Why does bad behavior amongst believers keep people away from religion?

[BCRanger10]

Why does bad behavior amongst believers keep people away from religion? I get being scandalized that the faith is not producing the intended effects or being repulsed by hypocrisy (whether real or perceived), but are there other reasons?

Also worth asking is whether the bad behavior that has been observed is true, actual, scandalous hypocrisy or simply falling victim to human weakness and son.

[DishLady]

I think it's mostly at face value... folks who are always gossiping RIGHT AFTER communion, for example, aren't living the mindful christian life, right? They're pushing others down to lift themselves up and the Eucharist hasn't even cooled in their tummies yet. Pfft.

Then there are petty warmongers... how are they religious and yet hateful and destructive of God's universe? Pfft.

So... there's GOOD REASON for folks to step away from hypocrites. JC did...

On the other hand, it's up to us to be good role models and live the clean life regardless of what others around us are doing. That's also what JC did...

I'll leave you with the visual of some writing in the sand and the prompt:

"He who casts the first stone" (John 8:7). Those who are too quick to judge/condemn/punish/put down others are living an unexamined life (which Socrates would say is not a valuable life worth living). One should not be blind to one's own imperfections; be forgiving so you can be forgiven, be compassionate so you can receive compassion... put into the universe the same energy you'd like to receive from it.

[SixFootSexy]

My roommate is a pastor's son.

A pastor who used to beat him as a child. One time, he was beaten badly and his ear started to bleed. The pastor wouldn't take him to the hospital and instead prayed for him to be healed. As a result, he is partially deaf in one ear.

A few years later, when he was old enough to drink, he went to a bar and saw a married man from the congregation hitting on a woman there. It was obvious they were flirting but he tried to pass it off as witnessing to her. His mom finally divorced the pastor. After that he was done with church and religion.

He still believes in the Universe. Which is a cop-out in my opinion. The universe is uncaring, like the endless waves of the ocean, and will not get you into heaven.

Many people are thinking the GOP are "christian" but they sure don't act like it. Only using it for grandstanding and unifying their base to support wars, protect PDF oligarchs, and Israel. Joe Biden is "Catholic" but what most people don't know is that Hunter Biden is a Crystal Methodist. Lots of hypocrisy to go around.

But at the end of the day, people all have their own journey and if they are not seeking God in truth and spirit they will not find Him. God does all the work in this equation with His grace.

[NathanDavis]

because... instead of sending all those priests to jail where they belong

the Church keeps them within their ranks, but at a luxury living facility in Connecticut or wherever other rich estate around the world they on

that's exactly why...

[sage2021]

Because believers aren't perfect human beings. If God made us perfect what would be the whole reason for Jesus Christ dying on the cross?

Believers know that they can always ask God's forgiveness and he will forgive us if we slip up. And we must forgive each other just as God has forgiven us.

Believers cannot keep sinning intentionally repeatedly. They must repent and sin no more. An example would be committing fornication,
adultry, murder, any sins.

But if other's behavior is going to keep you from going to heaven when you die, it's best to ignore others and get yourself saved because it is a personal relationship between you and God.

I know instantly when I slip up - like saying a swear word and I ask God's forgiveness for doing it. I don't sin intentionally and wouldn't do that.

[Agape93]

Well if say you are new to town and you hear all these wonderful things about say, Biscuitism, you may be inclined to join. But if you attend a sermon and see nothing but hatred, sexism and desire for murder, would that incentivize you to join that religion at all? Of course not. Now there are other reasons to not want to join a religion, it's just a matter if you will accept it or not.

[BCRanger10]

Well admittedly, no. But then again, I'd also have to know what you're defining as "hatred, sexism and desire for murder."

[Agape93]

Ok to clarify, hatred as in saying that like, everyone outside the religion is evil and deserves to die in agony for simply existing, sexism in that they believe one gender is inherently worth less and should have no rights or say in life, and a desire for murder is simply a desire to kill people for no particular reason.

But see thats my point. Why would anyone, upon seeing the shitty behavior of adherents, want to also join that same belief system that either fosters, encourages or apologizes for those behaviors? Nobody sensible would. Shit my religion is incredibly accepting, if you wanted to worship god and be a member, cool, we can induct you. But some shit we do you won't like, and we won't begrudge you if you refused to join because of how we behave.

[BCRanger10]

I don't know about you, but I have literally never heard anything even close to what you've described here. Not once, not even remotely.

[Agape93]

It's an example my dude lol

[Joshydavid25]

I guess because people have higher expectations of Christians, and unfortunately they not turning to Jesus first, but instead are looking at the actions of people.. But I get that Christians are supposed to represent Christ.. It shouldn't turn people away frommthe teachings though, but its how humans work..

[aceleon]

because humans are emotional messes, they don't pick religions out of logic and proofs, they pick or reject religions because their emotional reactions.
my only shame against God, being part of a species that is wildly involve being an idiot.

[strateguy632]

No good reason... Unless as a christian they say bad fruit of child molester indicated a bad tree. But outsiders don't have that concept.

[jshm2]

It doesn't. Any more than bad behaviour among citizens keeps people away from being citizens.

[AngryCarl2]

If the followers of a given religion are assholes, it's fair to assume that the religion promotes assholery.

[BCRanger10]

Why should that be any different than the way a lot of people act today anyway?

[Dargil]

You answered your own question.