Judgment and Criticism

Posted on January 21, 2010 by Margaret

It is so hard not to be judgmental and critical of others. Personally, I fight this urge every day. I was raised by parents who tended to criticize everything – what a person wore, how they behaved – and this is something most of us were exposed to as we grew up. In those days there were no metaphysical books or writings as to why we do this; it was just a part of life.

I remember going to my aunt’s house and neighbors’ houses and finding they did the same. It seemed a normal part of life for me. Of course, I did it more to judge than criticize, but it was not good. But I did not know any better. My father was a very unhappy man. It took me years to realize that, and his judgmental attitude was caused by his insecurities and fears through lack of confidence. My mother was a lot better. She did judge people, but not as much as my father. Needless to say though, it was what I was exposed to as a child and as a teenager.

It was when I became a Christian that I began to change. The Christian teachings taught that I should not criticize or judge another, and I tried as hard as I could to see the good in every soul. I find it very hard these days to understand when hate mail comes into the website. Eighty-five percent of it is from the Christian community. According to them, I am channeling the Anti-Christ, and the judgment about that is often so harsh and nasty. I wonder how the people who write can say they are Christians, but then it is the same with factions of other faiths who believe in God but who kill, maim, and fight over land etc., in His name.

Continued…..