Why can't there be an open, intelligent conversation between Christians and the science community or atheists without anyone getting ugly or offensive? Why does it seem Christians must PROVE themself and their beliefs to be right? Wouldn't the world be a better place if there was room for everyone to seek thier own answers and find the truth in their own heart without being condmed for it?
Please, I am not trying to start an arguemnt, I would just like a discussion that is done with respect for both parties. I am not implying all Christians are this way either, but the majoirty who post or answer questions in this forum seem to be so.
2007-09-17 07:57:51 · 33 answers · asked by Mystic Renegade 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I totally agree that some atheists can get every bit as defensive as some Christians can. What I really wanted to ask was why can't two people from opposing views speak intelligently and respectfully without one having to win or score the most points. My apologies to Christians. I used you as a basis to form my question but did not single you out alone for this type of behavior.
2007-09-17 08:17:16 · update #1
Wow, some of these answers are so great and so balanced in sharing an unbiased understanding and observations from both perspectives. That is what I wanted from this question, so thanks to those who contribued objective, yet positive comments without defense or judgement. NAMASTE
2007-09-17 08:32:41 · update #2
I agree, but atheists engage in the exact same activity. It's prevalent on both sides of the issue. Christians have not cornered the market on being defensive.
2007-09-17 08:06:24 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
1) No I would not. I respect the right to believe, but I don't have to respect WHAT a person believes. 2) I do not hate fundamentalist Christians. 3) I do vote, but I do my best to vote in a way that preserves the rights of all citizens, including those I disagree with. This means SECULAR laws, not those that I agree with from an ideological standpoint. 4) It is not right to have religious indoctrination introduced into public schools. 5)I do not consider myself more or less intelligent than anyone else. There are things that I know that others don't, and there are things that others know that I don't. 6)I do not refer to Christians that way. I DO refer to some of the positions that people take and the unwillingness to even try to imagine an alternative or do further research as inexcusably ignorant, which it is in light of all the free information available at the click of a mouse. 7)I do not tell people that when they die, the cease to exist. I don't know that. I hold a very agnostic view of afterlife. I do say that what matters is what you do with the life you have. What's the point of an eternal afterlife if you squander the few decades you have on earth? EDIT--Dovetailing off #7, it really is like planning how to spend money that you think you will have after you retire while you squander what you have in your pocket. My advice for anyone is make the most of what you've already got.
2016-05-17 06:05:33 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thank you for not saying all Christians are alike and defensive...I think the 'defensive' comment goes both ways between unbelievers (atheists) and Christians. I have seen many times where atheists are just as aggressive in their beliefs. Common courtesy works both way folks, and I guess Christians don't like being ridiculed just as much as atheists don't like it.
As a Christian, it seems to me that the atheists are the ones that get ugly and defensive. I agree--it's a shame we can't have an intelligent discussion without things getting nasty. However, think about it this way: How many Christianity questions/forums have been posted only to have atheists post hateful messages saying we are all a bunch of idiots? I realize I most likely will never change an atheist's mind (on this forum at least) just as they will never change my mind. I don't think it boils down to Christan's being rude, its just many people on these boards would benefit from having better manners.
M. Fate: The majority of Christians do not agree with bombing of abortion clinics. Shame on you for thinking so.
Also, if a person is a true Christian then they know they have a better life after this life on earth ends. I can't think of any Christian that is terrified or however else you put it that our 'religion is coming to an end'. What was it I said about people having better manners? My point exactly...
2007-09-17 08:12:27 · answer #3 · answered by tamisue 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is because most people will make comments, statements and sarcastic remarks that back Christians into a corner. So then we as Christians will if we don't take it to prayer come out fighting.
People ask for more room with beliefs, but I see more non Christians, attack others in general on R&S then not. So if they really want to be open to all faiths. Then let Christians be Christian. What is so hard about the words "no, thank you"?
For me it takes alot of prayers, and pauses before I answer any question here anymore. As I want to be God's hand extended, and show what the true Christian faith is. Also at times if it is a loaded question I will not even answer it. As I know it will come down to a knock down drag out. Does that help you see what happens in my stand point?
