Many people think that people who are churchgoers and profess to be religious

[raccoon]

are less likely to do bad things than other people. I used to believe that too. At one time, I didn't realize that a person who exhibited excessive religiosity could have serious emotional/mental problems. I grew up in the Bible belt; that's my excuse for not knowing any better. Since I’ve gotten older, and hopefully wiser, I’ve realized that’s not so.

I recently saw a man convicted of murder on Dateline or some similar TV show protesting his innocence, saying he believed in Jesus Christ. As if that would mean he couldn’t possible be a murderer. :shrug:

Churchgoers and people who profess to be religious are as likely as anyone else to lie, cheat, steal, commit adultery, murder, etc. (I know, water is wet...)

[Speck Tater]

1. Repeated studies have shown crime is higher in areas where church attendance is higher. nt

[dorkulon]

2. In my experience, it's really quite the opposite.

Most non-religious people I know are more likely to be honest than the "faithful."

[MineralMan]

3. That's because churchgoers and so on are just people.

Some do bad things. Some people in all categories do bad things. Why would anyone be surprised by that?

All bad acts are done by individual human beings, including things done by groups of individual human beings. It's not the religious belief...it's the individuals.

[BanzaiBonnie]

7. And they think they'll get out of jail free card

Jesus will forgive them for whatever they do. It's a great way to get out of taking responsibility for their actions. By the same token they can blame the "devil" for making them behave badly. Another way to get out of taking responsibility for their actions.

[spartan61]

4. Ever notice how quickly someone with a fish thingy on their

car that advertises their "Christian beliefs" is so quick to flip you the bird for something on the road, especially for a Obama/Biden bumper sticker?

[Mist]

5. For many people, there's a disconnect between "religious" and "spiritual." nt

[Silent3]

6. OK, then. I don't see that people who call themselves "spiritual"...

...are necessarily better people either.

(I suppose this leads to No True Scotsman: whether or not bad people who claim to be spiritual are truly spiritual!)

[Mist]

9. True. nt

[EC]

8. I always wondered what their great sin was that they

always had to profess their love of Jesus - as though always asking for forgiveness or help...it makes them appear guilty of being bad people to me...and I never trusted businesses that call themselves "Christ followers" we have many here that advertise that they are a business for Christ - including a pizza joint...I do not patronize those places, because I feel they must be atoning for something. But what? Prices higher than elsewhere? Bad product? Why do they feel the need to advertise Christ with their businesses?

[rbixby]

12. Its original sin!

We all have to apologize for that whole Eve eating the forbidden fruit and then bamboozling Adam into eating it too. Hence the sexist nature of most of those religions.


Although I think that if that's the case, haven't we been punished enough already?

[Lydia Leftcoast]

10. Anyone who thinks that churchgoers are better people knows nothing

about theology.

[Dawson Leery]

11. Those who wear religion on their sleeve are usually

the most unsavory of society.

[moobu2]

13. Be careful of the ones that volunteer to you that they're a Christian

especially in a situation where they're trying to gain your trust. I've found those types are never ever ever ever ever trustworthy.

[onager]

14. Watch some "Snapped!"

The excellent show on Oxygen Channel (usually) about women who whack their husbands in interesting ways.

One episode featured a woman trying to pull that Jebus-Jive. Her husband was disabled, and she was accused of setting his bedroom on fire. Twice - she set fires blocking the door and the only window in the room, so he couldn't possibly escape.

She was very active in her local church, and protested that she couldn't have killed her husband because she "loved the Lord Jesus Christ" etc. etc.

Comment from the cop working the case: "She was calling the life insurance companies while his body was still smoldering."