Why do religious questions raise so much ire?

Question

It makes me laugh.

No other topic seems to draw such an immediate and flooding reaction as a question related to religion.

Even atheists, whom you would think could care less, seem to be almost more passionate about defending their non-theism with an almost ultra-religious ferver!

It's no wonder our world is always at war.

I think it's because there's no education about religion in schools (at least in the U.S.), so there's total ignorance about common grounds and an educated discussion about differences and mutual respect of those differences. Instead, everyone huddles to their corners and reacts like vicious, rabid animals when anyone touches the "meat" near their terroritory.

For me, I'm fascinated by all religions. I think the true answers are based in science, and religion is simply how we try to make sense of the un-understandable. And I respect the rights of others to worship freely as they wish, in public, in government buildings, it's all good.

Because I think that is the true sense of an "open mind". And if you're an atheist, it shouldn't bother you. If it offends you, you're actually taking a religious stand, trying to force your religion of non-religion on others.

I DO have a problem with forced religious following. I think if a religion has merit, it should be free and open and welcome challenges to its beliefs. The true believers will believe through faith anyway.

So why does everyone get so friggin hostile right away?

Answer 1

I love your question! I've thought of it so many times myself and I wish religion was taught in school not to the point that we have to believe but so that we can understand each other and stop the fighting. I have my beliefs you have yours and I love that!

I think that why people get defensive is we think everyone should believe what we do because humanity thinks it is right even when it isn't. And religion is faith it isn't proof that will hold up to everyone it is something within us that we can't just take out and show to people whenever we want that says this is why I believe. It turns into a war of you should believe this because I do. It's our defense mechanism because we will often question it ourself even when we don't admit it. There is that one point in our life where we question and to us that is unforgivable so instead of facing it we fight others.

Answer 2

Honestly I'm of the belief that the reason there is so much arguing when it comes to religion is as follows
A. Everyone thinks they are right and if the other person does not agree with them they are wrong.
B. Alot of people approch the topic in a way that is offensive, degrading, and demeaning to anyone of a different belief then them. (not all but some).
Personally I dont think that we should teach religion in school because school is a government establishment and religion and state should be seperate. I do believe though that we should teach tolerance in schools. (which is quite the opposite when you go to school you are taught that if someone does not fit in they get beat up. I still feel horrible for the people that I treated wrong when I was in school. John if you are reading this I am sorry.). Lack of religion is not the problem though. The biggest issue that I can see is lack of parenting. Some parents are so wrapped up in their own lives (work, excercise, etc.) that they find it very convenient to plop their kids in front of a television and leave them there. So rather than the kids learning how to be civilized human beings (be tolerant of others no matter what the difference is) they learn how to punch, kick, shoot a gun, make a bomb, have sex, kill, cause war, etc. Now I am not blaming T.V. for this or even video games. It is not their responsibility to be parents. I blame the parents for not realizing that their child is much more important than whatever other junk they have going on at the moment.

Answer 3

This may well be the 100th time I have answered this question.

No, I don't think it's because there's no education about religion in public schools in the U.S. I think it's because too many kids are being brainwashed into believing that "faith" trumps knowledge. Faith is belief in the absence of evidence, or even in the face of evidence to the contrary. How can someone who has been conditioned to respect such a standard of belief function rationally? How can they do science, or even study history or linguistics or anything with an academic basis?

Yes, comparative religion and philosophy of religion, history, psychology and anthropology courses about religion, are all interesting. I've taken a few myself, years ago. But in a high school, or even younger, you simply do not have the maturity to assess these things dispassionately. And parents want to control the religious instruction of their children, which is only right.

No, it's because here on the Internet you can say things anonymously, and so people go further in expressing themselves than the would in face-to-face conversation with someone who knows them. Some go so far the only reasonable thing to do is report it and move on. Or give a thumbs down, at the very least.

Answer 4

It is because religion is the core of your beliefs. If some one touches on religion, when it sounds good to you, you agree with with. If it sounds like it is against your religion, it is against your own beliefs.

