If you say you follow a religion, but live the exact opposite are you really a follower of that religion?

Question

Let's just put my example Christian. So if someone says that they are Christian and follower of the founder of it (christ) but they do not even follow his example and live most of their life doing what the religion says not to do. Is that person really a follower of it? Can they call themselves a Christian? Or are they just using it to look good?

normalice · Accepted Answer

Yes. Any time there is an ideal that only exists because people talk about it, those in possession of "the banner" get to say who is under it; posession is usually determined by the majority consensus - and the fact is the overwhelming majority of religious people are hypocrites. So, the first thing people with that power do is excuse themselves from judgement. This trickles down because the longing to not be held responsible for the consequences of one's actions is addictive. They do not view their own religion in terms of how they they ought to live their life. Instead they only subscribe to religion because it is the safest way to tell others what to do.

Kaneki05 · Accepted Answer

Religion is what you make it so the idea there is such thing as a proper follower is just wrong and will be more just what stereotyped for you to be like while following that religion.
People can read the same verse and get a different answer for it which who's to say for definitive what it meant other than the dead guy who wrote that verse a long time ago.

So you could say they don't fit the typical christian or something but if they have reasons why they think such way based on the bible and their christian views then they are still a christian.

Radiate143 · Accepted Answer

I think it depends in whether you acknowledge the fsct that you are contravening the dictates of said religion.

Chandelier8 · Accepted Answer

There would be no actual religious people then, I think.

HawkPerception · Answer

Like 90% of people that consider themselves religious do not actually abide by the rules the religion set. Religion is just a bunch of nonsense humans made to control other humans in a time of chaos where a sense of direction and morality was desperately needed. And it was enforced by utilizing the one thing everyone fears. Death and nothingness. Hoping you can somehow live eternally as a soul. If you're a bad person you go to hell for eternity and if you're a good person then heaven for an eternity. That was everyone is trying to abide by it and creates a group of sheep. Funny thing is barely anyone was literate back when religion was created, so most of it spread by word of mouth. Insane how people nowadays have Google at their fingertips and still believe in the inconsistent nonsense.

jshm2 · Answer

No. People tend to confuse faith with nationality.

If you break every law in your birth country, and go to jail, you are still of that nationality. But in faith you cannot be of the faith while you break the main rules of it.

The term "religion" is used like it's some sort of irremovable banner. When nothing is further from the truth. Just because you are born into a family does not mean you share everything of that family. You can be disowned, you could be a traitor, liar, or a redeemer etc etc. But in a court of law you are not liable or responsible for what your family does if you are not a proven part of it.

syncheart · Answer

There is a term for someone like that. They are called a hypocrite.

1 John 2:4

4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.

Source:

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+2%3A4&version=NIV

Astarlessnightsky · Answer

This us tricky, because the bible says a lot of things and a lot of these stories in the bible contradict each other, and even worse they are shown in the context of a much older society that was really different from our society.

So... i guess you can't really tell if he does exactly the opposite of what jesus would do, but maybe he just follows different verses than you.

rigmarole · Answer

To be a Christian is to admit that everyone has sinned and that we all fall short of God's righteous standards. Christians are honest about that... If you've committed a wrong against one person, doing good for another person doesn't fix the wrong that you did to the first person. You can't just sacrifice and animal to God and say, here you are God take this in trade for my wrong doings... To be truthful you have to understand that no one is perfect you included...

strateguy632 · Answer

wrong definition. being a hypocrites is not even a sin.

the opposite of your expectations, christianity RECOGNIZED human temptation.

Christian doesn't mean "live like jesus example did" it means a certain faith. i am already lengthy so enough for now.

Exterminatore · Answer

“By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever follows His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him:”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭2‬:‭3‬-‭5‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬
Certainly not true with Christianity.

genericname85 · Answer

following a religion is an individual decision that no person ever reasned themself into. you can't reason a person out of a position they never reasoned themself into. trying to use reason on religion is like eating soup with a fork. not the right tool for the job.

BoopBoopBeep · Answer

They can call themselves a choochoo train but that don't mean they'll work harder if I shovel coal up their butts. That's like saying I'm follower of veganism but man this is a tasty cheeseburger... that I eat daily.

SotiCoto · Answer

Either they're hypocrites or they're zealots. Either they can't resist their animal nature, or they can't resist their religious programming. Either way, they lack the will to decide things for themselves.

236color · Answer

I've said that a failure of the follower is not a failure of the faith, but that's not the question you're asking. In the United States currently, among white people, Christianity is not a faith tradition, it's a political movement.

bededazzle · Answer

i’m not christian, but if i were, i’d say it’s for god to decide

ChicoFromThe305 · Answer

Not a follower, you can believe but being a follower means exactly that, you are following, there's a different between being a believer and follower.

MrCommodore · Answer

What constitutes a good Christian in your opinion?

exitseven · Answer

You are worse than somebody who does not practice a religion at all You will burn in hell for trying to put one over on God

AngryCarl2 · Answer

As a lapsed Christian I can say that God doesn't expect us to be perfect. You can be a bad Christian, and still be a Christian. Don't forget that even the disciples denied Christ.

Agape93 · Answer

Nope. You're at best a liar, and at worst a heretic

collie22 · Answer

Our pastor sometimes talks about a one hour a week Christian. I think your talking about the same Christian.

LiamJHayden · Answer

No, one cannot be an adherent and live exactly opposite. That does not mean an absence of inconsistencies though, if that is what you mean.

Friendlybro79 · Answer

They can call themselves a Christian but they're just bad Christians.

Anonymous · Answer

Depends on your interpretation of said religion. People think religions say different things cause all they have to go on is a book.

Anonymous · Answer

Being a Christian is dependent on that person’s faith so they can still make mistakes and still be a Christian but they shouldn’t want to do those things

boggboss · Answer

Clearly not

If you say you follow a religion, but live the exact opposite are you really a follower of that religion?

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