Why can't people discussing religion be more open minded?

Question

about 90% of the people on here flame someone who isn't in their religion.

Answer 1

You keep your mind open. You my friend will be snared, in a cult.

Does God Himself tell you to keep a open mind? NO. in fact. He tells you just the opposite.

Good Luck. It's Harpoon season.

Answer 2

If being "open minded" means being willing to engage in an extended conversation on religion, then - even though I'm a committed evangelical Christian - you'd find me as open minded as they come.

If, however, being "open minded" means willing to compromise any sort of principle to keep the waters calm, then count me out.

My point is... (get the the point caller...) Every conviction has its foundations - Christians, Muslims, and yes, agnostics and athiests too. Some willingly enter into debate to challenge and discuss; if we truly believe one way is 'correct', then we should be willing to expose it to discussion. If we can't convince the other side, at least we gain a better understanding, while at the same time not accepting their foundation as truthful, factual, etc.

In entering into discussion, however, we should be willing to accept when we are wrong, and act (that's how I became a Christian in the first place, but that's another story...).

Shutting down discussion with flames - and I've seen this from Christians and non-Christians alike - accomplishes nothing. So... shall we discuss? lol

Answer 3

They are sometimes afraid to hear other ideas that may make them question their belief. I am open minded and will discuss religion with anyone, but when they start preaching and try to convert me then I tune out. I am firm in my beliefs and will defend anyone esles right to worship as they see fit. I only ask the same from them. My problem is my religion has been persecuted since the dawn of the paternal religions. I am a witch, I get the "devil worship" bit (which we don't do we are pagan and Satan is a christian entity). People don't want to hear the truth of my religion, they want to change me. I do not want to change them, I don't even preach to them. I will answer questions and try my best to lift the veil of lies and misconceptions created by fear, hate, ignorance and hollywood. If people would be more open minded to the possibility that we all walk different paths to the same destination then there is a chance eyes would be opened.

Answer 4

They're afraid. I mean I'm a Muslim but I read all the post(:P curiousity always kills the cat, says me!), Christians, Atheist, Pagan and whatsoever. It seems to me that they believe and cling to everything they're taught to believe or if they're Atheist or Pagan, they... seem like they want the God to show himself to them in person, only after that will they believe in God.

I know I'm still a teenager and too young to say anything about this but to me, the 90% of the people(Idk about the real number, you're the one who provided this figure) who flame everyone who is not in their religion are actually quite fanatic about their religion. As in how, refer to the paragraph above. =o

And you do know that anything that make to extreme is not good, right? Too much of anything is never a good thing, doesn't matter if it's good or not. After all, that's how some extremists or terrorists in this world were born.

I think Muslim community here is ... tamer(lol!) than most people... I think.

PS:Yeah yeah, I'm not trying to flame or convert anyone okay? This is just an opinion! =)

And I did not read the other posts just because I want to flame them or find anything that is wrong in that post, I just want to make sure of my religion. Hey, like I said, I'm still too young.. That's why I question my belief sometimes.

^__^ Hey, Jade Ariana! Your post is short but insightful! :D The non-religious people are not open-minded because they don't know much about their religion and that's why they're afraid whenever people question their belief!

Answer 5

Honestly. I asked for Athiest's opinions on a science story I had heard and most of the answers where people thinking I was trying to convert Athiests to a religion I don't even believe in.

I think many of us need to take a step back and a deep breath. Religion is not life or death here. Religion is a tool to help us get through this life - that's all. It is so not worth the anger and outrage - and I don't think any of our religion icons would want us to argue and be so intolerant.

Peace!

Answer 6

I think it's like everything else. When you ask a question about a certain topic, it's going to be the people who believe strongly one way or the other who are most likely to answer. So when you ask a question about religion, most of the responses are going to be from either people who are very strongly religious (and therefore, not particularly open to the opposing point of view) or avowed atheists (and therefore, not particularly open to the opposing point of view.) It's just like if you asked the question "what do you think of the Dallas Cowboys". The people who answer are going to be either the people who LOVE them, or the people who HATE them. The people with a less strident opinion are probably not going to bother to answer.

Answer 7

I can, I just do not care for people to make fun of God or the Bible or misinterpet it. Some people are here to start fights. So I do not go into there Q & A.

I am a former Catholic

I hope things get better on here for us.. and you.. but I have seen allot of nice discussions...just a few jerks..

Take Care and God Bless

Answer 8

I am open minded and i see the christians and isalmists with there theories of heaven/hell and violent nature (check history)as a real threat to society and the world as a whole. I want to bring them around to self realisation. Why should i tolerate such people.

Answer 9

It seems a bit pointless to hedge around the issue - If you think someone's religion is just plain wrong, then it should be OK to say so. Arriving at the truth means rejecting falsehoods, it's as simple as that.

Answer 10

The situation is created from Ego. It is the attachment of what they have. What they posses. If they lose what they think they have a hold onto, then they become defencive. They stess over it and fear it. It is their world. If they lose it, what then? Fear plays a large factor here, just as much as inferior and superior aspects in their views. All this is only the ego. Nothing else.

Answer 11

If 56% of religion is sacred or secret what is there to discuss. Join the group you want . God has given you many churches. If it was wrong it would not be.