What is your idea of what a christian looks like, dresses like, drives?
Can one accurately assume one is or is not a christian by how they are dressed or what they drive?
I was one who would tell you yes I can see that person as a christian by their attitude attire and even their car.
I was taken and searched and had my car searched all because I was profiled by my attire an my car, I said I am a christian who believes in God and was literally laughed at by several officers.
I was driving a 2007 Dodge charger with 24 in rims and tinted windows in my normal attire on my way to get some medicine for my little girls cold when I was pulled over and had my car searched for drugs by 3 different officers and myself also searched for one reason the officer said , my car and appearance. I told the officers that i was a devout christian and would never sell drugs nor take them and they all had a good laugh at my expense. Now I have never been in trouble never even had a traffic ticket but because I am fortunate enough to afford the car I want i am considered a drug dealer.
Should I drive a Honda or a Lincoln just because I am a christian? According to the police If I were a ""christian"" I would not own such a car as I do. How ridiculous is that?
My husband and father are livid they are so angry as I am that I was even pulled over, they had no sufficient cause-nor probable cause to search me or my car. I would have let them search the car had they asked though as I did not have anything to hide. I have tried speaking to the sheriff and the captain and they simply send me a message that they are sorry for how I was treated and actions will be taken.
I have been away from UM since this happened just trying to understand why and trying to get the attorneys caught up on the events, I am not a litigious person but these officers went over the line and need to be made aware it is not acceptable.
So can you look at someone and judge who they are or what they are about by their clothes or car? Christians have the right to own any car they want without being judged or profiled for that decision, Right?
Always a pleasure

I drive a truck.

From what I've seen... if you're white, your' christian. If you're black, you're either christian or islamic. If you're dark tan (middle estern look) you're islamic. If you're asian... you're either buddist, shintoist, or christian.. or even islamic. If you look Indian(India) then you're hindu or islamic...

See.. we've nicly nitched our fool selves like this. >.> rather dislike it.

I severely dislike stereotypes...*growls*

Unless your suggesting that christian parents are more likely to make there children christian, i don't see why they'd look the same...It's a lifestyle choice for everyone.

I hate stereotypes too. If you're Latino (which I am), you're a christian and a Catholic to boot. I'm a Christian, but I'm not Catholic. I'm Pentecostal.



BTW, you have a sweet car, sandee.

If i was that police officer i'd have pulled your car over too Sandee, the same as if i was a police officer in my own country of the UK and i saw a merc or beamer with tinted windows and wide wheels i'd pull it over. I know it's annoying though, i ride a bike which has a few modifications and looks like it's off the set of mad max i get pulled loads of times, i'm not sure if they think i'm a dealer or a hitman, either way it comes with the territory of profiling, it doesn't bother me.

As for what does a christian look like, we've had a few pounding the streets in my area lately, shouting about hell and damnation (and other pointless twaddle) they all seem to wear badly fitting jumpers, don't know what that's all about



Your not exempt from profiling because your a christian, or pulled over because your a christian. Your faith has nothing to do with it. I'm not quite sure what your getting at with the above line.

Making any assumptions based on appearance is foolish.

However, I must ask this. Why did being Christian have anything to do with you whether you are a drug dealer or not? Had the officers believed you were a Christian, would this mean they should drop suspicions and allow you to carry on unsearched? Is being Christian supposed to equate to a good samaritan badge?

The officers were clearly out of line if they were searching you based on appearance alone. I feel they would have been equally out of line had they decided not to carry through with the search because of your religious affiliation.

Well, Christian profiling...

I think that when people do things like what was done to you it's not very nice.

I do think however that you can profile people. There's actual people who are payed to do this. One type of Job that you get payed to do it is a Psychologist. Because believe it or not as different as we all are, we also have a-lot in common. But remember, profiling as useful as it is, is not generally black and white. It's not right 100% of the time either. It's based of generalities and stereotypes.

By the way what happened to you was not real profiling. You can't base someone of what you were based of off.

In my opinion in order to profile someone as succesfully as possible. You must know the person. But in a police officers point view where he doesn't know you, he would have to base his thoughts of the following.

-The way you move
-The way you talk
-Your breath
-Your car
-The way you dress
-Ect.

They most likely laughed because they hear every excuse in the book, and I'm sure being a Christian is one of them.

Salaam (Peace)

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You weren't profiled cause you were a Christian it was because of the car with the dark tint, something I didn't think you could have in Florida. My Mother had a lawyer friend who drove a Porsche. He was driving threw the richest part of town (richest part of the country, really) and was pulled over cause he was black. They took his car, because they figured he was a drug dealer or it was stolen. Boy did those cops make a mistake. You don't do that stuff to lawyers and not pay big bucks for it. You just got caught up in the way government stamps on the Bill of Rights these days. Had nothing to do with your religion.
If I were treated the same way would that be ok because I am not a Christian? I kind of worry about being pulled over cause I kind of stagger when I walk. I couldn't pass a road side sobriety test.

