It seems to me that a lot of smart people (smart enough to know better) still call themselves Christians, though if they were to really look into it, they would have to admit that the religion is just about as credible as a belief in the Easter bunny.  I think a lot of people simply don't care enough to actually scrutinize the origin and basis of Christianity, and they just say "I'm a Christian" simply because it's socially undesirable to say otherwise.  I really hope a hundred years from now, people will look back on this and laugh...
134356
I agree many people fear rejection by their parents and family and community and play along so as not to cause "trouble".  As someone who has questioned the beliefs I can say they are certainly correct.  Athiests are HATED by Christians.  Many even will go as far as to not let their kids come to your house or even worse, they try to convince your kids that their parents are going to hell!  \n\nNice, huh?\n\nI dare anyone, for one week, tell people you are an athiest and watch how fast the christians start to persecute you, not online in opinion forums, but in your town, in your schools, and in your nieghborhood.  It is truly shocking how intolerant they are of people who simply don't believe in their stories and mythology.  Their hatred is palpable.
223579
There are legit christians, but many are homophobic. They may not be violent, but their words are. They claim "Homosexuality is a choice", but that contradicts the latest scientific experiment on the brains of homosexuals and lesbians (I also know myself, being gay, that it's something you have since birth, I myself discovered I was gay around age 5). Basically, everything they're saying about gay people is false, and they need to grow up. Even though I'm an atheist, I don't mean to offend anyone's religion, but sometimes I think people take advantage of their religion and their bible and "paraphrase" content in it to meet their specific agenda for hate. You can tell they're doing this because they ignore the fact that gluttony is a sin, as well as wearing certain fibers, yet they ignore that, and persecute the gays. It doesn't add up, does it.
397181
I agree with you but those "other" christians would say you are are not a true christian wouldn't they?
613834
They have been brained washed from birth just like people from many other religions.  I think it takes a certian amount of IQ to step back and see these things for what they really are.  They are a growing number of people however that can keep there faith but at the same time remain open minded about other posssibilities.  OH yea the bible quoteing thing ......... thats really annoying
210769
Whoa there. It's not like just anybody can stand up in front of a congregation and twist Scripture! That takes a special kind of talent, when you have to convince people NOT to look it up for themselves. \n\nAsk the F.B.I. Everybody thinks they're so smart, but why are so many people falling for scams and fraud every day? It isn't just when you add "God" or "Jesus," it's when you can say it in a way that persuades and reassures people that you know better than they do.
185243
Great question...these people who blame aren't rational Christians and their understanding of the relationship between God and man is far below what yours is...why?  Maybe they haven't read the Bible as many "Christians" haven't.  Maybe they are hateful...Jesus himself said that we need to question things those who claim to come in his name tell us...that there are "antiChrists" all over the place and I'm sure he wasn't talking about 666, Damion and a big horned red devil, he was talking about people who use his name to convince people to do what he never told us to do...he also said a lot of people will be surprised at their Judgement because they think they are doing what God wants but they are just doing their own thing...
612642
People like you give the rest of christianity a bad name. If you don't want to get an education, why don't you just stop telling others what to believe. Evolution is real, live with it. Sticking your fingers in your ears, and humming isn't going to make the truth go away. its just going to make people like you look like morons.\nGod would not be proud of that kind of  juvenile nonsense.
618011
Yes. Some people believe that when someone openly says they are a Christian, it means you are judgemental of those who aren't.
455546
Yeah, we do.  They just don't want to associate with us, because they think we're wierd or whacked out.  But actually, we're not...I think that they should realize that we are the original Christians- they are the ones that broke off only about 500 years ago.  Before, the only Christians were Catholics.  Yeah, we're definitely Christian...wait, what do you mean, we aren't baptised?  Yeah we are!  "I baptise you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit..."  Dude, check your sources before saying stupid stuff like that.  Catholics don't get baptised...gosh...
258647
I believe it is human nature to assume that someone who defies what you believe in, doesn't know what they're talking about. That doesn't make this assumption true however. I am a Christian and I know there are many people out there that are well versed in Christianity, even if they do not share the belief. Some of them probably even know more about it than I do. I know about other religions as well. I think it is important to know about and the different faiths and non-faiths of the world.
84703
I understand where you are coming from.  Christians get that stereotype because of others claiming to be a christian.  Thats not what the bible says Christians are suppose to act like but thats what everyone wants to see and judge.  But as long as i know where i stand with God it doesnt matter what anyone else says.  God Bless!!
