As a Hindu who has many Jewish and Muslim and Christian friends I can answer this fairly simply actually. When it comes to Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism these are often religions practiced by a specific ethnic/racial group in the population and generally the "jokes" that are made about the religions (the saying bad things about them) aren't even really about the religion but are about the ethnic/racial people who mostly practice the religion. I'll admit that I didn't notice this until I became a Hindu and being the minority "white" guy in the room with a few other minorities while the majority in the temple are Indian-Americans when you hear someone say something bad about Hinduism or make a joke, etc, suddenly you realize (as a person practicing the religion but not of Indian ancestry) that it isn't even about the religion, it's about the ethnic/racial majority of people that practice the religion.
Many of my Muslim friends aren't Arabic (or middle eastern). Like me they're the minority "white" people at the mosque. And they, too, have found the same thing. (we talk about this a lot actually). And most people mistake us as "Christians" (because we're "white" and don't dress 'foreign' so therefore people just make the assumption...the wrong one and very stereotypical and generally when my Muslim friend or I point out that we aren't they generally ask "Why are you____?" "Weren't a Christian before?")
And having Jewish friends I definately realized that there is an entire ethnic identity associated with the religion itself and having friends who went through the very difficult process to convert to Judaism they also found the same thing (which was something some of our friends who were born Jews were trying to point out to us).
The same can be said of Buddhists. People here assume that all Asians are Buddhists and yet again my friends who are Asian might be Christian, I know some who are Hindu, and I know some who are Muslim and then again I know the minority "white" Buddhist. The only reason people think this is because the "majority" race/ethnicity in certain religions is whatever. Being in the minority helped awaken me and realize that that is exactly what is being attacked, being made fun of...not the religion.
That said, I have met people whom I have had great discussions on matters of religion and where they have called Hinduism "ridiculous", "silly", and the Hindu concept of God as "absurd" and "nonsense" have called Hindus "superstituous" and my friends have had similar conversations with people. Take the time to listen more carefully (or read more carefully) the things that people are saying. Is what they're saying about the actual religion itself or is it about the majority ethnic/racial group that practice the religion.
And don't worry, where I'm at Christians are quick to take offense to the idea that they're either black or white and have all kinds of stereotypes placed on them and if you joke about such stereotypes they'll be just as angry and yell at you as the others (I have Christians friends and I've seen them get angry when the stereotypes are raised that have nothing to do with religious discourse or the religion itself and are purely racial/ethnic in their statements).
Great question. Thanks for asking.
Peace be with you.
2006-09-19 20:23:21
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answer #1
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answered by gabriel_zachary 5
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I think you only offend yourself as you have not lived long enough to know the bible nor have you taken any time to study it. If you are into the occult then you are into the devil and there are scriptures in the bible. Do you know that everything you need to know and learn is in the bible and all you need do is follow it and any question you have is in there about life here and there Try to have an open mind and not tunnel vision I do not know why people get on a soapbox and have all kinds of fits. That is not the christian way I do not judge I try to show the way and if they follow good if not then I let them be It is also a matter of respect we seem to have so little of that anymore
2006-09-19 17:11:04
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answer #2
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answered by jk poet 4
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No offense, I have wondered the same thing.
Something else I wonder, why is Betrand Russel (atheisits) not taking issue with Islam. I mean, talk about a target rich environment. Every other word in the Koran is contradicting the another, the book is KNOWN to have been randomly chosen from about 200 other versions of the Koran that were compeltely and utterly different....
Jeez....
2006-09-19 17:05:35
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answer #3
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answered by TK421 5
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I am a Christian but, no offense taken because this is something that should be brought up for discussion. Christ said 2,000 years ago that we are persecuted, and we will always be persecuted. The "world" (mainstream anything) does not accept us because we are substantial. The "world" who is ruled by Satan, wants the unsuspecting fellow to believe that what the "world" has to offer is substantial enough, that they don't need Christ who is the giver of eternal life.
Therefore, the religions of the "world" are defended by Satan.
2006-09-19 17:22:18
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answer #4
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answered by lynn 1
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Read the following books:
1. Eurabia: The Euro-Arab Axis
2. While Europe Slept: How Radical Islam is Destroying the West from Within.
Or just read their reviews on Amazon.
2006-09-19 17:21:32
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answer #5
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answered by Artie 1
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What I would like to know is why are you knocking anybody elses belief, that is between them and God. Jesus told us not to judge others, so why do people continue to judge everyone, and everything. There is more to life with God then trying to knock everyone that disagree with you down. I am a Christian, and I would rather live my life loving others, and letting them see Christ work through my actions. By constantly belittling everyone the Christians that are trying to live Christ like are getting a bad rap also. Why can't we all just practice the brotherly love that He so desperately preached while He was living.
2006-09-19 17:11:49
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answer #6
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answered by pooh bear 4
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You don't have to worrry about offending us Christians. We take into consideration that you are not a Christian.
But you should probably pay attention to possibly offending our God.
Mt 12:31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
You are dangerously close.
2006-09-19 17:16:24
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answer #7
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answered by Bob L 7
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Because people who cry foul are hypocrites. They hate Christianity because that is what some of them were brought up in but they are willing to protect religions which is bias and mentally unstable.
=
2006-09-19 17:16:53
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answer #8
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answered by Pashur 7
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It's not ok to generalize about all Christians being freaks. Most of them aren't. They are just superstitious when it comes to their religion. Their god is fake, but that's a separate issue.
2006-09-19 17:06:11
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answer #9
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answered by nondescript 7
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It's like saying when a Caucasian person makes an impolite remark about an African or an African American, he/she is called racist but when it's vice versa, it's just considered as "pride."
2006-09-19 18:39:52
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answer #10
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answered by snow_anh07 2
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