Negative Effects of Christianity

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Christianity has been a controversial issue ever since. Different people have different views about Christianity. Christianity assumes that there is always some knowledge to be gained by the Christians and ultimately once this knowledge is gained, it can always be counted on. But over the years some people have discovered the negative side of Christianity. They believe that Christianity is bad because it is dogmatic, not welcoming to nonbelievers, and has very many contradictions. Other believers believe that Christianity is good because it gives them hope for tomorrow and something to look forward to.

Christianity is dogmatic, that is, it has to be followed without question. What is written in the bible is taken as the whole truth and nothing but the truth? Whoever tries to question the bible is seen as trying to question God the ruler of all heaven and earth. For instance, the bible, which is the basis of Christianity, is against abortion. There is no excuse for it. This rule affects the lives of many women if it was to be followed without question. This is because it is known that there are women who have complications during pregnancy and at times it calls for the termination of that particular pregnancy. So since the bible is against abortion, then the lives of many women would be in trouble. Complicated pregnancies at times even end the life of the women. Some of the women are saved through the termination of their pregnancies.

This is not accepted in Christianity. If we were to follow the bible dogmatically, then women who would have been saved by terminating their pregnancies would die. Christianity, therefore, hinders medical advancements by being so dogmatic, medical advancements that would help to make people happier, healthier, and more fulfilled. For instance, Christians believe that God is the one who blesses people with children so it is against test-tube babies and any other form of medical advancement that would help to improve the lives of people. So Christians are supposed to wait until God provides them with children, with the medical advancements in the world one can be able to get a child when he wants. Christianity through its law hinders a lot of things that would help to improve the lives of people. People who have problems conceiving can appreciate the medical advancements which would help them to have children but according to the bible, they are supposed to wait for God’s right time.

This kind of law negatively affects people. Christianity, therefore, has some negative effects on the community, for instance, a person who is not able to conceive usually has a lot of problems. This is because they try to question God and his laws. Therefore this dogmatic principle of the bible affects the people negatively because they are not given an alternative. It is either to follow the rules or nothing else. This makes some Christians very frustrated. The dogmas in the bible harm society. For instance, according to the bible one is not supposed to kill, what happens then when one is attacked by a thug at home and he is threatening to kill your family, and you have a chance to kill him? Maybe you have a gun with you. According to the bible, if you decide to kill the thug, you have committed murder. But can one be in a position to stand and watch as his/her family is killed and he/she has a chance to stop all this? According to Christianity, there is no chance for self-defense. This shows that Christianity is dogmatic and therefore negatively affects the lives of people.

The dogmatic approach in Christianity also hinders development and growth in society. This approach makes it impossible to have advancements either medical or technological. This is because Christians are supposed to know that God is the provider, healer, counselor, giver of life, and so on. This belief hinders any kind of development, for example, Christians are against cloning because they believe that God is the sole giver of life. Any other form of trying to “create” life is seen as an abomination. Christians believe that God has a reason for everything, he knows why he created weak species, and cloning species to get stronger ones is taken as going against the teaching of Christ.

Christianity has negative effects on society because it is not welcoming to non-believers. Christianity has an attitude of intolerance to sin. A person who is not a believer is not appreciated by the believers. Any person who is seen as living in sin is not welcomed to fellowship with other Christians whereas Christianity is supposed to be about love and tolerance for everyone. This proves that Christianity goes against its teaching, for example, love is seen as the greatest commandment in a Christian’s life. This love should not discriminate. It should be the love for everyone including the sinners. Just as Christ had so much love for the human beings even the sinners that he gave his own life for people. But Christians today do not embrace the sinners in society. They do not help them to come closer to God. But rather the Christians are busy trying to prove their righteousness to everyone. They want to be seen as more righteous than everyone else. Christianity, therefore, creates a society that goes against its teachings. For instance, there are some Christians that support the death penalty.

