Why do Christians have to announce that fact?

United States
September 21, 2016 7:22am CST
So often I see, hear or read, "I'm a Christian.".....OK, but why do you have to tell us that? I am Catholic - I don't go around saying, "I'm Catholic." If I ask you what religion/faith you are and you say, "I'm Christian" that's fine. But if I don't ask why do you feel the need to tell me? I normally don't get into religious discussions, but I wish someone could explain this to me. I am probably going to open Pandora's Box, but so be it. I'm been meaning to ask this for a while, but a post I saw a little while ago reminded me. Photo: pixabay.com/en/why-reminder-post-note-sticker-1432955/
37 people like this
50 responses
@MALUSE (69413)
• Germany
21 Sep 16
Thank you, thank you, thank you! Before I joined bubblews I was active on German and British sites for many years. I left them for reasons which are not important here. I was shocked when I realised that with bubblews I'd joined a Sunday school. I had *never* seen religious posts on the German and British sites. I stayed on bubblews because I didn't find a better site. When bubblews closed shop, I joined the exodus and landed on myLot. I wasn't so shocked anymore because I already knew in advance that the preachers had also moved there. I wonder if there aren't sites catering only for religious people. But, of course, there they couldn't do missionary work and try to save souls.
12 people like this
• United States
21 Sep 16
It is the same on Facebook too but...I have learned to ignore what I want to ignore. But I finally had to ask why.
6 people like this
@marguicha (215345)
• Chile
21 Sep 16
I liked that sentence about Sunday schools.
4 people like this
@LadyDuck (457967)
• Switzerland
21 Sep 16
@MALUSE Sometimes I get comments ending with "I pray God..." and bla and bla. If I want to listen to a Preacher I go to the Church and I disapprove that someone has to put "religion" even in the comment area and where not necessary.
7 people like this
@LadyDuck (457967)
• Switzerland
21 Sep 16
I am so glad that you are writing this. I cannot understand why people should proudly announce "I am Christian" if nobody asked. I am also Catholic, almost all the Italians are. I never talk about religion and I avoid to read "religious" discussions. I ignore them.
8 people like this
@LadyDuck (457967)
• Switzerland
21 Sep 16
@AbbyGreenhill I cannot understand why people want to impose religious opinions and discussions. We are supposed to be free.
5 people like this
• United States
21 Sep 16
@LadyDuck We don't listen to them because we are free.
5 people like this
• United States
21 Sep 16
You and I are so alike.....
4 people like this
@Asylum (47893)
• Manchester, England
21 Sep 16
I can only assume that the fact is being used as a banner. There is much about religion that seems strange to me. For example, people will attend church every week, yet the Bible informs us that you can pray anywhere.
8 people like this
@marguicha (215345)
• Chile
21 Sep 16
I always wondered about that!
2 people like this
• United States
21 Sep 16
Sure you can pray anywhere since God is everywhere.
2 people like this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
21 Sep 16
People forget that the church attendance was only necessary in the past because most people couldn't read their bibles and would need to be read the passages. Not only couldn't they read, but they needed someone to explain what the passage meant, because they are subject to interpretation. Bible passages are pretty confusing. After all, if we were to take the old testament seriously we'd have to kill a lot of people every day.
8 people like this
@Bluedoll (16774)
• Canada
21 Sep 16
I'm Canadian. Sorry, I can't help it as I was born into it.
7 people like this
@Bluedoll (16774)
• Canada
21 Sep 16
@AbbyGreenhill Well I wasn't trying to convert you or anything eh.
7 people like this
• United States
21 Sep 16
@Bluedoll You won't -too cold in your neck of the woods for me Ha Ha
6 people like this
• United States
21 Sep 16
Thanks for tell us that interesting fact LOL.
6 people like this
@ilocosboy (45157)
• Philippines
21 Sep 16
Maybe it's the love that move them. Like when I love my wife I will say 'i love you'. It's their overflowing love, just maybe.
6 people like this
• United States
21 Sep 16
Hum, I highly doubt that .... it's more like don't mess with me.
4 people like this
@TheHorse (205633)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Sep 16
@AbbyGreenhill Hmm. I hadn't thought of that.
1 person likes this
@ilocosboy (45157)
• Philippines
21 Sep 16
@AbbyGreenhill oh that's not a good example from them.
