Do you feel secure enough in your beliefs that if someone challenges you on them you dont feel attacked?

Question

But rather enlightened to share what you believe?

I've seen alot of people who, rather than try to explain their beliefs, yell and scream, spew angry things at the people challenging them.

I've seen it from christians I've seen at from atheist, jews, muslims, everyone so i'm not attacking one group, just posing this question.

I fill great that I know enough about my beliefs to where I dont feel hurt when someone attacks them. Do you think the people that scream or get angry are the ones who really dont know enough about what they believe?

Answer 1

I think that sort of hostile behavior is due to 2 things:

1. Knowing they can't defend their point or being afraid that they might indeed be wrong, hence the desperate need to silence the other person. Or being extremely insecure about their authority/knowledge/superiority in general.

2. Not being aware of emotional issues and lashing out at people when you are really scared/upset about something else. I've had successful conversations with someone about prochoice issues, race, gender, whatever, with minimal defensiveness. Catch them on another day, and they freak out because I don't like the same ice cream flavour.

Answer 2

It depends on how it's done. As a non Christian, I tend to keep my mouth shut in certain situations and let people go on with their assumptions that I am Christian. IF it's someone I know well, and a situation where there is mutual respect, I love discussing different beliefs. I don't change my beliefs, but sometimes I do gain better understanding of other's beliefs. I don't have to agree with someone to understand them.
If I feel attacked, then I either change the subject or disengage from the situation entirely if that is at all possible.
I am secure in what I believe, and I'm happy to learn more about other people's personal interpretations of what they believe. However, I don't want someone to try to convert me in the process. THat tends to shut down communication pretty quickly.

Answer 3

well I don't associate with any specific religion, and my beliefs on a lot of things aren't really set in stone. So I never really get challenged or attacked or feel I have something to defend because there isn't anything to attack in the first place. Accept my ambivalence.

But who doesn't love ambivalence.

I think the people who yell and scream aren't necesarily ignorant about what they supposedly believe in. I think they are just really natuarlly loud and easyily upset when it comes to beliefs.
Where I live, people who don't know much about the religion they are "part of" are usually pretty quiet about the topic because they don't want to be caught not knowing what they are talking about.

Answer 4

Secure or attacked what is your question. I couldn't be more secure in my belief. Christianity ok. I know my belief and I know that when I'm under attack by someone they are not attacking me they are attacking God and God is on my side. I have seen people who have attacked me whom I and others have prayed for who now are believers that i never attacked back only with prayer and just simply stood my ground. I and my christian faith is under attack every time I read a magazine, Radio, TV, politics, school, work, everywhere one can go Christianity is under attack, oh and the Internet right here. So I know what being attacked is, but they are not attacking me they are attacking God and rejecting Him openly, does it bother me yes but forgive them He said for they know not what they do.

Answer 5

I think people just get frustrated that's why they might go a little crazy. I am comfortable with my beliefs and I would just let people say what they want. There are a lot of people who just like to push buttons, and I just don't answer their questions. If people challenge me then I just answer them to the best of my ability. If they are not satisfied, they can read the Bible to get the answer.

Answer 6

I don't mind people sharing their beliefs. My experiences with many American Christians (particularly Baptists and Born Agains, you know, the serial evangelists) is that they really just love to harass you about your beliefs and then try to paint it as concern.
I swear, I've never encountered anything like this from other faiths. Where the other Abrahamic faiths do, admittedly, purport themselves as the One True Faith, Christians seem to make a hobby out of forcing their beliefs on others.

Sorry, just needed to get that out of my system.

I enjoy hearing of various faiths beliefs; knowledge is a terrible thing to squander.

Answer 7

I do. Over time, I've learned to see the people who you can talk to and the ones who are not trying to listen at all; they want to impose their beliefs screaming instead.
Secure... is somewhat different than scientific. When you try being scientific about it, then you're more open to see what's the truth behing all beliefs rather than defending yours or holding it dearly...

Answer 8

Yes I do feel totally secure in my beliefs and like you do,I do not feel threatened by others opinions. I am here to learn about different points of view,I belive that no matter how people come across that they are just as curious to examine this as well,and at least they are answering their truth as honestly as they know how. love and light

Answer 9

being secure in your faith has no relevence in being challenged. If someone has a question about someone's faith, just ask it in a respectable manner. Challenging is never the answer. why would u think that being aggressive is the way to have an open-minded descusion?

Answer 10

I'm not sure what it is about people that cause them to feel it is necessary to holler, scream and call names when they are defending their religion.
I am a Christian preacher and have always enjoyed talking with those of different beliefs.
that is how I learn and grow.