Why are people so close-minded to other people's religions and thoughts on religion?

Question

Why is it that some people refuse to open their minds and educate themselves on other religions and beliefs in the world? Why is it that Christians especially feel a need to "save" others, and that they are the only religion ? I find it sad that there are so many people so closed-minded to the idea that there are many races, cultures and beliefs out there. Why do Christians have to try to convert and spread the word and force their ideas on others? Can't they just believe what they want without trying to "save" others? Why must Christianity be like that? Why can't we all just get along!

I keep seeing so many questions on here that lead to Christians having such hate for athiests, and anyone NOT of their faith, yet MOST other faiths are SO MUCH more forgiving and open minded to other beliefs?

Do you think that Christians are brainwashed and forced into this way of thinking from early childhood? Is there ANYTHING that can open their minds, and stop these thoughts?

I PERSONALLY believe that different religions, cultures, and races exist for a reason - including being atheist...which I am not...but I do believe in science. I was raised Jewish, and have strong feelings and connections to it spiritually, but tend to lean agnostic sometimes too...

i guess i just want to know why christians feel the need to "save" others....

and i don't know what i believe right now...i'm stuck between being atheist, jewish, and agnostic! I'm a real mess, lol.

But Daniel, to comment on your response:

You are only saying this based on what you were taught since you were at a young age, and don't care to learn or understand the possibility or accept that there can be MORE THAN ONE way of believing. What if I told you that I am the one to listen to? Who's to say otherwise? Just because Jesus SAYS to listen to him, and he SAYS he is right...why would that MAKE HIM right, OVER someone else? He hasn't proved anything to me, and neither have you.

again all this this person said this, and that person said that is all myth and speculation in my intelligent and educated opinion. I've studied many religions, which is why i respect most of them...but have a hard time understanding Christianity because of how strongly they push it onto others.

atheists, i have a lot of respect for you, as i often feel as you do but still have that bit of skeptic in me, lol just in case....but i do believe that much of religion is myth, fantasy, money, business, and bullstchick. So consider me on yourside...i agree much is a farce.

Pedestal...but why does there HAVE to be a right or a wrong....thoughts on religions and what people believe have been so split up into so many sections, why does there need to be ONE right? I don't think there IS one right answer...and If there WAS wouldn't GOD have made sure that everyone DID follow ONE religion IF that WAS true...which I do not see it AS true...I think God created MANY religions for a reason...if there even is a god...and don't worry i know I won''t go to your so called hell - and I have no fear of my after-life so all I can do is just wonder why so much time is wasted dedicated to trying to "save" others...when all it is is that you were forced to believe in that from childhood...and never would consider learning about other cultures or religions and just accept that the world is full of color, not black and white.

starbright, that doesn't give you a membership to go around saving others because YOU think YOUR religion is the RIGHT one...it is the RIGHT ONE FOR YOU, but it isn't right to FORCE that thought on someone else...like JW - i don't think they have ANY right to go door to door preaching their beliefs...same w/ krishnas....even tho THOSE particular religions have TAUGHT them to do this.....

More and more i feel like religion was created more to make $ and create a following - which in turn creates a solid group of people who can stick together and Fight for something...whatever that might be.

Jesus only chose you because you were TAUGHT that...if you were raised Jewish, Buddist, or hindu, or any other religion, you wouldn't be saying that, now would you? There is NO WAY to really know for sure except for what you feel in your heart..and if that is what you believe, I TOTALLY respect that, but just don't PUSH that on others....

jews, catholics, buddists, hindus, even islams are NOT the ones going around preaching and saving because they are comfortable w/ their beliefs, and respect others.

For the record I have NO PROBLEM with Christians, really just the really radical ones who think they need to save others and push and preach THEIR beliefs on others.

