if their beliefs are that strong shouldn't people who doubt or disagree with them not really matter?
201679
In answer to this... - "if their beliefs are that strong shouldn't people who doubt or disagree with them not really matter?"\n\nThe people do matter to them, but their particular stance at a given time should not be seen by them as harming. The fact they feel insulted, or harmed by others, is evidence that their need for other people is profound, but not understood by them.\n\nThis out-lashing is a natural response, and not a divine one, like that of a child which knows its dependence on their parents, but they are unable to know how to behave perfectly since they haven't learned, and don't even know they haven't learned...\n\nNow the divine response is more like that of the parent, knowing what's best for the other/child, and acting accordingly. \n\nThe problem comes where the child thinks they have the knowledge of the parent, but can't act for the other's benefit, so prove they didn't have understanding to act on, but instead show their need for the world to conform to their desires, or else they'll throw a temper tantrum. Demonstrating themselves to still be a child and not as a loving parent, or even older sibling.\n\nThe divine action is when someone is truly helpful to you, for your sake, whether or not they agree with you, as a loving parent knows the child will mature. Only children will condemn another as being a child forever, because their concept of time is distorted.\n\nThe parents and the older siblings teach only what is conducive to the other's greatest life, if it is a knowledgeable family, and do so with patience.
559482
Why is it that you have to question others beliefs?
474291
Yes.  Some people are incapable of staying on track.  When someones arguments always start out with "Yeah, but what about....", there's no use in wasting the time trying to debate them.
12209
because it's pointless to get into a fact based argument with a religious person. You have 'faith' in your religion - which means you believe what it tells you NO MATTER what else you may see or hear. That's why non-religious folks tend not to get into it with you.
223272
I agree with you. Some people have weak minds, and need religion to support them. For some of these people, it's a benefit, for others, a mental parasite. Some people have strong minds yet still hold religious notins dearly. That's the way things are.\n\nI have neither. I am an atheist and a satanist, so I am just giving my outsider's observations.
464179
No, you will never find someone that agrees with everything you believe, but you will find people that agree with a lot of what you believe and are tolerant of those which you don't believe.
297873
maybe you dint find a real believer in God, who is to have an argument with!\n\ni mean believing in something is a symbol of emotional dependancy or some sort of confidence over the 'unknown' that it would help their .. watever! so, people should know whether they really believe or whether they think that they believe or whether they are testing their faith. a person who selflessly believes in god will argue with you better than a person who is a believer for his own reasons. so it depends on the mentality of the person you are arguing with.\n\nLastly i am not contending with your opinion and neither am i condemning it. I am also not trying to argue with you. I am not an atheist. I am not a christian either. you have your right to believe whatever you want.. and so have I. Loosing an argument doesn't prove that gods dont exist and winning an argument doesnt prove either. stop taking things personally and find people who you really want to contend with, the 'arguable' people.
178902
There are two reasons people defend their beliefs so strongly.  \n\n1) Fear of being wrong, and doubt in their own hearts.  Faith in God is truly that.... Faith.  If you are unsure about your own Faith, because we can not see him we have to believe that he exists.  A strong argument makes them feel more steadfast and sure about what is in there own hearts.\n\n2) The other is because they lack the verbal ability to truly communicate what they believe in a calm manner.  They want you to know the same joy of salvation and service but are unable to convey that.\n\nThe Bible says....... Always be ready to give an explanation for your hope to anyone who asks you, but do it with gentleness and reverence.  I Peter 3:15-16.
560746
I think it boils down to the old "my dad can beat up your dad" playground conversation topic. People will never agree with each other in case they might be considered "losing" an argument. They do research to back up their firepower during battle time...but either way, it doesn't matter if a person is religious or scientific, Jew or Muslim, One political party or the other....Green or Purple...they find a difference and that just means that someone other then they are "wrong", and that someone needs to be either taught the difference, or get a verbal beating. It's just that when it isn't a physical difference...then people assume it is an intellectual difference...\n\nAh, society, we are soooo cultured. If only we could learn to respect each other non conditionally...but then...how could we tell who the "losers" are? \n\nSome people just need to feel superior.
196604
You answered your own question. All people have different opinions and not everyone is going to agree with you, and it doesn't really matter if they agree with you. You have your right to your opinion as do they. So don't worry about their opinion, just be thankful we live in a country where we have the right to our opinion.  Some people can see the evidence right in their face and it won't sway them, some people just like to argue too.
408909
I'm not concerned about their beliefs so much as what they actually do.  I've come to this conclusion because there seems to be a rather large discrepancy between what they say they believe and what they actually do.
615594
No, it doesn't make sense. It's another (of many) reasons people have non-belief. Why would anyone want to believe in a higher power that would punish them, even if they were good people and led very positive lives, just because they didn't acknowledge the existence of or worship that higher power? Not appealing to think the common example of a god is thinking "I don't care how wonderful you are, since you won't bow to me I'm gonna punish you". *shakes head*
554884
One could only hope others would be openminded enough to consider things from all sides.  If I heard evidence from the other side that actually made sense and shook my own beliefs, it might sway me.  That's never actually happened to this point.
321960
No. Intelligent people always question and debate the issues that the masses believe: Politics and Religion in particular. Never stop questioning because that is what the Government and Religious organizations want from people. :o)
200270
No. Absolutely not. The fact that I have a strong faith is a personal decision. What anyone else chooses to believe in is entirely up to them, and I do respect that. I wouldn't be living the way my faith requires if I were to push it onto someone else. I respect their beliefs the same way that I would want someone to respect mine. (Lutheran)
163605
Your question seems to be based on some non-existent condition. Tolerance doesn't require people to support things they don't support.\n\nPeople actively oppose all manner of things, not the least of which is other people's choice of religion or philosophical beliefs.\n\nYour question seems to lack foundation in fact, you are free to oppose anything you want, just as others are free to oppose your opinions & beliefs.
653059
Religious people are typically threatened by culture and ideas because most (if not all) religions are based on faith.  Faith is belief without evidence.\n\nWhat this means is that you can believe ANYTHING you want and throw it under the blanket of faith.  Does Santa Claus exist?  Jude has faith that he does!  Does the ToothFairy exist?  Tommy has faith that she does!\n\nBecause faith is based on emotion and not logic, it can be easily swayed or changed by competing faith-based arguments.  How many people have faith that god is loving, when the bible lists many atrocities passed down by god?  The people's faith is different than what is in the bible because the people were swayed by a more popular cultural notion... "god is pure love".\n\nReligious leaders want to avoid people shifting their faith, so they try to denounce competing ideas.  That's why we see so many religious groups shouting down movies, books, and other cultural media.