why do some people get upset when speaking about God?

Michelle - posted on 05/27/2012

Chris Lister, Pamela Waiolina, and Wendy Morgan,

I agree with all of you wholeheartly. Just wanted to let you know that. Thank you for your posts, they have been helpful.

Sapphire - posted on 05/27/2012

Here's my honest feeling about when people go on and on about God on CoM, and this is something I have observed in the 3 years I've posted here, and several other parenting boards on the internet for the past 10 years:

When it comes to being mutually respectful of one's faith, it is not a 2-way street.

Christian moms (certainly a generalization and not ALL Christian moms) are more likely than any other faith to quote Bible passages, and make continual refereces to God, Jesus, Lord, Saviour, etc. Christian moms will often make the statements of "Praying for you", "He won't give you anything you can't handle." "God says to do this...." And similar style references to God, Him, Lord, Jesus.

Christian moms (again, making the disclaimer that not ALL Christian moms) cannot step back and consider the fact that who ever they are engaged in a conversation with does not share the same faith. I do not want someone praying for me. Jesus did not die for me. Jesus is not even a part of my faith. But *some* Christian moms do not accept the fact that others do not share their faith, or have no interest in religion at all.

I simply never come across Jewish moms, Muslim moms, Hindu moms, Buddist moms, (just mentioning some of the major religions) go on and on and on in the way Christian moms do in pushing their beliefs.

I honestly, and whole-heartedly have no problem whatsoever with those with a strong religious background and belief in their faith. If praying comforts you, then it's wonderful. If attending weekly chuch services suits your family, perfect! Engage in your prayer, Bible quotes, beliefs with like-minded individuals who are happy to share the conversation.

I was raised never to put anyone down-ever, whether it is religion, skin color, sexual orientation, job status, etc. Being raised in a minority faith teaches you that!

Firebird - posted on 05/27/2012

So many prime examples in this thread about why people get upset when god comes into a conversation. I'd like to add my own pet peeve as well. I personally get annoyed when I see someone say "Pray to god about it" when offering advice. You don't know if the person you're talking to is a believer or not. Is it ok for me to say "Whatever you do, DON'T pray to god!"? I've always been curious about that.

Threenorns - posted on 05/27/2012

about discussions like this on forums: there is nothing wrong with a discussion not being fluffy, pink, and pretty. if people don't like to discuss religion, stay off the thread. that's called "free will".



refusing to allow such discussion is called "censorship" - an offence to both democracy and christianity, since the christian god did include a little upgrade in the human figure he reportedly created called "Free Will".

Threenorns - posted on 05/27/2012

"god said" NOTHING. a bunch of guys and one women wrote down, no earlier than a hundred years after the fact, what they're pretty sure the christian god meant when he inspired a bunch of stuff.



the bible is a bunch of apologia for a lot fo heinous crimes against humanity. me, myself, i'm pretty sure they weren't meant to be object lessons in how to conduct oneself. i'm pretty sure they were meant to be examples of the horrible things that can happen if you don't follow the rules set out in the later bit. in other words, "follow these new, kinder, gentler teaching or you'll end up back in the barbarism that was the old testament".





"jesus died for you" - i'm sorry, i must've missed the memo on that one because i'm pretty sure i would have refused to sanction anyone committing suicide on my behalf.



besides, he didn't "die" at all. on the surface, he was killed. executed. and when you look at the historical context, he was executed quite justly according to Roman law of the time (it was never the Sanhedrin: they were forbidden to convene after dusk or before dawn and anywhere except the temple and if they wanted him dead, they had the authority to do it all on their own - death by stoning for heresy and blasphemy).



