It seems most places you go, either in RL or on the internet, religious criticism is met with much the same reaction as if you'd just admitted you murdered someone. Even a rational criticism of religion, such as pointing out that there is no evidence that supports the existence of a god, and even less to justify specific god beliefs, is met with hostility, and sometimes threats.
2007-09-11 09:55:59 · 40 answers · asked by ChooseRealityPLEASE 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Take a look around R/S if you want to know why. Look at all the hearts on the sleeves: religion is a deep and personal thing and when it is challenged, people with weak faiths get threatened. And most of us don't have very strong faith.
When you challenge somebody's deepest, most heartfelt stuff, they naturally get defensive. And some people take the slightest disagreement as a challenge to their beliefs.
2007-09-11 09:58:36 · answer #1 · answered by Acorn 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
It's because some people are afraid. It happens both ways. Some atheists will bash you if you say you believe in God. And some Christians will say God will strikeyou down if you don't believe. Nonsense. We have minds and we can believe what we want. I for one, believe in God with all my heart. But I'm not insulted when I meet someone who doesn't, nor do I try to make them change their mind. I'm open for a civilized discussion, and I'd gladly share my views but that's it.
If you 're certain about your beliefs, and you're not thinking deep inside even subconsciously :"What if I 'm wrong? What if there is no God?" or "What if I'm wrong? What if there is a God?" then you wouldn't mind people having a different opinion. It's all about security. If you're secure about what you believe, you don't feel threatened when someone thinks differently.
No matter what we beieve in, we should educate ourselves on the subject. Then there would be a lot less hostility.
2007-09-12 01:26:38 · answer #2 · answered by chloe 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There is no evidence that directly supports most accepted scientific theories either. Big bang has been discredited so many times, evolution of man from monkies...wheres the missing link? Every one found so far has been proven to be a fake. String theory, 11 of them and every one of them contradicts the other. Carbon dating is flawed, items dated over 2000 years old when they were really only 50 years old and visa versa.
Recently a scientist stated and proved that there were 10 planes in physics. 4 physical and 6 beyond our comprehension...funny thing is, theres a quote in the bible dating 1600 years plus that stated the same thing.
The only thing I can tell you is this, even by a scientific view point, no one has ever been able to explain what created the big bang, what started the creation of the universe and all life. All rules in science go against whats needed for the big bang to have happened (energy cannot be created only transferred)...so why do you believe that the entire universe sprang into existence from nothing without any kind of divine intervention?
If you want to criticize religion, go ahead, but realize theres a difference between stating "I believe there isn't any such thing as god" and stating "you are all idiots, there is no god and you are all misguided fools". One is ok, the other is offensive. Also realize theres a section for aethists, its called "Science and mathematics", the religion and spirituality section is for those who believe or need advice about their faith. It is NOT there to try and disprove God or to attack people of faith.
2007-09-11 10:06:54 · answer #3 · answered by Danny N 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Oh please.
Take a look around - does it REALLY look like there are limits on your ability to criticize religion?
That said, maybe some people just want to be left alone. It isn't always necessary to pester your Aunt Muriel at Thanksgiving about whether she's read Hitchens or Sam Harris yet.
You know, as a Catholic, I've never brought a pamphlet to your door or invited you to the church bake sale or anything. I don't go about proselytizing, so why should I have to be harassed into unbelief? And yet every newly evangelizing atheist I know (like my brother) feels compelled to bring to my attention that that nice man, Mr. Dawkins has written a book, and why don't I read it? I'd swear he thinks I'm sick in the head, that I believe in a 6,000 year old Earth, and all the usual stereotypes about me thinking the devil done put those them thar fossils there.
And the irony of it all is that I know far more about cosmology and evolution than my brother ever will, because those are things that interest me and take up a lot of my time.
Tell you what - I won't march you down the aisle at Easter behind the paschal candle. I really won't.
And in return, accept that maybe we of faith don't always want to hear about it. Just like with the JW's at the door - I have heard about it already.
And I'm just not interested.
2007-09-11 10:05:32 · answer #4 · answered by evolver 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't think it is off limits. If it were, people would not still criticize it. I think what really happens is over time, some people just get tired of having to defend their beliefs and lash out. No one should have to defend their beliefs. We should all be able to believe in anything we like. We are human. We live short lives. We should be trying to care for one another rather than tear each other down with criticism.
2007-09-11 10:01:13 · answer #5 · answered by Meg...Out of Hybernation 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Oh, come on. You know why. Go around challenging someone's shaky beliefs, they get defensive.
Ever hear of the term "cognitive dissonance"? It means you are trying to believe two contradictory things at once, and it makes you at least a little crazy. When those two things are both terribly important to you, the result can really fry your brain. Actually, your Rational criticism is worse than an irrational one in that case.
So it goes with someone who knows, at least unconsciously, that his religious "beliefs" are irrational. He's supposed to believe it or go to hell, but he can't really believe it. So he's got to rationalize it the best he can. Now here you come blowing on his house of cards. Of COURSE he gets hostile!
2007-09-11 11:15:34 · answer #6 · answered by auntb93 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Why does everyone see themselves as the victim? I don't even want to hear it. Yeah-- people get defensive when you tell them their entire believe system is bogus– religious people and non religious. Don't pretend it's one sided. When anyone talks about their faith, that's just as "off limits" judging from the long sting of hostile posts telling them how stupid they are for believing it. Believe anything you want but if you believe that ONLY atheists are stifled for what they say-- you're blind.
2007-09-11 10:06:39 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think it's the most criticized thing there is! Your question is even a not-so-disguised criticism. Almost every religious questions on here is met with at least a couple critical comments from people who are anti-religion.
2007-09-11 10:00:42 · answer #8 · answered by PandaJ 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
The Internet abounds with relevant, critical, intelligent criticism about every subject on the face of the planet, religion being in the top five! YA doesn't do too shabby!
2007-09-11 10:00:30 · answer #9 · answered by SexRexRx 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No !!! we could desire to verify that the guy that represents usa is professional-usa !!! we could desire to verify that each guy, woman, and toddler, understand how ANTI-AMERICAN Obama and his Reverend(S) ARE !!! might a continuous twenty years of "2d hand smoke" have a damaging influence on the persons interior the section ?? might a continuous twenty years of "Anti-American Preachings" have a damaging influence on the persons interior the section ?? John F. Kennedy, a Democrat, replaced into sworn in by way of fact the thirty 5th President of the u . s . a ., at midday on January 20, 1961. In his inaugural handle he pronounced the prefer for ALL individuals to be lively voters, famously saying, "Ask no longer what your us of a can do for you; ask what you're able to do to your us of a." Please word that it pronounced DEMOCRAT - no longer Socialist and / or Communist Democrat !! It potential this us of a is basically as solid by way of fact the persons in it. It potential get off your *** and do some thing!!! . The Democratic Elite make the guidelines and then they alter them for their convenience !! The Elite Democrats sense like THEY understand extra useful than YOU who could be the main suitable individual to run the country !!! with the aid of the persons and For the persons !!! .
2016-10-18 22:11:34 · answer #10 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