Most people seem afraid to talk about religion in public other than in an anonymous place like this...?

Question

Could it be that people have a natural need to talk about religion and spirituality, but because they feel like people might judge them for telling them their beliefs, they go to a place like Yahoo Answers Religion and Spirituality section to express their beliefs?

Even atheists, when given an anonymous place like this, seem like they like to talk about religion (even if it is them venting negative opinions about it).

Answer 1

There is safety in anonymity.

Some people will physically attack you if you speak to them face to face and they don't like what you said about their religion.Or they will put a a fatwa on you if you speak your mind like my hero Salmon Rushdie.
People who react like that may have doubts and are not as secure in their religious belief as they claim they are.

And I don't like people coming up to me in public trying to preach to me, I consider that an invasion of my privacy and very presumptuous of them. I start debating about the so called merits of their "truth" and usually they go away. If I want to learn about their religion I will go to their church or learn about it on my own

Answer 2

I was raised to believe that it’s bad manners to discuss religion or politics in public because people will naturally disagree and it’s rude to make other people ill at ease with issues they may find deeply personal.

A site like this is a completely different matter because people come here deliberately to engage in questions and answers about religion.

I don’t bring up religion in public but because I always ware a cross others sometimes do. If I get the feeling there is something they need to talk about, I certainly listen. If they are antichristian I just smile and wish them a good day.

Answer 3

Yes, I agree. It is a start and a place to open up. Although, since I have started, I really have to be careful and not take offence to some of the rude answers, because it can be harsh sometimes. You are right about the venting. Religion and spirituality is so personal. People are very defensive of it. So it can get heated. I think we could all show more understanding and compassion when answering and asking and try no to feed the fire.

Answer 4

No. Here I can walk away from my keyboard, thus ending the discussion so far as I am concerned. If you talk about it in public, its is more difficult to end the discussion. I quickly tire discussing or debating the subject. Moreover, if you talk about it over a meal or a cocktail, you end up ruining the meal or the cocktail--a blasphemous act, to be sure.

If you cannot agree on at least the axiomatic level, there is no point in trying to argue. There is a god. No, there is not a god. Yes, there is. No there is not. Yes. No. Yes. No. Blah. Blah. Blah. What is the point?!?

I am my own religion, a god unto myself. I hold service in the Church Of My Basement (The C.O.M.B.), where the door is always open and the sacramental wine is always pouring. Come join me. Bring your own god. All peaceful dieties are welcome, especially if you are a goddess unto yourself.

Answer 5

Most people are private and won't talk about personal health issues as well. So its a personal choice. Often a wise one.

Its mostly a trust thing. Humans we pass judgment on people for the most mundane reasons. So something so personal and important as spirituality is a huge chunk of "self" out there to be debated with the receivers of that information. Most people find themselves in a constant sea of confusion and are always looking to better themselves in many ways.

A healthy conversation about any subject, can be tainted by expressions of extremes and can offend a person and their beliefs. Let's be thankful that people will express themselves on line and release those fears....even if faceless/nameless.

Very good question. Very thought provoking and appreciated.

Answer 6

I`ve had many discussions about my beliefs and understanding of the bible.I don`t like to argue about religion and I`m not going to .some people get really mad when talking about religion,and that`s because nobody agrees fully on everything and it usually winds up an argument.I love a healthy debate with someone who knows what their talking about even when I might feel their wrong.Sometimes we learn something that maybe we hadn`t seen before in the word.

Answer 7

Well let me tell you, there is valid reason for this. I recently had an incident where someone was trying to convince me of things that are simply not so about my religion and was trying to get me to leave my church. Can you believe this? I was so upset, I screamed at them on the phone. I mean I told them off in spades. I don't even speak to them anymore. I don't even know why this happened or what the motive behind it was, but it was an insult to me as I don't believe in forcing religion down anyone's throat and I have respect for others beliefs, even if they don't coincide with mine. Who am I to judge anyone or their beliefs. I tell you, if what I thought was true behind the motive, someone would be very sorry when I got through with them let me tell you.....

Answer 8

I have a "natural need" to vent, because I don't even feel like I can admit that I'm agnostic at work. And I feel a need to encourage people to think critically and logically rather than believe everything they are told by a religious authority or a book. It is those kind of logical fallacies (appeal to tradition and appeal to authority) that lead to very very bad things happening. A lot of wars are over religion.

Answer 9

Here I sit in my house, with the time to think on it. At work or shopping or on the train or at lunch I would still talk about it just not like this.
If anything you would think Christians would prefer this way because a person can focus more easily.
So many Christians here, in their comfortable homes with all the peace they could get are clearly people I wouldn't discuss such things with in real life. Imagine how much more arrogant and defensive they would be in person.

Answer 10

It's wise to keep politics, religion, and even sports affiliations private. There are many irrational people in this world, as is easily witnessed here all day every day. This format allows us to discuss freely without the fear of physical assault, or of alienating someone we have to coexist with.

I do enjoy talking about R&S with the people I trust in the real world too though.

Answer 11

Hmm, an interesting comment. I will be honest about it.

I am not ashamed of my Faith. If someone (in public or not) asks me about it, I will tell them all I can, as long as they keep listening. It's hard to talk to people with closed hearts and closed minds.

I don't often speak about my faith in public (beyond my church). Maybe I should, maybe I shouldn't. I don't really know. What I do know is, acting as Jesus would want us to is more important that talking like you're righteous. So in my whole like, I strive to do just that.

I'm annonymous on Yahoo! Answers, and I think I'll keep it that way. Not because I'm scared, but because I really don't think I can handle emails/phone calls 'n such. You can still contact me though Yahoo answers, I think.