If you were to take a quick browse through the comment sections of a few Christian videos on YouTube, you would discover one thing very quickly: there are a lot of haters out there. It seems almost any video relating to Christianity, whether evangelistic or otherwise, will gather a long trail of animosity from atheists and Christian-haters (these are two different things) who seem to have a sort of militancy about their efforts to (use robotic voice here) “destroy all Christians.” I also find it interesting that although Christians are not the only ones posting videos to YouTube, they seem to endure a disproportionate amount of ridicule in comparison to videos from other religions. At least in my experience anyway.
You know what? I don’t believe there are aliens. However, I feel no compulsion to trawl forums, Facebook pages and YouTube videos that claim evidence of alien encounters and then tell them how their belief system is fundamentally senseless and throw in some scorn for good measure. I don’t.
So why all the hate? Why do people feel the urge to go out of their way to find Christian videos and pepper them with remarks aimed at making believers feel ignorant or just plain stupid? Often a commenter will intimidate or mock another user, usually as a means of discrediting their arguments, sort of cutting them off at the ankles. I’ve seen this tactic used many times and it’s usually employed in lieu of a good argument; if you can’t beat them, humiliate them.
Now I’m actually not writing this article with the intention of defining exactly what it is about Christians that seems to attract a whole lot of hate in their direction. I’m sure we all have theories about that (feel free to offer your thoughts on this below), and it would be ignorant to claim there is only one reason. Instead I want to explore why so much loathing has surfaced on Internet discussion boards in the past few years, particularly on YouTube.
I suspect the answer is simple: courage comes easily when a person feels anonymous, or at least unlikely to be singled out for their actions. It’s actually a psychological idea that also explains how riots bring out the worst in people, even causing them to do things they would never do under normal circumstances. Platforms like YouTube give their users a high level of anonymity that other stages don’t, so behind a name like AtheistDude666, a user sitting at their computer is quite comfortable in making piercing remarks about Christians that they would never make in person. I would be very surprised if a Christian-hater on YouTube would actually speak that way about Christians if he was talking to one in person, but behind the keyboard and phone-line the nastiness is easy.
I guess if people are becoming so enraged by Christian media that they begin to slander, then there is obviously something deeper going on. My bet is that more often than not it has nothing to do with beliefs and arguments. I used to become discouraged by the overt hostility displayed around YouTube, but not anymore. It confirms to me that there is something real and impacting behind the Christian message, otherwise people would just let it be.
Stay tuned for a follow-up article on REACH on sharing the Truth in Love.
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I would not say there youtube hate. Take it as a compliment
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Dennis
We were told we would be hated for Jesus’ name sake. They try to deter us but they only help us believe that the scriptures are true..
I had an atheist come at me the other day on my fanpage. I said nothing about them; just that I wanted to spread the truth..
I always like to let them know that what if i’m wrong? I die and so be it.. I lived a fruitful life..
But what if their wrong? Are they willing to take that chance?
They usually reply yes and I tell them to remember this convo we had because I tried to warn them.
If only they could see the truth for what it is; but truth be told, satan has them in his grasps simply because he offers what they want. They don’t want what God has to offer which leads to rebellion and hatred…
Great post man
Nancy
I am so VERY thankful for this website! It’s awesome and I have sent links to all my friends. Thank you so much for creating it. God is blessing you as you bless others!
Thank you thank you thank you!!!
Nancy
Gary
While what you say is true, I also think there are a lot of irresponsible comments by ‘Christians’ who do not ‘speak the truth in love’ which adds to the whole thing. Christian commentators should NEVER stoop to ridiculing someone who is adverse to their comments, and then there are some ‘Christian’ foul mouths! It’s something I see all the time and get really frustrated because it can interfere with those who DO speak the truth in love.
Another thing we need to discern as Christians, when engaging with those who are opposed, are the genuine seekers from the Christian bashers. A lot of web space is wasted over people who just want to vent their hatred and are not interested in the truth. “…Do not throw your pearls before swine…”.
Brendan
I couldn’t agree with you more, Gary.
Thanks for your comment.
Mark
Indeed, but most Christians are too busy living life and loving God to comment much on YouTube and those that do make such comments I suspect are not planted with accountability in a church or else it’s in an insignificant church that revels in legalism.
