Why are so many hubbers so hostile towards Christianity and religion in general?

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   veritorogueposted 12 years ago

   Why are so many hubbers so hostile towards Christianity and religion in general?
   
   The mysteries of life's meaning and what happens to us after we die have led people to develop supernatural belief systems since the dawn of man. Religion provides the assurance that life is not merely an abitrary accident and that our souls survive eternally. The belief in God allows for unavoidable justice that evil people who can never pay for their crimes in life will pay for in the afterlife. It is a valid position to deny the existence of any realm beyond the physical but it is also valid to contemplate what we cannot know. Attacking religion cannot bring enlightenment.

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   swordsbaneposted 12 years ago

   Have you seen the anti-evolution and anti-Atheism hubs here?
   
   Still, I am not hostile.  I just have deeply held beliefs and my patience is shaken when someone of the religious persuasion treats me like I'm some child with no real conviction that has to be "straightened out"
   
   I reflect respect if I'm shown respect, and contempt when I am shown contempt.
   
   I also don't think there is very much hostility out there, just people impatient with those who do not share their deeply held beliefs and are willing to challenge them.
   
   The sentiment that "attacking religion cannot bring enlightenment" is misleading.  It is hardly ever productive to belittle or insult anyone, but extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.  This is almost universally understood in any other subject.  When religion is the subject under discussion, many religious people claim that critical thinking should be suspended.  THAT idea deserves ridicule.  The act of believing something should not be treated as supporting evidence of that thing.  The label: Religion is not a pass.  Too many people think it is.
   
   THAT is when the rest of us get a little "testy"

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      veritorogueposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks for your take on this question. I am not religious but am concerned over the spike of intolerance from people who claim to be reasoned. It's as if anti-religious zealots are trying to one-up their dogmatic counterparts.

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      Emanate Presenceposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Good point, veritorogue. Once dogmatic myself, I remember a comment about being 'intolerant of intolerance.' Also, a t-shirt printed with the message, 'Jesus, save me from your followers.' New-agers and agnostics can be as dogmatic as a zealot.

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   M. T. Dremerposted 12 years ago

   It's important to remember that atheists and other non-christian people are the minority. They spend a lot of time hiding their beliefs or trying to justify them, so it is understandable why they might be unhappy with religious fanatics. We do not hate all religious people, just those who think of us as abominations. And, even then, hate is a strong word. As to why this might be more common on HubPages, I would say it's because this is a place of expression. We say things here that we can't say to the real people we meet. It provides an outlet and a forum from which to express what we've been feeling all this time, behind the relative anonymity of the internet. And, hostile hubbers from the other side of the spectrum do exist, but I would argue that the majority of religious fanatics don't write on HubPages. Rather, they go to rallies and protests outside of cyberspace, which might account for any perceived imbalance on this site.

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   Rev. Akinsposted 12 years ago

   I think a lot of people are hostile because that is how they are being treated. Too many times (on both sides of the argument) people are so sure they are right and others are wrong. There is no room for discussion or learning. I am sad to say that lots of people (AB)use the bible to explain why the other side is wrong. The hostilities are mutual, and I cringe every time I decide to write a hub about religion knowing that even my fellow "Christians" are going to attack me because I do not think the way they do.
   Also- Attacking religion is the only way for religion to enter into society. One of our foundations for our denomination translates to "Church Reformed, always reforming", the idea being that the church needs to come under attack, investigation, forced to be honest about what it does to others in order for the problems to be understood and hopefully resolved. People create problems in religion, and other people- coming together in openness and love- can resolve and reform the church for another generation to fix as well.

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   witnessing4HIMposted 12 years ago

   In answer to this question. I believe that the persecuters are very mislead by the people around them and their families not giving the opportunity to open up their knowledge and wisdom to the truth and righteousness.
   
   JESUS said pray for your enemies; and do good to those who dispitefully use you/
   
   Those who are misunderstood need to believe the WORD which says that JESUS does not like pride, and if we hate, it will cause anguish and illness and these will not go to the Promised land.
   
   I attended a holinest church across the street from a shoe reparman which was an atheist and he gave a lot of the congregation a difficult time about faith.  I began singing and praying during my lunch hour and he would come stand on the sidewalk during this time.  When I was ready to go back to work,  i would wave at him.  He would turn around and go back into his shop.
   