They have big hats.

I know being a christian does not make me exempt in any way what so ever, I was just pointing out that the officers told me If I were a christian I would not drive such a car and went on to laugh at me when I pointed out that I was christian and would never do drugs or sell drugs. My faith was questioned by this whole incident in my mind at least.
Always a pleasure




Absolutely not, being christian should not and did not get me any special treatment and I assure you I was not asking for any, I only said as a christian I would never sell nor take drugs and this was apparently funny to them. I do not expect to be treated any differently than anyone else. Yes they wrong to search me based on my car and appearance and also would have been wrong to not search because I am a christian. I have said it before and still do , just because someone says they are a christian does not make it so. How you behave and live your life should be proof without having to say it.
I was profiled because of my car and therefore treated as I was, I could have been ugly and mean to the officers but I just stood there and let them do what they did and then sought out an attorney to handle it, they were wrong and they need to know that they should not treat people the way they treated me. I am not a drug dealer and my faith was laughed at as if it were some big joke. I do think they were genuinely sorry as they did try to apologize through my attorney but I have to have time to forgive. My faith was challenged and I think I have a lot to learn but I did make out okay.
Always a pleasure

The reason stereotypes exists is because they are based on type of facts. If it's Sunday & your dresssed up you go to church I can't say what demnotaoion they might be.
If it's Sunday & your dressed up you go to church I see a lot of black these days claim to be Muslims these days.
If I see you I can pretty much guess what you are by looking at you it's what I do....

Of course your right but at the time I was so angry and upset I could not see that. I am sure they here I am a christian and would never do that, but while I am sincere they really have no way of knowing that. I do feel like they could have handled it more respectfully though.
Always a pleasure



I realize it was the car and not my faith, they laughed at the fact that I said I was a christian and would not sell drugs nor use them. I know there are people who will say they are Christians to gain special treatment or to be viewed in a different light but that was not my intention I just wanted to state that my faith would never allow me to do such a thing.
If you were treated in the same manner it would be just as wrong, christian or not. The police told me if I were really a christian I would not drive the car I was driving. I mean come on thats ridiculous. I would really hope you don't get pulled over as you say your illness causes unwanted side affects but you do have rights just as I do an attorneys are a dime a dozen. I had absolutely no trouble getting one after they heard what happened they were very eager to represent me.
Always a pleasure Darkwind, I have been keeping you in my prayers.

the fact is even christians sell drugs. do drugs. hire prostitutes. yes , real christians.

So your a pro filer by profession, then you have training and therefore your qualified to do so.
Saying I am a drug dealer by the type of car I drive is not fair, its not my fault that the drug dealers opts for the type of car I desire is it? I have worked long hours and saved to get the car I wanted and I am very proud of it because I earned it and by working hard to acquire it I deserve respect that I did earn it and did not sell drugs or other underhanded means to get it. To say if I were a "true christian" I would have made another choice is bias and demeaning and just wrong. My money , my choice and while I do care to a certain extent what people think I do not care if the police think I am falsely presenting myself as a christian by the car I own.
I have had issues with the church about the way I choose to dress also, I do not dress ****ty, my attire is completely appropriate but because some of the older women think my dress line is too high or my neckline is too low I have to hear the lectures from them about being a "true christian". I am rankly tired of people telling me what is christian and whats not, I am a true christian in my heart and God knows that so what other people perceive to be true Christians is just there opinion and nothing more. I have had enough of people judging me, after this incident It has made me even more faithful and I will continue to live as I see fit and serve God how I want, Sorry for the rant Norwood.
Always a pleasure

I do as well. Don't think endorce what I said... it is observations that I've made during my life.

I also hate Stereotypes.

My family is half Gypsy so when things went missing we were always amongst the first people the police would go and see. The fact that it had nothing whatsoever to do with us and that we had never had any real trouble beyond a speeding ticket was irrelevant.

And this is the same with most people I know. White Australians are one of the most racist people around (And yes thats a stereotype and is true only of individuals, not the people as a whole.) And they don't even realise it. Always the first people talked to after a crime are the Aboriginals or the other minorities. And I suspect it is similar everywhere else.

Anyhow I agree that what happened shouldn't have happened Sandee, I don't think your being Christian or not is in anyway relevant, however at the same time a flashy car does not a drug dealer make...

I drive a Corvette and I sure as hell don't sell Drugs.