Sadly, because of the first point, most non-Christians who comment on YouTube a lot will get the impression that these people represent the broad picture of Christians, having not encountered or interacted with a Christian anywhere else.
Dennis
That is so true.. Dont throw away pearls to swine. I love it..
Blanca De Francisco
The world hates us and persecutes us, the Bible already told us that as something to expect. But it also says that we will be glorified in Christ Jesus’ holy name. So if they hate us, it’s okay, they hated Jesus first. It obviously means we’re doing something right. But don’t forget, our fight is not against flesh and blood; but against the darkness unseen. We should still love these people, not with our own love, but with God’s everlasting, unfailing love.
Blanca De Francisco
The Bible tells us that if we belong to the world, it would love us. But we do not belong to this world. Honestly, it drives me to be a better Christian because our belief is the most persecuted belief in the world. The enemy knows we’re powerful, and is trying to kill us off or dissuade us completely. People mock us, it’s okay, people mocked Jesus. People hate us, they hated Jesus first.
Jani Degrand
Fantastic read, I just passed this onto a colleague who was doing a little study on that. And he actually bought me lunch because I located it for him smile So let me rephrase that: Thanks for lunch!
Brendan Woods
Hi Jani, so great to hear your friend liked this, please let us know what else you would like to see covered on REACH blog.
Brendan
p.s- I hope lunch was good
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Thank you for every other informative web site. The place else could I get that type of information written in such an ideal approach? I have a challenge that I am simply now operating on, and I’ve been on the look out for such information.
Gini
It seems like the million dollar question when it comes to try to explain our faith is: Why if God existed has made millions of christians miserable through poverty, illness, etc? *add random flaming*
that points
1)S/He has or is going through those mentioned
2)S/He HAS a Christian (or at least a monotheist religion) background
Someone whom for real has never been linked to any religious view (either grew in a atheistic or agnostic family) does not react that violently, even with that anonymity. I believe most of times those hate comments come from an APOSTATE.
It’s like trying to shut up (or in the best case, questioning) a voice that reminds them an already present inner search.
For whatever case is, when a believer ‘defends’ his beliefs it sort of shakes their testimony of living a life without God, and viceversa.
Probably the thing that marks the difference between both is that if the believer has an experience of God, the testimony of an non-believer doesn’t make a big impression, because doubts are present in both of us, but we already have an answer that’s complete and they have to repeat themselves ‘they are believing a lie!’ and all the list of despective adjectives towards a believer. That’s another difference, I don’t go thinking oh they are *insert list of insults*, I just realize that their circunstances *either missinformation, pain &/or personal experience* drives them on that direction (at the moment).
I can recall how easy it was to keep thinking ‘oh yeah there’s something bigger than us but, whatever, I don’t really mind’…and keep having that philosophy once my mom got terrible ill and almost faced death, there was that turning point where my indifference couldn’t be supported any longer, I wasn’t going to accept the fact of my mom dying unless she could enjoy an eternal peace where she would be happy and pain-free, and there was one of those times when God reappeared on the picture. (Yeah, I was what you could call an apostate).
I can understand perfectly a momentum of been angry with God when a beloved one dies or when you are in pain for a long period but…in both cases seeing this life as the only one, isn’t comprehensible when you really give it a second thought. It would only make things worse, painful and quite suicidal. Although even in those times Jesus does show up! He definitely has misterious ways =).
Brendan
Gini,
Thanks for your detailed comment, I totally agree that people seem to attack others beliefs in order to justify their own, or at least in an attempt to silence the uncertainties they feel within.
Appreciate you sharing from your personal experiences too.
Brendan
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Daniel James Causey
Mat 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
Daniel James Causey
Matthew 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
Andy bryant
Nobody hates something thats safe and doesn’t affect the status quo or demand any lasting deep change or point out our flawed nature. Rejoice and be glad for great is your reward in heaven!
Karen
I remember having similar thoughts (way back) when I went to University- I quickly noticed how the same “freedom of speech” that was so fiercely championed by every other group or religion or club was certainly not afforded us Jesus-followers. There was a different set of rules entirely for us. I came to the same conclusion as Beverly- why expect anything less if Jesus Himself suffered ridicule and being misjudged? Good article
Beverly
Jesus said if they hated Him they would hate us. So that’s the bottom line. We who are followers of Jesus are hated for no other reason than because we are followers of Jesus.