Joshua (christians can't even get his name right: his hebrew name was yeshua which translates to joshua except when the greeks did the translating, they changed it to jesus because only female names end in '-a' in the greek culture of that time) was executed for treason against the roman empire for daring to agitate to get his throne back (you see, he *really was* king of the jews by both matrilineal and patrilineal descent).



furthermore, until the council of nicaea, he wasn't even divine. at the council of nicaea, the popes and other leading lights of the christian church got together and a) voted on whether or not he was divine, b) exactly *how* divine he was, and c) which books would be included in the bible and which ones did not align with official Church dogma and would be excluded (look up "apocryphal scriptures" for the ones that were left out).



so yes: i believe there was a person (two of them, actually; twins - it's in the bible) named joshua who was king of the jews and really wanted the romans out of his country and his throne back, please and thank you. i believe he was a political genius with a gift for oratory and a bad temper. i believe he was married with at least two children, a son and a daughter (it's in the bible but you have to know what you're looking for).



do i believe he was the offspring of a mystical being? heck no. he was human.



(oh - and his mother was never a virgin. that's not what "original sin" means - it means she, herself, was conceived without the taint of original sin the rest of us skanky ho's have to deal with. "maiden" also does not mean "virgin". in the context of the times, it merely meant an unmarried woman).

Katherine - posted on 05/27/2012

******Admin Warning*******


Ah, Sigh, this is a VERY sensitive topic. Please be respectful of others thoughts and opinions. If you can't be then we'll just lock it and call it a day.

Katherine
Administrator
WtCoM

Liz - posted on 05/26/2012

I got bullied by a friends husband so everytime before I went over she would say don't mention God yet when I got there he would start on me and she would just stand and watch. She would stick up for him and make out I started it. We're not friends anymore.

Jodi - posted on 05/26/2012

"Just bring up what the scriptures say about murder, adultry, homosexuality, drinking, and you see these christians bending the word to suit their own personal beliefs. "

You mean the ones who say that homosexuality is sinful because the Bible said so? That they are just bending the word to suit their personal beliefs? Yeah, I hate that. Not a terribly Christian attitude at all. Not to mention that it doesn't even affect them, so why push your beliefs about it on the rest of society.

Wendy - posted on 05/26/2012

Michelle,
Yes! All the time. I am not pushy about my beliefs either. I will state what I believe and why I believe it and on come the attacks. It is quite difficult to share the Bible with anyone. Those that claim to be christians are some of the worse though. Just bring up what the scriptures say about murder, adultry, homosexuality, drinking, and you see these christians bending the word to suit their own personal beliefs. I could go on an on, but to get back to the original question yes I get critized and put down and get called nasty names.

Anna - posted on 05/26/2012

Having updated myself on the thread, I think the current debate is a perfect example of why topics like this are best left off forums. There are, obviously, some who feel very strongly that their faith is the correct faith and that those who do not share it are in the wrong. There are also, obviously, some who feel that such a mindset is offensive and demeaning and, while they respect personal choice and freedom of religion, would rather not be lectured on something they have no interest in. Those two dynamics are an excellent illustration for the original question: Why do people get upset when God is mentioned? No one likes to be brow beat for any reason, and fervent insistence of the need to believe anything is, frankly, brow beating. My own personal brand of faith teaches me to accept the decisions of others, regardless of how different they are from mine, and I really don't care if you believe in God or the Flying Spaghetti Monster, so long as you live your life in love and without judgement. Your actions in this lifetime define your spiritual self, not what you claim to believe.

Liz - posted on 05/26/2012

My husband says to let you know that he's considering the slavery option very seriously. I knew I should have baked cookies today...

Liz - posted on 05/26/2012

"Also who was that nailed to the cross, and sides pierced for me. MY GOD> For people like me. "



Fixed that for you.



ETA:



I tried really hard not to bite at this, but I just can't help myself. Clearly, I'm weak-willed and should arrange for myself to be sold into slavery in Canada.



"God said suffer the little children to come unto me. I don't know what Bible if any that you are reading. PLEASE get it right. "



I think you'll find that, according to the Bible that you mention, it was _Jesus_ that said 'Suffer the little children' etc. What was that you said, 'PLEASE get it right'?

Jen - posted on 05/26/2012

Incidents where God either kills directly or orders children to be killed:

The flood
Egypt's first born
Jericho
Midian
The boys who were torn apart by bears for calling a guy 'baldy'

Shall I go on? I am more than happy to cite verses if you like.

