Why are my choices in life belittled?

I was thinking last night about some of the choices I've made in the past few years since being out of high school. It occurred to me that although they are not all good choices, the ones that are belittled and that cause the most adversity from those around me are those regarding any specifically "Christian" choices I make. This really irritates me. Why does my life call for any less respect or why do they indicate that what I do is less valuable just because i chose to go to a Christian Post-Secondary school?
And why do some of those who present this animosity see my choices as not actually being choices, but as chosen for me because that's what Christians do? Why is it that any choices that a person makes that takes them away from the Church, and puts them into the secular world is a move of independence and intelligence, while a move that follows similar patterns to other Christians simply can't be someone's own decision?
I'm not really wanting any speculation from those of you out there who are Christians because it will be just that, speculation. Instead, I'd rather hear if this bugs you too and how you deal with it. For any of you who aren't Christians, or used to be not one, and want to answer me on this go ahead, but those of us who can't remember not being a Christian, this isn't a question that can be answered with, "well I think they think that..." That gets us nowhere and just makes us look like the know-it-alls the world thinks we are.

I've been really into The Blues Brothers lately (really great movie, awesome music, fantabulous cameos, fun car chase scenes). Anyways, in this movie the main driving point for the characters is that they're on a "mission from God", and interestingly they have both Roman Catholic and Southern Gospel influences for this with little clear differentiation between the two. They both are just part of "the church". I was wondering, does the general "secular" population see Christianity as one uniform body, or more like what's potrayed on shows like The Simpsons (also great, but that goes without saying) where ministers from specific denominations pick fights over petty differences? I can't even guess at how "they" see us because I'm in the church. Any thoughts on that?