Why do religious people look down on people with other ideas or believes?

Question

I have noticed my religion-curious questions have often been met by contempt or the advise to "feel something". I am not religious and tend to respect others for who they are. Yet I am often met by religious folks who look down on my ideas and lifestyle. How come? As far as I know it should be religious people practising respect! Is that respect limited only to like-minded souls?

Answer 1

I think it has to do with the fact that people get so tied up into their beliefs that they can't see anything else. Also some people are so self richeous and arrogant that they see anything different as wrong. Some people might also be insecure and feel that if they give credence to another's point of view that it will mean that they are weak in their own beliefs.

Answer 2

Without details of your ideas and lifestyle, I'll answer your question like this:
You ever know someone that has quit smoking or lost 30lbs? What happens when you pull out a smoke or a Twinkie? Exactly. We all have the same urges, just some have chosen to control them for whatever reason. Once they get their stuff under control, either they feel a) they got it together and they want to help you, too or b) you're a lazy, sinful slob that needs to be driven from the face of the earth.
You'll often find that the most religious people come from the worst backgrounds. Hopefully, they will remember where they came from and be a teacher instead of a jailer.

Answer 3

People should not be like that but people are not infallable and there you have it. I don't look down on people with different beliefs but I do believe that they would have a more full and joyous life if they had my beliefs.
You know I firmly believe that we are spirtual beings in the midst of a human experience and not humans having a spiritual experience.
I really do not know why people who start as nonbeleivers convert and forget totally how they used to think and become haters and intolerant of people who are just like they used to be. The correct way is to set an example by your life and then people want to hear how you got there and I truly believe that Satan uses the fact that people want to be right so much that they loose sight of their own growth potential and become stagnant in their intollerance. It really is not the way God intended. He offers peace and love but He never forces it and we are suppose to be like Him and not so mean to people of different faiths or lack there of. Anyway I hope that one day God will bless you with a personal revelation of His love for you and that when it happens you continue to be tolerant of others and not so judgemental like the religious people who are bothering you.

Answer 4

You'll find a lot of humane religious folks here, rude religious folks, humane athiests, rude athiests and a fair number of imposters (folks posting as if they belong to a certain group to make that group look bad) here. The problem is that all who post here are human. Hanging around here seems to require having a thick skin and the ability to ignore idiotic drivel to get at the good and interesting tidbits. Good luck!

Answer 5

This is a face-to-face discussion, friend. Personally, I don't think I 'look down' on other people, but at the same time if you define 'look down' as 'disagree with', then maybe I fit your profile too.

The final thing is, though, that I believe what my God says about eternal life and that Christ is the only way. Without Christ, it's an eternity of hell. Is it loving of me to tell someone who is obviously not saved, "Hey, whatever works for you."?

No, it's not. I have to do my best, when the opportunity arises, to help convince others of their need for a savior.

Answer 6

Religion is often a tool to answer the unanswerable and can become a framework for a person's belief system. When that system is challenged, people have a natural tendency to defend their beliefs or else their entire framework of reality is
threatened.

Answer 7

No..Jesus tells us that others will know that we belong to Him because of the love we have for others. If you come across a person that claims to be a Christian and they are full of hate..look out! In the bible it says that anyone who says they love God and hate their brother is a liar and the truth is not in him/her.

I think alot of times, some, may get frustrated..We want others to experience the joy that we have found..but still, we are to do,whatever it is that we do, in love...while hating the sin and standing up for God, but still loving the person.

Answer 8

I am religious and I do not look down on your idea of spelling 'beliefs' the way you did. I find religious-curious questions curiously refreshing because it shows me that people are using their brains more before simply praying mindlessly to a god they know nothing about.

Answer 9

Well not all of us act with contempt of others. Some jump to conclusions based on what we are presented with, and others are just out for a fight. I guess it depends on the individual and how you approach them with you question.

Blessed Be )O(

Answer 10

It is sad, and it happens both ways,

I can answer from my Christian perspective with no judgments at all, and yet I still get tons of thumbs downs.

I get called ignorant, simple, un-educated, a sheep, un-able to think for myself, backward, out of touch, and that is not even getting to the insults that I will not repeat!!!

Peace!