why do christians get angry when atheists ask questions?

Question

about their religion and prove it false? Mans inquisitive nature is what separates us from the animals. Everything needs to be questioned, especially christianity. As it is stopping us from progressing as a tolerant peaceful nation.

*added details* DuckPhup: Kudos man, you're awesome

Any christian questioning their faith should read that and his post responding to this question: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AirvYx8N_12mZcDxcn2A5zjsy6IX?qid=20060818205519AAgOxGw

I've gotten a lot of typical angry christian responses, even some christians trying to play nice in an attempt to convert me. Sorry, I expected that asking this question, nice try :P Still 100% atheist and proud

Answer 1

There are some subtleties at work here that seem to be escaping the notice of most people. They have to do with the nature of 'belief'.

A rational person might say "I believe in the Big Bang." A religious person might say "I believe in creation, as described in Genesis." But these statements are not even remotely similar, with respect to what is meant by the word 'believe'.

For the rational person, the statement of 'belief' in the Big Bang means that they understand that the concept provides a scientifically and mathematically consistent explanation, congruent with the evidence, which accounts for the evolution of the universe from a fraction of a second after the initiating event, up until the present. When the 'inflationary model' came to the fore, rational people said "Well, good... that clears up a few questions and makes things even more coherent." NOBODY threw up their arms and wailed "Oh, no... oh, no... ain't so... ain't so... the Big Bang is the inerrant truth... not this ridiculous, atheistic 'inflationary' model."

See... when we say "I believe in the Big Bang", we don't really mean the same thing as the religious person means when he says "I believe in creation, as described in Genesis," or "I believe in God." Our 'belief' in the Big Bang (or anything else) isn't really a 'belief'... it is more properly a 'paradigm'... a useful way of looking at something, or thinking about something. If additional information is uncovered that adds to the conceptual model, that is a good thing... not a disaster. If part of the conceptual model is discovered to be incorrect, and must be tossed in the trash and replaced with something completely different... that is also a good thing... not the end of the world as we know it. And often, no matter how highly confident we may be of the accuracy or completeness of a particular paradigm, we may have reason to apply a DIFFERENT paradigm to the same thing, in an effort to tease out new insights; for example, we might want to contemplate the potential implications of a change to a theory from the perspective of the Tao Te Ching, the Gaia hypothesis, or ecological homeostasis. We KNOW that all theories are approximations... and that is OK. We KNOW that we don't have all the answers... and that is OK, too. There is nothing wrong with saying "We don't know... yet; but we're working on it."

But these modes of thinking, perceiving, contemplating and understanding are utterly alien to the 'religious' mind. For the religious mind, a 'belief' is not a paradigm... not a useful way of thinking about something... it is an internalized conviction that one knows the absolute 'truth' pertaining to some aspect of existence and/or fundamental reality. 'Beliefs' are one of the key interpretive component filters of the religious person's 'self-description'... a part of what DEFINES them as a person... the very thing that creates their world-view... an underpinning of their 'subjective reality'. Any challenge to one of these internalized 'beliefs' is perceived and interpreted as a vital threat... an attack upon the 'self-description'... and an assault upon their subjective reality.

And here is the key difference: When there is a change in one of the paradigms dealing with a scientific concept, or a new insight into the workings of the universe, to the 'rational' person it merely constitutes an interesting new piece of knowledge and understanding... a new insight. However, if that same new insight, or piece of information (a feature of the universe, for example) seems to threaten a tenet of Christianity, everybody goes to battle stations, goes into 'damage control' mode... for fear that the whole edifice will come crashing down. And, ultimately, it will.

So, when a fundie disparages evolution, for example, it really has nothing to do with a genuine, intellectual dispute regarding scientific details... they are generally scientifically illiterate, anyway. Any 'scientific' arguments that they present are inevitably not even understood... they are just lifted from the pre-packaged lies and misrepresentations that are found on dozens of 'Liars for Jesus' (LFJ) web sites, and parroted. They are in a battle. They are trying to sink science before science sinks them. They are desperate... and science is (mostly, and unfortunately) oblivious to the fact that they are even in a fight, and that somebody is trying to sink them. They are just blithely bopping along, doing what science does... figuring out how nature works.

No... none of this has anything to do with a mere disagreement pertaining to evidence and understanding. It has to do with minds that deal with fundamental issues in an entirely different way. It has to do with a flexible, open-minded, intellectually honest (willing to question and doubt one's own presumptions) curiosity about the universe, contending with a rigid, unyielding world-view that depends from a certainty that certain delusional faith-based (willful ignorance and magical, wishful thinking) 'beliefs' represent the absolute 'truth' of reality.

