Religous discussion gone awry!!!
By bellaofchaos
@bellaofchaos (11538)
United States
August 10, 2008 4:01pm CST
Lately there have been a lot of heated religious discussions and it's ok if they are productive and we have a great debate going. But when everyone starts getting ignorant and mean and hateful that is when you know something has gone terribly wrong. I'm not trying to be mean or get a smack down here! But I want to be realistic there are some many cultures and nationalities her on the lot that come from different background and cultures that why can't we accept their views for what they are?. Why do people feel like their religion is the only one? I have been baptized roman catholic and ended up going and converting to a lutheran church when I was in high school but I have studied other religions and find their beliefs interesting. I believe that no religion has got it right but as long as faith you're fine.
I do want to state that I respect all views in this discussion and would hope that we keep this discussion with out fighting.. I know that some religions say that you must witness to others but I have found that you can only witness to someone who is open to it, otherwise your wasting your time. It's like beating your head against a brick wall. None to fun that is.
So please when you respond be respectful of others.
4 people like this
11 responses
@Wolfechu (1193)
• United States
10 Aug 08
Well, that's a pretty easy one. I don't accept any religion because they're bigoted, outdated, and one of the major causes of suffering in the world today. I despise them all equally mind, so it's not like I'm singling anyone out, but smile and tolerate them? I'll pass.
2 people like this
@bellaofchaos (11538)
• United States
10 Aug 08
I hear your opinion but here let me ask this if they are not shoving their religion down your throat can you be nice to them and tolerate them? Especially if they did nothing to you. Not all religious people are evil or try and shove their beliefs down your throat.
2 people like this
@Wolfechu (1193)
• United States
10 Aug 08
'Tolerate' suggests I don't like their practices but am prepared to live and let live. I'm not. I'd prefer to see them discredited throughout the world and their practices stopped. I try to be as loud as I can about this, in the hope that a few other people might agree.
I don't believe in tolerance towards groups which propagate hate against others, and guilt and fear in their own followers.
They're welcome to push their beliefs on me. They'll get lengthy counterarguments showing how foolish they are.
1 person likes this
@Wolfechu (1193)
• United States
10 Aug 08
I can't no (to the couple of posts since I last replied). I wouldn't be nice to Mr. Hitler if he were around today either, though appeasement and tolerance towards him were very popular in the 1930s, in Europe and America alike.
Oops, there goes Godwin's Law. I'm done now.
1 person likes this
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
11 Aug 08
'...... you can only witness to someone who is open to it, otherwise your wasting your time.'
That about says it all.
2 people like this
@bellaofchaos (11538)
• United States
11 Aug 08
Irish you other half is a wise man. thanks for you added input have a nice one and take care.
2 people like this
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
11 Aug 08
See, this is why I have the avatar I have! LOL Just might keep it for awhile too. ROFL Gotta love us ladies!
1 person likes this
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
11 Aug 08
Hi bellaofchaos, Thank you for this discussion and I agree that we should be respectful of everyone. I love religious discussions when I can learn something from them. The majority of us in the western world were brought up in some form of the Christian tradition, but we often forget that Christianity is a fairly modern religion compared to some. Even though many Christians would never admit it, there is much that we can learn from these other traditions. I often wonder why some Christians refuse to read about other faith traditions, are they afraid that they might start having doubts about their own beliefs, or are they just afraid of what their clergy will say? Blessings.
1 person likes this
@bellaofchaos (11538)
• United States
11 Aug 08
thanks Pose for your thoughts, I have no clue about why people are so closed that they don't look into other beliefs. I hope that as time goes on that everyone will be more open to things around them.
@fwidman (11514)
• United States
10 Aug 08
I have always been a Lutheran but, like you, I find other beliefs interesting. I do not think that Lutheranism is the only religion to be practiced. I also like Catholic beliefs and find many Eastern religions to be very interesting and they give me lots of food for thought 
I do not understand people that think theirs is the only true religion, that's just being pig-headed. We will not know who of us is right or wrong until we die and then it will be too late!
