Why So Many People Become Defensive and/or Evasive When Asked To PROVE Their Religious Beliefs/Faith
YOU Want ME to Explain WHY I Believe THE WAY I Do? Well Because..........
Many people have strong religious faith and/or beliefs regarding their particular God and articles of faith. They often based their respective beliefs on what they have been taught by particular religious authorities whether it is priests, nuns, rabbis, and/or ministers. They contend that what religious teaching they have received at their hands is legitimate and correct. After all, it is strongly argued that such people are representatives of God on earth, teaching them what God have intended.
Also people are inculcated in the respective religions of their parents. Many do not question this religious principle, ascertaining if it is relevant or logical to them. They blindly accept this religious indoctrination as this is what their parents and other ancestors believe. They assert that if it was good enough and/or acceptable to their parents then it is such to them. Then there are those who question their religious doctrines; however, they dare not leave the religion for fear of family disapproval and ostracization, even being disowned by said family members.
It goes without saying that most people accept and/or practice the religions of their parents and/or family. In their eye view, that is the way it is done. However, there are exceptions, when some women marry someone of a different religion, they convert to their husband's respective religion. Very few people really think about and/or make a concerted, conscious effort to understand their respective religions. Many people contend that it is easier and/or more social acceptable to go through the motions regarding the belief of their respective religions.
In my last job as an investigator, a co-worker was complaining about Pope John Paul II's position regarding feminism and women's supposed place in society. She indicated that she found Roman Catholicism to be totally out of touch with modern society. However, she explained that she knew no other religion and that is what she was all of her life.
This co-worker revealed that it was much easier to remain a Roman Catholic although she thought the religion to be totally irrelevant. Another person I knew, asserted that she was a Roman Catholic because it was tradition, without giving deep analytical thought regarding the religion. She simply and plainly had a perfunctory attitude towards the religion.
There are many people indoctrinated that if they do not have a religion, they are considered to be sinners, a disgrace to God, and will burn in hell. So they have a religion as a sort of insurance policy for the afterlife. They contend that if there is no God, okay, but IF there IS, they are protected. There others are in a religion because of community and/or social approval. They contend that to have a religion makes them seem more upstanding and moral than those who do not have a religion.
Some people view their respective religion and/or faith as a bulwark and protection against the outside world. Many religious people often see the outside, so called secular world as corrupt, debauched, sinful, and/or generally imperfect. To them, religion is ever so perfect, ideal, and pure in its quintessential essence. They believe that their religion offers the solace and escape they need from what they deem to be this horrible world. They regard religion as the ULTIMATE escape.
Many religious people are fearful of the outside world. They believe that the religious world is the only true authentic world. Their religion is akin to being in a proverbial womb and/or cocoon. They would rather remain in their religious world where they are happy and have peace of mind than to face their particular problems and/or the world. They view the world as totally unimportant and/or unessential in their lives. Religion is the be and end all, those people put religion before everything even the essential of their day to day lives and their families.
There are religious people use their religion as a psychological barrier. They feel that they have nothing but their religion. These are the people who hold on to their religion even though their respective religion may be irrelevant or even detrimental to them emotionally and/or psychologically. These people consider their religion a psychological lifeboat to hold on for dear, dear life. For without their religion, where would THEY be.
A few religious people are so entrenched in their religious beliefs that they become quite unhinged if someone critiques or question their respective beliefs. They feel that it is affront to them. Often they attack the person who is only making an intelligent inquiry. They were strongly inculcated in the premise that religion and/or religious matters are sacrosanct and preordained by God thus are divine in nature. These are the people who assert that no religion is man made and to believe so is total and/or utter blasphemy.
There are religious people who are unsure of their beliefs and/or faith. They really do not know where they are religiously. They are quite threatened by those who critique and/or question them because they do not have any clear cut answers as to why they believe as they do. They are metaphorically in religious purgatory. They have psychological angst regarding the issue at hand but are loathe to admit this. They are betwixt and in between regarding the religion. They really have a question of faith. If they do not know where they stand with themselves, they are not about to give a logical answer regarding their faith. So they displace their inner and/or subconscious angst onto the critic and/or questioner.
Others are thoroughly and totally brainwashed regarding their religious beliefs and/or faith. They simply know no other way but their particular religious purview. If asked why they believe in their respective and/or particular religion &/or faith, they will give quite a simplistic answer. There is no analytical thought to their answers. They will refer to their respective God, religious leader, and their religious source i.e. the Bible, Talmud, and/or other prime religious book. They will repeat verbatim their religious programming, but never an independent analysis so to speak.
Many people are loathe and/or dislike to have their religious beliefs/faith questioned and/or criticized. They contend that their religious beliefs/faith are totally legitimate and clearly do not appreciate such things to be questioned and/or critiqued. They also see such behavior on the part of the inquirer and/or critic as a sign of rebuke and/or utter disrespect. They contend that others should accept and/or respect their particular religious beliefs/faith and if the latter did, they would not think of questioning and/or criticizing it.
A few people feel that they do not have to defend and/or explain their religious beliefs and/or/faith. They feel that such matters are between them and their respective God, not anyone else. They argue that they have the unmitigated right to their beliefs and/or faith, what it is to others. They contend that it is totally intrusive for other people to either question or critique their particular religious beliefs and/or faith. They assert that their religion is their business and no one else's.
Some are fearful that their particular religion belief and/or faith is NOT WORKING. They become upset when questioned and/or critiqued because they actually are fearful that such questioning and/or critiquing will open new and different ways of viewing their religious beliefs and/or faith. The prospect of this makes them quite uncomfortable so they prefer to be in religious hell and then to be open to questions and criticisms that could make them question the validity and/or logic of those beliefs and/or faith.
In conclusion, there are those with strong religious beliefs and/or faith. For many, this religious belief was passed from one generation to another. Many are quite ensconced in their particular belief and/or faith for many reasons ranging from familial tradtition to social and/or family disapproval. Some people view religious beliefs and/or faith as psychological comfor. Others approach and/or treat their religious beliefs and/or faith as an afterlife insurance policy.
People react to questioning and/or critiquing their religious beliefs and/or faith. Some contend that such behavior by others verge on blasphemy. They argue that religious beliefs and/or matters of faith are totally sacrosanct and beyond human understanding. To others, questioning and/or critiquing their religious belefs and/or faith bring up their subconsious issues of their religious uncertainty. Many vehemently argue that such is an utter invasion of their religious privacy while some are threatened that such questions will open up new avenues unconsidered before. Religion is oftentimes a source of contention with many people and they want their sacred cows to be left as is.
© 2013 Grace Marguerite Williams