Why do people of any faith (Or lack of it) feel that they have the right to insult others beliefs?

Question

Come on, guys. No one is perfect, and none of you can prove that you're 100% right. Athiests, Christians, Muslims, ANYONE, how can you justify you're right to tell other people they're an idoit? Why don't people just talk to one another instead of arguing? Does it make you feel better about yourselves to take 10 seconds to condemn instead of 10 minutes to explain?

I went to a very conservitive cathloic school, and I hated christianity until I graduated, when a very patient lutheran minister sat me down and answered all my questions, thouroughly and paitently. (it took two years of coffee dates). I'm still not christian, but I can respect the beauty of the real religion now. Why dosen't everyone do that? Why can't we find a minute out of our days to ask a legitimate question or answer one?

Before anyone else takes that out the first person did, telling the "truth" by saying "You're going to hell for that!" dosen't count!

Eri, What country are you in that religous people can deny you health care or kill you? That obviously isn't right. I'm talking about just pure conversation!

The difference is in how you say it. Its okay to believe that gay people are going to hell (i don't believe it, but you can). If you say "You're going to hell because you're a gay athiest. Enjoy roasting for eternity", You're insulting. If you say "I don't believe that God is okay with you being gay, and this is why I think so." Thats not half as bad.

Lord Edward, you COMPLETELY missed the point. My point was, instead of assuming satanism is evil, why not sit down with a satanist and talk about it? How much do you really know about satanism, anyway? Are you informed enough to judge? And no matter how much you know, you NEVER have the right to condemn. (Even terrorists that blow up buildings have a reason for doing so. Do you know what that reason it? Ever looked into it? I doubt it. Blowing up things is bad, but they can believe whatever they want as long as they don't hurt anyone) People have a right to their beliefs, whatever they are. Someone could tell me that according to their religion, I'm the lowest form of life on earth and I should be killed, and my first question is going to be "Why?". Thats should always be the first question. It should be about learning, not condemnation.

Answer 1

I very rarely insult. I do tell the truth, though.

Answer 2

I try to give as thorough an answer as possible. I think sometimes people want to be the first to post so the answer can be abrupt and offensive devoid of real thought. I absolutely respect Christianity as that how I was raised (Catholic). I am now a Buddhist pracitioner but have found that Jesus and the Buddha are very similar in their actual teachings not the filters that some put on them. I celebrate all spiritual ancestors and wish everyone could do the same. If you've never read Living Buddha, Living Christ by Thich Nhat Hanh, I highly recommend it to you and to everyone for that matter. It's really lovely and has a foreword written by one of the priests he worked with during the peace movements in the '60s. Best to you.

Answer 3

Certainly, a few humans suppose that their faith , perception is the right one and the others don't seem to be actual...They love to don't forget themselves awesome from this factor of view and considering that of this, they consider they've the proper to pass judgement on different ideals. This is the motive why many wars began ago or even now, a few humans die in distinctive constituents of the sector. In my opinion, there must be one faith on the planet, probably a combination of a few ideals from distinctive religions. There is just one God, perceived in distinctive methods in each faith. There is not any faith that is extra nearly the reality than the others. So we is not going to argue approximately this query such a lot. We have got to admire every different and on this means, we will restrict many conflicts brought about through devout concerns, making our global a higher position. Personally, I do not think in God, considering that of private explanations and considering that there are a few contradictory elements within the Bible, devout ideals; however I admire others opinion and I do not always suppose that my factor of view is proper, considering that my angle in the direction of this subject can difference one day.......and probably I'll come to be a devout man or woman.

Answer 4

I hear what you're saying; I really do. However, why should religious beliefs be the only sacred and unquestionable area of the human experience? Americans have a particularly positive view of religion, and as such, religious belief is the only area of discourse that is "off limits" to critical analysis. It seems absurd to me. Why shouldn't the same rules of evidence/rationalism not be applied to someone's beliefs? Furthermore, why should we be "tolerant" of someone's beliefs purely as a matter of course? Some belief systems are evil (e.g. Nazism, satanism, racism, etc.). It seems silly to tolerate them just because someone might get offended if I don't.

Think about this...In America, it is unacceptable to draw any conclusions implying that; to effectively ward off terrorist aggression, we may need to also combat an ideology born of a religion. This is true despite that common religious denominator of almost all acts of terrorism throughout the world. We claim that it must be a political reason that drives people to strap bombs to themselves and kill others. It seems a little out of line with the idea of rationalism, but that's just my two cents.

If you tell a man that his wife is cheating on him or that frozen yogurt can turn him invisible, he will most likely require the same level of proof from you as he would for any other claim. However, if you tell him that the book he keeps by his bedside was written by the creator of the universe and if he doesn't obey its every scripture, he will spend eternity burning in hell, he doesn't seem to require any evidence whatsoever. See how much sense it makes to "tolerate" religious beliefs?

I think that it is prudent and necessary to question, analyze, and condemn certain beliefs; especially religious beliefs. The reason for this is that, contrary to popular opinion, religious belief has never been a purely private matter. Belief translates into action. A brief glimpse at history proves this theory. This is especially disturbing in the nuclear age, where one man can not only martyr himself in the name of God, but drag all of us along with him.

