Why are people so defensive when it comes to religion?

Question

I know what I believe, and if you ask, I'll tell you, but if you don't, I don't find the desire to shout it at you anyways. Everyone is different and that's what makes the world interesting. Why do so many people think that their way is best, other ways are bad, and if you oppose their views, they get sooo mad???

Answer 1

Because it is a very personal and sacred thing. Like if someone walked up to you and said you smell really bad. It would rattle you a little bit and make you nervous you'd try to get a whiff of yourself and maybe spray some body spray on, ask a few people who you know would be nice about it, and then you'd be kinda pissed and uncomfortable at the person for making you feel that way. Everyone is different but we are all the same in some areas. They are just self-conscious because someone is telling them they stink.

Answer 2

Dear Kimmie,
Thank you for the great question. I would suggest that people's religious beliefs are their most dearly held. Oft times, one is eager to share these beliefs with others, especially if they believe that others could benefit from knowledge and or practice of these beliefs. I will be among the first to admit that some well meaning enthusiasts may get carried away, and can be overly zealous. Though it may be difficult, an enlightened person should try to be tolerant and understanding of this behavior.

Embrace the Grace,

Answer 3

I feel the same way you do. I know what I believe, but I respect what others believe, also. I think the reason people get so upset is because religion is such a personal thing. Religion and politics are always hot topics and best left out of conversations, unless you're prepared for arguments!

Answer 4

I think you're actually asking "why are people so /offensive/ when it comes to religion?" And that's simple. Have you ever heard someone defend their driving? You know, someone says so and so is a bad driver, and so and so tries to explain why he isn't and stuff. Nearly everyone who says such things is a driver. That is, they drive and so they think they know what everyone should and shouldn't do.

Now, in the case of driving, there are actually established rules and laws, and you can check so and so's driving against them. No one likes a rules-nerd, but you could be more right than so and so about it. But in the case of religion, you can't be. There are no established rules and laws that everyone must regard as true. Thus, we can all believe we're right and that everyone is wrong. And, since we are all capable of holding a set of beliefs, we believe ourselves capable of criticizing the beliefs of others.

Bottom line, we all think we know what's up and no one can prove otherwise. "No one can prove I'm wrong...so I must be right. Now I should go make sure everyone else knows how wrong they are." Stupid is as stupid does.

Answer 5

I agree with your point of view completely, that means all religions, not just the ones that people call religion, anything you believe in completely, is a religion, and there are good productive ones as well as destructive one. I'm sorry am I being defensive? I am not defending my religion I don't have to. what I believe is my belief, and I have a right to them just like everyone on this website does. if someone ask a definitive question i will try to answer it, but i will not try to change you beliefs, whether they are right or wrong by my standards. hope I didn't make you mad.

Answer 6

It is a question of passion and what people perceive as doing the right thing.

First, the passion. For instance, racism drives me nutty. I will email people to ask them why they are so extremely close-minded to the ideas of equality. Christians and Muslims have this passion as it pertains to their faith.

Second, religious people want to do the right thing. A lot of people will feel that a strong reprimand of an atheist will do some good in the long term. For instance, you are asking about religious people, which means you are giving them some thought. It may be negative thought, but to a religious person's thinking, that thought may evolve into a conversion.

There are other personal characteristics and personalities that come into play as well. Still, as you say, we don't want everyone the same.

So, what faith is mine? As you said for your beliefs - you'd have to ask.

Take care and don't take things said personally.

Answer 7

What gets me is when people post questions that they don't really want answered, they only want to be agreed with. I don't care if you oppose my views or whatever, but I'd like to have a logical discussion about it, and if I answer the question fully with an argument and do not simply agree with the asker, I feel like I am wasting my time because the question was not sincere in the first place.

Answer 8

It's because, with religion, you can consider yourself 110% correct without having to back up that self-assured feeling with any actual empirical evidence. People love to be right and when you're (insert religious affiliation here), you get to be right all the time and no one can say otherwise because you've got faith on your side.

Faith can be the ultimate bluff in any situation in which you can't back up your hand. Scream faith loud enough and eventually people might say "ya know, they seems so sure, maybe they're onto something". Keep in mind that this is just the logical fallacy of "ad nauseam". Say something so many times and people will start to buy into it because something repeated so often must have SOME merit to it. That's the fallacy in action, my friend.

Anyway, that's why people get so defensive. They get so used to righteous indignation that it becomes second nature. Lash out at anyone who dares contradict, they figure, because their faith is the true faith, the right faith... and that's because they have faith!

Quite the circular logic, eh?

Answer 9

Mostly its the way people on here ask there questions that gets folks riled up. If you ask with a spirit of meaness it's hurtful, but if you ask with a spirit of knowledge seeking you will get better responses. Although no matter how you ask it there will still be people out there that are just mean at heart and spew meaness out with every word.

Answer 10

My opinion is that religion is a very personal issue. When someone is questioning or doubing your faith it MAY make some people second guess themselves. Is what I believe the right faith?

I just think everyone should have some sort of faith no matter what religion you are....