Why do religons force people to belive in them?

Answer 1

I don't know which one you are talking about. But all do not do that. (Sigh)

Answer 2

The ones that do (and it's not a lot of them that do force people) either are cults or have unhealthy church cultures of control, brainwashing, manipulation or things like that.

By breaking the will of potential followers, a leader of a cult can exercise great control over a person, even if they had the opportunity to flee. Once the will is broken, a new paradigm of reality can be placed on a person and that person can believe anything a leader says. A person can change to believe their family is evil, or that the leader is a Christ-figure and sex with him is not an aberration but an honour.

Such force is not obvious to everyone who falls for it, it is covert, subtle and even intelligent people can become followers. Such control by a leader is the way they are able to tap into the resources and help of followers to do his/her bidding. It is unhealthy, wrong and if someone is not deprogrammed it can be a pretty bad end for the family of the person and also the person.

But this is only in cults and to a degree in sects which seem less extreme, e.g. Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses. Unhealthy churches with a legalistic tendency e.g. the International Church of Christ also display similar characteristics.

So watch out for those signs when you encounter any religious group, christian or not. And stick with the ones that are characterised by genuine love and community without the exclusive or controlling nature and overly singular cultish leadership.

Answer 3

Not all do. I am a Dianic and we don't even try to convert people. We wait for them to come to us and provide them with all the information that they want, nothing is forced or rushed. We don't throw a dozen books at someone who's just taking a look either.

Other faiths are very good about this. Buddhism doesn't force itself on people, but many aspects of Buddhism are also part of the daily rituals in countries where there is a Buddhism majority.

Strangely enough apparently the Amish let their children go for one year when they turn a certain age(16 i think) off into the "real" world around them. Then at the end of the year they must choose between the Amish community or the rest of the world. If they choose the rest of the world, I believe they are not supposed to ever return to their families. Its not a fair choice, but at least its there.

Answer 4

I think that for you religion is what the head of the religion says, but it is not the religion that says it. That happened in the past. For example when Jesus Crist came and taught something different from what was being practiced for centuries by religious people, the rabbi's didn't go for free will because then they would have to accept that they had not taught the truth. From then on every time a new religion comes up the old ones won't accept them because they refuse to be wrong. Their pride is before truth.

My mother told me stories from old Mexico and I have also heard songs that tell that the holy church (inquisition) killed people for not having the same faith. What never made sense to me was, the people the catholic church killed in Mexico were people that were on their knees shouting out "Hurray Jesus Crist is King."

Every war was started because of different religous beliefs to this day. I wonder if what you mean is, why if you are from a particular part of the world you have to belong to the religion that dominates that country instead of being whatever you want to be if you want to be something. In many countries there may be liberty to practice whatever you want but maybe not in all the world. There are heads of religions that say you have to belief in their religion, you could even get killed if you don't.

Answer 5

No religion FORCES you to believe in them, No supreme being does either. All have provided free agency. Go or don't you have been given this choice.

Religion is supposed to be a help not a hindrance....if it is a problem for you to be helped and while it may restrict you...I have found that the restrictions in my life have usually profited me more in the end than those who don't have them...

here are some examples...
1) I don't smoke....my lungs are in FANTASTIC shape...no coughing, no emphysema no gunk..nothing..
2) I don't drink...no hardened liver, no DUIs, no getting drunk or alcohol poisoning, no hangovers, no alcoholism, no need to blow money on beer or wine or hard liqour
3) I don't drink coffee or black tea...no tannic acid that eats away at the stomach lining causing ulcers, no caffeine shakes (i've seen this from people who drink 4-5 cups/day), no caffeine crashes, no burnt tongues, no 90 degree coffee arms
4) I had sex ONLY after marriage...which means..NO STDs, NO HIV, No unwanted pregnancies...no abortions due to said unwanted pregnancies....AND I have had sexual relations with the only person that matters to me.

these are only 4 examples as to how religion has helped me personally...now you can say that it has sheltered me and has kept me from the real world...

well let me say this...if my faith in my Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ has SHELTERED me and PROTECTED me from the STDs, substance abuse and related diseases from vices....then I say THANKS...because my life will be longer and happier for it..

Answer 6

True christianity does not force any thing on people. You have free will to choose God who created every thing in 6 days or one of the many worldly religions that do not worship God..

Evolutionary religion is forced on children in public school. That is a good example of forced religion.

For it is by grace that you have been saved, though faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the GIFT of God-not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians. 2:8-9)

Answer 7

Religions never forced people. It is the religious people who do. But once a religious person becomes 'truly' religious, steps into a newer dimension of life out of deepening of awareness of newer levels of consciousness, he does not anymore need to 'ensure' his own sense of security by forcing others and thus somehow maintain 'a good and comfortable majority' !

Answer 8

Which religions are we talking about here, and how is it possible to force belief?I mean where are you getting you facts are they even facts ?Iif they were to be then I never heard anything like it, and then everyone would be believing but that isn't so either so your question is not applicable! Since when ihas force of a belief been achieved ?Never that I know of

Answer 9

Is Islam the only one that does? No one can force your heart or your thoughts...they can only force the outward stuff by threatening harm in some way. You are a free being, to choose your inner path. No one else has that power.

Answer 10

TRUE Christianity does not force anyone to believe. Rather, we lay out in simplest terms that after death you have two choices: heaven or hell. The harsh reality is, you're going to one or the other, and you have to decide. Now you can choose to believe or not to believe. A REAL Christian will still love you, regardless of your choice. However, be prepared. If real christian loves you, they don't want you to go to hell and so they will try again and again to convince you to avoid that choice.

Answer 11

No one force any one to believe in kitchen's ghost stories of other community.
What they were seeking is the truth out there.
But never search for the missing x-files out there on planet earth.
So everyone is blindly following the kitchen's ghost back to the graveyards.