Why is this so difficult?

Question

Why is it so difficult for some people to accept that there are people in this world who think on their own and can't be ordered to believe as they want them to? I'm me, you are you. Who are you to tell me what I believe, and who am I to tell you what you believe? Do these people that do this really suffer from an inferiority complex or something? What is wrong with them, on all sides? Bottom line is, nobody is going to believe just because you feel that you are entitled to dictate this to them. Even if you do hold somebody by a gun, sword, whatever weapon, they may say it, but they won't feel it in their hearts. What's the satisfaction in that? If you are capable of thought, you know in the back of your mind that people are all different.

I personally think everyone should knock the pathetic hating off because it only shows how lowly they think of themselves. What is your opinion?

Answer 1

I beleive you are correct. Unfortunately, people who need to convert other people to their viewpoints are very insecure in themselves and their chosen religion. If someone voices an opinion different from their own they aren't mature enough to say, "hey, thats interesting, I don't necessarily believe the same but its food for thought." and then go on their way. They have to insult the person who said it and either humiliate them or shut them up by saying some childish thing like "you're going to go to Hell for believing that."

All i can say, is the next time someone wants you to believe what they beleive just smile and say "That's okay, I'm quite happy in my own beliefs, thank you!" Then. at least, you have the advantage of being the mature one in the relationship.

Answer 2

Honestly, I don't believe that majority of the people on this site are open-minded.

Every religion or non-religion.

Some are just plain rude. The liberals don't accept anything not left wing ideas. The evolutionist only state theories, never facts. The muslims just speak about how great they are like having a bachelor's degree Zzzzz. The christians don't show any compassion-

Most people just fall short of swearing. (I'm sure many would if they could)

I'm glad two people were genuine in their answering, although I do not agree with them, they were polite to share in their insight.

The rest of you, need counseling. Live in healing, not in history.

Answer 3

Every religion started out with someone figuring out a good way to live life. These ideas become dogma when that path becomes rules. Buddhism, for instance, is a path anyone can follow.
A religious hierarchy needs to maintain its power base so they reassure the flock that they're the only true believers, therefore everyone else is wrong. This perpetuates their power.
Find a path and stick to it. Be honest in your endeavors, do unto others... etc. Lead a good life. Will you be rewarded in the end? Beats me. You'll have already been rewarded by your existence here.

Answer 4

I think it is the struggle to prove their points. Nobody wants to be taken as a fool, so everybody does whatever they can to prove what they believe, because that's the only thing that makes sense to them. Others feel the necessity to "save souls" to show off to their pastors. Others take the part "spread the word" more serious than "those who have ears to hear..."

It would be wonderful if everybody could just speak about their beliefs without the commitment of changing anybody else's mind, wouldn't it? While they are so preoccupied with making their point, they forget that we all should be tolerant with each other.

Peace!

Answer 5

that is not difficult at all. i do believe just like you that you can never force people or impose your belief on others. I am a christian and I don't impose my belief on others. The only way I can do is to share what I believe to them. Whether they accept the truth or not, it is up to them to decide. My job is done when I shared the truth, it is now the job of the Holy spirit to let the seed grow in his time. I will not in a million of years would think that I can force anyone to believe what I believe for that would just defeat the purpose. I do hope and pray that you will meet my Lord someday and would change your opinion about him. In God's time you will...

Edit: in defense for all the christians. The reason why some of us Get roused up by the question is that the question is just basically an attack on what we believe in. it was not to pose a question but an attack to show their hatred toward us. If they pose a question aggressively, we have the right to stand up and object to the atrocity of the question they posted. If they would ask a question politely and intelligibly with no hidden agenda of hatred then their question might even be credible.

Edit # 3: I just saw another question that asked "should all christians be locked up in a mental hospital?" How would you expect me to respond to that? that is a direct attack on me. So who are you guys to say that we christians are the one provoking the unbelievers? Isn't it that that particular question are a provoking question? it is posted to irritate and put down Christians. And that is what the person asking the question wants to do.

agreeing with you,
Wasabi

Answer 6

In some cases (experienced this in RL), it is difficult for them because they've honestly never known people who think on their own.

I don't mean they've never met people of other religions. I mean that they've never really /known/ these people. My friends at law school, who are uniformly good people, are nonetheless absolutely /astounded/ by the fact that I have been in a Jewish synagogue, in a mosque, at a Greek Orthodox wedding, sat za-zen at a retreat on the Hudson River.

They couldn't fathom that I would go into these places willingly. One of them, who is otherwise probably the closest to my beliefs, said that he 'would never set foot in a mosque.' They apparently expected me to convert just because I had visited the places of faith, because apparently that's what you do when you go to a place of worship. Then they asked me why I 'wasn't a Christian yet,' like it was expected that I be so in short order. I reiterate, these are my friends.

People like that lack any intellectual curiosity about other religions and tend to assume that others lack intellectual curiosity too and can be bullied into agreeing with what they believe. People like that in my example are Christian (I attend a nominally Christian law school), but they exist in all religions and amongst atheists and agnostics as well.

Answer 7

You are completely right, because believing is feeling. But feeling is something personal and subjective. That's why we always hope to find other people having the same feeling and therefore the same belief. Sometimes people are so happy to find other people with the same feeling that they want them to have it even if they don't want. Sometimes people want to impose their belief because they think it allows a sort of power, a holy power, a God's power, but, over all, the power of men over other men. They don't realize that God already spoke to every people deeply inside and God can speak all languages.

Answer 8

If, as you state, people think on their own and do not want to be told anything about God--why do they come to the Religion and spiritual section and post that notice. I, in no way, am not belittling you question. I have great respect for someone who has any thought. I would be foolish to go to the hunting and shooting site and start talking about how people should not have guns. BTW I have no thoughts about guns one way or the other. Do you understand where I'm coming from? We should love one another.

Answer 9

It's because of that, Christ said 'I leave you MY PEACE'.
We haven't understood Him yet. 'Cause when we say we are in peace, it means always 'our peace' and probably the another one's suffering and troubles. We are hard and foolish.
When we can drink water and often waste it, we forgive that this water we can drink, it's 'cause other ones can't do it, and so on. When we'd clearly and fully understand that the only way to live is the Word of God, read LOVE, (and when I say God I mean not Christian, Muslim, Hebrew or other, I mean the God of all), we'll stay in the same position as at the start of human history.
Love, respect and joy of living.

Answer 10

People are people...some are better than others in presenting things to others for consideration... This is even further exacerbated when there are strong emotional issues involved. ie: religion

Personally, I know The Truth of My Faith. I know beyond any doubt, as far as I am concerned, that those who do not accept the basics are going to find themselves in a bad situation in the matter of their eternal existence.

I do not "hate" any one for not accepting... that is completely counter to what I know to be The truth. Nor am I permitted to "force" my faith upon any one in any way. But, people being people, there are those who can "cross the line" so-to-speak when trying to express The Truth to others.

Those who respond with hatred to inappropriate approaches by those of "faith" far exceed any hostility returned by those who fail in properly presenting The Truth... even a casual survey of resonances on YA would show that the bashers who respond with hostility and vile diatribes to those of almost any "faith", ...far exceed the hostile responses of those of almost any one of "faith"

If you see any actual "hate" express by any one claiming to be of The Christian Faith you can be assured that they are NOT of The True Christian Faith... To hate is to be in direct opposition to The Christian's Lord and Master Jesus The Christ.