There is a misperception of Christianity in the more agnostic and atheistic sectors of our society that assumes the religion is restrictive to the point of self-righteous anal-retentiveness. While there are examples of such people proclaiming the christian faith, they are not nearly as pervasive as those outside it tend to believe. I'm not sure why there is this desire to assume Christianity is a hateful, narrow-minded faith that denies one any ability to have fun or participate in the real world without looking like you're squelching through the most disgusting mire you can imagine, but there is, and it pervades popular culture.
Thus, people react with shock and amazement if a Christian illustrates "open-mindedness" to the point that they can do things that "normal" people do.
Usually, no harm nor offense is meant. It's just how their expectations diverge from reality. Add in that many Christians don't bother to profess their faith unless it comes up in an important way, because to them it's as normal as having a job, and people just don't realize that the normal dude they've been hanging out with is a Christian. After all, he's not trying to burn witches or scourge homosexuals through the streets or talking about how pop music is Satan's work, and that's the unfortunate and unfair stereotype (that even most people who knee-jerk to picturing it will generally agree is unfair when they stop to think about it).
Yeah, it's sad but true- Metallica
On average when you walk by a person and say hey, or converate with them, usually a person's faith dont come up and thus they are not pegged asa Christian and thus people dont think about them i nthe Christian category. Then you have some that beloow hell fire brimstone and "REPENT!!! Or burn in the eternal flames of hell for all eternity!" types (and met quite a few of those) that usually are quick to say they are Christian right off the bat and thus that is how some people paint the entire group even though those people probably dont represent 0.01% of the Christian population. No, I'm not Christian. I'm non-religious. anot atheistm not satanist, not buddist, non-religious. But that is how it works for just about any religion, or group for that matter. Some people think all Republicans are old religious rich guys that only care about money when 99.99% of the time that dont fit the bill. Or some people think all satanists are possessed, eyes rolled in the back of their head black wearing dead language chanting supportors of anarchy. People in general seems to be quick to label a group without ap roper sample and slow to ask questions to get the facts. They just assume.
The other day I was in the store and this old lady came in holding a bible. The person near me said to the person they were with, "Lets go down the next isle. I dont want to deal with a bible thumper today." I didnt think much of it, maybe this lady may have had run in with these people before. But after striking up a convo in line with here come to find out, she found the bible on the ground that had someone name on it in the parking lot and was trying to return it in to the store hoping the owner might still be there. She was an athiest. Assumptions. The people assumed she was a bible thumper just because she was carrying a bible, one that wasnt even hers and a religion she did not even practice. Just someone doing the kind thing and trying to return someone's property.
Having too ben around the world, I came across a wide range of people and all religion and overall most act like normal humans. Some get wasted, some dont, some go the clubs, some play games, some do neither, some havent read the bible in years, some read it everyday with a glass of good scotch, some are hell fire and brimstone, some will curse you out in a heartbeat, some will steal, some will not, some only hang out with other devouts, other hang out with a group of pagans, some dont care what you believe in, some it's important, some have family, some have kids, some go to church some dont, some like dogs, some like cats, some drive Mercedes Benz, some drive Fords, even I knew one that hada Yugo (interesting piece of machinery), some dye their hair, some dont, some get implants, some eat only meat, some are vegan, and so on. No one label actually describe any religious group because in the end of the day they are still people and still just as diverse.