christianity is fine, as far as its teachings, and on a par with other religions. However, I think that Christians tend to be more self-righteous, particularly this need to save everybody else. ---
**Author:** ![bb49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b38774/32.png) [@bb49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bb49)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2019, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-feelings-about-christianity-vs-feelings-about-other-religions/834115/64 "2019-05-19T03:36:50Z")
I’m an atheist and voted that I perceive them equally. There are obviously good and bad on all sides, but lately it seems up here in Canada our government has been siding more with the Muslim faith at the expense of Christianity. It’s probably all to do with courting the Muslim/refugee vote. A few years ago a friend of mine from Michigan was visiting. He’s a devote Catholic and on the topic of religion he stated that Catholicism is the only true religion, and that Islam was bound to die out. I just about fell off my chair. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2019, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-feelings-about-christianity-vs-feelings-about-other-religions/834115/65 "2019-05-19T17:22:54Z")
> [@bb49](#): > > lately it seems up here in Canada our government has been siding more with the Muslim faith at the expense of Christianity. It’s probably all to do with courting the Muslim/refugee vote. I am not familiar with what the Canadian government is doing right now, but what are they doing to “side with” Islam that is at the expense of Christianity? It is not a zero-sum game. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2019, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-feelings-about-christianity-vs-feelings-about-other-religions/834115/66 "2019-05-19T17:28:38Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > You people who are hating on Christianity should be glad you don’t live somewhere like Saudi Arabia (Islam) or North Korea (Marxism / Communism). For all its faults, Christianity is one of the most benign of religions. I’m very glad I don’t live in Saudi Arabia or North Korea and if I did live there, I imagine I would hate the local ideology. But I live in the United States and the local equivalent ideology here is Christianity. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2019, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-feelings-about-christianity-vs-feelings-about-other-religions/834115/67 "2019-05-19T21:47:45Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > You people who are hating on Christianity should be glad you don’t live somewhere like Saudi Arabia (Islam) or North Korea (Marxism / Communism). For all its faults, Christianity is one of the most benign of religions. My ancestors in Russia who had to deal with the oh-so-Christian Cossacks might have disagreed with you. Christianity robbed of much of its power in secular societies is much more benign than when it was dominant. But I’ll take most Eastern religions any day. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-feelings-about-christianity-vs-feelings-about-other-religions/834115/68 "2019-05-20T18:20:06Z")
In theory there are four reason why Christianity should be the best religion on this planet. They are: Love your neighbour Don’t throw the first stone Turn the other cheek Turn water into wine. In practice, it is a heinious intolerant cult. For me it is the worst religion (and Islam is just a schism or a plagiarism, whichever you prefer - Christianity has hab plenty of schisms before and after 622 AD, I lump them all together) made worse by its might. ---
**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:** [May 20, 2019, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-feelings-about-christianity-vs-feelings-about-other-religions/834115/69 "2019-05-20T19:30:24Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > In practice, it is a heinious intolerant cult. In practice, there are so many different branches, varieties, manifestations, and subgroups of Christianity that it’s practically impossible to say anything about Christianity as a whole (at least without no-true-Scotsmanning out large exclusions). Which is why I haven’t voted in the poll: I’d want to vote for both #1 and #3. To take just one example: There’s a current thread on “Why did we free the slaves?” And one of the responses in that thread is: > [@Why did we free the slaves?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-did-we-free-the-slaves/834139/32): > > Largely it was religious arguments. Starting with Quakers, but spreading throughout various Christian groups, particularly in the North which has always enjoyed a more progressive Christian outlook. And I think that’s largely correct: much of the impetus for abolition (and, much later, the Civil Rights Movement) came from Christianity, and from Christians acting on their Christianity. But much of the defense of slavery (and inequality, and segregation) also came from Christianity. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-feelings-about-christianity-vs-feelings-about-other-religions/834115/70 "2019-05-20T19:35:07Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > It’s all about despair and hate and death, and the loathing of any form of happiness that doesn’t come from hurting or oppressing people. > [@Velocity](#): > > If this is your view of Christianity, it’s a pretty big straw man. Meh, you’ve got to take Der Trihs’ comments with a grain of salt. That’s how he feels about most of mankind in general. