why are people so ignorant to other faiths?
92405
For some people, it's sheer ignorance.  That ignorance, for the most part; is willful.  They choose not to learn from others, rather they wish to stick to their "I know what you believe and you don't" attitude.  If I want to know about a Christian concept, I'll ask a Christian. If they show me that I'm wrong in what I originally thought, I'll glady accept that.  I won't continue to argue the point once a follower of any particular faith has offered me knowlege on the sujbect.  I see a great deal of that here. It's like logical reasoning jumps right out the window as soon as a concept which is different is brought up.  They simply don't want to learn, plain and simple.\n\nOther people are just so hateful that they get great joy out of being smug and holier than thou.  It's almost like they think they are God on Earth or the only chosen person of God.  If they aren't playing a constant game of "My god can beat up your God", they aren't happy.  \n\nFinally, some people like to set themselves up as martyrs. They love to enter discussions which have nothing to do with their faith, spout a bunch of scripture, throw around some brimstone and then complain about how unfair other people are when they're told to mind their own business. They also really enjoy complaining when people enter their conversations doing the same thing.  \n\nI generally don't become angry or beligerant unless I'm having someone else's beliefs shoved on me 8 ways to Sunday.  Trying to discuss anything here without being told to find Jesus is impossible.  I mean it, try to get advice on mundane things like diet or health issues and you're told the same thing.  Honestly, It's very annoying.  I know, I know if I don't like it I can leave.  Just airing my view on the subject.
550911
Because sometimes to ask a question you have to have both sides of the story. Its not much use to you if you only value the opinions of the Christians and dont take into account those of other religions or non-believers. You may not agree with us, many dont but still there are 2 sides to every coin.  \n\nFor me, its becasue I want to understand your opinions and learn about other peoples faiths. Im living in a country which is multi cultural and I dont think it would be very prudent of me to make assumptions on other peoples faith or culture without first learning or understanding it. Im here to give (or at least try to) an answer to a question and an opinion that would not offend but to provoke thought without trying to convince you that your are wrong. Who knows maybe you are right that there is a God or maybe Im right that there isnt, regardless learning is the key.
678831
Ignorance leads to bigotry.  For example, the belief that Muslims and Christians worship different Gods has caused a lot of trouble.  When you find out that people have similar believes, there is no reason to fight over believes.
1069619
Your observation is correct.  Religion is such a hot issue or topic that strikes a raw nerve in many.  Perhaps, it is because people fear of what they don't know.\n\nIt depends on your perspective and also on the perspective of those who post and answer questions on this thread of Religion and Spirituality.  \n\nThis may both test us and them.  As for me, I learn from the questions and answers that others post.  There are many who really don't understand the Bible and a lot more who don't even visit any church.  They ask people they don't know at Yahoo Answer because it is a forum of ideas, where you usually can't even get in any church.  Don't mind those picking a fight.  Don't be angry, since you don't know them anyway.  Let it be a learning experience for you regarding what makes others tick, why some think so and others believe another.\n\nI do find that the others post plain questions that have been bothering them.  So I may answer a question or two based on what I've learned so far; but I don't shove it on their throat.  Just an exchange of ideas.  No "I-know-it-all" or "I'm-right-you're-wrong" attitude.\n\nJust remember to treat everyone with respect, even when a little bite is necessary.
200236
Obviously most of these people do not think that faith is a stumbling block on the path to a safer, more enlightened, less warlike future. I fully believe that this is the case, though.\n\nThe hard truth is that if there were no religion the World Trade Center would still stand, there would be peace in the Middle East, and 2,000+ dead American kids would be home with their families right now.\n\nSadly, faith fills a void in people's lives that folks like you and me will never understand. The need to "be part of something greater," is so intense that it prevents most people from looking at their beliefs objectively. If they did they might see faith as the divisive factor that it is.\n\nNow, I know that Jesus helps a lot of people sleep better at night, and I'm not coming down on that. But his name has also been used as a license to commit atrocities throughout history. Religion provides a justification for doing terrible things to other people. I cannot understand this.\n\nNow, you're talking about "eradicating religion." I've got news for you. If aliens landed tomorrow and revealed that "Earth" was the top-rated television show in Beta-Centauri, and they showed us the scripts for the past four-thousand years, including the "Christianity" outline, the majority of Christians would not accept that their faith was faulty. It's that strong. \n\nSo, your idea of eradicating religion simply will never work. Instead, what we have to do is find like-minded, rational people and talk about things with them. We also have to find the people with whom we disagree most and talk to them.\n\nIf you can convince a young-earth Christian that not all atheists are bad people, you will have done a tremendous amount of good. That opens the doors to them realizing that not all homosexuals are bad people. That opens the doors to the idea that maybe fire and brimstone and judgement are not the path to take.\n\nWe will never eliminate faith during our lifetimes. What we can do is try to make inroads into the minds and hearts of the faithful and try to gain a greater appreciation for where one-another is coming from.
50300
My pet peeve is people that bash other religions, yet the religions they bash they think they know all about. Great question!
