Why can't people get along in religion?

Question

Is it that much trouble? Why does everyone believe that their holy book is right? Why can't you keep it to yourself? Y'know what, I'm an Animist and my sister is a Muslim, and we don't attempt to convert each other! I believe we all should have the right to believe whatever you want, but when people get militant about it(i.e. Creationism, Jihad in cases), we ALL suffer. Hehehe, done ranting. Alright, time for responses! ^_^

I don't have to get along with him, he's not a deity a have feelings for, you go ahead and get along with him on your own time.

Primoa: Then go sell all your stuff and give it to the poor, then wander the country telling people about your book...If you are so "Christ-like".

Leviathan: Quite well, actually. :)

Answer 1

Getting along is not a part of religion outside of just talk. Looking deeper at it, all religions are a shouting of "I'm right and you're wrong" - even those that attempt to say otherwise, like Unitarian Universalism (sorry, guys, even if I kind of like you I have to say this) or those in denial like Atheism. Inherent in such an argument (which, yes, can be avoided by friendly and reasonable people by doing the obvious - not talking much about it) is saying that others are not worthy, not intelligent, or are just plain damned and going to hell to burn forever and ever in everlasting torment.

The worst part of all that is that many of the less friendly and reasonable people seem to think that this gives them the exuse to treat the "other" (not the same religious position) as something less than human. Even atheists, with no such excuse, have done the same.

This is why I embrace agnosticism. I have no certainty and so I have no reason to hate. There is no excuse in agnosticism to hate others because they do not agree. After all, they might be right just as well as they might be wrong, so treating someone badly on the basis of religion is wrong... With one MAJOR exception. Agnostics *learn* from the religious and we see how they really behave compared to what they say. We will mirror this behavior to better understand the "other." If someone, for example, is abusive and degrading and says that we will burn forever, then we find subtle ways of reflecting that attitude back so that we better understand the abusive and tyrannical nature of the faith being expressed. Of course, we understand there are many ways to be a muslim or animist or christian, so we do not see each sect as unified as they say. Religion is more personal. People from the same church: one could be a militant that secretly molests his child while another person may be the personification of mother Theresa. An agnostic such as myself will respond differently and appear differently to each such person, even though they are from the same church.
In extremely rare instances, I have been deeply impacted by someone close to "the truth" (assuming such exists). I can count fewer than five people in my 34 years of life that have had such congruence in their faith and behavior and... something like an aura - an intense, almost electric field of... something... that it impacts me vicerally. They have never been religious leaders, although perhaps MLK would have had it had I ever the opportunity to meet him. Instead, they were people living a far more normal, if perhaps driven, life. They go far beyond the pettiness of "The Purpose Driven Life" and none were from the same denomination or same religion. It is partly from this experience too that I feel no religion ought to claim sole ownership of "the truth."

Answer 2

Because a lot of people are stuck in the mindframe that their way is the only way. Many people still haven't grasped the idea of tolerance and acceptance. The Golden Rule still hasn't caught on for many people in this world. I think it's silly. There are some people in this world that simply cannot be Christian, or Muslim, or Hindu, or atheist, or LDS, or Jewish, or whatever, because they simply could not be happy being part of it. I don't care what religion a person belongs to-- they should be whatever makes them happiest. There are some belief systems that I'm just not suited to, and I know I couldn't be happy if I was forced into those belief systems; likewise, my belief system may not be suited to other people and might make them unhappy. People should be whatever will make them happiest; all I care about is that, regardless of what religion or lack thereof they have, they are good people.

Answer 3

Good attitude. I'm the same as you. I suppose there's a really great answer for this but I'll just keep it simple. People don't like what they don't know or understand. If they can't do either, they want to control or get rid of it. Too many people are way to wrapped up in other's people's lives. It doesn't affect them but for some reason, it bothers them. Go figure. Then there are the people that just want to bash other to feel superior. Again, go figure. I'm pretty secure in my non religious status. If I burn, I burn. So be it. At least I lived my life for me and didn't follow anyone blindly just because they said I had to.

Answer 4

If there is a place in which we need tolerance, it is religion. Using religion as the basis for almost everything these days and using it as the excuse for why we forbid this, ridicule that, detest the other thing etc., leads me to wonder why anyone believes that religion is a good thing any more. The Bible really says to HATE homosexuals? Kill people? Stone women? Shun those who don't believe what you believe?

There is so much misinterpretation that we are as a people, as a civilization, throttling ourselves to death because we THINK our way is the one and only way...no wonder those in Organized Religions are seeing a downsizing of their followers...people, at least some, are becoming frustrated, disenchanted etc and are attempting to discover something were it really does make sense as a full package to be one with the Universe.

Hopefully all of us won't be annialated through this intolerant struggle for religious power...perhaps a commune for all of those who simply want to live in actual harmony and who represent the good that is still in this world...will eventually be developed :)

One can dream!

Answer 5

I'll tell you why. The reason is because in the Bible, more specifically The Torah, there are Ten Rules that came directly from G*d.
These rules are extremely basic, yet they are the main focal point of the entire Book. If you had to keep two pages of the entire works, these would be the pages to keep.
Yet, we've been distracted with conflicting messages from others who are godlike. This is where the fighting comes into play.

Look at the FIRST Commandment. DO NOT FOLLOW ANY GODS BESIDES HIM..
There's a reason this is the first commandment. G*d knew if we started following spin-off gods and prophets, and were even blasphemous enough to pray to G*D THROUGH these secondary characters there'd be a mess. And there is..

Point proven...

Answer 6

I think that the majority of people really can get along. It's just that the rude, obnoxious people are, well.... really loud. There aren't that many of them - you just notice them because they force you to by being in your face. I am Catholic and I believe in just being a good example to others. I don't think you should sell your religion like a car salesman. I have had some very hateful things said to me too but hate is louder than love.

Answer 7

Let's face it: People love to argue. Arguing over truth is one of the hottest topics to argue about. Only one "religion" has that truth, but people want to argue that their way is the only way. There is only One Way and until people start believing The Truth, they will always believe a lie and argue about it. Right? If people would only read the Holy Bible, they would know the Truth and the Truth would set them free. But you can only lead a horse to water, you can't make 'em drink. All you can do is pray for them to come to the Truth.

Answer 8

Because often ignorant theists want their rubbish inserted in to schools.

Creationism isn't militant on the face of it, is it? You're saying people can believe anything they want but they have to be quiet about it - except their beliefs explicitly tell them they can't.

Why can't people get along... this is such a silly question. Maybe you need to mature a bit before you can understand such things.

An animist huh? How's that working out for you? lol.

Answer 9

back in the old days religion was actually politics. that's why people say no to talk about neither with anyone. questioning someone's belief never have good outcomes.

Answer 10

I'm a Muslim. I have never tried to convert anyone, nor have I purposefully insulted someone else's religion. I only try to explain Islam so that other people have a better understanding of my religion, and can see that we are not a people to be feared. It is only the actions of the Shi'a regime that gives the rest of us a bad name.

As-Salamu Alaykum