If a question asks for answers from people who believe as they do, why do non-believers feel compelled to answer? For instance, if a Christian asks a question of fellow Christians, why would an atheist or anyone other than Christian answer? Do they feel threatened by someone who believes other than they do?
2007-03-30 20:52:45 · 25 answers · asked by honest_funny_charlie 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
How about a different example? Maybe I'll get a real answer. If an athiest asked other athiests a question, why would Christians, Jews, etc., feel compelled to answer? And by the way, I'm transgendered and a Christian, and I answer plenty of questions in the gay/bi/trans section, so that kind of answer doesn't apply here.
2007-03-30 21:04:59 · update #1
I've often wondered about that myself. I realize that this a public forum, and as such it is bound to attract people to those parts of it that are of interest to them, but some people come into this particular forum for no other reason than that they are angry with the "other" side and have an ax to grind essentially about anything. I do not share exactly the same beliefs with all people, but when I see an honest question with no agenda to serve being treated rudely by some angry, hateful person, I'm going to respond in kind. The notions of "tolerance" and "acceptance" obviously serve only those who wish to receive it, but who feel no compelling reason to return it graciously for whatever arrogant, self-serving reason. Such ignorance , in my estimation, deserves the penalty it brings.
2007-03-30 21:17:42 · answer #1 · answered by Storm King 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most of the time people do that they are making cruel remarks, but some actually have something useful to say. They may not believe the same thing, but they might have something WORTH saying about it, though those people/comments are few and far between. Most just spit out gibberish and insults because unless they break a rule, nothing will happen to them except a hands down.
2007-03-31 03:57:52 · answer #2 · answered by Stahn 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
How about questions like : "Christains only! (And then in the details) Do you hate Athiests as much as me?!!!111!!1!one!!1!? How can we get rid of them?" Spelling errors were intentional.
Maybe I'm paranoid by nature, but when I see a "Xians only" question I feel compelled to stick my nose in and see what's going on. When I get there, it's usually so laughable I HAVE to reply. Or explode.
2007-03-31 04:03:47 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Why do people ask questions, only expecting one side of the argument in the answer?
"Do they feel threatened by someone who believes other than they do?"
No, they simply answer because they feel compelled to answer. Answering a question seems to be a right that people have nowadays...weird, eh?
2007-03-31 04:01:51 · answer #4 · answered by third_syren_of_seduction 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have taken a position that if a question is explicitly targeting "atheists", "non-believers" or something similar, that I will not answer (but may read for my own edification) the question since I obviously do not fit these labels.
Likewise, if a question is labeled "believers", "theists", “Muslims”, “Jehovah’s Witnesses”, etc., it would be polite if persons not fitting the question’s label would not respond. Persons that do so seem to me to be very desperate for attention or the paltry two points. I also ignore questions that obviously violate the new community guidelines posted at http://answers.yahoo.com/info/community_guidelines.php, and especially those that are vulgar, hate-mongering, vapid preaching, or are just chatty.
So it seems to me, outside of responding to questions that fit one’s identity, only if a question is non-specific as to some target population should responses be expected from “any and all” persons.
We all learned this behavior in kindergarten but seem to have forgotten how to play nice with one another. We were taught to not speak unless spoken to, answer the question asked, and be polite. Yet, even when a question is marked unequivocally for, say, “Pro-Choice Women”, you will find males posting answers. Apparently some have never learned, as George Elliot noted, "Blessed is the person who, having nothing to say, abstains from giving us worthy evidence of the fact."
Yet why is it that when some are older they feel they can reject all semblances of politeness hiding behind anonymity, or shallow and strained arguments for free speech, “I’m just having fun”, etc? In truth, these are not really the salient issues, but only excuses for bad behavior.
What enables these forums? The answer should be clear--it is the question posed. The questioner is the driving force in these forums and should be able to designate a specific population for the responses they are seeking. For if there are no questions, there is no reason for a Q&A type of forum. Thus, the focus for any of my responses is on what the asker may think of my answer. If the asker doesn’t like my answer I usually hear about it and learn from them. Nevertheless, I try to write cogent responses in hopes they are useful to others who may take the time to read them.
I create my answers from an academic theologian’s perspective, as this is my “day job”. Yes, my answers are often wordy; to honor the questioner with enough details to help them learn more. I believe that what a person sets into writing is a greater act of consciousness than what a person speaks from their mouths. So, when a person writes some of the vitriol that we see in this Forum, especially from self-professed believers, this person is demonstrating the real nature of the state of their faith to others. In short, some may know the Word of the Lord, but they demonstrate by their actions that they do not know the Lord of the Word.
If we respect the sincere questioner’s desires for specificity (if any), adhere to the community guidelines, and remember what we learned when we were six years old, spending time in this forum will be worth our precious time.
2007-03-31 03:57:50 · answer #5 · answered by Ask Mr. Religion 6 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Because they have as much right to have their opinions heard (and earn their two points) as the next person. And for the record, I see plenty of straight Christians posting answers to questions addressed to members of the Queer community in the LGBT section, so turnabout is fair play.
2007-03-31 03:57:08 · answer #6 · answered by SDTerp 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Answer #1 : Free will.
Answer #2 : Open forum.
Need I say more?
This is not an Exclusive club for any group.
You ask a question, expect an answer.
And Be Thankful for the honest opinions you receive.
Or Not.
2007-03-31 03:59:45 · answer #7 · answered by Orac 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Any question asked on a site that is open to all concerns me if I see fit to answer it.
If you wish to have only Christians answer your questions, this would be the least intelligent choice to make in a site that would achieve that goal - your problem, not mine.
2007-03-31 03:59:24 · answer #8 · answered by Snark 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
why do christians feel the need to answer athiest based questions. i dont know it goes both ways buddy.
2007-03-31 03:58:35 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Non-believers feel that something is wrong with a God concept that has taken over one hundred million lives from religion/sectarian violence and encourages the followers to ignore it.
2007-03-31 03:59:53 · answer #10 · answered by liberty11235 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