Why are people so angry and intolerant???

Question

I have been looking though questions on this website- of course, there are people who disagree with other people regarding religion/spirituality, but I've come across many, many questions that are so immature and offensive, ESPECIALLY towards the Catholic Church.

Did they have some kind of traumatic life experience that turned them away from all organized religion, or is it just that they weren't loved enough as a child, so now they can't love the world in return? (I know both of those sound sarcastic, but I'm serious!)

It seems like people are angry, confused, and well, ignorant...

Being Roman Catholic and reading through this site, I found an unbelieveable number of misconceptions about th Church:

We DON'T hate homosexuals!
We DON'T worship Mary OR saints!
We DON'T believe that the only way to be forgiven is through a priest!

I mean, the list goes on and on!

Don't get me wrong, It's not just about Catholics, but that's what caught my eye.

Anyone understand why?

Answer 1

First time at the rodeo, eh?

Answer 2

A friend of mine and I were just discussing this at lunch.

Generally speaking, it's fear. Fear of what they don't understand. Fear of their own insecurities. Fear causes them to insist that the bigotries they hold fast to are truth.

The biggest and loudest bullies are the most frightened.

It breaks my heart.

Julia Said:
You DO fund pedophile defense

No we don't. We fund defense of the innocent. Many innocent priests have been condemned due to the few guilty. The nuts smell free money and come out like a swarm of flies.

Julia Said:
You DO have a pope that was head of the pedophilia cover up committee

No we don't. He was not the head of ANY cover up. He repeatedly called upon American Bishops to clean up the mess. But we think we are independent. We don't follow the rules of Rome. We American Catholics have lax rules We don't even read the same bible.

And when their house of cards fell - the media blames the pope and our woose bishops let them.

Julia Said:
You DO support a religion that encourages poverty through its ridicules comedown and abortion policy

No we don't. We fight poverty more than any other denomination. Abortion is murder. Abortion should NOT be used as a contraceptive. People need to learn to love and respect themselves. Meaningless sex is not love. Nor is it in anyway satisfying. You might as well use a tread mill.

But don't take my word for it. Proof is in the pudding. The government of Uganda followed guidance from the Holy See and launced a family values course. Aids and unwanted pregnancies are at an all time low.

Compared to other areas of Africa where Protestant denominations are handing out condoms like candy. Aids and unwanted pregnancies skyrocketed.

Answer 3

To answer your question about the Catholic church being attacked, I think there are two reasons

(a) Martin Luther, although originally a Catholic monk, came to despise the Catholic church. This unfounded hatred of the church has unfortunately been transmitted down through the ages, and there are many Christian denominations that actively teach hatred of the Catholic church. I became involved in such a denomination for a time but left them when I found out that because I am Catholic they believed I was destined for hell.

(b) When Christ made Peter the leader of his church, he said that "the gates of hell would not hold out against it." This implies that the church is engaged in a battle with hell itself, so it does not surprise me when I see the church persecuted, ridiculed and maligned. We are however guaranteed of victory.

Answer 4

You have a point, but I would argue that there's plenty of ugliness going around. I've gotten nasty responses from religious people too.

Part of it is these kinds of online forums always attract nastiness because people hide behind anonymity.

I personally float between agnostic and atheist depending on which way the wind is blowing, but it does get under my skin when assumptions start flying around that people like me can't possibly be moral. I can't speak for anyone else, but sometimes when I see atheists getting nasty, that's where I think it comes from.

We believe we're good people and it's quite chafing when random other people who happen to believe something we don't are soooo convinced that we're going straight to hell, just for existing as we do, for no greater crime than that.

It's not enough to be a good person--I have to specifically recognize Jesus (for example) as my savior? Say I lived the same life, did all the same good deeds, but had never heard of him for whatever reason? I'd go to hell?? OK, anyone who thinks that irritates me.

Answer 5

From the earliest days of this form of communication -- anonymous, and the very opposite of face-to-face, people noticed that hate is so much easier to express as text on a screen.

There are no real consequences. No one's going to punch you out or spit on you.

Thus, all the people who love to hate find they can spew their bile over the net.

(That's why people are asking if you're a newbie.)

BTW, please read the Guidelines for using this site.

Hate is only one of the things prohibited.

Whenever you see violations, please, help Yahoo make this site a safe place for people to come, and report all violations you see.

Don't let the trolls win.

And, above all, never feed the trolls.

(Trolls are the kind of people you're talking about -- people who post incendiary stuff, just to get a rise out of people.)

I sincerely hope you DO start reporting violations; and not only those who post hate about groups you identify with.

Those who spew hate toward atheists, or Muslims, or anyone.

Read the Guidelines by clicking the link, bottom of most pages on this site.

Answer 6

Love the sinner, hate the sin is hypocrisy. You're telling someone they can't love who they love (when the love isn't causing harm via rape, pedophilia, bestiality, etc.) and express that love through their sexuality because YOU say so. They either have to remain celibate, because someone else declared it that way, or else. Illogical and hypocrisy.

I found MUCH hypocrisy in the Catholic Church and plenty to not like after having been born and raised one, studied Catholicism in GREAT depth from every angle I humanly could to include liberal, conservative and from the perspectives of other religions. If you find people angry about what the church has done, there's a reason.

_()_

Answer 7

It's the history of the church and what it's members does that get people worked up. You might say that, but I'm sure there are Catholics who hate homosexuals, who do worship saints and all that other stuff. Remember the way the members act, reflects what is taught in the church. I was LDS and had similar experiences. I didn't think the church was bad, just I thought I couldn't live that kind of life. It was my choice.

Answer 8

not all of us hate the cathic, but seem alot of to be very self rightous and narrow mind and seem what want to focus their believe in god or really there interpretion of god that there some give you this impression that because they believe in god or there interpretion of god, that there better than you, just because your not this certain way. but not all Catholic act this way. there are alot of relgious people who believe that there way is better that any one elses ways. To me if tolerant other, by expect it that it there way idea or beliefs, but can disargee or do not like them. then more peace in world

Answer 9

It's the same as people saying that Atheists have no morals or Muslims all want to kill you. When people don't know anything about a belief, they just make things up.

Take it from where it comes.

Answer 10

Because people just really like to nitpick the minute differences between them and other groups, in a half-hearted way of making themselves feel more important, and declaring themselves to be "right". Judgmentalism is a hallmark trait of humanity, after all.

Answer 11

You have been generalized. While YOU may not hate homosexuals, worhisp Mary, or seek repentance only from a priest, there are many Catholics who do- and their actions are as representative as your own.

"Evil can never be conqured. It may only be repelled from within one's self."

-Master Po-