Answer 5

Hi
The reason why people attack viciously another's faith is that their own beliefs are being threatened to them, someone who is sound in their belief definitely does not feel the need to belittle or degrade another. The need to help others to understand Christianity for their benefit although done tactfully can also be viewed as a hostile act but what are Christian to do we are commissioned to tell the world about Christ.
Lammy

Answer 6

I agree. Discussing different beliefs is an awesome thing. I mean, how cool would it be for a Christian and a Hindu to talk, and each learns something from the other that increases both of their faiths and shows that we all really are connected. It's the elitist groups who say "it's us versus everyone else, and God will make us win" who really are both deceiving themselves, and selling themselves short of a great friendship or moment of enlightenment. Blessings in the Light of Christ!

Answer 7

My daughter is a fairly devout and conservative Catholic, but she is not mindlessly so. While I answer her questions on topics of scripture and history, she doesn't try to convert me or vice versa. A lot of folks posting here are evangelizing and making assertions that simply are not true or reasonable, and truth matters. So I respond. How do you tell someone their beliefs are delusional without them taking offense? And if you could, what fun would that be? I'm about 50% serious about that. i admit to being conflicted.

I indeed don't have 100% of the knowledge in the universe, but that is not a standard we (including you) ever apply to determine when we make a judgment as to what has a foundation in testable evidence and what does not. We can't know everything, but we can certainly know somethings, such as humans and dinosaurs were not created fully formed and one day apart.

Religion is for many people not only not private, but in fact they seek to impose a theocratic rule on my country based on their delusions, and have utter nonsense like Creationism taught in the classrooms where our future doctors, scientists and mathematicians will be trained, instead insuring they grow up to drive tow trucks and polish bowling lanes. So showing passivity or even phony respect for what is clearly pre-bronze age nonsense is dangerous for me and any citizen, especially a freethinker who has no desire to be hung and my property confiscated because I am an infidel, something Christians seem to like to do whenever they are in charge.

On the flip side, unlike many posters, I am not really annoyed by Christians witnessing to me with what seems genuine interest in promoting not merely their acculturated beliefs, but in sharing what they have found to be a worthwhile and meaningful understanding of the cosmos and their place in it. If they did not do so it would be completely inconsistent with their faith, and I do find hypocrisy annoying.

On the other hand I am annoyed by all the childish hellfire and brimstone nonsense, primarily because Christ seems to have been more interested in promoting the Kingdom of God on earth than in promoting his own worship, let alone presenting himself as an escape from hellfire. I am annoyed by fundamentalist and inerrantist Christians who know nothing of their faith or the Bible and think they do. I am annoyed by the scientific illiteracy and ignorance of Creationists. But I am not so much annoyed by the silliness of their beliefs, as I am about the fact that they hold these beliefs uncritically and pass on the lies propagated in support for their silliness which encourages others to share their Neanderthal cosmology holding all humanity back waiting for Jesus to come in the clouds and solve everything instead of getting off their butts and pitching in.

Though I haven't been a pastor for seven years and have considered myself an atheist for four, I still maintain some friends who are pastors and are Christians (and of all I respect the Lutherans the most, as they really do seem to get the Kingdom Theology of Jesus, i.e. the religion of Jesus as opposed to a religion about him). But it is still a stretch to presume to find "beauty" in a religion based in blood sacrifice to avoid eternal torment. Sorry. It's really monstrous if you actually think it through, which I did not for decades, but I cannot now un-know what I know and there's no getting around it.

Answer 8

I don't think telling the truth is the same as insulting, even if the truth is hard for some people to handle.

EDIT: I have NEVER told anyone they are going to Hell. Please don't assume all religious people threaten and judge.

May God Bless you.

Answer 9

Why should I respect beliefs that make no sense? Why should I respect people's belief that they have the right to discriminate against me, deny me basic healthcare, even kill me?

EDIT: I live in the US. In my state, I am not legally allowed to run for a state office because I don't believe in a god. It's in the state constitution, and no matter how much it violates the federal one, they won't take it out.
I often find it difficult to get my birth control perscriptions filled, and many pharamacies will not sell forms of birth control. Also, it is getting harder and harder to get an abortion, no matter how long you've been pregnant, and the religious conservatives in the US prevented the release of the HPV vacienne until it was too late for me. Thanks, guys. Oh, and there are plenty of people out there happy to kill you for not beleving in their gods - just try going to the middle east some time. No way in hell I'm 'respecting' that belief.

Answer 10

i think it's all about open mindedness.
a lot of people are scared to have to explain their beliefs because in the midst of all that brainwashing they may have missed the point of religion. they might also be scared that if they really sit and consider it, they might not believe it to be true any longer. i know that i don't want to let go of such a huge part of myself. i think it takes a lot of courage to explain and defend your beliefs, especially with a nonbeliever, and especially if they know more than you do. it takes a lot of courage and a lot of faith.

Answer 11

Everybody insults everybody if they do not share the same religious beliefs. No one can discuss the subject without getting offended or without having to prove their way is the right way and your way is just wrong.
EXCUSE ME BUT I HAVE READ THE SATANIC BIBLE AND SATANISM IS A RELIGION BASED Solely ON SELF INDULGENCE. WHY DON'T YOU ALL READ IT BEFORE YOU MAKE IGNORANT COMMENTS!!!!!!!!!!