Question by sweeneytoddluvr: Why are people so touchy and ignorant about religion?
I live in the Boise area, so there are a lot of members of the LDS faith in my area. I have no real issue with them; in fact most of my friends here are Mormons. I admire their work ethic and strong familial bonds. But the other day, I was hanging out with one of my closest friends (who is a Mormon) and she mentioned something or other about the church (I don’t even remember what it was now) that surprised me. I asked her about it, and she explained it to me, but I still didn’t quite understand. In our friendship previously, we had always had a relationship where we could talk about anything and everything and tell eachother our opinons, so I mentioned that I thought this particular custom in her church was a bit odd. It shouldn’t have been offensive; in the past we had questioned eachothers beliefs about politics, school, etc. and it had never been a problem. But for some reason my comment completely insulted her and it turned into this werid argument. She asked me what I believed, and simple told her that I don’t really know yet–I’m only 16 after all, and don’t want to just give in blindly to the beliefs of others because it’s convenient. So the argument turned to not just Mormonism, but religion in general–why people follow it.
Sorry if that was a bit long-winded, but I guess my real question is why do so many people belong to a faith ignorantly? I know of course that many people study and research religion and of course are not ignorant to it. But I also know that many others belong to a religion just because their families are of that faith, or for any amount of other silly reasons. Why don’t they question it? And why do most people seem to be more sensitive about religion than other topics?
Thank you in advance for any answers–I really appreciate it!
Best answer:
Answer by F!
People trust those whom they have close relationships with. That is why they will forgo critical thinking and just believe in what those they trust have taught them to believe, with little to no examination of those beliefs.
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She is probably just a bit touchy because so many people are mean to Mormons and make fun of the Mormon religion. She probably just took what you said the wrong way. I’m sure you could smooth it over if you talked to her.
I guess because people are too afraid. They think if they don’t believe in something bad things will happen to them. Atheists/agnostics are viewed as awful, horrible human beings. People are too busy and care too what others think of them to think and believe for themselves. I believe that a God/s existed long ago in B.C.s era but they are no longer living. There is something much more bigger out there.
Thats how I see it.
fuck ‘em
People follow religion because that how they were raise. To submit and ask no questions or go to hell. Why a lot of people follow blindly, humans are scared creatures, scared to die and scared to that there no God some people need some hope even if it’s false made up still hope I guess.
There’s a sense of a short-coming when it comes to questioning peoples beliefs. The believer feels short-changed because you disagreed with her spiritual doctrine. This might of offended her. When people debate about anything, it feels good that the other person agrees with you and the conversation can go on, but if the argument fails to satisfy either beliefs, then animosity arises. We tend to run and hide or think of something to defend the faith or belief, but yet we get angrier because we know deep down that it isn’t true–this is where the short-comings come from.
First of all..
A lot of people hide behind religion because they’re afraid if they dont have religion and they dont believe in something that they’re going to hell..
And second of all, doesnt it feel good to believe in something?
To know that you have a higher power watching over you?
It does, it gives people the security that they want and they need.
I dont know what makes ones religion righter then anothers.
But if you have something to believe in and morals, then why does it matter if people are ignorant to what they’re believing in?
Does it make them a bad person? Im 16 as well,
Im not very religious, I believe in God, I believe that there is a higher power and that there has to be something after death, but I believe in evolution, I believe that the Earth is 4.5 billion years old, and that there was a lot of time for the human race to be created.
I think that dinosaurs existed.(we have proof! lol)
So, my question is to you?
Why does it matter if people are ignorant to what they follow as long as they’re leading a good life?
The main problem is you live in Boise. So do I. The people here tend to be very ignorant about religion as a whole. I don’t have a problem with most of the mormons here. My biggest issues are with valley fellowship and The Baptist out near Meridian.
i know in some cases people are frighten by religion or anything they don’t know or understand and some just follow because they are followers. I stay away from the subject because i have strong opinion about what religion is and not to many people want to know so i keep it to myself.
Perhaps some people experience the promptings and impressions of something higher than themselves, like the promptings of the Holy Ghost. They, knowing that those feelings and promptings are good and noble, choose to act upon them and embrace them.
Then, later, they work and further accessing and learning about what prompted those glorious feelings and unite more fully with the source. One who has not had this kind of spiritual experience cannot fully understand it until they too, have experienced it.
Why do people always assume that those who follow a faith know nothing about the religion they follow? Why do you assume they are ignorant? By the time I was 16, I had a pretty thorough understanding of the core doctrines of our religion (LDS). Yes, because my parents taught me the doctrines at home. And of course I was exposed to the religious beliefs of others, having lived in communities that were largely non-LDS growing up. I even attended services with my friends of other faiths at times. But I have never questioned the teachings of my parents because of all I have witnessed and seen in my life of how others live, the doctrines of the gospel of Jesus Christ just make the most sense. Just because your friend follows the faith of her parents does not mean she ignorantly or blindly follows. Have you ever discussed with her the reasons she believes what she believes?
And as far as getting offended–when you accuse someone, particularly a “close” friend–of blindly following the faith of their parents in ignorance, that’s pretty insulting. That’s insinuating that they are unable to think for themselves or decide for themselves what they determine to be true or not. Of course they’re going to get “touchy” and “sensitive” when you tell them they are ignorant in their decision to follow the religion of their parents!
You have to look at a persons family back ground and up bringing. ALL of us are typically brought up to follow the beliefs & faith of our families, parents, the “traditions of our fathers” as scripture refers to it. Believers & non believers alike usually follow this line of acceptance. At some point in every persons life, of course, it is hoped that they personally take it upon themselves to question, think, learn, study and make up their OWN MINDS based on THEIR search for truth. Realize though that not everyone NEEDS TO DO THIS – some people are simply happy to just blindly follow. Someone like this typically tends to be LESS open minded, more defensive perhaps because SOMETIMES they are not always the most grounded in their faith because it is not something they sought after and discovered for themselves. THUS, the ignorance comes into the picture in such cases. We tend to get offended & defensive when we are not so SECURE with ourselves on certain areas or subject don’t ya think? If we don’t feel able or capable or knowledgeable enough to STAND UP for what we are claiming to believe – then we get frustrated and maybe a little frantic….
But even those who are more firmly grounded in their beliefs (or lack of) get rather defensive when they are challenged. Religion is such a highly personal and volatile topic after all… much like politics! : ) So if she is young like you and feels she needs to follow as her family has taught her – keep in mind that like you SHE is still learning too. There is much about the faith of her fathers that she has yet to learn & fully understand and her faith is young and growing too. Sometimes when we are still young of faith is VERY tender and is easily swayed, broken and hurt…. So no doubt she didn’t feel ABLE to explain to you about something you were questioning – so the knee jerk response is be defensive & offended. Maybe you BOTH just need to calm down and cut each-other some slack since you are both LESS than scholars in this area?? : )
I think the sensitivity is normal, natural and to be expected at her age.