I don't need someone to tell ME what to believe, I already have my beliefs, as confusing as they might be. I just don't know why you think certain things, as if you really read into some of these "words of god" they are SO SO SO contradictory, your only reading into what you were taught to believe

I have a TON of Christian friends, who accept me for me, and don't try to change my thoughts...why do the radicals feel they need to? Why do THEY think THEY are the best and right? Seems like the only group who thinks like this...even many normal practicing christians think like that. My Christian friends don't try to save me or believe in jesus, they respect the fact that I have a different belief.

the thing is is that it is such a SMALL group of christians who believe they must spread the love and word of god as THEY feel they have been taught to do based on their religion. MOST Christians do not try to preach and save....thats where I get annoyed! I don't mind that you believe what you believe. I believe what i believe, even though I have doubts. I was raised to love and respect everyone no matter what their religion, race, or culture is. Maybe its the artist in me.

My info comes from my unbiased college education, my friends, other people I meet in this world, and various other random sources. It isn't coming from this site, believe me! I take this site w/ a grain of salt - unless we are talking about absolute info on art or something. :) I don't know why there HAS to be some type of an absolute truth. I'd rather not let faith lead me in life, I'd rather lead my own life, and let my religion be a part of it...but that is me...again i respect other people in what they do.

MOSTLY my thoughts and questions on all this are coming from this 20/20 special I saw the other night on children being pushed into being preachers from their parents, and not even having an understanding of why because it is just how they were raised and taught.

Answer 1

I know what you mean. I wish they could all be released from their bondage of fear of God's judgement. It is brainwashing but many times it's merely the blind leading the blind. They know not what they do. It's just too bad. They have bought into the notion that they have earned their salvation and everyone else is going to have to suffer. That doesn't inspire me. It's frustrating for everyone. We both have a dream that we will be able to change the other person's mind so we can be in agreement and we can brag that we won the competition for God or atheism. Comes with the territory.

Answer 2

"Can't they just believe what they want without trying to "save" others? "

Not and be true to their own faith, no.

It's a question of truth, on several levels.
Why would you hold to a faith you did not consider true? (There are social pressures etc. but that hardly accounts for all cases)
And if other faiths hold logically contrary positions, how can they all be true?

Professor Zaehner, once holding the professorship of Eastern religions at Oxford university, was very firm on this.
"To maintain that all religions are paths leading to the same goal, as is so frequently done today, is to maintain something that is not true. Not only on the dogmatic, but also on the mystical plane, there is no agreement... The great religions are talking at cross-purposes."
There is not room for everyone to be right.
One world where the Christians go through once, the Buddhists and Hindus go around again and again and the Atheists go nowhere is a nonsense.
*Someone* has to be more approximately correct.

Now, *who* is more correct is disputed, and social tolerance and mutual personal respect needs to be extended a fair way to cover this.
But not as far as saying all religious beliefs must be respected because some group holds them.
In many cases I can respect the individuals while disagreeing with the beliefs.
In some cases, for example torturing children to "cast out demons", or "end witchcraft", I can't go that far.

Answer 3

Well, if you want a real answer, the reason we (christians) feel the need to "save" others is because that is what the Lord we believe in instructed us to do. He told us to love others and show them His love for them.

Sorry, I guess that doesn't cut it if you don't believe that Jesus is who He said He is, but some people do, and want to give their fellow man an invitation to more abundant and eternal life. No one can force anything on you, if you don't believe, there's nothing I can do about it.

And please, the minute you think you have learned anything about a religion on here, go into the real world and you will often find the exact opposite is true. I try to help, but it scares me that so many people take this section seriously.

EDIT: Well, in my intelligent and also educated opinion, I have put Christianity to the test, and I guess you could say, "it worked for me" I've studied major world religions, found them very interesting, almost became a religion major. I found nothing that caused my faith in Christianity to falter, and I really enjoy learning about other people's beliefs and cultures. I don't share those beliefs, and I feel mine are correct. I'm not gonna apologize for that or make excuses. There are many religions that work well for some people and provide them with great happiness and contentment, but I believe Christianity to be the truth.

