Why are honest questions on religion found offensive?

Question

Regardless of any religion's doctrine or dogma...why is it so difficult to have an honest intellectual debate on the merits of religion?...any religion?

Answer 1

"Now the mind is a very peculiar instrument in that once it picks up an idea from any source, from the worst possible source, once a mind picks up an idea, it tends to become possessive over it. It tends to say, 'Ah, this is my idea.' Then it goes to the next stage and says, 'This is not only my idea, but my life depends upon following it, believing it, protecting it.' And regardless of how nonsensical, how self-destructive these ideas may be, human beings will fiercely protect them thinking - listen to this please - thinking that they are protecting their own life when all it is is picking up a collection of ideas that have made them what they are today."
--Vernon Mowisdom

What is it about a belief (especially a religious belief) that causes people to be unable to have a rational unemotional discussion about the validity of that belief? The normal reaction to any attempt to confront a strong ingrained belief, even those based upon nothing other than pure repetition (or those acquired without any independent thought) is to reject any alternative idea without much (if any) consideration. “No, no, I don’t want to hear it” or “what I believe is true and that’s final”, are the boiler plate responses often given. Alternatively, some people offer up their beliefs like dirty laundry. Suddenly they’re shaving their heads in some cult drinking Kool-Aid. The reason I believe each of these phenomenon’s occur is basically the same. In the first instance your biological programming tells you instinctively to defend your position (if you are so genetically inclined). You can not accept rational thought as your pack mentality programming clicks on and tells you to reject any other position and defend yours ("must reject and defend"). In the second instance, your submissive program (as that may be alternatively dominant in your genetic make up) tells you you must follow this new exposed point of view. To be able to overcome these programs and offer your open mind is difficult to varying degrees based upon your current situation (did your granmother just die?), your genetic make-up (random really), your age, your experiences (or environmnet) and your intelligence. For instnace, the younger you are the more easily you are influenced - you are often a blank slate without a belief one way or the other. Similarly, the less intelligence you have the easier you are influenced. So basically a belief operates like a kind of virus - seeking out the weak, moving from the dominant in the world to the submissive in the world. When it encounters and experiences a grounded intelligent person who can control his animal tendency to either be dominant or submissive, it get’s a real examination under a microscope and dissected toward a rational acceptance or rejection.
How does one then (if they have an alternative position with some substance) approach the average (instinctual) religionist or agnostic or atheist in order that they may listen to a new rational and meaningful position with an open mind? And then how does the necessary approach lead to a belief change on a global scale? My best guess is that the place to acquire some belief changing skills is to look at the past where these changes have actually occurred. And the first question that needs to be asked is “how did belief systems change historically such that they became ingrained on a large scale?” It seems once a belief cathces one (even minimally) it can gain momentum and spread. We teach our beliefs to our children (who like clay take most belief systems at face value no matter what they are told). As a result they become further intrenched without the requirement of any further examination or thought. Essentially a changing belief system on a global scale is like a small snow ball running down a mountain. If you can create that small snow ball belief and roll it down that mountain, it might gain momentum as it is further presented to children and other people by the people they look up to and/or trust (professors, clergy, holy men, your parents as some examples).

Answer 2

Because people are so close minded. I am a Christian. Roman Catholic actually! But I do like to hear what other religions believe. And I think that any individual has the right to believe what they do.
I also do not understand why people who consider themselves intellectuals can not have an honest up front conversation about religion or any other topic with out it becoming a heated argument.
To me it does not make them sound very intelligent!

Answer 3

This is supposed to be a question and answer format. Debate could be seen as chatting...
There is a difference between honesty and tactless blunt insults.

There are both open questions and the more harsh judgmental ones where the Asker seemed to be "leading with the chin" or has a chip on the shoulder.

I have seen some very good thoughtful answers even when the question seems biased.

Perhaps some of the reason it is so hard is that this may be the first time some people have had their 'faith' challenged.

Answer 4

There are so many dishonest questions with underlying agendii here that it's hard to know when one is actually honest and wanting a real conversation.

It's also becoming increasingly clear that the most vocal Christians in the forum 'just can't imagine' that I could possibly have any knowledge of religion, the Bible, etc. and not believe in "God." How do you have a dialogue with that?

Answer 5

Usually it's because the person asking the question is doing it in a way that demonstrates that they have already made up their mind about the answer and they are really just posting a challenge and not seeking understanding.

Another reason is that people get hypersensitive about their beliefs and they read into a question an insult when none is intended.

Answer 6

Religion is by definition not intellectual. The "merits" are in the imagination of the beholder....I am a Christian, and can't prove my beliefs any more than I can disprove anyone Else's.

Answer 7

Born lower back purely ability a sparkling delivery in the Spirit. many times people who settle for Jesus later in existence could desire to call themselves Born lower back because of the fact they remember their existence without God and that they are in a position to work out the substitute He brings. a sparkling existence with the Holy Spirit of their hearts marks a rebirth- they have been Born lower back. Even somebody who commonplace Christ till now could locate renewed faith later and undertake the call besides. i've got self assurance in the Trinity because of the fact i've got self assurance in God the daddy, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit- 3 diverse persons in a million Godhead. the term 'Trinity' got here later as a thank you to describe this divine secret however the bible tells us approximately all 3 and how all of them artwork at the same time to love us.

Answer 8

because people feel threatened when their beliefs are questioned. And because of that, they lose all sense of respect etc and just want to attack. I've been on the recieving end of that too, it's annoying when you ask a genuine question and get blasted for it.

It takes a certain amount of intelligence to have a debate, it's lacking on YA!

Answer 9

A lot of people view any question that might shake the foundations of their religious beliefs, threatening. So they immediately get on the offensive or attack. As if that will make the question go away. Sad, but true.

Answer 10

Honestly like Paul said in revelation the scroll is sweet to some and bitter to others. Individuals don't like being provn wrong.Or at least what they think is wrong people hate Iconoclasts