How would you rate your perception of Christianity?

[More Than A Feeling]

This is the third in a series of polls to measure the perceptions of the various beliefs and non-beliefs. 10 is the most positive, and 1 is the most negative.

The second poll can be found here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=214&topic_id=115138

The first poll can be found here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=214&topic_id=113570&mesg_id=113570

[jody]

1. Your question does not make sense to me, i.e. "rate your perception of Christianity". n/t

[More Than A Feeling]

2. It's a slightly awkward way of saying "do you have a positive or negative opinion of it?"n/t

[jody]

5. IMO the concept and practice of Christianity is too complex to be reduced to just a

"positive or negative opinion".

Whether one believes in the Trinity or not can be separated from the moral foundation that is inseparable from the beliefs of the various Christian denominations.

For example, the "Golden Rule" is basic to most great religions and is found in the three versions of the Humanist Manifesto. Such basic beliefs lead me to view all religions as positive while recognizing that each religion has adherents who distort dogma for evil ends.

[More Than A Feeling]

6. So wait, in your opinion, are some of the moral positions of Christianity

separable or not from the theological beliefs? Your post appears to say both.

[jody]

7. IMO some of the moral positions of Christianity, e.g. Ten Commandants, are basic to religious and

social groups that both predate and postdate Christianity.

Why not just ask whether one has a positive or negative view of the following religions rather than focusing on Christianity?

Christianity 2100 million
Islam 1300 million
Hinduism 900 million
Buddhism 376 million
Confucianism 150 million
Sikhism 23 million
Judaism 14 million
Bahá'í Faith 7 million
Jainism 4.2 million
Shinto 4 million

[More Than A Feeling]

8. I'm going to ask about some of those, too.

Be patient!:)

[jody]

9. What are you hoping to learn from those questions? n/t

[cyborg_jim]

10. All religions are religions

'Positive' is subjective. They tend to reflect the cultures they were born in. As human culture is varied so is religion. There is no reason to single out a religion just because it is a religion.

[Nimrod2005]

3. I said "5", meaning take it or leave it. As far as I am concerned, that's how I feel

about all religions...not for me, but people who swear by it don't bother me either.

[shoopnyc]

4. Shouldn't it say "As a Non Christian" or "As a Christian"?

[BurtWorm]

11. I can't deny it. I have a negative view of Christianity,

I've have had it for a very, very long time, and it rarely improves even a little and continues to get worse.

[NAO]

12. Christianity - Putting the DARK in The Dark Ages: 1000 yrs of ignorance, brutality, superstition

Christianity was the worst tragedy to befall the human race until nuclear weapons.

In fact, nuclear weapons would be much less dangerous in a WORLD WITHOUT RELIGION. The only way that the US and the USSR did not destroy the world was the fear of Mutual Assured Destruction, which is only a deterrent if you think death is the end. On the other hand, if you think death is a fast track to eternal paradise...you know the rest.

In addition to removing the teeth from MAD (with all Abrahamic faiths are guilty of), Christianity in PARTICULAR is responsible for destroying the advanced, flourishing Western Civilization of antiquity and plunging mankind into a thousand years of darkness, ignorance, superstition and suffering. Just like it says in Revelation, Christ DID reign for 1,000 years - from about 500 to 1,500 CE.

Putting the Dark into the Dark Age
"WONDERFUL EVENTS THAT TESTIFY TO GOD'S DIVINE GLORY"
http://www.jesusneverexisted.com/dark-age.htm

The World that was Lost
Christianity Wrecks Civilization
http://www.jesusneverexisted.com/cost.html

1000 Years of Carnage & Barbarity in the name of Christ
http://www.jesusneverexisted.com/1000years.htm

[uppityperson]

13. here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=214&topic_id=113570&mesg_id=118452

[saltpoint]

14. For me, "Christianity" is a term like "classical music." I don't feel

obliged to listen to all of it. I'll take Chopin and Rachmaninoff and Copland, but am less enthusiasitc about Bartok and Schoenberg.

I voted '7' on this one. I don't generally like Christianity any better than Judaism or Paganism, but I recognize that they are positioned very differently in my history book.

There would be no EQUUS, by Peter Shaffer, without both paganism/pantheism and Christianity. As a play-goer, I would be significantly the less without my favorite play.

But Christianity, a majority world religion, has been unfocused and frequently violent, variously narrow-minded, and susceptible to dangerous extremism. The Inquisition is often cited, but I wouldn't let these psychotic powermongers like Jim Dobson off the hook. The modern-day scorched-earth Protestants are easily as bad or worse as anyone in the Inquisition. How insecure do you have to be as a male to burn a woman alive? I acknowledge the horros of the Inquisition. But persecution does not require a literal bundle of sticks and a torch. It can be done in subtle ways, too.

Spong. Pagels. Fox. And others. I like them a whole lot better than the Far Right flamers.

[zonmoy]

15. ended up having to select one

although my opinion of christianity and theophilia in general would go into negative numbers.