2007-09-17 08:30:38 · answer #4 · answered by Kathy H 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would suggest that all people have a tendency to get defensive when someone questions their beliefs...some people are just better at controlling their "knee jerk response" than others.
Perhaps you are more aware of the Christians that respond defensively because your position is in opposition to theirs. I know I've thought that a lot of the questions and answers I see on here from atheists and other "non-christians" come across as defensive. In other words, I'm not sure it is just a "christian-thing" to respond defensively...we all have the urge to do this when we feel like we're being attacked.
I would think that Christians should be a little better at controlling that response if they truly believe what they are saying. My bible certainly tells me to expect to be attacked and criticized for my beliefs. I would think that a question on here would hardly be the first time that a Christian has been "persecuted" for his or her beliefs...one could only hope that they would get better at dealing with it...but I agree with you that far to many haven't done so yet.
I wouldn't go so far as to say that the world would be better if there was no condemnation for anything...I certainly don't want to make "room" for anyone to seek their own answers at my expense. I don't think the world would be better if people could, for example, believe that human sacrifice or grand theft was right for them. However, I do wish that more people could discuss debatable issues without making personal attacks on the other side. Condemning people to hell OR calling them stupid, uneducated or ignorant because of their beliefs is not at all productive.
2007-09-17 08:26:19 · answer #5 · answered by KAL 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have open, intelligent conversations with atheists and other non-Christians all the time and I have absolutely no problem with the science community.
The things is...you ask why Christians must prove themselves and be defensive? Well we're asked to a lot of times. I am constantly seeing question on here that say "Christians! Prove God exists?" or "where is your evidence?" I avoid these because I don't feel that I have to prove myself to anyone, but can you blame other Christians for falling into the trap?
2007-09-17 08:10:34 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm a Christian. I don't think I'm overly defensive in terms of dealing with non-believers. I'm not that worried about others' beliefs, frankly. I happen to believe, and others choose not to, which is their business. I don't go around attempting to "prove" my faith, because it's a matter of faith, and is therefore not empirically provable. There's one area in which I do become a bit defensive, though, and that's when people automatically assume that all Christians are right-wing Fundamentalists. It gets old quickly when people presume that just because I'm a Christian, I'm also some kind of homophobic, misogynistic bigot who cringes in fear at the sight of a science textbook.
2007-09-17 08:14:23 · answer #7 · answered by solarius 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think the reason some of the Christians seem defensive is because there are some people on this web site that are always calling Christians stupid, morons, ignorant and a variety of other names. How would you act if someone kept berating you all the time?
2007-09-17 08:10:45 · answer #8 · answered by 9_ladydi 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ms Lady, you talk about being disrespected yet you obviously know nothing of how you Christians treat others. You want to know disrespected, go tell that to the women who want an abortion but the clinic gets bombed when they're inside it.
lol... disrespected... you people don't know what persecution and hatred is. Try walking in a nonChristians shoes for a while and see what its like.
Now to answer the actual question.....
They're defensive because Christianity has pretty much ruled the planet for the last 2000 years and they're losing their power as the world becomes progressively more secular.
And they are terrified. Just look at how often they post about the world coming to an end because they're losing their stranglehold on us.
Its pretty despicable.
2007-09-17 08:18:32 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
It seems to me, at least on this site, that Christians have to be defensive because they're being verbally attacked and called out of their names by atheists, evolutionists, even other Christians. I agree exchange of ideas should be done in an intelligent, tolerant, way but I don't think it will happen on this site.
2007-09-17 08:11:48 · answer #10 · answered by beattyb 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If we were all sitting together in a room, first of all most of us would not show,and the ones who did wouldn't be so vulgar and inconsiderate towards others beliefs. Because you would actually have to be accountable for your actions and a lot of people don't like that. It's easy to be mean when theres only a monitor to answer to.
2007-09-17 08:08:20 · answer #11 · answered by Allan C 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