This is immediately what I thought and is probably a fairly large contributing reason the OP was laughed at. Which I can understand. Though they certainly were out of line.

Just to be the devil's advocate, one must consider that these cops might have some knowledge that you aren't privy to. Perhaps a real drug dealer has been known to drive the same car or something else along those lines.

But don't you see? It sounds like since your faith doesn't permit such acts, that you believe no one of the Christian faith would do such things. I don't think you literally believe that, but that is how it would come across to the officers, which is why I think you were laughed at. Stereotypes can be both positive and negative. By saying you are Christian therefore can't deal drugs, you are in affect, creating a stereotype that all Christians are upstanding people, which isn't true.


Perhaps this officer follows some really conservative Christian denomination that doesn't allow for being too flashy. Just a thought. But if not, this officer was just being pushy and mean.

It's really hard to say these people are not true Christians , the ones you name here without judging them. I believe that true Christians would never do such things, My faith would never allow me to do such destructive, demeaning things. But you are right there are self proclaimed Christians who do these things with no conscience.
Always a pleasure

Sandee, even in Florida, American police need probable cause in order to detain someone driving on a public roadway. You should speak to a lawyer about this.

If the police officer made a remark about your religion that was in any way disrespectful, then you should also ask the lawyer about civil remedies for that, whatever the legality of the stop itself.

Even in the absence of a remedy at law, your governor most likely maintains a toll free citizen complaint line. Please give them a call, and write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper saying that you did so.

Law and high politics aside, this is the kind of thing that gnaws at you unless you do something.

I hope your daughter is feeling better.

that happens to black and ethinic minorities here and everywhere else all the time, have a nice car, they always assume your a drug dealer. Hell is i was prob stopped in america in flash car, they would prob arrest me for being terrorist.

As for christian profile and attire, i think christian ought to check the bible and see what god has prescribed, aswell as following the best examples from the bible, i.e jesus, mary and the likes. Base your profile on that, and you will be recognised clearly as christian.

Umm...Christianity didn't pop up until after jesus died, therefore jesus and mary would have been - Jews.

Dressing like them to show you're christian could cause some confusion.

These lines made me think. So (not just to test you, Norwood, but to test the facts these stereotypes are based on) I want you and anyone else, to guess the religions of the following people. (They are either Christian, Muslim, Jewish, or are Atheist.)

















No cheating!

Sandee, i just have to ask the question.... why did you feel the need to tell the police officers that you are a christian? Were they trying to convert you to another religion whilst searching your car or something?
Why not simply let them search the car, find nothing and get on with the rest of your day?
Peace.

Well jesus was a jew, and that who christians follow, he too said in the bible that he has not come to change one iota of the previous laws, meaning the laws given to moses, will remain the same, and thats what he lived by, as did then his followers initially, they try and imitate jesus as best possible, he is the best example for christians and mary. The fact they are jewish, makes no difference, jesus was given the gospel, stick to that and the laws jesus followed.

1.618, exactly.

jesus wasn't given the gospel. the gospel didn't exist then.

the police are tough here where i live...they seem to go for the younger people though...my son had a problem with them not long ago...he was treated badly....we went to see an attorney and while we were waiting another parent came in with their son cancerning the same cop...we all went to internal affairs and were brushed off as a bother and told too bad, keep your kids at home...i called everyone and was given the run around until i fgured out that nothing was going to happen...i was so angry!!....i was told that this county needs a citizens action group but someone in the state capitol but i was also warned about what may happen if i form one...still thinking about it

randomhit10

Jesus was given the Gospel, thats was his revelation, the fact we dont have his gospel today does not mean it did not exist, the other gospels came later i agree, the original gospel was what jesus was given and spoke. In todays bible, if we jesus word in red ink, and the rest in black, only 1% of the bible would be read, which shows that the original jesus gospel no longer exists, thus his original message has been lost, not all of it, but most of it.

no , real christians do these things. they make up the bulk of users in America. ask any of them what faith they belong to and like the population most will say christian.

you can't say they aren't real christians . what your saying is a real christian would never sin. well then there are no real christians.

No i think she mean practising christians and self proclaimed christians who once had an upbringing of a christian but later in life lose all interest, but when it comes to surveys, they class themselves as christians. There are plenty of those, and in most faiths.

no. jesus didn't write anything down. what is written in red ink is what someone says he said..... and that can't even be proven.

jesus never ment to start a new religion. he died a good jew.

that's not how I read it and let her explain herself thanks.

and yes real christians commit crime.

