Are we not allowed to even talk about religion anymore without people freaking out in society?

Question

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AnqxoP9CJW.0VJfuOV9TUlXd7BR.;_ylv=3?qid=20071119215026AAm2CvY

This question was asked and sooo many of the answers are how its wrong to push our beliefs on others. How many times have you had beliefs pushed on you by others, really?

It seems to be we are at the point where if anyone dares to try to share or talk about their religion with anyone then they are being pushy.

The topic of religion comes up a lot in casual conversation. Missionaries of all religions are out sharing their message. Who cares. If you dont want to hear it cant you just say no thank you and walk away.
Is someone asking you a question or talking about their religion to you really soooo offensive?

pasta
honestly how many times in your lifetime has that really ever happened where you were fast asleep and got a knock on the door by a religious person?

no I didnt get the memo, dang it!
Why am I always left out of the loop!

Answer 1

How many times? EVERY time I entered the college union my freshman and sophomore years - and I was in there almost daily.

When I was 12 and on my mom's college campus with her when she was taking classes.

Every day for 3 summers as a teenager - they'd show up at the door DAILY- until we told them we were reformed druids.

More than once when pregnant with my first child, especially by women who mistook my youthful looking 23 years of age- married two years already at that point - as some teenaged unwed mother. Not only where they presumptuous and rude, they apparently can't tell what a wedding ring is.

At work- while working at the museum - several sundays, including the woman who harangued me for working on a sunday and not being in a church like all good christians should be. Guess she wasn't such a good christian either, since she was out at an entertainment facility.

Every time I've gotten on Yahoo chats since 1998.

When the neighbor lady decided to tell my children and our friends children that they were all going to be thrown into the fires of hell for not attending sunday school at her church - even though some of the kids attended sunday school elsewhere. The youngest in that group of 11 were two three year olds, convinced for days someone was going to throw them in a fire. The eldest was 13 - and he was angry. And rightfully so.

When at the city art festival - myself and my then 13 year old and friend - apparently we're going to burn in hell for not taking this man's flyer from his church.

Thanksgiving Day - 1992. Really, I was with my family, do you really need to prosletyze us on that day? I don't come round your houses Christmas day telling you different views.

Many many other instances I can't even remember now - and not all of the prosletyzing was done by christians.

I have no problem discussing religion. But when you start to berate me at my home on a weekday afternoon, show up at my house on a recognized holiday - even if you don't choose to recognize it - confront me about my religion AT WORK- you're going too far.

I've been condescended to, treated as if I'm mentally deficient or mentally ill, and basically told horrible things all because I won't believe as those people would have me believe.

I'm glad I own my own store now - I can throw those people out and too bad if they get upset. I don't need it, my customers don't need it, and after literally hundreds of times of dealing with this, telling people i'm not interested in their literature, their books, or their views, I'm sick to death of it.

I'm sure that's an unpopular attitude - and too bad. IT is my own, and I don't expect you to espouse it or even accept it.

EDIT - I've sat in on several converstaions - participated too - on religion- my favorite time was the diehard atheist, the serious christian who attended not just once church but two, since she didn't want her husband to be lonely when at his church, a wiccan, and angostic, a catholic questioning her faith. And we all managed to stay friendly, kind and good coworkers for years. So people of other belief sets can indeed have conversations on religion. Note, there is a GRAND difference between having a conversation and stopping a pregnant woman on the street and lecturing her about how unchristian it is to be an unwed teen mother. BTW - I agreed with that woman, told her so and added "which is why we didn't start our family until after we'd been married two years and in our mid 20s." I was polite as all get out and shut her right the hell up.

Answer 2

What you fail to see is the number of times this happens to a person at any given point in time. You may mention it once to a particular person, but this person is catching it on all sides from different people. Then, accordingly, that person will honestly feel it is being shoved down their throats. And, of course, you have people that won't take no for an answer. Simple. Maybe you don't, but it doesn't mean others don't.

I don't personally have to worry about people preaching at me. For some reason I scare them to death. I don't know why. Especially preachers. lol

Answer 3

I just want to know how anyone can "push" their beliefs on you to begin with. It's kind of silly. You're right, you can't discuss religion anymore without so many people getting offended. I figure people can say what they want, it doesn't make it correct. They are responsible for what they say just as I am.

I've gotten reported twice simply for stating religious beliefs and facts. I mean, it was answering a question, so why would I get reported?

Answer 4

Considering I have had people preaching at me with bullhorns and loudspeakers on Jackson Square in New Orleans because I am a Hellenic Polytheist who was making my living as a Tarot Card Reader, I can say that I have had Fundamentalist Christian beliefs pushed on me by others.

I have also had someone with a bullhorn "try to throw the devil out of me" because of my being a reader. These same people REFUSED to speak to me and even actively AVOIDED close contact with me AFTER I demonstrated that I actually know the Bible they preach from BETTER than they do.....

In addition, I am personally acquainted with several people in New Orleans who have BEEN ASSAULTED by Extremist Fundamentalist Christians and have either had property damage or death threats....

DO THESE THINGS QUALIFY AS "SHARING" YOUR BELIEFS OR ARE THEY AS I SEE THEM .... OFFENSIVE?

Answer 5

I am british I don't need to ''integrate''. All my ancestry is British and....? Muslims live, study, work in the UK just like everyone else. You want to view it that we are not integrated to suit your own bigotry does not make it fact. Only your personally opinion which lets face it does not count for a hill of beans. Please list what people need to do to be ''Integrated'' in your opinion? Please list the things hindus and sikhs are doing that Muslims don't? Go on humour me? I have no issue at all with being British because I am British, British people are Muslims too you know **News flash** YES I know how dare we white born, bred, raised Brits use our British democratic right to choose any faith we want? How dare we I mean its not like our grandparents did not die for that right or anything did they? Its not like they shook hands with hitler and invited him into the UK to tell us who could live, who dies, what we could read, believe or worship is it? Get over yourself and get a life. How much do the BNP pay you to come here spreading hate anyway? Just curious?

Answer 6

I think the unspoken rule is: you're allowed to talk about religion as long as everyone else in that conversation is a member of the same religion. As a rule, those who are religious are not open to truly hearing about other religions... they are only interested in stating why theirs is better. Those who are athiests are even worse.

Answer 7

Talking and discussing religion is by far different than having a pamphlet shoved in your face. someone knocking on your door asking if you have found god, or someone coming up to you in a parking lot and telling you are going to burn in hell for your bumper sticker.

Answer 8

Religion has always been a touch subject for people. When I was a little kid, my grandfather told me that it's impolite to discuss religion or politics. That was something that his parents had impressed on him, so it goes back at least a hundred years...

Answer 9

Heck yeah!

Is it okay for relgious people to talk to one another about it, without offending anyone? Doesn't seem like it. THere are people that sit there waiting to be offended so they can complain.

Answer 10

When they come knocking at my door and rouse me from a sound sleep just so they can shove a stupid pamphlet in my face . . . YES, IT IS!!!