Why do some have mistaken ideas about Christianity?

Answer 1

One possibility is that the person has not been taught properly about the Christian faith. There are plenty of people either Christian, or not, who teach and say things about Christianity that are not true.

Another possibility is that a person may have a personal dislike or prejudice against Christianity. They will thus be ready and willing to hear or listen to things which put the Christian faith in a bad light, or to hear misinformation about Christianity.

Even further to all this, various cults and sects, which claim to be Christian, create confusion in the minds of many.

Various Christian denominations may have teachings which in some areas conflict and so cause confusion, and in some cases provide mistaken notions which are not soundly based.

Examples of ideas which are mistaken are numerous. They include ideas that the New Testament was written well into the second century and thus not by those it is claimed to be written by, when the facts have been shown to prove otherwise. Other mistaken ideas may include the role of Constantine, who in the third century, could not have compiled the Bible since it existed well before his time.

Christians frequently hear all kinds of mistaken ideas and find them to be false. Ideas about numerous contradictions in the four gospel accounts are also frequently mentioned but mistaken.

addendum:

More to the point many if not most Christians and others have mistaken ideas about Christianity because documents, doctrine, history and practice seldom correspond.

as an example few Christians are aware that the bible was compiled under the direction of Constantine. Truck loads of scripture from the early Christian period was tossed and the "Old Testament" represents radical editing and reordering of Hebrew scripture in a way to support the idea of Jesus as Christ.

further addendum:

refer to the Council of Nicea with regards to the compilation of the authorized text of the bible. Lost/excluded books of the bible often have places in the libraries of Christian Scholars. There were many pieces of scripture of varying degrees of authenticity in circulation prior to the Nicean Council but no "bible." It was the role of the Council as convened by Constantine to create the definitive version of Scripture. The Nicean Creed and groundwork for the subsequent councils convened prior to the schism of the eastern and western churches also came out of that meeting.

Roman Catholic, Lutheran and Baptist instructors of my courses in Christianity had no issue with this even as historical fact. They did differ on the degree of divine inspiration that might have come into play.

Another Answer:

The reason why some have mistaken ideas about 'Christianity' is: Because many of those who profess to be Christians; have actually betrayed and misrepresented their Lord by their conduct.

Example: Jesus said to 'speak truth'. Yet parents are permitted by their religion (which labels itself as being 'Christian'); to teach their children the 'lie' that there's a Santa Claus who brings gifts. This causes many to wonder what other lies those religions are telling.

Another example: The Bible portrays God as love, and compassionate. Yet the religions (which label themselves 'Christian'); portray God as one who 'eternally torments' those who may simply not believe in his Son. This is contradictory and thus confusing to those who look at 'Christendom'.

This has been noticed by scholars, theologians, and historians, as they look over past history of 'professed Christianity':

• Cleric Caleb J. King, Sr., Jacksonville, Florida, TimesUnion of February 21, 1959. "At least 95 percent of the more than a hundred million professed Christians on the enrollment books of the churches of America are Christians in name only-insofar as practicing what Christ teaches . . . ."
• Dr. W. L. Pettingill of the First Baptist Church in New York City said: "Religious teaching that is dished out now is a curse and not a blessing. . . . Most of it is false religion which ignores the teachings of Christ. . . . Ninety-nine per cent of religion in this city should be scrapped . . .."-New York Times, October 10, 1949.
• Tom Harpur, religious editor for the Toronto Star and a former Catholic priest: "I am convinced that Christianity has to be radically 'born again' . . ." He also posed the same question as this answers.com question: He wondered whether Jesus would ". . . recognize what loudly proclaims itself to be His in the modern world?" He asks: "How much did (does) He (Jesus) have really in common with present church leaders . . ."
• Another clergyman, Dr. Daniel A. Poling, answered a question in the March, 1957, issue of the Christian Herald: "As to false doctrines . . . . I am sure they are quite beyond numbering, . . ."

Many people have come to the conclusion that 'Christendom' is full of hypocrisy. Such hypocrisy has stained 'true Christianity'. That's why some have mistaken ideas about 'Christianity'.