Jesus dint write anything himself his companions did and when he spoke, that was the gospel, that is what is lost now. As for proof, the closest thing to the original bible is the greek translation, in that there is more than what we see today, also, many gospel were left out when the romans made it their official religion. Some of those gospels were more authentic as to what jesus said and taught. Your right jesus was a good jew, he came to reform them, but to no luck. As for him dead thats debatable even via the bible. Most of wat we have today in the bible are not jesus words or his gospel.

Shouldn't this debate about historical innaccuracies and what not be carried on in another thread? I don't believe that is what Sandee wished to discuss in this one.

I have to see them not just a picture of them for me Ihave to watch them talk maybe they way the carry themselves pictures mean nothing because people go by the way I person is dressed.

For Example my uncle died last week & my wife & I went to his funeral well of course out of respect we got dressed up & everything. Keep in mind it was a Saturday & this is a small town in Tennessee. My wife & I grabbed a bite to eat before the funeral & she had her triple Goddess necklace on on & I had my Greenman necklace on. We had some people figure that we had gone or just got back from church even though it was a Saturday.... Go figure so what someone wears means nothing. I've had people tell me what a good christian I am just because I've held a door open for them or done something nice talk about being So wrong!

i think a person conduct, dress code and other things can tell others a great deal about their faith and what they follow.

Yes she is thank you so much for asking, My father has already attained legal counsel for this ugly situation and while I am not crazy about bringing legal action I do want to make sure this does not happen to someone else. I believe I am to learn something from all this and while I am not sure what it is I will soon enough.
I did learn of a women's prison ministry from all this and that our local church is involved. I went to one of their services and was heartbroken at what I saw. Maybe thats what was supposed to happen.
Always a pleasure, and Thank you eight bits.

Well thats a reasonable question and the answer, I just stated fact that yes I do drive a flashy car but I am a christian and my faith and morals would not allow me to be involved in the life style they were talking about. Being a christian to me is part of who I am its not simply something I do or claim to be.
I hope that answers your question, Always a pleasure



Speaking only for myself I would not sell drugs or prostitute myself because not only is it against my faith to do so it is against my morals to do so.
Being a christian who does read the bible daily and does do all I can to live the life of a christian God would be proud of I am gullible when I am told yes I am a christian ,and who am I anyways to say they are not?
I can't and won't speak for the "Christians who do sell drugs or are into prostitution etc. because I can't know their relationship with God thats personal. Everyone sins even Christians and I myself sin everyday, I know Christians do commit sin and that does not lessen their value as a christian but for me to believe that a drug dealer and a prostitute are true Christians is a stretch but hey I am not the one who needs convincing. God knows everyone and their personal situations so He is qualified to make a judgement where I am not.
How many drug users or dealers or prostitutes are out there that do consider themselves Christians as much as I consider myself one? I don't know but they are of no less value than I am, maybe they are stuck in bad situations that they are unable to control , how can we know? That's the problem with judging another we do not know what God knows.
I really hope I don't sound self righteous because thats not what I am trying to say, I am speaking of myself and my feelings and not all Christians.
Always a pleasure Lt. Ripley

One of my brother in laws works for the metropolitan police, he has to make snap descisions daily about peoples appearances' etc....sometimes he has spectacular successes and other times it's just an innocent citizen, and he's probably laughed when he's heard people say their christian or some other religion therefore wouldn't act in a particular way. Why would he laugh - because he's lied to time and time again day after day and has heard every excuse in the book. I think it's sad that people run to a lawyer over such things it just makes the job of the police even harder.

That's not a direct dig at you, Sandee. Just the whole "call my lawyer" culture.

But officer! surely you don’t believe we could be dangerous

Irish, what happened to your avatar? He's looking pretty bad....

I understand what your saying and agree that police officers have very hard jobs and do have to make snap judgements that could save their own lives, they are out there to protect us and while I do respect the law and the police there are some bad ones in the bunch just like anywhere else there are some bad apples there.
I can imagine the things they are told and I am not special in saying I am christian but Iam being truthful and I know they can't always know the truth because of the many lies they are told.
I agree also about all the litigious people today, they will sue if their coffee is too hot, but I honestly feel like I was wronged and it was done maliciously. I have had several things in my life happen to me where I could have sued but chose not to because mostly it was because someone made an honest mistake, but this was no mistake and I would like to see this officer answer for what he did that was willfully wrong.
Always a pleasure

Thats cute Irish, though I don't have a rifle or shotgun.
But the point is clear and to the point,
Always a pleasure

Somebody slipped me decaffeinated coffee this morning

Well i wasn't there Sandee so i can't judge, i was making more of a general point. You clearly feel you were wronged so i hope you get the outcome your looking for.

HA! Awww, lol.

Thats what I look like ON caffeine.