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-feelings-about-christianity-vs-feelings-about-other-religions/834115/71 "2019-05-20T21:29:08Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > In practice, there are so many different branches, varieties, manifestations, and subgroups of Christianity that it’s practically impossible to say anything about Christianity as a whole (at least without no-true-Scotsmanning out large exclusions). > > Which is why I haven’t voted in the poll: I’d want to vote for both #1 and #3. > > […] No-true-Scotsmanning would apply to Christians, but I am speaking about Christianity. I could have voted #1, #2 or #3 if I had based my argument on individual persons, but I understood the question to be about the cult itself (which, as I wrote, in my view includes Islam). Then, for me, #3 wins hands down. I was raised in Catholic Spain, I believe I know for a change (see my signature) what I am talking about. If there are, as you write, “so many different branches, varieties, manifestations, and subgroups of Christianity that it’s practically impossible to say anything about Christianity as a whole”, then the concept becomes meaningless and this discussion has no sense. It is a valid argument, but it kills the conversation. Perhaps you feel offended by my statement and want to negate it with this no-true-Scottsmanning that seems to me to be the other side of the coin of whataboutism? Sorry, I did not want to offend you, but I truly belive Christianity is inherently evil. Even if Jesus Christ is portrayed as a nice man, which I am ready to grant he was, and even if some or even most of the people who call themselves Christians are good persons, the resulting cult is a travesty of his ideals. So yes, I voted #3. And I stand by it. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-feelings-about-christianity-vs-feelings-about-other-religions/834115/72 "2019-05-20T21:36:18Z")
[QUOTE=Omar Little] Meh, you’ve got to take Der Trihs’ comments with a grain of salt. That’s how he feels about most of mankind in general. [/Quote] **Der Trihs** and I resolved our conflicts about religion by never speaking directly to each other about it. Right, old buddy? 😉 > [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > In theory there are four reason why Christianity should be the best religion on this planet. They are: > Love your neighbour > Don’t throw the first stone > Turn the other cheek > Turn water into wine. > In practice, it is a heinious intolerant cult. In practice, some groups have twisted Christianity to form heinous, ignorant cults. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-feelings-about-christianity-vs-feelings-about-other-religions/834115/73 "2019-05-20T21:44:27Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > In practice, there are so many different branches, varieties, manifestations, and subgroups of Christianity that it’s practically impossible to say anything about Christianity as a whole (at least without no-true-Scotsmanning out large exclusions). There are assessments of christianity that apply to most or all variants thereof - mine, for instance. There is something deeply, deeply wrong with any religion that celebrates deities that accept human sacrifice. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-feelings-about-christianity-vs-feelings-about-other-religions/834115/74 "2019-05-21T01:00:20Z")
> [@begbert2](#): > > There is something deeply, deeply wrong with any religion that celebrates deities that accept human sacrifice. But what if the scriptures tell us that the sacrifice will assure that our crops will flourish? Why would you deny us a plentiful harvest? ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-feelings-about-christianity-vs-feelings-about-other-religions/834115/75 "2019-05-21T04:31:00Z")
Having been psychologically tortured as a child at the mercy of sadistic Roman Catholic nuns, I have a particularly negative view of Christianity. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-feelings-about-christianity-vs-feelings-about-other-religions/834115/76 "2019-05-21T04:56:08Z")
Every religion is a product of the culture(s) it originates and grows within. Cultural fables, rules and morals get woven into the story along the way, just as Christianity in America has been warped and twisted by multiple ideologies (on both sides, but right now moreso on the right) over the years. Why? Because priests have power and money, their followers need rules and order, and cultures need stability to endure. As much as many people would like to claim the similarity is “be kind to one another”, this is clearly NOT true with many mythologies and religions. And unfortunately, some versions of Christianity are very busy jettisoning that whole ‘love one another’ thing, however little many versions still retained. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-feelings-about-christianity-vs-feelings-about-other-religions/834115/77 "2019-05-21T06:02:18Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > \*\* > In practice, some groups have twisted Christianity to form heinous, ignorant cults. On the other hand, you can also say that some groups have twisted Christianity to form reasonably progressive and tolerant factions. Mainstream Christianity of 1,000 years ago was worse than all but the most extreme cults today. ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-feelings-about-christianity-vs-feelings-about-other-religions/834115/78 "2019-05-21T06:31:31Z")
The radical fundies of any religion are the problem. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-feelings-about-christianity-vs-feelings-about-other-religions/834115/79 "2019-05-21T11:41:36Z")
> [@begbert2](#): > > There is something deeply, deeply wrong with any religion that celebrates deities that accept human sacrifice. There is something deeply, deeply wrong with any religion that celebrates deities that accept _animal_ sacrifice. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-feelings-about-christianity-vs-feelings-about-other-religions/834115/80 "2019-05-21T12:13:59Z")
> [@senoy](#): > > (including lack of belief-the Reign of Terror wasn’t called that because it was all about happiness and joy) Robespierre was a believer. In fact, he despised atheism. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-feelings-about-christianity-vs-feelings-about-other-religions/834115.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-feelings-about-christianity-vs-feelings-about-other-religions/834115.md?page=5)