Christians and
Other Religions
and Lifestyles

"Why are Christians so intolerant of other lifestyles?"

God laid down a set of moral laws and said all people must follow them, and whoever doesn't will be severely punished forever.  See What God Requires of Us, particularly Things God Hates.  If the Bible is true, then we need to do what God says.

Why are you 'so intolerant' of the lifestyle of serial rapists, drug pushers, crackheads (people who regularly use "crack" cocaine), drunks, habitual drunk drivers, child molesters, etc.?

Keep in mind—Hell is an "alternative lifestyle".
 

"Why are Christians so intolerant of other religions?"

Jesus said He is God.  John 14:6   Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me".  Either He was who He claimed to be—the Lord, or He was a liar, or He was a lunatic.  (See The Trilemma)  The evidence indicates He was telling the truth. In that case, every other religion will lead its followers to eternal punishment—period !
 

"Who are Christians to tell me that my religion is wrong?"
 
Matthew 28:18-19 [18] Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  [19] Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Simply put, the guy in charge of everything told us to do it!
  

"I'm happy with my current religion (or without a religion), why do Christians keep bothering me to accept their religion?"

Let's consider the following scenario:

• Someone you know is slowly dying, but he doesn't know it.
• He's dying because he's eating contaminated  food and doesn't know it.
• You know his food is bad and ultimately it will kill him.
• You know where your friend can get safe food.
• You tell him his food is contaminated and it's killing him.
• He doesn't believe you.

What would you do?

Would you say "Oh, well, I told him . . .  Let him die."

Or would you repeatedly try to tell him how he can be saved—even if he thinks you're wrong?

Obviously, many people are Christians because they were raised Christian.  However, many people accepted Christ after examining the evidence.  Most people who came to Christianity did not accept it immediately.  Many people had to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the evidence for years before they finally sank in.  I was one of those people. See About the Author.  I was raised believing that all Protestants are going to Hell because the Catholic Church is the only true Christian Church and Protestants follow the teachings of people who were excommunicated (kicked out of the Catholic Church). I was raised believing that I had to earn my way into Heaven by not committing sin and by earning enough "grace" by doing "good things", attending Mass, participating in sacraments, etc., and that if I didn't do enough I would go to Hell.  Finally, I found out that we are justified (saved) by faith in Jesus Christ.  "Grace" means "unmerited favor".  It isn't possible to earn unmerited favor!  Salvation is a gift from God because He loves us so much.  The deal is that if we accept Jesus and try to live "right", God gives us credit for the "right" life Jesus actually lived!
(See Major Christian Doctrines)
 

"Christianity may be true for you, but it's not true for me."

Christ is like gravity—either it's true for everybody or it's true for nobody.  Jesus told us His rule—accept Him or be punished forever.  He didn't say "If you believe in Islam you will be judged by the rules of Islam.  If you believe in Scientology, you will be judged by the rules of Scientology.  If you believe in Shintoism, you will be judged by the rules of Shintoism.  If you believe in Hinduism, you will be judged by the rules of Hinduism. . . ."
 

"So many Christians are liars, hypocrites, gossipers, etc.  They're no better than anybody else."

If I say "I'm an honest man" but I routinely lie, steal, and cheat, am I really an honest man?  What if I consider myself to be an honest man?

If a student frequently makes math errors when adding and subtracting, does that make the rules of math false?

To really be a Christian a person must sincerely try to live his life the way Christ said to live it!  Many people who consider themselves Christian are fooling themselves.

James 1:26 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.

Luke 6:46 Why do you call me, `Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?

Galatians 5:19-21  [19] The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; [20] idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions [21] and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Galatians 5:26  Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

God didn't say " '. . . his religion is worthless.', '. . . will not inherit the kingdom of God.' unless he's a Christian."

See What God Requires of Us