Why do "Ultra Christian" people, sound so fake?

by free2beme 17 Replies latest jw friends

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  free2beme

  Now before I offend everyone who labels themselves Christian. I will define what I consider an "Ultra Christian."

  Ultra Christian : Someone who is extreme in their religious following of the Christian faith. Perhaps someone who claims to have seen God, spoken to God or in some cases, think they are God. Someone who prays openly, often, and not just in a normal manner. Perhaps asking strangers to pray with them, saying that someone needs prayer in almost all situations (even when simply ordering off a menu). Someone who freaks out with anything not Christian (Oh my God, it's Harry Potter books and we must burn them). So on and so forth, get the idea?

  Well, in my time as a Christian. Both as a Witness and that small amount of time after the Witness faith, where I still labeled myself Christian. I was always amazed at these people. They were so over the top, so extreme and often so showy. I know they often suffered from mental illness, but I also think that more then any, they suffered from a serious lack of faith in their religion. I think that a balanced person, in any religion, would be one that does not make showy and unreal displays of their faith. So when I met these ones, and I know people like this will even visit boards like this. I see a fake! A fake Christian! All that I have seen up to this point in my life, and every time I have run across these types. I am always amazed at how much more I feel right in my conclusion.

  So am I the only one that sees "Ultra Christians" people and thinks "FAKE!"
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  Big Dog

  Interesting question. About half the time I think they are "fake", I'll just get the vibe that the whole production serves some end for them and I just roll my eyes the same way I do when I see a kid who works at McDonalds wearing a rolex watch.

  The other half of the time I think they really believe in what they are doing and I'm just baffled becasue I just don't get it. I just don't understand that sort of devotion or super spirituality if you will.
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  ballistic

  No, I think you've discovered you don't like them, but leave them to it if it makes their lives happy and fullfilling.
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  JamesThomas

  Perhaps when we become "Ultra" anything we become counterfeit; in that we have come to identify with religious, political, or other phantasmic mental constructs.

  I have found when I am the most genuine and alive, there is no mental shenanigans or story being identified with, and instead there is just the indescribable raw wonder and beauty of life in and around.

  It's like the more there is identity with thought, the less real we are; and the more there is just being with what is, the more real we are. Does that make any sense?

  j
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  EAGLE-1

  Because they are fake.
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  Poztate

  It's like the more there is identity with thought, the less real we are; and the more there is just being with what is, the more real we are. Does that make any sense?

  Made sense to me.That is why the "ultra christians" and dubs stand out like sore thumbs.
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  MissBehave

  Or maybe they are just trying to convince themselves.

  "If I walk like a duck and quack like a duck then surely I am a duck, and other people will recognize that I am a duck, and I will be the best duck of them all, praise the Lord."

  I saw alot of ducks at the Kingdom Hall.
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  Leolaia

  I don't think religiosity and sincerity are fake; these are real experiences for the person (tho what they are experiences of is not necessarily how the person interprets it to be). But the many spiritual people out there who are hypocrites in their deeds or those who falsely claim experiences.....they're fake imho.
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  MissBehave

  free2beme, did you watch the family edition of the Amazing Race last year? There was a family competing on there who I think were a good example of the type of people you are talking about. I forget their names but they were from Florida and they TALKED so much about how Christian they were but then acted the exact opposite.

  They'd stop and ask someone for directions and it would be "oh, thank you so much, you must have Jesus in your heart. Is Jesus your friend? Because he's my friend." blech.

  And then anytime they were competing in a task there was the prayer "Oh lord, let us win this, if it's your will". Huh? Like God cares about the Amazing Race?

  They were so over the top about their religion, and what Christians they were that it seemed fake. And as the course of the show played out and we saw them lying, calling people names, etc etc....it proved that they were indeed fake.

  Are those the kind of people you are talking about?
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  free2beme

  Are those the kind of people you are talking about?

  To some degree, yes. Although that is mellow compared to others.