Misconceptions about Christianity

Misconceptions about Christianity

Introduction

Historically misconceptions have proliferated in the area where they are most pernicious carriers of hatred and misunderstanding: the religions. We live in a world where religious diversity is ever increasing. For every person his own religion is the in group and others are the out group and they possess many misconceptions and misunderstandings about their religions (Barker, 2010). These misconceptions can only be reduced by getting accurate and reliable knowledge through research and getting along with the followers of another religion. This paper has also discussed some misconceptions regarding Christianity and how these misunderstandings were eradicated through meeting with the followers. It also briefly talks about why people have misconceptions about other religions and how this phenomenon can be reduced.

Discussion

There is a famous saying from Peanuts cartoon in which Linus said that, “You believe in Santa Claus, I believe in the Great Pumpkin … It doesn't matter what you believe as long as you're sincere” (Dutch, 2010) . Christianity includes various subjects areas about which other people feel confused or misunderstood the religion. Few of the modern day misconceptions about Christianity are that all western people are viewed as Christians; many people believed the true teachings of Bible are fabricated with the time and the concept of Trinity (McDowell, 1981).

Westerners are Christians

Many religions believe that all Westerners are Christians. It is because they do not have enough knowledge about various religious practices of western society. It is true that Christian cultural heritage is an asset of the West but it needs to be understand that the culture of Christians and their society, in order to pursue a secular course, have left that or trying to leave that heritage. Drug abuse, crime, violence and human rights violation is evident in Western society but it is not something allowed or promoted by Christianity. In fact, Christianity prohibits any such action which may harm other living thing. Many people have a hard time to understand that many Western countries have prohibited the church to possess a political dominant power or to interfere in politics of the state. This limitation of the power of Church reflects teachings of Bible according to which true religion and coercion cannot go hand in hand (Small, 1997).

Bible is fabricated

The most misconception is that the Holy Bible is corrupted and fabricated by its followers for their own conveyance to the extent that it cannot be trusted anymore. This is believed mostly by the Muslims for whom Bible is also a sacred book. This misconception is not something which can be treated lightly but it needs complete, thorough and careful research. True follower of Christianity attempted to clear this misconception of the author in a detailed manner. According to him many translations of Bible exist in this world which is intertwined with the misunderstanding that the each of them has different version. However, it is not correct because there exists only one Bible in the original languages of Greek, Aramaic and Hebrew. Reasons behind these translations ...