Why do some followers of certain faiths feel it necessary to condemn others...?

Question

Why do some followers of certain faiths feel it necessary to condemn others before they ever educate themselves on other's belief structure. I know that many claim this or that to be the "One true faith" but how are they so sure? Is it simply because that's what they believe, or is it because that's what someone told them what to believe? I'm not trying to criticize any faith, I just wish to understand the mindset that brings about condemnation of others.

I have no question about my own path. I'm trying to understand what drives a person to condemn another based on a belief.

Condemn- to tell people they are going to (insert hellish place here) because they do not share the same beliefs.

I don't quite know what a "New Covenant" believer is. If you are refering to Christians, then yes, I've seen some (but not nearly the majority) do this. Of course, Christians are the majority where I live, so it's an unfair comparison.

Answer 1

They feel so much benefit from their own church that they think everyone should believe the same way ...

however ...

Heavenly Father is smart enough to appeal to many and varied people by building the body of his church with many different parts fulfilling all the different functions.
One is like the hand, another like the foot, another like the eye.

But the condemning comes from the eye accusing the foot of being blind, and the foot telling the hand it is crippled and can't walk, and the hand tells the eye it can never enter heaven because it doesn't serve as much as the hand...
They have different reasons for being there. Of course they do not function the same way the other one does.

Jesus said, "A house divided will fall..." and the bickering between God's faithful children is making our home very wobbley.
***************************************
JOKE :
A man died and was being shown around Heaven ...
"Over here are the Methodists, and over there are the Mormans, and they are the Muslims over there .." ... then whispering he added, "And behind this wall , we have the ***(use whatever group you want)"
"But why do you keep them behind there?" asked the man
"HUSH! ... They think they are the only ones here ..."

Answer 2

It is about faith and what they have been taught about what is moral and just. The biggest culprits are Christianity and Islam, and I figure it's why you hear about them more than groups like Buddhists and Taoists which are more of a "live and let live" mentality.
I'll use Christians for all examples- I know them a lot better. Christians, obviously, feel that the only way to be saved is to accept Jesus as your saviour. (Pardon me if I'm not quoting chapter and verse) It goes on further to say it is the mandate of Christianity to preach the Word of God to everyone, and that the unsaved (those who hear the Gospel but do not follow it or accept Christ) are really in for it when the time of the Apocalypse comes and we're all judged. They genuinely feel they are doing their fellow man a favor and saving them from damnation by conversion to Christianity.
Ergo, since their value system answers some very big questions about what God wants, how to get to heaven, what is the moral path, etc. those that stray from that path (i.e. other religions) are condemning themselves by not following God's plan.
If you don't take away anything else from this answer, know this: Belief is more important than facts. It is a fundamental, empirical concept. Facts will be twisted, contorted and crushed to make sure they do not push believers out of the safe equilibrium brought to their lives by belief. It is extremely scary to many to not "know" how the world works, or to feel like no one is in control. The elimination or compromise of a belief system creates huge dissonance in people, and commonly feelings of self-destruction and neurosis. People *need* to believe. And if that means condemning others to maintain the faith, so be it- as far as their concerned they are doing it out of a mandate from their religion.

Answer 3

I am not sure. I am Catholic and we are a constant target of such abuse in this particular forum. I have even noticed that after we tell people things they say are not true (example we tell a person we do not worship statues) the false information is still repeated by the same people. Personally I doubt that it is just religious that speak in ignorance. I think many poorly educated people try too hard to look intelligent. In their efforts they attempt to have an answer for everything (which is not even possible) and instead end up looking very foolish. I think some people feel as if they must have an answer for everything to validate their belief system. This also seems foolish and unrealistic. I guess then, that the best answer I can truthfully give you is, I don't really know. I am not sure either. Peace be with you.

Answer 4

By phrasing your question with "certain faiths", would I be correct in assuming that whom you really would like to name are the New Covenant believers? I realize you wrote "faiths" in the plural, but you did so to evade the truth that YOU are the condemnational mindset here, because since I've been in this forum, it has only ever been the NC believers that are accused of being condemnational. Define what you mean by "condemn" because this word, like alot of other misused words, is being privately interpreted in too many ways in this forum by people who hide behind the anonymity and safety of "just being curious." Come right out and say who you are inquiring about. Otherwise, your question has no merit.

Answer 5

Boiling it down to its simplest form, I would have to say, "exclusivity," and "ultimate truth."

All institutional religion teaches that their path is the only, single route to god, because they believe that what they offer is "ultimate truth." Anything outside their belief system is therefore anti-truth, anti-god and must be shunned. From this position, it is very easy to condemn any one or any group that does not follow or agree with the teachings of their religion. This breeds...

"Exclusivity." By accepting, on faith, that said religion is the only way to god, that automatically places you in a very exclusive and allegedly righteous club. And, this alleged, highly exclusive righteous club exists now and on into the afterlife. This brings the follower great joy and great fear at the same time. Joy in knowing that one day they will meet their god and great fear that the ones they love will not be joining them after death because they have refused membership into the club. This leads to...

A pressing desire to bring the people they love into the fold. Desperate, they will use any means at their disposal, including condemnation. This transfers their fear onto the person they have condemned in the hope that they will somehow acquiesce and take out membership.

Eventually, the condemnation tool is used liberally on anyone who refuses to join said religion. Scare tactics do work especially when they are linked with our mortality. Our fear of what happens to us post death. This "darkness phobia" is also what supports the notion for the seat of ultimate evil otherwise known as satan.

I've often wondered if religion were scrutinized in the way a psychiatrist scrutinizes the ability of an unstable person to stand trial, what pathology would be associated with religion itself?

Answer 6

It is inherent in the doctrine of several religions.
Therefore anyone accepting one of these also takes on board, if they are consistent, that all other faiths are untrue, or distortions etc. (the phrasing varies).

It need not be anything to do with malice or attitude of superiority in the believer themselves.

But psychologically, denigrating and demonising those outside a group is a common phenomenon which crops up in many settings, not just religious ones, with the effect of enhancing group confidence, solidarity and identification.

Answer 7

Yes, People base their limited understanding on half truths. If only they knew that 'all roads lead to Rome' and likewise all religions lead men to God, they won't criticize or condemn others. The Universe is vast. Due to geographical locations and the surroundings and climate, different communities flourished in each region and they had their own set of codes of living and praying and many such communities evolved the different major religions. Hence if we deeply think there is only one religion, the religion of humanity. All are One and all are alike in life and misery. Every country has got their positive and negative influences on the mind of their people and immigrants. There is discord. Unity is missing. It is not a wonder people base their beliefs on vain dogmas and start hating each other. It is only LOVE that will unite all into One community. nagarajan.

Answer 8

Not all faiths are good for humanity and the truth needs to be told since the followers tend to lie and manipulate to convince new people to believe. All cults and gangs need to be exposed for what they are before more harm is done. Bring awareness but not condemnation. Only God can do that.

May God Bless you.

Answer 9

because by belittling other peoples beliefs, it makes them feel better about thier own. I know it seems childish, and if youre on the recieving end it most certianly is. But the ones doing the belittling have a nice ego boost and they walk away with an arrogant look on thier face.

Answer 10

The only reason you join an organized religion is because they've convinced you that it's "their way or the highway" (to hell or the equivalent). There's simply no point unless you believe that it's necessary to your "salvation;" and one obvious consequence of this is that you also assume it's necessary to everybody else's salvation. The inherent bigotry of this attitude is usually concealed under a lot of sentimental gloss about "love and compassion for the unsaved." Really it's just the fundamental impulse to distinguish oneself favorably from "the other."