Why Do Some Religious Folk...?

Question

Why do some (not all) religious folk claim to know Scientific theories (when they really have no idea), laugh at ideas that aren't even contained within these theories, and try to pass them off as "just theories"?

The reason I ask this is because it appears a lot, especially if you've ever seen anyone like Kent Hovind do a presentation. There was a question just now about the big bang and it was evident that this guy had no idea what it was...

Theory: a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world.

Answer 1

When we have what represents a safe haven to us and it offers us security, we will often defend it with any and all means at our disposal including delusion.

Answer 2

The problem comes when someone believes their religious doctrine and beliefs to be inerrant. When you base your whole life on the belief that you have found the absolute Truth, it's very hard to deal with it when someone challenges those beliefs. Instead of accepting new information in stride and rethinking your position, you're left with two options-- to admit you (and your doctrine) were wrong (which is very difficult and scary for some people), or to deny the validity of anything that contradicts the doctrine and dismiss any proof that crosses your path. That which doesn't bend with the wind, will break.

I personally think a person can have great faith and still admit that there are some things they, or their religious teachers and doctrine, has not yet figured out yet-- or at least that people have made mistakes in their own interpretations of that doctrine. Accepting and learning leads to personal growth.

Answer 3

Religious folk have taken the leap of faith. They are convinced that god exists and they simply will not accept that maybe he doesn't. Whenever a scientist tries to explain anything that does have god in the equation, the religious person feels honour-bound to protect his god by refuting the scientific explanation. It doesn't matter how silly it is; it doesn't matter if the refutation contains internal contradictions; the religious person is not interested in truth. He is protecting god and all's fair in love and war.

Answer 4

Because it allows them to feel secure in their delusions.


As in Hovind's case even better if it makes your followers so secure in their delusions that they will give you lots of money.


Shame he did not declare the taxes on all that cash. Still, he will be out of jail in August 2015. Hopefully before then they will be able to find something better to put his wife back in jail, his son into jail and keep him incarcerated where the whole bunch of lying, cheating scumbags belong.

Answer 5

the·o·ry
1. a coherent group of general propositions used as principles of explanation for a class of phenomena: Einstein's theory of relativity.
2. a proposed explanation whose status is still conjectural, in contrast to well-established propositions that are regarded as reporting matters of actual fact.
3. Mathematics. a body of principles, theorems, or the like, belonging to one subject: number theory.
4. the branch of a science or art that deals with its principles or methods, as distinguished from its practice: music theory.
5. a particular conception or view of something to be done or of the method of doing it; a system of rules or principles.
6. contemplation or speculation.
7. guess or conjecture.

Answer 6

Foolish people exhibit foolish ways and one of the most popular is for them to pretend to have knowledge of something they actually know nothing about whatsoever. Yours is just one example of this.

Answer 7

For the same reason that some (not all) atheists claim to know scripture.

Answer 8

Kinda like when an athesit tries to claim they've read the bible.
Nobody fooling anybody.

Answer 9

If they knew scientific theories, they wouldn't be religious now don't ya think! :>