2 people like this
@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
21 Sep 16
I have to agree with you. We all have our own beliefs and thoughts when it comes to religion and that is perfectly fine but a person should not force theirs beliefs on anybody else. It always bothers me and makes me feel uncomfortable. If somebody asks then that is fine I have no problem with that.
5 people like this
• United States
21 Sep 16
Yes, it is uncomfortable. I had two very close friends many years ago back in NJ. They were both born again and one tried to push it down my throat any chance she got, the other knew better and we were better friends because of that.
4 people like this
• United States
21 Sep 16
@BettyB Who said anyone is forcing me to read something? I didn't say that. I read and write what I choose.
1 person likes this
@BettyB (4117)
• Summerville, South Carolina
21 Sep 16
No one is forcing you to read a religious post.
3 people like this
@marguicha (215345)
• Chile
21 Sep 16
I wonder what those people would feel if other people wrote so openly about their beliefs. I Would not mind Jehova´s witnessess if they did not feel it is part of their faith to ring my bell and insist upon talking to me about their faith. Would they feel threatened if I said I was a muslim? Because there are many ignorant people that associate that faith with violent acts that have nothing to do with them. I don´t usually get involved in religious posts either. But I don´t feel anyone is a better or worse person if they have faith or if they don´t, as long as they respect the rest.
4 people like this
@marguicha (215345)
• Chile
21 Sep 16
@AbbyGreenhill We have some very much militant JW in our neighborhood. I wonder how they have so mych time!
2 people like this
• United States
21 Sep 16
Funny that you mention JW's...we lived in a small sub-division a few years ago ten homes and most of them were owned by JW's...they were the nicest people we met in TN and not once did they bring up their faith, for it on us, hand us brochures or anything.
3 people like this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
21 Sep 16
I have some really funny memories from my various interactions from the JWs. Just thinking about the neighbor's dog staring at them and them staring out from their car at the dog is making me laugh. That dog loved to play, and they just happened to arrive (they didn't get out of the car). The other time was when the usual straight-laced and proper witness brought his protege with him and was quoting about treasure from some passage and asked me "If I told you there was treasure back in those woods, wouldn't you try to find it?" I said: "Oh that? I already found the treasure." "Wait. What did you find?" "I found an old oven. I scrapped it!" (said exaggerating my excessive happiness over the pretend scrapping, the real oven probably still sits there) After that, his protege, Marcus, started laughing and wouldn't stop. There were tears in his eyes and every time I grinned he'd start sobbing. Good times. :D
4 people like this
@vandana7 (98804)
• India
21 Sep 16
To be fair, I am open to religious discussions. I say so because there can always be some doubts that somebody knows answers to. If I am not interested, I simply won't open the post. But knowledge never hurt anybody. What may be something that you knew from childhood, may be something that I don't know and therefore, I should so that I don't hurt anybody kind.
4 people like this
@vandana7 (98804)
• India
21 Sep 16
@AbbyGreenhill .. Agreed. But hey, I am from a country where I meet a christian once in a year! So knowledge about you all would be welcome. Agreed I was in convent, and I knew something. But that is no age to know something about this religion, as we can't understand much. Moreover, it was not exactly pushed down our gullets. We went to chapel only because other friends were going...not because it had something to do with belief. Hope you are understanding what I am saying. I find peace in chapels now even though I am a Hindu.
2 people like this
• United States
21 Sep 16
@vandana7 Believe me, I'm where I should be religion-wise and peace wise.
2 people like this
• United States
21 Sep 16
This post is about why they have to announce they are Christians....Being open to discussions is up to each of us. At my age I've learned enough about what I need to know about.
2 people like this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
21 Sep 16
Very well said, but I don't mind them saying they are a Christian, but I do mind being preached to. I'll go to church if I want that. I just ignore those sort of posts.
4 people like this
• United States
21 Sep 16
There are a few topics I ignore and if you start off by announcing your religious beliefs I know its not something I want to read.
3 people like this
@Tampa_girl7 (48907)
• United States
21 Sep 16
I thought that Catholics were Christian........just not all Christians are Catholic. For me announcing that I am a Christian is just me expressing my love of God. It is no different then saying that I am a wife or mother. It is a part of me that I am proud of. I agree that some do overdo the announcing of their Christianity. I think that there is a time to and a time not to.