We might as well be talking to an alien species, from a distant planet.

When the religious enter a forum like this one, they are (generally) NOT seeking new information which might allow them to QUESTION their beliefs more effectively, or might put their beliefs at risk... they are seeking VALIDATION... of their beliefs, and hence, their self-description.

Answer 2

As several people have already pointed out, not all Christians are the same. Generalizations can cause a lot of problems, especially when you use them in such a broad spectrum. Although I am a Christian and offended by yours and other questions on here, I don't get angry or aggressive. I share my mind, and if I think that I could have accidentally offended someone, I add an apology at the end of my answer. Now, moving on.

Just as you say Christianity should be questioned, don't you think that atheism should be questioned? I lack the understanding of not believing in anything. Do you think you could shed some light on this? Just as you wonder how I could believe in divine creation, I wonder how you could not. My inquisitive nature just gets the better of me. Hope my questions didn't sound intolerant, because they weren't meant to be so.

Answer 3

Not all Christians get angry at atheists for asking questions. As a Christian, I find many of the honest, truly inquisitive questions (as opposed to obnoxious rants thinly disguised as rhetorical questions) quite enjoyable to examine, analyse, and research. As far as Christianity "stopping us from progressing as a tolerant peaceful nation", would that mean that nations that suppress Christianity are more tolerant and peaceful than nations that allow the practice of Christian faith?

Answer 4

It is human nature to question things, but faith cannot be proved; you have to believe in it. The reason that christians get angry is because atheists usually attack them and their beliefs instead of asking them honest questions about their faith; most christians will be open and answer their questions. And in my opinion, christianity has not stopped us from progressing as a tolerant peaceful nation, it is the religious intolerance in our country. If everyone just respected what others believed, like leaving "Under God" in the pledge of allegiance or "In God We Trust" on our money, then we wouldn't have any problems.

Answer 5

I am a Christian, and I think its an interesting question. Why do they get mad?
I think they get mad because they are flustered, and possibly tired of putting up with people downing their religion, and are looking on the downside of it.
I think they should be happy to answer questions, it leaves room for good answers, and leading people to Christ.
Also, we have to remember that Christians are human too, they have faults just as anyone does. And in the Bible, its OK to be angry, just as long as you don't act on it. Hopefully this will open eyes to Christians.

Answer 6

When you question Christianity and you get answers, do you actually learn from it? Do you seek out God's word or are you doing the work of satan. It is all up to you to choose the road you want to take. No matter how a Christian answers your questions you will fight it. Do you know why you will fight it? Because you have let evil into your life and you don't even recognize it. Seek and you shall find.

Answer 7

Not absolutely, I am atheist. I had a question before in Yahoo answers. If you asked it politely. Most of them will aswer it politely too. Only some(not all) of them get crazy if they fell that you attack their faith. Please don't generalize, some Christians are good, some are bad. So do the Atheist

Answer 8

I certainly don't mind if you ask questions. It is that attitude of "your religion is keeping us from progressing as a peaceful nation" that I find offensive.
Silly child, fifty years ago, America truly was the most powerful nation on the planet.
But that was before you youngster's got to trying to kick God out of Public Office.......

Answer 9

First, none has ever proved it false, because it it true, so that is not the reason we "get angry". Atheist are welcome to post their opinions and have them questions just like our's are.

It the people who are only posting to insult or be obscene who get "flamed". And as that is usually the reaction they want, it just encourages them to do it more. Best to just ignore such people (whichever side of the deabate they are on - cause some of "my" side are just as quilty)

And you are right that it is causing problems and blocking progress, so I personally invite you to join us Christians and help get the will of God done in the world, so we can all live in the peace and love he has promised us.

Answer 10

soon you will get just what you are wishing for friend ,, i just hope your ready for it,,, the Christians will be gone soon, Jesus is coming back to take us all home,, ,,but i have a question for you, after we are gone, what will stop all the evilness here then , there will be no voice against homosexuals abortions, and thievery and murders,,,,, after the Holy ghost is called up there will be no conscious of good, if someone wants what you have they will just take it and kill you,, if they want your wife than they will take her to,,, is that what you really want,,,? a peaceful world,,,? better think again, gonna be a time like none you've ever seen,,, think about that friend,