Why are so many people easily offended when it comes to discussing religion?

Answer 1

touchy subject.

Answer 2

Not always, but often, I think people blindly become involved with a religion for the wrong reasons - social or emotional for instance. They do not take the time to become well versed or educated with the religion they have chosen and are unable to participate in a genuine discussion or debate. When they are questioned about this religion they have chosen, they feel they are personally being attacked. I believe if one has been called by faith or revelation to a particular religion, he would study and read as much as possible; he would want to and he would gain as much available information and knowledge as he could. He would then be prepared to defend and discuss his religion with others and there would be no call for offense. This is my personal opinion of course.

Answer 3

Some people pour their heart and soul into, say, their sports team. It's their life, it's their purpose for existing, and they attack anyone who doesn't hold the team in as high a regard. Building up 'their' team allows them to bask in a reflected glory. (Until the team moves to Los Angeles.)

The same thing happens in politics - look at Ann Coulter or Al Franken; people who otherwise couldn't stand either will tolerate one, on the 'at least he's our jackass' theory. (Sports has many examples of this, too.)

Religion does the same thing, but the perceived value of the question is amplified, from "What is the best basketball team in North America?" to "How should our nation be governed?" to "What rules govern what we should do in ANY situation?"

Religions typically cover all values - social justice, family organization, ethics, even more limited things like dietary rules and physical cleanliness. It's more all-encompassing than politics (although the recent history of the US, I think, shows that politics is closing that gap). The answer to ANYTHING can be found in your holy text or the clergy that are around to interpret/extrapolate from it. So any deviation from that is an offense, not only against the person, but against the religion, and, as such, everything the person believes, every value they have.

It's one of the reasons I'm glad that science has no effective grand unification theory; we can't take that absolutist stance.

Answer 4

I think when you base your life on certain beliefs and committ your future to what you believe then it is hard to not take offense when people belittle your beliefs or put them down as silly or false. Many people's faith is the most important thing in their life. If people can discuss without argueing or getting on the defensive then it would be ok to have a discussion on religion but if they can not, then they should agree to not discuss religion. Same goes for politics.

Answer 5

because sometimes when people want to learn about other religions and they ask people for a personal opinion. People tend to get offensive because i guess they feel that the questioneer is attacking their beliefs, and they become rather defensive. Most people try to stay away from religious issues because of that. Religion is a very touchy subject and always has been. That someone can't discuss their beliefs without having someone question their beliefs, attack, and try to shove THEIR views and THEIR beliefs of life. I guess history is a big part of that reason. The jewish were persecuted and murdered. The muslims are treated like **** because people get all scared that they might pull out a bomb and yelling some **** in arabic in the name of "allah" christians are viewed as rednecks. and so one and so forth. as a society we as a people still have a long way to go.

Answer 6

It gets personal. I have learned to put my personal feelings aside when discussing about faith, because personal feelings can lead you wrong. I do not think that we would be able to live the will of God without obedience and follow our feelings.
It really depends on the style and nature of the conversation on how successfully the communication starts and ends. I think it is good thing to hear each other out. : )

Answer 7

I have often wondered this same question. I think that people's religion are very close to their self-identities, like a persons race. Once you start talking about race people get very defensive and it is the same with religion.

Answer 8

Because religion, faith and spirituality are the domains of the soul, and nothing can be closer to a person than the soul.

And, because a strong faith in anything can feel like "knowledge" (even though it is not), and when you think you "know" something it's hard to resist "educating" others. (This applies to theists AND atheists, neither of whom "know" the truth about these matters. Their beliefs are merely best guesses, although none of them admits it.)

Answer 9

Because religion means suborning your will to Someone or Something else, and a lot of people these days are just too self-indulgent and selfish to do that.

Answer 10

Because they take a challenge as a violation of their religious freedom.

We must challenge religion, always, without question, until it is exposed for the fraudulent, wasteful, unnecessary institution it is

Answer 11

Because it is a convienient starting point that sets boundaries - and narrows the direction of the conversation in the "offendees" favour.