4 people like this
• United States
21 Sep 16
I know that a Catholic is a Christian but there are 'Christians' who would argue that point.
2 people like this
@Tampa_girl7 (48907)
• United States
21 Sep 16
@MALUSE I am Protestant and believe the Pope is a good man, but that I can pray directly to God .
2 people like this
@MALUSE (69413)
• Germany
21 Sep 16
@AbbyGreenhill It's usually Catholics who argue about Protestants being Christians. You can learn that in Italy. The fact that Protestants don't believe in a Pope makes Italians ask if Protestants believe in God, too, and consider themselves Christians. Seriously.
2 people like this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
21 Sep 16
And here I was thinking about doing a 'message from god' post to stir up some trouble. I guess I'll skip it for the day. :P
4 people like this
• United States
21 Sep 16
Go for it, what the heck
3 people like this
• United States
21 Sep 16
@OneOfMany OH ok if it's that sad/bad/depressing
2 people like this
@OneOfMany (12150)
• United States
21 Sep 16
@AbbyGreenhill Nah, I'll wait. It's just something that I was going to share that would depress everyone, so I'll save it for later. :D
2 people like this
@MALUSE (69413)
• Germany
21 Sep 16
I'm afraid you'll only get comments from members who agree with you. The 'God squad' as one member calls them won't come to the front and tell you why they feel like preaching all the time and without being asked to do so.
3 people like this
• United States
21 Sep 16
That's fine - if they don't want to respond. At least Im blowing off steam for me and others.
3 people like this
@MALUSE (69413)
• Germany
22 Sep 16
@Daljinder Sadly, this is the case. It's called 'preaching to the converted'. Yet, the great number of comments shows that this is a topic which affects many members and it's good to see that one is not alone.
2 people like this
@Daljinder (23231)
• Bangalore, India
22 Sep 16
@MALUSE They never do come to such posts.
@ms1864 (6886)
• Bangalore, India
21 Sep 16
Maybe they need to say it enough number of times to believe it themselves? I'm not religious so i glaze over most discussions like that...
4 people like this
• United States
21 Sep 16
I skip a lot of that also.
4 people like this
@LyonsCMW (25)
• Crystal, Michigan
21 Sep 16
I don't understand why people find it so offensive. I don't say I'm Christian to make myself sound better than you and I don't say I'm Christian because I want to shove my religion down your throat. That's where people's minds seem to go these days. Actually when I say that I'm Christian, it's because I'm trying to connect with you...when we're connecting with people we tend to share things about ourselves and our lives that we love. Much akin to telling you about my kids, my husband or my profession. My faith has upmost importance in my life... Don't you talk about the things important to you when you're conversing with people... In any context and on any medium? I spend every day trying to live up to an ideal that none of us will ever reach, but I do it out of love and faith and I'm not going to be ashamed of that. Ever.
@Bluedoll (16774)
• Canada
21 Sep 16
You write refreshing, like a ray of sunshine.
3 people like this
• United States
21 Sep 16
I find that in certain instances it isn't necessary to bring faith/religion into it. Maybe you are different but for some they start out - 'I'm a christian' and then proceeded to tell everyone why 'we' do things wrong. that is offensive to me. I don't feel the need to start a conversation by "Hi, I'm Catholic."
1 person likes this
• Crystal, Michigan
21 Sep 16
@AbbyGreenhill Fair enough. It needs to be relevant to the conversation, just like anything else.
3 people like this
@egdcltd (12060)
21 Sep 16
I say I'm Roman Catholic if asked. Otherwise, no. I'm not keen on it when people say they're Christian rather than say they belong to a specific sect (Anglican, Catholic etc).
3 people like this
• United States
21 Sep 16
I just don't get it, and probably never will.
3 people like this
@psanasangma (5884)
• India
21 Sep 16
After reading your blog, One of my colleague ask me Whether I am Christian or not? as I ve never talk about religion !!
3 people like this
• India
21 Sep 16
@AbbyGreenhill Seriously yeah !!
3 people like this
• United States
21 Sep 16
See it start a dialogue and no one is pushing it down anyone's throat...