According to the bible, God is the giver of life and the only one who is supposed to take life back. So Christians who support the death penalty tend to go against the teachings of the bible which is the basis of the Christians. Christians are supposed to follow the way of Christ without question. Therefore the society should not even have prisons or correction centers. The bible says if someone takes your cloak, then you should give him your shirt. Or if you are slapped on one cheek, you should give the other cheek, so wrongdoers should be forgiven. This shows the Christian society is going against its teachings. What happened to forgive someone seven times seventy times?

The third reason why Christianity has negative effects on society is that the bible has a lot of contradictions. The bible has the foundation of Christian values meaning that Christians are supposed to follow what is written in the bible. The contradictions are mainly reflected between the new and Old Testaments. For instance in Exodus 31:17, it is written that God gets tired and rests but then in Isaiah 40:28, it is written that God is never tired and never rests. This kind of contradiction affects what the Christians understands the bible, Other contradictions include, in the old testament it is written that God is not omnipresent and does not see or know everything, this is in Genesis chapters 3, 11, and 18 and verses 8, 5, 20 and 21 respectively. While in the new testament, it is written that God is all-knowing, ever-present, and sees all things, this is in Job 34: 22 and 21, Psalms 139: 7, and Proverbs 15: 3. This affects the attitude of the people and how they interpret the bible. This situation can even bring conflicts among the Christians themselves because different Christians can have a different understanding of the bible. For example, when it comes to the issue of public prayers, some Christians can support it while others can reject it due to the contradictions in the bible. First king 9: 3 and 8: 22, 54 approve public prayers while as Matthew 6: 5, 6, public prayer is disapproved. Such a scenario can bring misunderstanding among Christians.

The history of Christianity also brings some contradictions to the Christian community. For instance, some symbols are found in Christianity that has their origin from the pagan religion. For example, the symbol of the fish and the cross, the fish symbol was borrowed by the early Christians before the cross symbol to identify themselves. It was also like a form of protest against the pagans. This symbol is also used by the Buddhists (The word fish means freedom, well-being, and happiness). The cross was used by early Christians as a sign of oppression. It is only after the abolition of the death penalty by crucifixion did the Christians adopt the cross symbol. The cross symbol is extensively used in black magic. The adoption of this symbol brings contradictions and questions the purity of this symbol and therefore the purity of religion.

On the other hand, Christianity is good. This is because it gives people some kind of hope and something to look forward to. For example, when people are going through difficult times, like death, discouragement, and misery, they always have something to look forward to. People are consoled by the words found in the bible. They know that their loved ones are with God. This feeling gives people some kind of hope and the pain of losing a loved one is not so bad. People who are going through difficult times are encouraged by the word. They have the strength to face the next day because they believe that God will see them through the difficult moments. This is because through the word of God they know that God is their provider, healer, counselor, deliverer and He has the last word. So Christians can persevere and get out of very difficult situations because of the hope and encouragement that they get from the bible.

In conclusion, Christianity is not bad. God has given people free will. The bible has specific laws but we also have free will. Everyone has the freedom to do what they please but as long as it does not offend your neighbor. People should be considerate. This way the world would be a better place to live. We should respect the authority. Jesus recognized the Government when he told people to give to Ceasur what is his and to God what is His. He knew that no society can survive without some form of Government. He respected the authority and he expects us to do the same. Christianity is about love. If people can love one another, then issues about Christianity being dogmatic, being judgmental towards our brothers, and the various contradictions in the bible would not arise. This is because one will have to be answerable to his/her God. It is written that every knee shall bow before the Lord. So if one feels that cloning is right or test-tube babies are fine then it is all right because we all have free will. We can decide what is right or wrong for and in our lives.

References

Constance, H. Medieval Religion: New Approaches. New York: Routledge, 2000.

Filip, Spagnoli. Homo Democraticus: On the Universal Desirability and the Not So Universal. London: Cambridge, 2003.

Gina, Macdonald. Shaman Or Sherlock?: The Native American Detective. New York: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2001.

John, Hick. Christianity and Other Religions: Selected Readings. New York: Oneworld, 2001.

Robert, Neville. Symbols of Jesus: A Christology of Symbolic Engagement. London: Cambridge Press, 2001.

Stanley, Grenz. Theology for the Community of God. London: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2000.

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Negative Effects of Christianity

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