Why is the religous right in this country(U.S.) so extreme?

Question

Just talking to these people and their closed minded ways gives me a sick feeling in my stomach. For there to be such people in our great country baffles me. Can anyone explain this? I DO NOT believe God intended for his followers to act this way. If you want examples email me and I will give you some...but if you could answer this "in general" I would appreciate it.

I guess you dont need examples...just look at some of the answers so far! lol

Answer 1

Look at it this way: Christians may chew your ear off but they won't cut your head off. Be thankful you live in a country like that.

Answer 2

It basically comes down to ethnocentrism or tribalism. Judaism was originally a tribe, and the rules set forth in the Old Testament are there basically to ensure the success of the Jews, at the expense of other tribes if necessary. That's the primary purpose of religion anyway: to encourage followers to follow the laws of a tribe, group, or nation and to persecute those who don't. It's a lot easier to get people who believed they are under divine order to wage war upon their enemies than people who don't. Think about the whole Jihad thing: people are more than willing to risk their lives for some misguided political cause in order to gain entry into Heaven. You think most secular humanists would be similarly inclined to do something that stupid and hateful?

The same thing is true of many conservative Christians. They feel they are guided by some divine purpose, so that helps them rationalize bigotry, hatred, and even violence to achieve their cause. For some reason, the whole "turn the other cheek" mentality and the "do unto others" crede have been left behind in the dust, and instead, the inaccurately named Christian Right, which erroneously believes itself to be persecuted (in the same way that any group who monopolizes control over a nation to the detriment of others' rights and then gets angry when others actually try to assert those rights), has made its divine mission not charity or love, but blame, punishment, and removal of others' rights.

I suppose the main reason behind this is a kind of psychological tendency towards polaristic beliefs that makes some of these people more inclined to hatred of those who disagree with them. You're either with them or against them. And if you're against them, it's ok to imprison or kill you, because after all, that's what the Bible says (or at least that's how they interpret it).

Luckily, there are some sane, charitable, non-judgmental Christians out there. It's just a damn shame that all the bigoted nutcases make the religion look so bad.

Answer 3

Winston Churchill said, wisely I might add, that if you are a young person and not a liberal ....you have no heart, If you are an adult and not a conservative.....you have no brain.
Liberalism is just weakness....letting everyone do whatever they want just so you will be liked by them. Conservatives ( the 'right') generally believe in right and wrong whether they are liked or not.
Society needs guidlines and common goals....letting everyone do anything they want...just so they think you are 'cool' only contributes to chaos and disorientation.....nobody knows who a person is...or what they represent. Do they like men or women or both? Are they into animal sex. Did they have a sex change? Did they have a sex change back? Is that a man or a woman?

You may say...why have labels at all? That is just naivety...you make decisions everyday on labels....what building to go into, a stop sign, a street sign, pictures on the box of a product so you know what to expect inside.

When a society starts asking, in large numbers, questions like yours it is likely on a decline. Just as the Roman empire collapsed from within, I feel fairly certain the same thing is steadily happening to us.

You make wry comments about the people who have attempted to answer your question.
If you are truly sincere about this what I suggest is that you open your heart to God and ask him how he wants you to behave....if you are more perfect than others who are trying....you can show us how to do it.

P.S. I don't like war...in case you were wondering.

Answer 4

Just like people in the early history of the US, who believed in manifest destiny, those who are on today’s “religious” “right” believe, not only that they are uniquely inspired, and uniquely right, and uniquely ordained by God to run the country, but also that any attempt you make to try to influence them is the work of the devil – and so further evidence of their own rightness.

It is a neat little system that puts them at the center of the universe and always right and righteous – no matter how wrong or evil they are. It is a system designed to make them feel good, by making them feel like they are better than everyone else.

Basically they are so extreme, because it makes them feel good about themselves – and the more extreme they can be, the better they can feel. It is a vicious little cycle.

I think it might also have something to do with a reality distortion device in use in close proximity to the white house.

Answer 5

Extremists are rabid because they are defending illusions. Religions fundamentalism is based upon ignorance. Right-wing Christians serve a narrow-minded deity. "It's my way or the highway!"

The Spirit of God is inclusive and inspires many viewpoints. So an open-minded, spiritual person doesn't need to loudly proclaim a unique message that everyone "needs" to hear

Extremists are so because they feel like they are more righteous than everyone else, or they have been given a special dispensation of God's favor. Extremists cannot sense that life exists on a continuum, that all persons do the best they know how to do, and that everyone is growing spiritually at their own pace and in their own way. Extremists know only how to convert, castigate, or kill those who hold opposing views.

Answer 6

Read up on the "Wedge Strategy" and the "Discovery Institute" - do a google search. These guys have allied with the extreme right to tinker with society. They are very dangerous, very methodical and very manipulative and are behind most of the extreme retoric that the Christian right are espousing lately. I agree I dont think GOD intended this.

Answer 7

I know exactly how you feel, cutter. But also my believe in God is not some nice old guy watching over us. I don't even think he has a brain, therefore no logic is within him. I'M smarter than he is. I believe "God" is cause and effect, and his system shows no mercy whatsover. If you want an intelligent conversation, message or email me. (I may seem weird at first, but when you get to know me you'll see that behind my love to start immature fights and debates I'm actually a smart little dude. ;) )

Answer 8

Truth!

You tell me that if I am at sea level, on earth, and put my hand in boiling water and leave it there, I will damage my hand - extremely. Are you being "closed minded" ? No! you are telling, and beliening the truth.

I tell you that "the soul that sinneth shall die" or "the wages of sin is death" or ":the free gift og God is eternal life" that Jesus said "I am THE way THE truth THE life" , I am telling you the truth, being closed minded so as not to believe lies, yes. Lies will kill you and bring your country to ruin!

God intended everyone to love Him, to love the truth and to love one another. Christians love the sinner but hate their sin!

Answer 9

Religions condition our children to accept a higher authority. That is why religions enjoy a tax-free status. Governments then exploit these 'conditioned' ie. brainwashed individuals to accomplish their political goals. Free thinkers are of little use to governments because they are not gullible and cannot be manipulated and controlled, or used as cannon fodder by power hungry governments.

Answer 10

They are insane. Faith is a form of willful insanity.

God did not intend anything at all, since he is a fictional character, so he certainly could care less how his 'followers' behave.

...how can someone call themselves a 'follower' of god, when they are following what PEOPLE have told them? To call yourself a follower of god, wouldn't god have to unambiguously tell you what to do first?