Why do Folks in Organized Religions get so mad when you question their faith?
822432
Wow, that's a really deep question and a good one at that.  \nI think a lot of people really hit the mark on the nose, but I'm not surprised to see a lot of ignorant answers like that first one, Madelaine.  \n\nCompare it to a little kid who, when you try to tell him that he's doing something wrong, he puts his fingers in his ears and screams.  \n\nIt is scary that so many people blindly believe.  This is what happened with Hitler and the Houlocaust, and even more recently with Bush in Iraq.  I know I'm veering off subject here, but I'm just trying to point out that blindly believing without question is very dangerous. It's worse when people like Ted Haggard, Jim Bakker, and Pat Robertson are trusted with souls of the masses. \n\nGood for you for realizing it!  Hopefully you woke a few people up.
1114257
Almost NO ONE CARES what other people believe, but they power trip about their own beliefs and are thrilled if they can "sell" them to someone with "inferior" beliefs or no beliefs at all.\n\nSo people barge in because they think they know better.  Religions are essentially seething cess pools that reek with this kind of busybody arrogance.
957738
Just  another one of the many, many, many  contradictions,  and inconsistencies  that  exist in  the  realm of  religious beliefs.But what you have to remember is that this type of questions are ones for which you will never find any  true answer because -founded  upon  "faith"  any  one person's  answer is going to be  based entirely  on that  one individual's personal  belief,  not any kind of  clear, unarguable, indisputable   evidence.       I  guess you could  say that  when it comes  to anything  relating to  faith,  each person has to simply find his own  answer,  or live without one..
1182618
The problem with this is that not everyone follows the same religion, so what one may believe or follow can be completely different from that of another.\n\nSometimes people get so irate over general questions like this because they will defend their religion to the end, which is quite fine by me. However, everyone is entitled to their own opinion/beliefs but they must also respect those of others.
1165462
I know exactly how you feel!  I get the same thing when I say I am an Atheist!!!  People are surprised when I tell them because I guess most of them assume that I am a Christian.\n\nI have already gone down the religion road and the older I get, I realize organized religion is suited for those who don't think for themselves!\n\nIt is prejudism!  But it happens to other religions also, like to the Islams and Buddhist and so on and so on!\n\nThis country was supposedly built for religious freedom, but people seem to think that they have a right to "Change your mind".\n\nI'm happy the way I am!!  Believe it or not, but I have a peaceful life with a loving husband and kids!!!!!  I try to teach my kids that it is OK not to believe in a supernatural being!!!  I am not hurting anyone by my beliefs!  So, please except my friendship or leave me a lone!\n\nGreat Question and I hope you get good responses!
362108
This is why I am agnostic.  There were just too many unanswered questions for me.  And there was a lot of hypocracy, especially in my congregation.  What's the point of *saying* you believe something when you actually don't?
889639
The same reason people who say they believe in god without a doubt obsessively come up with an answer for every question. Because they are mostly trying to convince themselves.
722668
It's not so much the religions as it is the politics of the religion. Having faith is just having a belief - it's the religious DOGMA (telling you how to live, etc.) thay causes the problems. Why everyone wants to think that everyone else should believe in their particular brand of faith is beyond me. Why can't we all just get along. Different strokes for different folks, is what I say.
