Certain
Christian groups preaching intolerance
Elizabeth Holmes
I am sure most people, at least once in their lives, have been misrepresented
or misunderstood and are forced to face the effects. Lately, I’ve realized
there are many detrimental representations of different world religions.
I am a Christian, and find the skewed outside view of my faith particularly disturbing.
More and more, I have become aware of hateful actions made by believers in Christianity.
For example, I have seen pictures or videos of so-called Christians holding up
signs with mean and spiteful messages on them. An example would be the pervasive “God
hates fags” signs commonly seen in anti-gay marriage protests today.
I am frustrated daily by the reputation given to me by people I do not know or
agree with, despite our common faith.
Excuse me, but hateful Christians? Is that not an oxymoron?
In the Bible, Jesus spent time with the tax collectors and the sinners — those
recognized as the outcasts of society. He preached a message of love, calling
his followers to love their neighbors, even if they led different lifestyles.
I have a hard time accepting the idea people who consider themselves extremely
religious have so little tolerance. If they were following their god’s
word so closely, why do they choose to ignore such a central part of the Christian
doctrine: love?
I understand that there are issues Christians do not agree with non-Christians
on, and I do not expect them to change their beliefs.
However, I am disgusted to find there are people spreading such a negative perception
of my belief because of their own prejudices and bigotry. If one is a Christian,
they are to be an ambassador of God and his kingdom.
Such lack of tolerance and understanding will only continue to create a drift
between different religions, creating more hostile tensions and making it nearly
impossible to reach out to those they are insulting.
I am horrified to think that when I say I am a Christian, something that I truly
love, I could be associated with these offensive, hurtful people. This misrepresentation
precedes me now, creating misconceptions about my religion and myself.
I believe I face a similar situation to that of the Muslims. After the 9/11 tragedy,
Muslim Americans and Middle Eastern Americans faced racial stereotyping. While
the actions of the terrorists represented the beliefs of radical extremist groups,
many innocent followers of Islam were introduced to a new wave of religious persecution.
Unfortunately, a distrust was silently, yet quickly built. People’s personalities
or past actions no longer were questioned, but assumed because of the actions
of others.
This is, of course, horrible, but it exists. The sending of negative, unloving
messages is highly unlikely to create a better relationship or create opportunities
to intelligently share one’s specific beliefs.
Islam is not a religion that advocates hatred, nor is it a faith that encourages
terrorism. Christianity is also not a faith that preaches intolerance.
However, here we are with these stereotypes and the people who continue to fuel
them.
I have great difficulty in describing my frustration when I see people supposedly
representing my God and myself yet are terribly vicious. There are bound to be
religious disagreements, but why can they not be handled gracefully and with
respect to our fellow human beings?
Religious persecution is not new to this world. Throughout history, there have
been multiple cases of minorities being treated poorly or run out of their land.
The Crusades, for one, are an example. Hitler’s Nazi Germany stands out
in history as one of the most blatant actions of illiberality.
I, perhaps naively, would hope in today’s world as we strive to teach religious
tolerance to young children there would be a greater awareness and a lessening
of acts of hatred.
I only wish certain extremist members of the Christian faith would treat those
different from themselves in a respectful manner. I am tired of fighting a stereotype
set by these willingly offensive people. I hope in time, though religious disagreements
will continue to exist, religious bigotry will have faded.
Elizabeth Holmes is a freshman linguistics major.
|