Some self righteous people even asked things like why you believe or don't believe in gods or why do moral things when there is no god or when you know you will only be dirt when you die. Then they go to claim themselves as atheist or agnostic. When the other parties answered, they will say things like, "Ok, you are all so sensitive when I ask something that is against your beliefs I am only asking as a neutral party" or hypocritical reply such as "I am an atheist / agnostic, but the reason why I am moral is because I used to be raised as an catholic / christian / muslim / whatever"

Does that not show the hypocrisy and self righteousness of this person? Therefore, in the core, religious questions shows the best and the worse of people and raise so much ire as you had mentioned.

(P.S. By the way, do you know of any person that is this hypocritic and oxymoron to say things like "I believe in science and I am an atheist / agnostic, but I am moral because I was raised as a catholic / christian?)

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Oh ..... now you are playing the insulting card. Now open minded means open to other possibility, you are open minded? So says a person who claims morally comes from religion and atheists should be evil by nature.

Being an atheist means this person does not believe in supreme being or beings. What had it got to do with taking insults passively?

Answer 5

Religion can serve a very primal existential need for people, so I think for some, any questioning or skepticism of their religion is a dagger to the very foundation of their concept of self, and they react accordingly. Not everyone, and likely very few if any theologians, but with some.

As an atheist, I feel compelled to point out that religion can be both a cause for peace, and for war. It depends on the religion. Compare and contrast Judeo-Christianity, Buddhism, etc, with Islam. I'd rather have a strong Christian nation standing against Islamism than an atheistic secular union of nations collapsing to it. Stalin and Mao were one of us (atheist), and are collectively responsible for the deaths of over 120 million innocent people, so religion is not the only route to evil, or the only route to good. Hitler was something of a pagan, so I'm not counting his 21 million innocent kill count.

Answer 6

Politics comes in as a very close 2nd, as far as "itchy trigger finger" topics go.

As for why religion is such a touchy subject, I think it's because religion by its nature is about personal experiences that you add a lot of personal significance to, so when people make claims that conflicts with one's world view, things get ugly fast.

If you take anything passionately, there are going to be some arguments popping up when you talk to people. Just look at any internet forum for any rock band.

Answer 7

Yes I do. Nothing against Islam itself, except I hate the extremists. So I would like to ask a wild question about Mohamed having sex with camels and if it was true or not. But I never have as I would also hurt the peaceful Muslims. Wait a moment, are there any peaceful Muslims? Don't they follow the Koran and believe that it is OK to spread Islam through threats and murder?

Answer 8

very commendable that you know alot about many religions and you respect the rights of others to live as they wish but that is not what religion does. People have strong reactions and beliefs towards religion whether they are atheists or theists because religion is not satisfied with being an institution like educational institutions or govt etc, no. It insists on permeating and then controlling people's lives. It is not ok for the religious people to restrict their preaching to their churches, no. They feel compelled to remind me that i am going to burn in hell. I am an ex christian and have been very negatively affected by religion that is why when people say its no big deal and there is no harm in believing, they couldn't be more wrong

Answer 9

Because there is no definitive way for people to prove their theories in religious discussions it generates much controversy; and argumentation can, and often does, devolve to a quarrelling match. It is much like an argument over how many angels can fit on the head of a pin; an interesting intellectual excersize; but totally useless for getting at any semblance of 'ultimate truth'.

Dennis Miller disclaimer: "Of course, this is just my opinion; I could be wrong."

Answer 10

Well one thing that causes so much anger in religious debates is that some people don't behave like a christian should (would Jesus act like that) its important to use the Bible as the root source for the information, but many can look at perfectly clear evidence & already have in their minds what it means & clearly refuse to concede that their wrong. A person (who is really Godly) will listen to reason, consider what Paul used to do
(Acts 17:2) . . .So according to Paul’s custom he went inside to them, and for three sabbaths he REASONED with them from the Scriptures. . .not all agreed, but he did try & use the scriptures so it is today, God is only interested in people who are teachable, not in argurers