1122094
It is true that some are over-zealous.  I, like you, believe that the faiths of others are to be respected... after all most faiths aspire to the same thing--happiness. Many of the principles of my own faith I see in the faiths of others.\n\nWhile serving a mission in Madagascar and the surrounding islands for my Church, I had the opportunity to learn a lot of other people's faiths.  I am a Christian... or I'd like to think I am.  I'm not always as good as I should be, but I do try to emulate the example of Jesus Christ whom I revere as the Son of God.  While I was there, I taught many Christians who belonged to other denominations, I also taught some people who worshiped their ancestors, others who were Islamic and so forth.  While on the Island of Mauritius, my American missionary companion was threatened by a man who said that if any bombs were to drop on Iraq he would kill him... but the experiences that I remember and cherish the most were not those of the extremists, the fanatics or the zealots, but that of those who silently lived their religions.  \n\nThe media likes to capture the bizarre the strange, the amazing and the horrific tales that do not occur on a daily basis.  It is often for this reason that we hear more about the extremists and fanatics, but I believe that despite the negative influences of those who take their religion too far, the often common and silent influences of those who live out their religions and their lives as they know best, far outway those fanatics.\n\nI once taught a muslim, an old fellow, who has marked my life and taught me one of my greatest lessons.  He had heard the news of Iraq and of September 11th.  He was not a rich man, indeed he was rather poor.  He let my companion and I enter his home, where he blessed us.  He was kind man, and showed us his Qu'ran whose cover was worn a faded with use, and whose pages and become undone and needed binding.  It was evident that he lived his religion, and had no problem in hearing my companion and I chat with him of ours.  We listened to him as he eagerly shared with us his faith, and recounted his desire to go to Mecca, which he had just acheived.  When we presented him with a copy of the Book of Mormon, he wept with gratitude, as he considered a book a very great present, and that he value of this particular gift was substantial.  I really loved our "partage" and exchange that we had.  Of all the things he wanted us to know most was that not all muslims were extremists, and that the actions of a few should not be representative of the whole of Islam.  He gave us food and drink before we parted, and unfortunately I have not heard of him since, but I will always remember him, and when I think of muslims, if ever I find myself stereotyping the actions of a few for the whole, I will think of that old man, and not of the September 11th bombings.\n\nI believe that that story can be applied to all religions.  \n\nI greatly admire those who seek to share their faith with others, whether it be knocking on door after door or whether they share their faith through their examples of quiet living.  It is important to have standards, to have faith, to have dreams, hopes and aspirations, but we must be careful that when we share these things with others that we do not impose them on them.  We must invite, but never compel others to believe as we do.\n\n"And whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do good is of me; for good cometh of none save it be of me. I am the same that leadeth men to all good; he that will not believe my words will not believe me—that I am; and he that will not believe me will not believe the Father who sent me. For behold, I am the Father, I am the light, and the life, and the truth of the world." Ether 4:12
1142113
You're completely right. I am agnostic, I dont believe in organized religion as a whole, but I am very interested in learning about religions and why people follow them. I am constantly told that I am going to hell for my beliefs, and that I should pray to god and all this crap.\n\nIf thats what you want to believe and how you want to live your life than thats fine...but why do I have to believe in it too.\n\nTheres so much hypocrasy in "religious" people today. I just think its so wrong to preach about acceptance and unconditional god love, and then go and spit at someone for having a different god than you, or none at all.\n\nYou hit the nail on the head!
502681
As with every religious question the answer lies in you. To have doubts is normal, when you question the very foundations of your faith, of your belief system you are questioning your entire life and your reason for being. It's a very hard and exhausting experience, yet, you come through stronger and mucho more confident, because you doubt no more.\n\nKeep doubting, question everything and have YOUR TRUTH the one that works for you. You can seek council within your church or religion or among friends. Don't feel bad nor despair, what you're doing is healthy and normal.
985926
I think it does sharpen your beliefs when someone challenges them. Sometimes the anger that people show is insecurity in what they believe. They don't know how to answer a question someone asks them and so they lash out at the person for even asking.  When people ask what I believe it also helps me to examine what I believe and creates a dialog between the two of us.
1047715
when they start demanding you go by their rules or else.  Do this, do that, God says you should be this way.  If it is against the moral of the bible (do unto others) it is a cult.  When they start telling you who you can and can't see, what you can and can't do, all in the name of God and the bible.  Be true to yourself, be good always, God knows your heart.  Religion is a way to make you feel bad and do what the religion of choice says to do.  When you go to church on Sunday you are only proving to other 'people' your faith, when it is God you need to prove it too, no one else.\nEnd Rant : )
323902
Think about it...many unbelievers feel the need to bash christianity but not other religions (buhdism, islam, hindu, etc...).  That in itself shows that there is something different about what we believe in.  It is in man's heart to know there is a God.  Many people choose to reject this truth and attack all those who do believe it.  \n\nAlso look at the bible and think about how Satan has attacked it and tried to pervert it.  There are countless so called translations of the bible, but there is only one quran.  Why attack a book unless there is power in it.  \n\nBut, as far as being persecuted more?  Not a chance.  We have it easier than Christians during any other time period in any other part of the world.  We don't have to worry about being put to death for our faith.  We just worry about being made fun of a little...I thank God for the privilage to live in this country where we can worship God freely!
50300
My pet peeve is people that bash other religions, yet the religions they bash they think they know all about. Great question!
505959
Usually the religion has nothing to do with it. It's usually the ignorant people that take what the religion says and misinterpret the meaning. They try to force their beliefs onto other people and get pretty hostile about it. It's just ignorance!
968932
most of us are offended by the individuals--not the faith or religion, the people themselves--why can't you grasp that concept?