Why do some religious people try to shove their beliefs and rhetoric down other peoples throats?

Question

I have had this happen to me quite a bit lately, first encounter of this problem was my fiancee's father in law. I was with my fiancee visiting her grandpa at the hospital to see how his quadruple bypass surgery went ok. When all of a sudden I am pinned to the wall by her father in law and he is grilling me with questions about God and what religion am I. This really gets under my skin that it tends to be a social pet peeve. So I ask why do some people think it is their godsent duty to try to brow beat people into their beliefs?

Any feedback is appreciated

Answer 1

This question is getting old....because it is our job as Christians to tell you about Jesus. It is your decision to accept that or not to. Maybe is it important to your fiancees father that she marry a nice Christian man.

Answer 2

I know what you mean. One time I was at a friend's house for a party when all of a sudden this atheist starts grilling me about my Christian beliefs, scoffing at them with his "I'm better than you smirk" and then proceeded to try to force feed his religion of atheism down my throat. Who does he think he is?

I guess that some people have are so empty that they feel a need to make themselves feel superior to others. They do this by ridiculing other's beliefs and then forcing their own ideas on others.

There is nothing wrong with exchanging ideas. That is how we learn. But even the Bible will tell the Christian that they should be "ready to give an account of the hope that lies within you. And do this with respect and humility." I would that those on both sides of the fence would adhere to this thought.

Answer 3

(this is assuming an religion, but just change the details if it's a different one)

Next time that happens (with anyone) have a few lines memorized like the kind that says Christ likes to send children to burn in hell and people be stoned to death and ask him if he follows his religion properly, and if so why he's here instead of with his buddies in Pennsylvania, raising funds for the window of the pedophile who came into the school and killed those children.

That ought to get him to shut up. Or maybe you better duck.


"However, you may purchase male or female slaves from among the foreigners who live among you. You may also purchase the children of such resident foreigners, including those who have been born in your land. You may treat them as your property, passing them on to your children as a permanent inheritance. You may treat your slaves like this, but the people of Israel, your relatives, must never be treated this way. (Leviticus 25:44-46 NLT)

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. (Ephesians 6:5 NLT)

The prophet turned and saw them, and he cursed them in the name of the Lord. Then two shebears came out of the woods and tore forty two of the children to pieces. (2 Kings 2:23-24 NAB)

"Because you have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, a lion will kill you as soon as you leave me." And sure enough, when he had gone, a lion attacked and killed him. (1 Kings 20:35-36 NLT)

"Then I heard the LORD say to the other men, "Follow him through the city and kill everyone whose forehead is not marked. Show no mercy; have no pity! Kill them all – old and young, girls and women and little children. But do not touch anyone with the mark. Begin your task right here at the Temple." So they began by killing the seventy leaders. "Defile the Temple!" the LORD commanded. "Fill its courtyards with the bodies of those you kill! Go!" So they went throughout the city and did as they were told." (Ezekiel 9:5-7 NLT)

- Should be enough for now. Enjoy the sites.

Answer 4

I guess your experience is fairly unique. Why people do as you suggest is often because they are frightened and want to convince others (and themselves) that they are right. What they achieve is probably just the opposite. Everyone has the right to their own views, even when dictatorships say otherwise. We have the right to express those views but not in a way that terrorizes or frightens people. Politicians are the masters at forcing their views on people - in the end they get vindicated or not at the polls. Religious people, and I count myself as a Christian, try hard to tell people about their faith because they want to share it and they see disaster for humankind unless they change. But there are ways of doing this which do not have to alienate. In the end it's down to peoples choice but if they don't know what's on offer they can't make that informed choice. You are right that people should not use intimidating ways to promote their faith and what you experienced was wrong.

Answer 5

Some people doesn't know how to stop when they pop. I think this man what he did was inconseriate of him. There is a proper way to find out what your beliefs are. He could've asked you to go down to the cafetria at the hospital for coffee and speak about your beliefs.
I am strong believer in Christ. I tend to go over board with preaching and saying people will go to hell and stuff however, depends on the person I know when to stop.
If this happens again tell them that you have your own beliefs and now its not the time to talk about it.

Answer 6

I think it is unfortunate that some people do "browbeat" others with their beliefs. However, there are many true Christians like myself who are compelled to talk to earnest people who WANT to listen to what the truth about God is. Jesus Christ commissioned his followers to " go therefore, and make disciples of people of all the earth, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you . . . ." Matthew 28:19, 20. It is because of this command, as well as a true love for other people and a real desire to please God that I go door to door with my beliefs. But, if a person isn't interested, I won't " shove my beliefs down their throat." We are all free moral agents and can choose what we want to believe in.

Answer 7

I guess it's because they are taught that that is the thing to do to earn points to get into Heaven. Some really believe that they must do all they can to "save" others whom, according to them, are following false doctrines or none at all. I am a Christian and I get the same rhetoric all the time from these Christians of other faiths.

Answer 8

well they think they have the truth, much in the same ways you think you have it. and her father in law* is concerned about his daughter's* well being no different than any other father. and mabe if you do eventualy have any daughters, you'll understand this one day. many fathers still tend to give any one seeing their daughter the third degree, because they do care. so it is not necessarily just a religion of G-D thing. if her father was a wealthy man, he would probably drill you on your financial status.
so what ever are the principals of the father, tend to be what they give you the third degree about. and your taking offence just because of the religion thing, is because of some ulterior prejudiced motivation you have in this area.

even though it is most unfortunate that most people are only defending their religion wheather it is, financial, g-d, politicial, social or whatever, rather than what is actualy true according to G-D. my now ex-wife used to have to talk me out of being a chaparone for any dates with, any of our daughters. and used to snicker when i brought the baseball bat out just before the boy arrived. and drilled him about the possible consequences of his actions with my daughter. so father's being overly concerned about their daughters is nothing new here.

Answer 9

It may well have to do with the depth and strength of their religious convictions, that can rise up at a given moment and become overpowering and threatening due to some misguided fear of challenge to their beliefs.
a Christian should never force their views on another person but by good example and charity.

Answer 10

Cause unlike athiest ans some others, religious people follow a higher power this power is worth a lot more then your lack of higher power, Hence the Higher Power

If you live in a kingdom that has a King is doesnt matter if you dont acknowledge him being King, he is and you will have to face the fact daily, which you probably do right now.

Answer 11

I dont know. Its not right but sometimes people are so into their beliefs that they couldnt possibly imagine people believing otherwise.....for me, its hard to know that there is athiest (or however you sp it) out there in the world...its like how could you NOT know about the being that made you and so on and so on but I dont shove my beliefs down their throats I just pray that they'll see the truth one day :)