I do not understand people that think theirs is the only true religion, that's just being pig-headed. We will not know who of us is right or wrong until we die and then it will be too late! @bellaofchaos (11538)
• United States
10 Aug 08
That is so true to many people die over beliefs that we will only know which is right or wrong when we die.. I have faith and that is what I go on faith that their is a higher power or being. Faith is just that it's faith people don't die over it. I think that we all have some similarities in our beliefs if you look at them all. It's just realizing that we are all human and that we should judge and value others on their character not their religious thoughts and aspects.
2 people like this
@CrazCo (409)
• Canada
10 Aug 08
Debates are only good if each member is knowledgeable of subject and controlled which is where I think they go wrong here on mylot. Most people are only knowledgeable about their side of the argument and remain ignorant to the other's. This makes them think their beliefs are the only right ones and anything that opposes them is either "stupid" or "sinful" etc.
2 people like this
@bellaofchaos (11538)
• United States
10 Aug 08
very good observation CrazCo, I always try and do some research if it's something that I'm not familiar with that way I can see both sides of the story.
2 people like this
@laura83 (22)
• Lebanon
11 Aug 08
I believe that all people should learn how to tolerate others especially when it comes to religious issues. It is note mentioning that even under the same roof and between brothers and sister, conflicts and disputes do really exist. No two, no matter how close their beliefs, opinions, and perspectives might be, are alike. Religious issues in nature cause a lot of misinterpretation and disputes since all people form a preconception that their opinions are the true ones, and enter the discussion not to really debate but merely to prove that their point is true. This preconception forms an obstacle that blocks honest and helpful discussions. I strongly believe that all of us should work on being more tolerant of others' beliefs, viewpoints and principles although we might not agree with them. In addition, it is very crucial that we avoid forming preconceptions and hasty judgements.
@Ravenladyj (22902)
• United States
11 Aug 08
Okay I gotta ask damn it....since this is the second or third thread I've seen that mentions heated religious discussions...Now I've not been around alot AT ALL lately so Bella...dear sweet Bella..fill me in would ya...what have I missed??
@sharkbiter (382)
• United States
11 Aug 08
Being a christian means you are supposed to be Christ like. When you think about Jesus and what he did here on earth, are we putting the same effort forth. I try not to offend anyone when I put my opinion forth. We are supposed to love one another and witnessing to someone, doesn't mean forcing things at them and arguing with them. Witnessing is showing them that you are a good person and try to be like Jesus was. He didn't argue and debate with people. He preached the gospel and taught them things that were to come. He didn't walk up to someone and slap them and say you are wrong.
@movicont (495)
• United States
11 Aug 08
I agree that many, many religious debates end up in flame wars. I think it's very difficult to argue about it in a mature way since it's such a sensitive topic, and people get easily offended when someone says something that has the tiniest hint of negativism towards their religion or lack thereof.
I do believe it's best to just be open-minded, and I try to remain tolerant. However, as the saying goes, I don't tolerate those who are intolerant, religious or otherwise.
@color210 (34)
• United States
11 Aug 08
I agree with those who say I don't have to like someone else's religion. Lets me honest here...if you truly believe in what you are professing to believe in (your religion) then you aren't going to agree with someone elses religion. I'm not saying we need to be mean about how we disagree, but I shouldn't have to change my view point just becuase someone else believes different than me. Not only that, if I feel my faith is going to save me, why wouldn't I want to convert others to my thinking? I am not so heartless that I wouldn't want everyone to experence is the great love in God that I have found. Most of all, I don't think I need to agree with people I think are truly wrong.
@laura83 (22)
• Lebanon
11 Aug 08
I believe that all people should learn how to tolerate others specially when it comes to religious issues. It is note mentioning that even under the same roof and between brothers and sister, conflicts and disputes exist. No two, no matter how close their beliefs, opinions, and perspectives might seem, are alike. religious issue in nature cause a lot of disputes and heated discussions since people have a prefigured idead that their opinion and their religion is the only true one. This preconception forms an obstacle that bans one from accepting others viewpoints and principles. I strongly believe that eery one of us should train him/herself on being more tolerant of others despite their considerable differences and avoid forming preconceptions and prejudgement.
