Christianity as a religion encourages people to hide themselves

[Le Roi]

Christianity seems to encourage people to hide themselves and not being truly open about who they are, and about the different facets of their lives. That's because there are so many sins and the Christians have a natural human impulse of wanting to be accepted by their peers. Furthermore, there seems to be a desire to look like a good Christian and thus not do any of those "bad" things. Thus, doing those "bad" things is shameful.

In the Catholic Church, it's ok to admit to your sins, but you do it in private and only to the priest.

Christianity especially encourages people to hide their sexuality and any sexual desires that are different from the straight monogamous sexuality expressed by those representing Christianity.

My guess is that those communities and people who are the most religious probably are also the ones who are the most into hiding so much of themselves.

Agree or disagree?

[VinceG]

It's hard to generalize about Christianity, because congregations and denominations vary so widely.

[taylor]

"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." - James 5:16

Human nature is human nature. Jesus taught a lot about the hypocrites in Judaism and how you shouldn't be like them. Then when the Christianity became popular, do people quit being hypocrites? Of course not. Jesus taught poverty and are Christians poor? Look at The Vatican. In some ways it's the opposite of what Jesus taught.

So you're right in a way. There are people who are seemingly religious who hide their own sins and judge others, but then they aren't really following the religion. They're only pretending "to be seen by men" just like the hypocrites of old did. Then you might have some person who genuinely follows the religion openly confess their sins and not condemn anyone for anything.

I think some factors that contribute to hypocrisy:
1. fundamentalism
2. having a "holy" reputation to uphold
3. being on television

[ZephyrusX]

Nice avatar taylor

[Le Roi]

Originally Posted by taylor

I think some factors that contribute to hypocrisy:
3. being on television

Hah. My mom once caught a local prominent TV pastor having prostitution gay sex in the department store bathroom (She worked security). She wouldn't tell me who it was though...

I'm not sure it's just hypocrisy though. I think it's more about feeling that if you're different from the main Christian group, you need to hide all those things about yourself that aren't accepted by the church.

[st33med]

Originally Posted by VinceG

It's hard to generalize about Christianity, because congregations and denominations vary so widely.

Of course, however, I believe Le Roi is talking about mainstream Church-goers. Most protestants need not apply here because it's up to the person to interpret the bible and not the church or priests. Roman Catholicism is definitely up there on putting most pleasures as a sin. Heck, the Pope has to be a virgin through his life!

[Le Roi]

Originally Posted by st33med

Of course, however, I believe Le Roi is talking about mainstream Church-goers. Most protestants need not apply here because it's up to the person to interpret the bible and not the church or priests. Roman Catholicism is definitely up there on putting most pleasures as a sin. Heck, the Pope has to be a virgin through his life!

It applies to protestants too. It's just a theory that it's up to the person to interpret the bible. In practice with a heavy concentration of religious protestants, there is tremendous amount of group-think in these groups and pressure to conform to the norm.

[taylor]

Originally Posted by Le Roi

I'm not sure it's just hypocrisy though. I think it's more about feeling that if you're different from the main Christian group, you need to hide all those things about yourself that aren't accepted by the church.

Just today someone was complaining that on their church's facebook page, one of the members showed too much cleavage in her profile picture and had pictures of herself in a bikini in her photos section. And this person is going to talk to an official from the church about getting her kicked off the facebook group.

I couldn't believe it lol.

[taylor]

Originally Posted by ZephyrusX

Nice avatar taylor

Thank you kindly.

[Cado]

Originally Posted by st33med

Of course, however, I believe Le Roi is talking about mainstream Church-goers. Most protestants need not apply here because it's up to the person to interpret the bible and not the church or priests. Roman Catholicism is definitely up there on putting most pleasures as a sin. Heck, the Pope has to be a virgin through his life!

Have you ever been to a baptist church? They're some of the most hateful people out there. In fact a big part of mainstream Christianity wouldn't even consider Catholics to be Christian.

Even so, Christianity itself isn't at fault, it's what people have done with it. It's used to prop up societal and political agendas which are frankly disgusting and it's a big part of the reason our world works the way it does. I'm hoping the more liberal forms of Christianity oust fundamentalist and catholic thought from the throne in the coming decades.

[ChrisGinsburg]

Originally Posted by Cado

Have you ever been to a baptist church? They're some of the most hateful people out there. In fact a big part of mainstream Christianity wouldn't even consider Catholics to be Christian.

Even so, Christianity itself isn't at fault, it's what people have done with it. It's used to prop up societal and political agendas which are frankly disgusting and it's a big part of the reason our world works the way it does. I'm hoping the more liberal forms of Christianity oust fundamentalist and catholic thought from the throne in the coming decades.

Agreed. I'm pretty sure Jesus is doing this in eternity right now as he see's what's been done of his teachings.

[elucidate]

Originally Posted by ChrisGinsburg

Agreed. I'm pretty sure Jesus is doing this in eternity right now as he see's what's been done of his teachings.

It's quite amazing what can happen when a handful of people decide to twist words around to suit themselves, and whole masses of people start to follow suit.

[Mariana Trench]

Le Rio, I basically agree. As other pointed out, it can be hard to generalize about Christianity. But the fundamentalist breed? Absolutely. And it can be deeply damaging to children.

Originally Posted by taylor

"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." - James 5:16

Human nature is human nature. Jesus taught a lot about the hypocrites in Judaism and how you shouldn't be like them. Then when the Christianity became popular, do people quit being hypocrites? Of course not. Jesus taught poverty and are Christians poor? Look at The Vatican. In some ways it's the opposite of what Jesus taught.

So you're right in a way. There are people who are seemingly religious who hide their own sins and judge others, but then they aren't really following the religion. They're only pretending "to be seen by men" just like the hypocrites of old did. Then you might have some person who genuinely follows the religion openly confess their sins and not condemn anyone for anything.

I think some factors that contribute to hypocrisy:
1. fundamentalism
2. having a "holy" reputation to uphold
3. being on television

There's a lot of really genuine, moving and wise stuff in the Bible (I'm totally in love with Ecclesiastes); and there's some flat out deranged cruelty(hello Leviticus!). However to a very large section of people fundamentalism is very core total definition of Christianity. They're disgusted by liberal "cafeteria"--or as they're called in some circles--"weak ass watered down" Christians. Sometimes it's not even about hyprocrisy: the Bible is so ambiguous that it's sometimes just a flat-out nasty interpretation.

I personally admire those that see the Bible as "the witness" of God rather than his word, as it seems to me to be simultaneously more rational and more profound.

Originally Posted by taylor

Just today someone was complaining that on their church's facebook page, one of the members showed too much cleavage in her profile picture and had pictures of herself in a bikini in her photos section. And this person is going to talk to an official from the church about getting her kicked off the facebook group.

I couldn't believe it lol.

Lol, that's super common at most places I've been to church in my life. Shame the (especially female) body! Don't cause men to "fall into sin"! (It ain't falling, hon, it's rising).

Originally Posted by Cado

Have you ever been to a baptist church? They're some of the most hateful people out there. In fact a big part of mainstream Christianity wouldn't even consider Catholics to be Christian.

Even so, Christianity itself isn't at fault, it's what people have done with it. It's used to prop up societal and political agendas which are frankly disgusting and it's a big part of the reason our world works the way it does. I'm hoping the more liberal forms of Christianity oust fundamentalist and catholic thought from the throne in the coming decades.

Why are your posts always so true?

[Cado]

Originally Posted by Mariana Trench

Why are your posts always so true?

Cado means "herald; messenger." There's a reason it stuck.