EDIT (again) I'm sorry, but you're missing the point. It is what I believe in. I believe it to be the absolute truth, if you don't actually think what you believe is the truth, is it really much of belief at all? That's why Christians seem so closeminded, because they truly believe their beliefs are the truth. It would be insult to our God if we claimed otherwise. You don't believe, so I understand that won't satisfy you, but you have to understand that Christians do believe this, and they were specifically instructed by the God they think to be the absolute truth to spread the word Jesus shared. There is nothing in Christianity that encourages people to "push" their faith on someone, I'm sorry if you had bad experiences like that, but if you did, realize that is not a part of the religion Jesus shared. He told Christians to share and demonstrate His love through our actions and words so that others would believe. So many Christians have failed to do this, it's no wonder so many people are jaded with Christianity. If you're making a decision based on the followers of a religion, look closer into the facets of the actual religion itself, not just what other people present it to be. It shouldn't be that there is a dichotomy between what the followers do and what the religion says, but sadly, that is the case. If you don't believe there to be an absolute truth, than you are probably agnostic. Other people have chosen to believe in something else, you have no more right to criticize them than they do to criticize you, especially when you are getting most your info from a site like this.

Open your mind to the thought that maybe there is more to Christianity and what these people present than meets the eye. Stop looking at others examples and experience things for yourself. You have an obvious bias against Christianity, which is understandable, but that is not an excuse to assume anything about one individual or the religion itself. I just want to help you with your dilemma, I believe Jesus to be God and I want you to believe it to. I'm not pushing anything on you, but I'm answering your questions and showing you why I believe what I do. What you do with what I say is up to you, I'm not gonna write anymore (I really need to take a nap, lol) but please think carefully about what I said.

I understand what you're saying, many Christians are like you described, I don't deny you have a point, but don't let that become the deciding factor about the whole religion for you. I have always been respectful of other beliefs, but that does not mean I agree with them.

If you choose not to agree with Christians, that's fine, but remember, you should be respectful of their beliefs also. Their beliefs involve sharing Jesus with others, and it may annoy you at times, but they are due the same amount of respect as anyone else.

Answer 4

In a phrase--lack of confidence. I additionally don't have any challenge with humans's ideals. I suppose that if you are a Catholic--be a well Catholic. If you are a Baptist--be a well Baptist. Etc. Etc. By the equal token, if you are an Atheist, I'm definite you may have well explanations to be simply that. Just do not degrade anyone else who does not occur to consider the best way you do. Some humans paintings rough at their ideals. Others do not. Some humans paintings rough at seeking to persuade others that they are incorrect of their ideals. They'd be greater off seeking to exhibit the well features of their possess conduct and ideals to be able to persuade humans that they are following the proper direction. The drawback with plenty of humans is that they have got this inside wish to persuade others that they are proper of their ideals, they get indignant and lose manipulate of themselves and finally end up showing imply-lively. Very unhappy. Even the Bible speaks of humans understanding their possess salvation. Something I attempt to are living by way of. I under no circumstances try to drive others to consider as I do. I determine if my lifestyles is an instance, that is well sufficient. Others will make their possess choices approximately ideals and existence. Some will disagree with me. That's their proper. I simply desire that they are able to are living with the popularity and kindness to others that I had been proven and check out to deliver.

Answer 5

Like you said beliefs in the world. we are not of this world we are Pilgrims here. We live in a world far beyond a natural man imagination. We live in a spiritual warfare and we use the spirit acts of God to maneuver us through this land of indecision. The natural man can not make up his mind regarding religions and if he does not find one that is allowing his standards of living he makes one up. so his followers agree with him. How can anyone walk with another unless they agree? So the spirit inside. God's spirit inside us does not agree with your standards of living. So we look at you and yours and we cry Abba Father and pray for you. Only god can change the way men and women think. It is not about us my friend it is about him and what he does for us and in us. So if you have a beef ,get on your knees to the master of life and ask him and complain. I am sure he will answer you. For God can show us better than he can tell us.

Answer 6

Mine is based on the premise that God is Imaginary. All else must be invented stuff surrounding their Imaginary God.

Answer 7

Some people are closed minded and by tradition follow of course of life that has been set down by fore fathers.

Answer 8

If I choose to not see God in All , I have just limited my own connection. This is our choice that the unconditionally loving Creator -Source-God - gave it's child .

Answer 9

It has been like this since the beginning of time. It is because we are only human!

Answer 10

Should a person have to read all the available literature on leprechauns before they're qualified to comment on whether or not leprechauns exist?