900816
Unfortunately most Christians are extremely ignorant about things related to their own religious beliefs and because of this they have very misguided ideas about what it means to believe in god and what "faith" is.  I know this very well having been a Christian for many years. I attended Christian Theology school and one thing I quickly realized is how ignorant Christians are when it comes to the book they so dearly love--the Bible. (despite the fact that they claim to cherish the bible 99% of all christians have never even read the entire bible from start to finish)\n\nIn my opinion not only is it OK to question Gods existence and the validity of Christianity, I think it is NECESSARY and I think that the Christian God encourages this type of questioning. \n\nWhen you study the old testament there are countless examples of God performing miracles in order to PROVE that he was the true and only god.  Any person who has actually studied the bible would recognize this and therefore the idea that it is WRONG to question gods existence is foolish since the God of the bible himself thought it necessary to demonstrate evidence for his own existence and superiority over the pagan gods. \n\nAnother evidence for the fact that even the Christian God would encourage questioning their religion is the fact that Christians, when they are "witnessing" to non-christians demand of them to question their own belief systems and to consider all the arguments for the validity of Christianity.  \n\nChristians use prophecy to prove the authenticity and validity of the Bible over other books who lack such evidence. \n\nTherefore, it is completely ridiculous and hypocritical for Christians to try to give evidence for the validity of Christianity through "prophecy" etc one minute and then condemn a person who is demanding "evidence" for the validity of Christian beliefs. \n\nSo my conclusion regarding this point is that pretty much all Christians are extremely ignorant even about their own beliefs and they are hypocritical because they try to give "logical" reasons and proof for their belief system and expect people to be "honest with themselves and truly consider Christianity" but yet they would condemn you for "questioning" Christianity once you are in it.  Its ridiculously funny. \n\nHowever, I think it is important to make a distinction between Christians and the Christian religion and the question of whether there is a god and whether the bible has something to it.  They are two different things.  Just because Christians are ignorant does not mean that God doesnt exist or that the Bible doesnt have something to it. \n\nAs a student of Philosophy (something that wasnt encouraged by Christianity) I began to study all of the philosophical arguments for the Existence of God and I am 100% convinced that a god does exist.  These philosophical arguments have nothing to do with Christianity or the bible, they are simply deduced using logic.  there are many different arguments for the existence of god, all of them have limitations, however, when you consider all of them they provide a very strong argument in favor of the existence of god. \n\nhere i will share only one of them. \n\nThe Cosmological Argument: the cosmological argument consists of the following syllogism:\n\n1. the earth had a beginning\n\n2. everything that has a beginning has a cause\n\n3, therefore the earth had a cause\n\nit sounds extremely simple and it in fact is, but it is also extremely powerful.  i will elaborate only a little on this argument but trust me when i say that it provides an enormously powerful argument in favor of gods existence. \n\n1. we know from physics etc that the universe is expanding, therefore if we reversed time it obviously means that the universe would be compacting, this means that the universe was at one point at a level of complete and total compaction.\n\n2. there is no such thing as i
439375
Because Christians are gullible and simple-minded. They have grown up being told that theirs is the "one true god", and that other religions are superstitions or products of the devil. Don't expect to get any intelligent answers from Christians; they are impervious to logic, reason and critical thinking.
527339
I think it is interesting to look into other beliefs.\n\nI see so many people put down other religions and they don't even bother to know the others thoughts and tenets. How is that right or fair?\nIt seems the height of arrogance to put down other religions when you truly only know what you've seen on TV. \nOpen up a book, at least!\nThen , that way, if you still have issues, at least you can make an intelligent and coherent argument.
270343
Some people are religious fanatics, unfortunately. Others believe that only their opinion/religion is the correct one and you aren't allowed to think any differently, sorry this is me also ranting. You're absolutely blummin right!
760813
I think there are a few things going on here.  Some of these people, indeed maybe all, deep down are haunted by the idea maybe there IS  a God they will be responsible to and are bitter about the whole thing and want to badger us.  Some of them want to expose the woeful lack of knowledge many Christians have to defend their faith (which is very logical and sensible and many extremely intelligent people embrace it)  We must remember, the cross is an offense to people.  Those of the world killed Christ and the world will always hate us.  These people will hate our uninformed anwers and they will hate our informed will reasoned answers.  They are a waste of time.  I believe this is what Jesus referred to when He said not to cast your pearls before swine.  Our time is too short.  Save time for the true seekers.  They are not too hard to find.  Also, study to show thyself approved so you can give a good defense for our faith, not just scripture but how it makes sense in our world and state of existence as a whole.
699359
one answer is people were not brought up with religon in their life so they have no clue. the other one is there are a lot of antheist's out there trying to destroy our beliefs. and it is hard for some people to believe in something that they can not see. just need to pray for those people. and have God open their hearts up to him. Sometimes they need a miracle to start believing. and you really have to approach them very carefully.
944806
No you are not ignorant.  You just don't want to understand, but that is OK, we don't have to understand everything in life, if we do, then what else are we to do with out life!  we need the challenge to discover the unknown, or misunderstood!\n\nLet me try it in a different way, many other members put it so well, so I try it a bit different.  \n\nSuppose a person's father is a King, what would the son of the King be!   that is how can Jesus Christ be a God.\n\nI hope that helped, at least a little.
340918
Some people do not believe in God because of the numerous interpretations of the bible. Others simply want to live life without depending on some idol that has been seen in many forms and perceived in different ways.
32498
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.
1159015
Every atheist is different, but it probably stems from the fact that most people simply can't 'believe' that another person can't BELIEVE in something.  After all, they've been trained/ taught/ conditioned since childhood to believe in god or some kind of creator.  To not believe kind of boggles their mind.  So they pre-judge others on their on observations.
879982
Ok, learn this: people are stupid. For some reason they choose to believe certain idiocracy (good lord, I can't spell >_<) as opposed to others. Trust me, this question isn't going to make chirstians "question their faith" (although most are in desperate need to) even though it is logical, but then again, since when have religons used logic?