Christians. Have you ever been faced with a victim of a fanatic of your own religion?

Question

If so other than trying to protect your religion, what did you do?

Of course I know that you will probably tell them not to blame christians or christianity but other than that .... what?????

Answer 1

I'm not sure what you're using as a definition of "victim", but I've been something of a victim of a fanatical Christian. Or, at least it felt that way to me.

I forgave her.

Answer 2

OK since your hoping some one will validate your belief that your using as a Question the answer is NO. But if you had asked it on a historical bases with out a personal knowledge then it would be yes.

Answer 3

Buddy R should be a comedian....

Christians are victims of Christian fanaticism, just like Muslims are the victims of Muslim fanaticism.

Though they may inflict terrible suffering on others, the reputation that is bestowed upon the many brings much more suffering.

I have a friend who is Muslim. Barely a day goes by when he isn't being treated differently in some way due to terrorism. Though I lost a friend in the London bombings, I can see that my Muslim friend suffers more for this in intolerance than I did in grief.

Perhaps to be able to see the victims being victims may bring people to peace. Imagine if a Christian of today was faced with the sight of a young woman being burned alive after being found guilty of witchcraft. Or to have to clean up the corpses in a n**i concentration camp, killed for being Jewish.

Imagine if one of the Muslim extremists had to wade through the blood of the 3,000 people killed on 9/11. Or for any one of us were to be there watching, when Thich Quang Duc sat calmly burning for his people.

We all share this Earth, we should share it lovingly.

((((hugs))))

~Loving Light~

Answer 4

I dont protect no religion, or christianity, God does all the work. No since intrying to fight for something that has already won on the cross!

Answer 5

No.

There have been fanatical followers of the athiest religion such as Joseph Stalin who murdered more people than any other man in recorded history if you were thinking of someone like him.

Answer 6

Age and wisdom has taught me that no matter where you go, in every walk of life, every job place, every restaurant, every church, every religion, every school, every neighborhood - there are terrific, lovely people of every diversity thinkable and then.... there are the fanatics, the lunatics, the weirdo's, the idiots, the closed minded, the judgmental, the ignorant, the racist, the rude, mean spirited, unkind, unneighborly, insensitive and oblivious.  THEY are everywhere too.  You can't apologize for them - you can only tolerate them or give them a piece of your mind or ignore them.  The latter being the high road in most instances.....

Religious fanatics come in every possible denomination as well and even to the unreligious atheist type too.... I've run into more than my share in my own church - which is why I prefer California to Utah (sorry Utahans!) but there are lovely people everywhere too and I choose to recognize them and appreciate the good in almost everyone!

Fanatics are typically that way out of fear I believe - so feel badly for them that they can't appreciate and love the totality of what life can offer and instead choose a narrow shallow perspective with little options.... that is sad for them - however it makes them feel safe.  So that is their choice too huh?

Answer 7

The fanatics are the victims.  

Answer 8

Yes and no.

Yes it happened by someone I thought was a member of my own religion, but as I further examined their actions I reached the conclusion that this person was just one of those tares Jesus talked about in Matthew chapter 13.

Answer 9

I have to think that the vast majority of Christians here just plain don't see it.  They just don't get that there are real honest-to-god *victims* who have suffered *recently* by overzealous Christian behavior.

A large part of them are so busy thinking that Christians are being persecuted that they can't allow anyone else that status.

There are a few - mumof4 being a good example - that recognize and empathize and *those* are the Christians that I respect.

Answer 10

Yes, I have.  My best friend is an ex-Mormon and a victim of zealotry.

Her mother-in-law was a zealot, and didn't think my friend was good enough for her son.  (And the MIL didn't think her son was good enough, either.)  I was continually horrified that by what she did to her own children, in the name of her perfect ideal.  

Faced with such destructive behaviour from this woman, I could only do my best to SHOW my friend (by my actions, as well as words) what religion is really all about, and be a constant friend.

When my friend and her husband left the Mormon religion, I was not surprised, and I thought it might actually do her hubby some good, and help him to discover himself, without being under the thumb of his dictatorial mother (and his wife was overzealous, too).

What did I do for the victim/s (my friend and her hubby)?  Well, I'm not perfect but I try to be there for her (she has separated from her hubby, who has unresolved issues with infidelity), and I try to help her to access the spiritual strength in any way that I feel will be acceptable to her, and help her to bring her life back together. eg. I offer the free crystal therapy services my hubby can give, prayer, or mostly I just let her know I understand her difficulties, and let her know that she is lovable in spite of any faults she may perceive in herself, or that others may see in her.  I also try to let her help ME out, whenever she can, because I know she is a very proud person.

I buy her and her daughter food when she has spent all her money on marijuana (I know she feels really bad about this... she knows it's a mistake... the child welfare people found out by her own admission that she was doing drugs again, so she will be going to rehab shortly.)  I empathise with her (from my own personal experience) when she comes over to vent, etc, and I worry about her when I can't think of any other way to help, lol.

I know what it feels like to have no support from parents (my friend is an orphan, and her adoptive parents (not Mormons) think she is worthless because she didn't turn out to be the "ideal" that they were expecting... sound familiar?  

In my book, children are given unique attributes (strengths and weaknesses) for a reason.  People can learn through their weaknesses, and can give their own unique contribution to the world through their strengths. My friend, if she gets enough support and help, will one day make the most fabulously empathic but firmly "no-nonsense" youth counsellor or social worker.  She's "been there, and done that" so she has such a great potential for reaching those who are down and out.  I look forward to the day when she realises her own potential and great worth, and I encourage her to keep hoping in that, and maybe seeing through me what great potential she has.

I always try to have hope, no matter what.  It does all seem to work out for the best, in the long run.  I'm pretty sure we'll all be okay in the end.  God is Love.

Thanks for the Q Praire Crow. ♥  Hope this helped. ♥  Blessed be.

EDIT:  No worries.  Glad I could help.  :-)  P.S.  Sorry, I removed some of my answer, because I thought it was too long.  I hope I didn't remove anything that you thought was important.  ...   Hmmmm.... Now I need to get back to my assignment that's due next week.  Peace ♥

Answer 11

Yes, Bible-thumpers are always trying to get me to join their church.  I stopped going to church because it's a waste of time.  I already learned everything Christianity could teach me.  I've outgrown religion.