181630
Well as a Christian I would argue that not all Christians are like that by any means. Sadly like all religions there are charlatans who take advantage of people and compel them to do terrible things, (Pat Robertson calling for the assasination of Hugo Chavez, for example) and distort religion for their own sinister purposes. These particular 'Christian' leaders (Robertson, Fallwell, Swaggart, Baker, Dobson, ect) contradict the original teachings of Jesus Christ on almost everything. But I hope you don't lump ALL Christians in with them. To be honest they would probably do the same thing to Jesus now that the Pharisees and Saducees did to him in the 1st century: they accused him of sedition (calling him an enemy of Caesar), accused him of heresy (for not sticking to their rigid, burdensome, and unmerciful traditions), and eventually killed him. So by no means are all Christians fanatics, many of us are decent, respectable people who simply wish to practice our faith  without infringing on others' beliefs.
307005
Maybe both conversation and debate. Some people want to prove that Christians are wrong while others may be interested in what the religion has to say for itself. It's a confusing matter but people (even me) still participate in these topics.
644398
Its mainly part of history.  Back in the old days I think there was mainly just catholic, and baptist....well, people start to have their own interpretations of the bible,a nd that is why there are so many denominations today.  It would be nice for us to all believe the same, but it is just human nature not to.  Nobody is perfect but Christ.  Our goal is to strive to be like him, but he knows the we are not, which is the reason that he died on the cross for us.  Like I said earlier, just human nature to believe differently.  I don't beleive humans will ever be unanimous on anything because we are not perfect as Christ is.
467118
If I am a Christian at all, I'm definitely not a typical Christian.  I think I can say I'm a "Christian" insofar as Christian means "follower of Christ" and I do love Christ and accept his teachings (at least the ones I regard as authentically from him).  \n\nSo, my answers won't be typical, but.....\n\n1.  The Bible is not the basis of my religion.  The Bible is itself based on something else, which is, in my opinion, a mix of true revelation from God, and the corruption of mankind.  The basis of my religion is a more personal, direct encounter with God, which happens to be the same thing that inspired those true verses of the Bible.\n\n2.  The Bible was written over several hundreds of years.  The earliest passages may go back to oral traditions which are thousands of years old.  The majority of the Old Testament was probably written in the 6th century BCE, to the 1st century BCE (with Daniel being the latest written).  Scholars have pretty good ideas about when various parts of the Bible were written.  \n\n3.  Most of the time, we cannot say who wrote a particular book of the Bible.  One notable exception is the works of Paul -- the ones which we know to be authentic Paul.  Obviously, Paul wrote those, and we also know who he wrote them to, and why.\nThe Gospels are most likely NOT written by the authors that were later attached to them ("Matthew", "Mark," etc).  But I wonder why it is so important to have a name.  Whether their name was "Luke" or "Jikareqobab" we still can know the same amount about them, based on their writing.  So even though, no, we don't have names for most of them, we CAN know a substantial amount about them.  And scholars do.\nIn the case of the Hebrew Bible, we know at least that the author of a particular passage must have come from a particular school of thought.  Some of the Prophets may have actually been written by the prophet it is named after, or by a secretary closely associated with them.  In any case, no matter who wrote it, we know what it says.\n\nThe central character of the Christian Bible is definitely Jesus Christ (besides God).  The Hebrew Bible does not have a central character, but a central people, Israel.  And really, depending upon how you understand who Jesus was and what his mission is, it could be said that Israel is the central "character" even of the entire Bible.\n\nWe do know when Jesus was born within a few years.  It's not like we can't even guess the century.  He was probably born somewhere between 6 and 4 BCE.\n\nHe was crucified when he was a young man in his early 30's.  Usually 33 is suggested.  What year that was will depend, of course, on the date of his birth.\n\nI'm not sure I understand the point (if there is one) of your question.  But reputable scholars today do acknowledge that Jesus was an actual historical figure, who at least said and did some of the things attributed to him in the Bible.  Careful scholarly analysis sheds light on which things we can be certain about, and which ones not.  There IS enough to base a faith on.
93150
I'm not sure where you are coming from, particularly in referene to the "details" given, but it is true that Christianity as portreyed in some of these answers does not seem too relevant to the 21st century.  Makes me wonder how representative of Christians they really are, though; perhaps it is the unusually fanatical ones that spend their time answering every question with a Bible reference, and give us all a bad case of the heebee jeebees.  Frankly, I can't see anyone converting to Christianity because someone wrote "God is angry with you" in one of these answers.  I did actually get that line in an answer once.  Imagine the arrogance to speak for God to that extent!
617993
yah....It pisses me off because alot of "christistians" are full of sh*t. They talk about god and preach this and that, then they live and act the complete opposite. It makes it feel like any kind of christianity is really bull sh*t, like everything else in this world. Maybe it is.