Why are people afraid of their beliefs being questioned ?

[psychoslice]

Religion is one of those big taboo topics that many people are terrified to touch: too afraid that others will question their religious loyalties and just as afraid to step on the minefield that is the overhyped sensitivity of some believers.

People, after all, live and die in the names of religious values, so the stakes of what we are playing with couldn’t be any higher. And yet, few fields can make many human beings as unwilling to face the evidence as religion. It is exactly because these ideas are so central to their lives that they don’t want anyone to plant doubts in their minds.

So, is religion really for the weak minded, is it just a crutch for those who need something to just believe in, something to make their life worth living, then if this is so, should we or not still questions these peoples beliefs, or should we just leave them where they are happy in their beliefs. Then again if these people don’t like their beliefs questioned, why in the world would they join a forum where we should be free to question others beliefs.

I have been in trouble many times on forums from questioning mainly Christians beliefs, its so frustrating, I can question most other belief systems with no problem, but again when its Christians all hell brakes out.

So should I just keep my big mouth shut and say nothing, or should I tiptoe around egg shells trying no to say the wrong words, as I said its frustrating.

 

[Awoon]

I don't believe much anymore because the word believe doesn't have meaning. A football announcer will say, "I don't believe it" when a great catch is made. So is his" non belief" real? Likewise fans will say they "believe" in their teams to win a game or championship, but when the team loses is the "belief" real?

 

[Vinayaka]

So should I just keep my big mouth shut and say nothing,

Yes. You've seen the movie. Nobody is replacing the film any time soon. Whether you open or close your mouth won't have any effect on it.

 

[Father Heathen]

Anyone truly confident and secure in their beliefs should welcome critique and scrutiny.

 

[psychoslice]

Yes i like that Awoon, it doesn't really mean much to me also, but there are so many who believe one cannot not believe or have a belief system of some type, i find that odd myself.

 

[psychoslice]

Yes. You've seen the movie. Nobody is replacing the film any time soon. Whether you open or close your mouth won't have any effect on it.

Yes we do have to keep our mouth shut sometimes, but why is that, we have a mouth so why not use it lol.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

I don't see your point. People criticize religion all over these boards and others. In fact, someone on the Religion, Faith and Spirituality board on the IMDb called me an "idiot" for no reason than for simply saying that I'm Christian and transgender. I've also gotten that same treatment in YouTube comments. Fundamentalist religious types are usually written off as buffoons (granted, a large proportion of them are out and out trolls) but anti-religious types are generally free from abuse on Internet forums, in my experience.

 

[Gjallarhorn]

People don't enjoy others taking sledgehammers to their house's support beams.

 

[psychoslice]

Anyone truly confident and secure in their beliefs should welcome critique and scrutiny.

Exactly, and this is why i cannot understand people who have such strong beliefs don't like those beliefs questioned, it just makes one wonder do they really believe in what they believe, well subconsciously at least.

 

[Quintessence]

It's not so much the questioning, nor that the topic is religion specifically, but how the questioning on the topic comes across. Questions can be respectful... or they can be disrespectful. Often people ask questions not because they're curious or want to understand, but because it's a passive-aggressive way of expressing disapproval. In some cases, it's flagrant interrogation and attempts to convert someone else to a different choice. Questions are asked to prove them wrong and prove you right. Obviously, most people are going to be threatened by that and would rather be left alone.

 

[psychoslice]

I don't see your point. People criticize religion all over these boards and others. In fact, someone on the Religion, Faith and Spirituality board on the IMDb called me an "idiot" for no reason than for simply saying that I'm Christian and transgender. I've also gotten that same treatment in YouTube comments. Fundamentalist religious types are usually written off as buffoons (granted, a large proportion of them are out and out trolls) but anti-religious types are generally free from abuse on Internet forums, in my experience.

that's my point, I have been banned from another forum for simply asking the wrong questions, and yes Christians again, its always the Christians that seem to complain, where as other belief systems seem not to ?.

 

[Quintessence]

Anyone truly confident and secure in their beliefs should welcome critique and scrutiny.

So... can I set up surveillance cameras in your living space to monitor you twenty-four seven, then? Just curious.

I don't generally disagree with what you're saying here, but I think we have to remember that certain kinds of critique and scrutiny cross the line of acceptability.

 

[psychoslice]

People don't enjoy others taking sledgehammers to their house's support beams.

yes it makes one think what their structure is made of, i would say pretty weak in most cases.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

that's my point, I have been banned from another forum for simply asking the wrong questions, and yes Christians again, its always the Christians that seem to complain, where as other belief systems seem not to ?.

Depends on the forum. I'm sure I'd be banned for some forums if I went there and railed against non-believers.

There's people like that in all belief systems. It's a human thing.

 

[Quintessence]

yes it makes one think what their structure is made of, i would say pretty weak in most cases.

So which do you prefer, then:

A structure built of flimsy materials that is easily destroyed to be rebuilt and adapt to changing conditions

- or -

A structure built of indestructible materials that is impossible to destroy and cannot adapt to changing conditions

 

[psychoslice]

It's not so much the questioning, nor that the topic is religion specifically, but how the questioning on the topic comes across. Questions can be respectful... or they can be disrespectful. Often people ask questions not because they're curious or want to understand, but because it's a passive-aggressive way of expressing disapproval. In some cases, it's flagrant interrogation and attempts to convert someone else to a different choice. Questions are asked to prove them wrong and prove you right. Obviously, most people are going to be threatened by that and would rather be left alone.

Yes I understand that, but when its the other way around its a different story, i have been abused by mostly Christians, and they seem to get away with what they say a lot more often than others, i have noticed this over a few years, its always the same pattern. I'm not saying i am perfect at what i say to them, but it certainly seems one has to walk on egg shells in whatever they ask.

 

[psychoslice]

So... can I set up surveillance cameras in your living space to monitor you twenty-four seven, then? Just curious.

I don't generally disagree with what you're saying here, but I think we have to remember that certain kinds of critique and scrutiny cross the line of acceptability.

This is true, this should work both ways, but it seems not to.

 

[psychoslice]

Depends on the forum. I'm sure I'd be banned for some forums if I went there and railed against non-believers.

There's people like that in all belief systems. It's a human thing.

Of course it is, but it seems that non-believes don't complain as much, this is what I have found.

 

[psychoslice]

So which do you prefer, then:

A structure built of flimsy materials that is easily destroyed to be rebuilt and adapt to changing conditions

- or -

A structure built of indestructible materials that is impossible to destroy and cannot adapt to changing conditions

If you are weak in your beliefs you will always crash, for the simple reason there beliefs, now if you know for certain that something is true, say like the sun will rise every morning, then no matter what one says to you about your believing the sun will rise, it will never affect you, it will simple roll off.

 

[Gjallarhorn]

So which do you prefer, then:

A structure built of flimsy materials that is easily destroyed to be rebuilt and adapt to changing conditions

- or -

A structure built of indestructible materials that is impossible to destroy and cannot adapt to changing conditions

Which one would rubber fall under?