if jesus taught love and tolerance, why are some christians so hateful and intolerant?
116305
Because they are not truly christian only fakes
439587
People judge other people's choices of religion all the time when they choose a different religion. Tolerance relates more to not committing acts of violence (as you point out) than it does embracing others' religions.\n\nI can think of lots of religious practices that I find repugnant, tithing, worshiping the pope, communion, snake handling, holy rolling, etc., but I support people's right to do those things if it makes them happy.\n\nErgo, religious tolerance.
1143227
unforunatly many people who claim to be "christrians" really dont have the love of God in their heart, and it puts a bad wrap on the rest of the christians. so thats why so many people dislike them.
1051778
People hate what they don't understand or what they fear. Isn't it peculiar to have one religion "hate" another religion. God must really love that.
648626
Because not all Christians are like you. Have you read some of the questions and answers that your fellow Christians have given on this site? The small minded insults that get tossed at people who don't follow Christ are amazing..and horrible. It is people like that, who unfortunately come to represent the Christian group because they are the loudest, that make the whole concept of organized religion unsavory to me. \n\nThere is no doubt in my mind that there are good people within that faith. But there are also lots of loud horrible ones who keep coming back time and time again with their hate. Until that subsides, I don't think I could ever see Christianity as a truly 'peaceful' religion.
409653
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.
498876
No, those are fanatics of christianity.  Christianity is supposed to teach tolerance and acceptance.  A true christian is not supposed to such a thing.  Those people are also close minded morons.  Ignoring them is the best way to handle them.
452534
This is a GREAT question,(for me anyway)because it touches on two points that have been driving me crazy lately. The first is the intolerance some people display towards Christians. I have a hard time understanding how someone can call themselves a liberal and state that they stand for tolerance and understanding but then down people who are practicing Christians. It's a double standard and hypocritical to boot. Every issue in this country seems to gravitate to ridiculous extremes-there's never a sensible and practical middle ground. Though I believe firmly in seperation of church and state (which our forefathers took months to painstakingly state in the constitution, and with very good reason)I cannot think of one good reason why a child quietly saying grace over his school lunch should be so offensive to some that he should be expelled from school. It's not like he was standing on the tables preaching or anything. Just silently thanking God for the food he had that so many in the world are forced to do without. It's absolutely shameful. Such people are not liberals in any literal sense of the term, but rather small people with set ideas and closed minds-inflexible in their thinking and intolerant of other points of view. You don't like the term progressive regarding such people and neither do I. I call them "Left Wing Conservatives" because their thinking is just as rigid and inflexible as their right wing counterparts. They have an agenda, and they follow it thoughtlessly. \nI think this stems from an innate human need to feel superior and special in some way.  Many, many people find something that works for them and, out of this need, become convinced that their way is the ONLY way. Stupid, yes, arrogant, yes but that's how it seems to work.\nThat being said, let me lob one at the other extreme and say that I'm really tired of hearing certain elements of the Christian Right raving about how oppressed and persecuted the poor helpless Christians are. Let me explain something to you folks-Christianity is by far the majority religion in this country. It is also the richest and has the greatest representation in our government. The Christian Right has more politicians in their pocket than EVERY OTHER religious group in this country combined. People opposing you from passing legislation to impose your religious beliefs on others regardless of what their own beliefs may be does not constitute oppression. What they are doing is resisting YOUR attempts to oppress them.  Again, ridiculous extremes. When in all of history has the group with the largest numbers, the most power, and by far the most money been considered oppressed? It's crap! \nThe extremists on both sides are the problem.  They shout the loudest because that's the only way they can get people to listen to their idiocy. Neither side has a monopoly on intolerence and self righteousness. My solution: Take 1% out of the military budget and build a huge city on some piece of land that no one cares about-White Sands Arizona would be my vote, but other wastelands such as Detroit or Hoboken would work as well. Build a big wall around it and then move all the extremists from both sides in there where they can shout, stomp and do whatever else to each other all they want while the segment of the population with enough sense to pound sand gets on with the business of improving the country. It'll be a better world without 'em. But maybe that's just a little extreme....
643125
You obviously never heard the stories of Jesus accepting sinners, lepers and pagans when Jews of his time shunned and out casted these people.  Do you bash Christianity because it teaches that being gay is wrong or are you just not knowledgeable about Christianity?  It sounds like you're bashing Christians.
704518
Jesus Himself asked Peter, "Do you love me?   ...then feed my sheep!"\n\nLove is not turning our backs to our brothers and sisters who do not know Christ (though it often times involves less conflict and persecution). That is the opposite of love (and it is sad that such apathy toward the calling to share the Gospel often comes under the deceptive banner of "tolerance").
643198
Yes, it is wrong to hate someone. Jesus commanded us to love our neighbor (everyone). \n\nThis is "agape" love, where you hope and pray for the best for each person.\n\nHowever this does not mean that we have to like them or approve of their actions.\n\nLove and approval are two very different things.\n\nWith love in Christ.
1142309
i agree. I ask christians questions and they give me hateful remarks. Its as though they have no incentive to be nice because Jesus saved them from being respectful to other people.  and what about turn the other cheeck? when i was a christian i thought they were held to higher standards, i was dead wrong. I left because of the hypocracy and ignorance.
446281
People who are only religious tend to be that way.\n\nIt is not so with true Christians. The only problem is that there are so many religious people out there giving the true Christains and Jesus himself a bad name.\n\nIt was the same way in Jesus' time. Jesus constantly rebuked the religious people of His day. They fought all of the time. But Jesus himself was not like them at all. \nEven still, people are still flawed, but Jesus is not. HIs love is perfect and unfailing. He loves you like crazy, no matter what anyone else says or does.\nGod bless.
111756
As a christian, I have a distaste for homosexuality, but that does not mean that I should hate you. Jesus loves everyone, even those who do not follow in his path. I don't take homophobia as a bad thing, in a society the majority will naturally be heterosexual, making homosexuality a deviancy. It's just natural for a civilization to be wary of that.\nBut going back to your beliefs that the christians "hide" behind the bible, we don't. The bible defines our beliefs and therefore we must follow them to the best of our abilities. That includes disapproval of homosexuality. I'm sorry that you've been burdoned with this, just know that Jesus' love really is unconditional.
1000034
Good, deep, question, my friend.\n\nLiberals (not as individuals, but overall as a group) hate Jesus and Christianity for two reasons.  One, they worship Bill Clinton, so there is no room for another diety in their world.  Two, the word of Jesus teaches morality, responsibility, honesty, and self-determination.  That all runs completely counter to everything liberals believe in.\n\nSorry liberals.  I hate to call you out like that, but look at your heroes and tell me they aren't a bit challenged in these areas (the Clintons, the Kennedys, Michael Moore...).
1012613
Personally I think that is becuase people don't truely understand tolerance or if they do, they are not willing to take tolerance to it's logical conculsion. For if they were really tolerant it means they will have to put the needs/desires/wants of other before thier own needs/desires/wants. And while we would all agree that sounds nice and should be the norm. Not many people are will to truely do so.\n\nAs for war, if it wasn't religion inciting war, man will find something else to fight about. It all boils down to simple selfishiness on the part of humanity.
968482
I think that the character Jesus would not hate anyone, however, the man Jesus would be disgusted with over 95% of his so called followers.