Why do religious folks get so defensive when an atheist makes a point?

Question

Aren't you secure enough in you beliefs to ask/answer questions without insult?

How is my question angry?
How is this Question in any way insulting?
You people are much to sensitive.
I would say that my point is made!

Answer 1

Because atheists making a point are not allowed in their world view.

However, Elisha summoning bears to rip apart children is perfectly ok.

Answer 2

Can you be more specific? What "point" have you as an athiest made that in and of itself made true believers react in an overly-defensive way?

I would guess that we religious folk get defensive because there is so much at stake in our opinion. It's not only THIS life that we care about. It's the next life. Eternity is a long time. Personally I feel that the arguments do have logical answers. I have yet to run into a question I could not answer logically.

Now to the insults, I have no idea. That's Satan I guess. We're all sinners. In fact the fact that Christians sin so much is in a way proof that Satan does exist. He doesn't need to pay much attention to try to lure atheist away from God. So he spends most of his time trying to get Christians to sin. We are prime targets.

Answer 3

Most of the questions asked by atheists, at least that I have seen on here, are simply snide comments that have been made over and over again at these people from every wake of life. To question someones belief is one thing, but much of what I see is well aren't you stupid for believing in something you have no proof of.

On the other side, there are many snide comments that come right back from the religious side to atheists, such as isn't it stupid to believe you descended from pond scum and crabs.

I would say that most of the people on here are quite secure in there beliefs, and really only half of the answers religious folk answer defensively, but the same goes for half the atheists.

Answer 4

Sometimes it may not be the issue you are discussing with the person that makes someone so defensively. It could also be a button you pushed where as it's a sensitive area with that person.

Just because a person believes in God doesn't mean they don't have hurts in their life. We all have been hurt by something and sometimes people handle their hurts more effectually then others do.

Some people may be going through a healing process in their lives as well. I am just thinking that could be apart of why people react defensively and also if they are not on the same wave length of intellect it may make a person feel uncomfortable.

Another thing people do not realize is that some of us think more with our heart and others think more with their heads. Usually it's hearts and heads that are opposites.

Check this out and if you and others are interested take the survey and see what personally you have. I found it helpful. http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/mind/surveys/whatamilike/index.shtml

I hope that this will bring some understanding to you about our differences. :-)

Answer 5

Most people are but it's not that they're not secure that makes them lash out. It's something like how a doctor would feel if a farmer told him how much medicine he should give his patients and how the farmer would feel if the doctor told the farmer what he should plant in his fields.

When any person knows something about a subject they, don't like other people to attack what they're doing or question it when they're sure they're right.

It's part of human nature, the whole 'I'm right and you're wrong' wrong thing. It's never ending because we weren't made to just agree to disagree.

Answer 6

Yeah, sometimes people are touchy. I think when it comes to religion everyone has strong beliefs and if they feel in some way someone is disrespecting them it hurts and we get defensive. Also, I think sometimes the WAY people ask questions as if mocking or asking about something that we hold sacred and joking about it makes anyone angry. There's a line people cross sometimes when asking about religion and everyone draws there line at a different place. Mines right there >> ________

Answer 7

The horse is dead, by the way.

OK, I'm gonna defend the religious people here. Imagine that. An agnostic defending the other side for once!

Seriously, your question is defensive . . . that should tell you enough to answer your own question.

And what if the religions people here ARE insecure about their beliefs? What will you do then? Attack them for that? Make fun of them?

What, exactly, is the point of your very angry question, and are you better than any of the religious people here for being that way?

Just let it go already!

Answer 8

It's very instinctive human behavior to defend your beliefs. Without this device, we would not be able to raise and teach people to conform to society's standards. Although "making someone conform to society" leaves a bad taste in many American's mouths, it is necessary to a society's stability and moral codes. Every society, even America, has it. You see someone with a "wrong" behavior or belief, and you jump to correct it. Look at what we do with children- "Don't say that!" "No, it's NOT okay to hurt animals, do you understand me??", "That's not the way to behave. Go apologize," "Use your fork," "That's inappropriate," etc. Some people who see adults acting against social standards will correct them, in varying degrees of politeness.

Belief in God is a fundamental thing to many Christians. Imagine if you were faced with someone who just went to the bathroom on tables. You would be shocked and try to correct them. Imagine if a person was deeply racist and believed all Blacks were stupid. You would try to correct them as vehemently as Christians correct atheists.

Answer 9

Because they really think that stuff is real. However, being part of the real world, there has to be a constant nagging doubt why there is no empirical evidence for God, why the world seems so messed up all the time and God never does anything about it, and why the only ‘proof’ they have is a compiled collection of stories based on the folk tales and myths of some historically obscure semi-nomadic Semitic tribes.

Answer 10

It works both ways for Many here. People get offended over trivial things. But, I not sure anyone makes a point, more like they state their opinion and think they have made a point.
Just look at your own question, you state an opinionated question and in your additional comments, acknowledge to yourself you made a point.

Answer 11

I think everyone gets defensive with religious questions, whether you're religious/spiritual or an atheist. I've seen alot of attacks and counter-attacks coming from all sides.