Why do religious people expect a free pass?

Question

A political opinion, choice of football team, choice of favourite chocolate bar, etc etc, is all completely fair game for discussion. It is completely OK to discuss someone's political affiliation and to defend your own stance. No-one expects you to say "Oh, I respect that. I won't say anything that may offend you" if you say "I'm a Lakers fan" or "I'm a Democrat". Nor would you get insulted and feel hurt or wounded if someone said "You're a Democrat? I don't respect that."

You are expected to be able to defend your stance using references to fact, argument, etc. Also, you'd revise your ideas about an issue if new facts came to light.

So why is religion so completely different?

When I say to someone: "Oh, you're Christian? Well, you have every right to be a Christian, but I don't respect it. All kinds of evidence points to that you're wrong." I don't get a debate, but a histrionic hissy fit about being intolerant and worse than Stalin.

What the hell is the difference? What?

Answer 1

I am a Christian, yet I agree with you. You have the right to your thoughts and opinions, and I do find that the idea of "tolerance" as the great holy unforgivable sin of our time to be repugnant. If ideas cannot stand on their arguments they should not be respected.

We are entitled to whatever we wish to believe in this nation without government interference, but none of us are entitled to respect from all for what we believe.

Answer 2

I've had some good discussions with religious people who respected my opposing opinions. Some are oblivious to the fact that people might have different ideas(I remember a co-worker, at lunch, grabbing people's hands and starting to pray before we ate. It was as if she assumed EVERYONE in the world did this kind of thing. And she was astonished when people complained). Then there are those who just can't handle other people's opinions if they don't agree with their own. Others have had so many bad experiences with people bashing their religion that they've lost their patience(Which is somewhat understandable). By the way, I can always hold a calm debate, but if someone pushes my buttons one too many times, then they will find out that while I may have a long fuse, at the end of the day, it's attached to a big F'n bomb!

Answer 3

Before the eighteenth century Christianity ruled Europe with an iron fist. There were ecclesiastical courts and millions were tortured and executed for simply having their own opinions about countless trivial superstitious matters. The Enlightenment arose in response to the horrors of several Catholic Inquisitions and the Protestant witch-hunts. The need for practical reality-based government drove humanity to separate Church from State. In North America the founding fathers settled the matter by declaring Freedom of Religion. Deists and scientists of the eighteenth century breathed a sigh of relief that bloody religious war was now unlikely in the new secular democracy.

By the twentieth century, American Christianity had become a force to be reckoned with. Two centuries of traditional American religious tolerance allowed believers to convince themselves they were doing God's own work and to ignore the historical disastrous consequences of mixing religion with government. To properly understand fundamentalist Christianity, rational people must remind themselves that true-believers, like schizophrenics, are unable to discern the difference between objective reality and their own subjective perceptions. This leads the faithful to believe their imaginary God is actually real and that He deserves both respect and worship.

My late mother was a speaking-in-tongues fundamentalist Pentacostal whose beliefs became progressively more extreme until she was diagnosed as a full-blown hallucinating schizophrenic. She spent half of her life in and out of state mental hospitals because she couldn't stop herself from compulsively masturbating in public while imagining she was having sex with Jesus Christ. Having witnessed how her religious fervor and schizophrenia simultaneously developed and also how anti-psycotic medications and/or electro-convulsive therapy simultaneously effected both her religious belief and her schizophrenia, I have no doubt that the two were neurologically linked. Please understand that I am NOT saying extreme religiosity and schizophrenia are the same thing. I don't have enough evidence to support that extraordinary claim. My point is that true-believers and schizophrenics are both frequently incapable of understanding the difference between objective physical reality and their own subjective perceptions. This is the essential difference between having a rational discussion and debating with an extremist Christian.

Answer 4

Perhaps the way you approached the person or persons is why you got the reaction you claim you did.

Not all Democrats are the same. Not all Republicans. Not all Blacks. Not all Italians. Not all.........(add yours here)!

Generalizations, when it comes to groups, have been a curse on society through the ages. It keeps fear and animosity alive and operating.

When you attack someone for their beliefs, do you expect them to take it? Would you? I doubt it.
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Answer 5

I think it's because religion is supposed to explain everything, at least when it comes to the Big 3 (Christianity, Judaism, Islam). People in these religions are taught that theirs is The Only Right Way, too. So to say, "Well, there are other ways" is akin to saying something about their mother's sex life, especially if they're really conservative.

Answer 6

Even the assumption-approximately faith being own to those that are non secular is unfounded. The ideals held by utilising human beings influence us all. The infinite thousands and thousands brutally and sexually tortured to the component of loss of life and then burned alive interior the Inquisition is basically one occasion of many carried out by utilising order of the Popes interior the call of their god for 500 years. I agree they could desire to maintain faith out of government possibly out of our international may be greater suited. If we are to declare it is nice for gay couples to get married it is going to additionally be ok for persons to marry greater beneficial than one. yet genuinely it is a political subject no longer a non secular one we gained't marry greater beneficial than one as a results of fact the courts did no longer choose the greater workplace work of complicated divorces!

Answer 7

It is one thing if someone is looking for a debate but for you to approach someone and go off on their beliefs whether political, religious or their favorite sports team is nothing but disrespectful and you are lucky that the worst you have gotten so far is name calling.

Answer 8

being religious has nothing to do with being a Christian--- keep in mind that Jesus didn't even get along with the religious types....Being a Christian means that I am striving to become Christ like ( Christ Minded) and chosing to not live for pleasures of this world (flesh) etc.etc.....You wont get a hissy fit from me, if you choose not to believe, thats your decision

Answer 9

Look everyone is different.Some feel like your affront is a threat to their very existence.Some are so shaky on their faith because they haven't studied it at all,they are quick to shut down your argument in case you may shake their faith.Guys like me who have studied Biblical archeology and manuscript evidence for years are unshakable.We don't have to worry about what people say,or regurgitate without from some pamphlet or radio show.We KNOW it is true ,there's no doubt whatsoever.Say what you please ,I'd talk to you about it ,no offense taken at all.

Answer 10

Well, for one thing, youre grouping all Christians into one generalization. I don't expect anything from anyone - not even God. What I get, I must earn. There are far too many poor lost souls out there who don't even believe in God, much less respect Him. It's your soul, not mine...I am only accountable for my own. God grieved when he had to put us in the flesh and youre one of the reasons. Simple as that, just my opinion - as you are entitled to yours. Personally, I think youre just trying to stir crap...but, alas, in this country, youre entitled to that. Its all called "freedom of speech", regardless of who thinks you or even I are idiots. God Bless you.