   Later on, he would stand outside the church and ask a question or speak a statement/  I always conversed with him with the love of CHRIST while giving him the answer without malice or wrath.  This continued several months and every work day,  one day he spoke to the Pastor and asked who was the singer and when he described me, the Pastor was shocked because he only knew I wrote songs not a singer.
   
   This man finally accepted CHRIST as his LORD.  I rejoiced and cried thanking GOD for HIS patience wiuth both myself and the converted man.  We need the AGAPE LOVE.

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      joymorlandposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I found your response to be very interesting and entertaining. Thanks for applying your insight regardless of anyone's beliefs. Your writing is what kept me most interested.

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   Dubuquedogtrainerposted 12 years ago

   Good question. I have wondered this myself of late. I think HubPages is representative of the world in general. There are believers and there are skeptics and even those with an antichrist spirit everywhere.  I think that the times we live in lend themselves to an increasing intensity and frequency of attacks by naysayers and those who oppose the Truth as we know it. We live in a time of great apostasy and disbelief. We have lost track of a respect for the Almighty.
   
   It used to be that learned men (and women) knew and read the Bible and revered God, but not so much anymore. As you know, the topic of God and Christianity has become increasingly politically incorrect and followers of Christ are hated. But Jesus told us this would happen, didn't He? He told us that the world hated Him; it would surely hate us as well. The best we can do is share the Truth in love and let the Holy Spirit convict - we know the time is short and we know that we could be called home at any time.

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   Vegas Eliasposted 12 years ago

   Actually hubbers are not hostile towards Christianity or any religion; When hubbers speak the truth this is the way religious fanatics feel. The hubber community is a community of free thinkers at least till now and is enjoying its freedom to express what they feel.

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      swordsbaneposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Yes.  Unfortunately speaking one's mind sometimes and trying to avoid being preached at means you're denying religious freedom to some of the fundies.... at least in their mind

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      veritorogueposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Free thinking and expressing opinions is one thing but there is a great degree of hostility, hate and intolerance towards religion and the faithful. That is not to say that there is much of the same from religious people but the hipocrisy is glaring.

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      swordsbaneposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      There is little hostility towards religion that wasn't started by an intolerance of non-believers on the part of someone who was a devout believer.  Atheist ideas are constantly seen as a direct, personal attack on religion.

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   Barnseyposted 12 years ago

   Why not attack religion? It attacks everyday people all the time. It attacks all people all of the time in fact! That being said it is the extremist behavior and close mindedness of the religious that brings so many voices against them. No one ever bombed someone over a fudge pop, dude, only religion inspires that sort of vile behavior. Religion is the tool of the control freaks and elitist pricks, it deserves the same scrutiny as any other sector of society.

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   Darrell Robertsposted 12 years ago

   I think that Ego is the answer.  Many people feel the need to be right. They think that they must pove their point or the other person has won something.  I also think that they are a bit insecure and by proving themselve they get more confidence that what they are saying is correct. 
   
   I think that too much passion and ignorance also play an important part as to why people become hositle over these matters. 
   
   I never understood why people want to get so upset abuot what other people believe.  The facts are I will  die and go where I will go, you will die and go where you will go. Do the best you can in life and hope for the best for everyone.
   
   To deny that there is more than the physical is a curious way of thinking.  It is like a child denying that the world is round because thye are not able to percieve it by their senses.  The adults would have to be the ones to tell the child that the world is round, then the child will have the choice to accept it as fact or not.
   
   
   Best wishes

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    samnashyposted 12 years ago

    I'm not religious in the sense I don't follow Christianity or any other particular faith. But I do believe some people are a bit fearful of religion.  This may stem back to many of the wars that have been created due to religion, or possibly the bad press that religion gets at times.  High profile individuals can also give religion a bad name.  Growing up in a religious home with strict parents, double standards etc., may also be a factor.  Having people try and 'convert' or say what is the 'truth' may also be a factor.  There are many, many reasons.
    Personally I don't think it really matters what  your beliefs are so long as you can treat yourself and others with kindness, love and compassion.

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