3 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
22 Sep 16
I must admit I don't bother reading those kinds of posts. My choice, however, if someone wants to post that kind of thing then that's fine by me. By the way, I think perhaps you are beyond saving like most of us!
2 people like this
• United States
23 Sep 16
@Mike197602 No, Las Vegas LOL
2 people like this
• United States
22 Sep 16
Beyond saving...hum...you mean I'm going to the place that's super hot?
2 people like this
@Mike197602 (15487)
• United Kingdom
23 Sep 16
2 people like this
@VivaLaDani13 (60314)
• Perth, Australia
22 Sep 16
@AbbyGreenhill Good question. I can't say I've had someone tell me that random detail about themselves out of the blue. I personally never say I'm agnostic randomly to someone unless the topic of religion was brought up and they asked me my thoughts on it. Even if someone wanted me to tell them details about myself, I still don't even think to mention it. I don't see the point in sharing just as much as I don't see the point in knowing their beliefs when it wasn't even discussed in the first place. Knowing what they believe doesn't make me think any less or any more of them anyway. It's all well and good to be Christian but so far the Christians I have met were bat sh*t crazy and trouble makers. Beliefs don't reflect one's personality to me.
2 people like this
• United States
22 Sep 16
Last sentence is true, but there's always a but......if they continually do it then it does affect their personality.
2 people like this
• United States
22 Sep 16
@VivaLaDani13 I have heard other stories like that...as a matter of fact the second home we bought in TN was owned by a woman of faith - went to church three times a week, worked at a place that gave free clothing to the needy, did all of that. We asked why she had the vac. out every time we went to see the house - she said she had 'a few' lady bugs. A few - when we had the carpets replaced before we moved in they found millions of lady bugs under the wall to wall carpet and in the outlets....she lied about that plus a leak in the basement and a few other things.
2 people like this
• Perth, Australia
22 Sep 16
@AbbyGreenhill It reminds me of one girl I knew. She was Christian. I didn't mind. In fact I enjoyed asking her questions about the Bible etc. But she started talking down to me once she realised I didn't have faith. She was determined to convert me. I didn't appreciate that. She practically said I was a bad person for not believing or going to church. Yet it was fine for her to go around spreading rumours about me, lying and just being a horrible person but as long as she was a Christian, it was all good apparently.
1 person likes this
@parpande (1515)
• Bangalore, India
21 Sep 16
@raki369 it`s pretty astonishing to hear that in such a liberal country like the US , people have such an attitude . Such country had always welcome expats regardless of caring any race,ethnicity and religion.
3 people like this
• United States
21 Sep 16
Attitude? Not sure if you mean me or the people who pronounce themselves Christians.
2 people like this
• United States
22 Sep 16
@parpande OK thanks for clarifying.
@parpande (1515)
• Bangalore, India
22 Sep 16
@AbbyGreenhill its not you , rather it`s for people.
1 person likes this
@Daljinder (23231)
• Bangalore, India
22 Sep 16
I agree with @MALUSE @LadyDuck and @vandana7 on some things. I have received quotes from Bible in answer to simple question I asked or during a conversation that has nothing to do with religion, several times. Not that I am against Bible or Jesus or Christian but I don't need it to be shoved in my face. There is a certain amount of pride we hold in our respective religions and belief. But after joining myLot, I am now also of the view that some Christians (not all mind you) are boisterous about it. Not just proud. Like they are superior in some way (which is very off-putting). I also do not get why they have to call anyone beside Jesus "fake". You believe in Jesus, it is fine by us. We do not call Jesus "fake" then why mock other people's beliefs? I also do not understand why the reference to "your" God and "my" God. LOL! Sorry, I went in too deep. It wasn't meant to be a religious post. Anyway, I am open to learn about religion and read religious posts in an amicable manner. Respect is not a one way street. It works both ways. Nowadays, if I want to ask something related to Christianity or Christ, I specifically go to 2 or 3 people on this site that actually answer my questions and not preach to me. Others are quite honestly irritating! I tend to get sarcastic with them.
3 people like this
@LadyDuck (457967)
• Switzerland
22 Sep 16
I fully agree with you. About religions, some are not here to "discuss", but to dictate their opinions. This is not acceptable.
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Sep 16
You explained it very well thanks.
1 person likes this