However Midian is my personaly favorite (Numbers 31). After murdering all the men, the soldires were taken to task for leaving the women and children alive. So they were ordered to slay all the boys children (INCLUDING INFANTS) and any non-virginal woman. The virgin girls were then given to the Hebrew army as the spoils of war, oh pardon me, as wives. Because after watching my parents and little brother be murdered, I'm thrilled to marry and have conjugal relations with the guy who did it.

Wonder if he washed the blood off his hands first?

Yes, being harsh on purpose because people have a tendency to just whitewash the absolute horror that is this story. In fact, this particular story was once told to a group of high schoolers but the names were changed to something Arabic. They were then asked if the army was morally correct. No one thought they were. Then suddenly say it was Joshua and Moses and bingo - suddenly we make all these excuses and equivocations for why it was ok to murder little babies.

Liz - posted on 05/26/2012

Ah, Jen, she's marking my posts as funny too. I think she's desperate to let us know that she finds us ridiculous.

Liz - posted on 05/26/2012

It should be obvious at this point, even to a blind gnat unschooled in the ways of sophistry and eloquence, that this is a subject upon which a consensus will never be achieved. This is one of the reasons that most of the threads that touch God and beliefs end with heated debate, then ad hominem attacks, then moderator warnings and then a lock down.

It's happened before; I fancy I can see it happening here. Actually I was moderately surprised that things lasted as long as they did before gloves started to come off.

I respect and tolerate other people's rights to whatever religion and belief system they like, so long as no inherent harm is involved. I find it a shame that those to whom I extend this respect and tolerance are not interested in reciprocation.

Chris - posted on 05/26/2012

God said suffer the little children to come unto me. I don't know what Bible if any that you are reading. PLEASE get it right. Enough is enough. You are beginning to sound really off the wall. Also who was that nailed to the cross, and sides pierced for you and me. MY GOD> For people like you, and me.

Pamela - posted on 05/26/2012

If you encounter such resistance remember to allow the person expressing it to have their own opinion too. Just because someone disagrees with you doesn't make them right and you wrong or you right and them wrong.



GOD gave us Free Will Choice as a GIFT at birth and it is ours to keep and guide us in this life. Allow those who disagree with your religious beliefs to do so. Do not get upset about it. If you do then you need to question yourself about why it upsets you. You do not have the right to control what others think or believe and vice versa.



Other's opinions should not upset you because it is their right to have them and to express them. Always be aware that you can change your friends if you so choose. If it is a family member then be aware that you can have limited contact if you so choose.



Most of all, do not let the opinions of others upset you or your beliefs. They have as much right to their opinions as you do to yours.

Jen - posted on 05/26/2012

Fascinating that you found my post funny Chris. So have you decided to thank Prometheus for his eternal torment yet?

Liz - posted on 05/26/2012

Chris, wait....you don't believe in arguing over religion, but...

...you are unable to accept that our positions are diametrically opposed and just leave it at that? You have to keep on about how your personal belief system must be the only one and that we're wrong...and that things will only turn out well for us if we change our viewpoint to match yours?

Um.

Am I the only one who spots a teeny tiny flaw in this logic?

Jen - posted on 05/26/2012

I find any religion that comes with an inherent threat to be obnoxious and not worthy of respect.



ETA: and honestly Chris, I somehow don't think you're really that sorry either.

Chris - posted on 05/26/2012

I neither believe in arguing over religion. I am merely stating that there is only ONE GOD, and you got to stand tall for whatever you believe in, not back and forth.
Sorry, that you are the type to take this personal, but sooner or later, maybe later, there will come a day when GOD will return and I just hope I am one of the chosen ones, and you are too. God Bless.. Again I am sorry to have offended you, but if I did, so be it.

Jen - posted on 05/26/2012

Your life would be much easier, and in less turmoil,and there is only ONE God, whether you want to accept it, or not. He loves you and he is a forgiving GOD. Thank GOD......
----

Scenario: You've just witnessed your precious 4 year old get run over by a speeding car. They're in agony and bleeding and could die. Do you stand over them and say, "Well I'm sorry hun but I dont think you've really shown me how much you love me yet so I'm sorry I can't really do anything.''

Does anyone else see that as being a good parent?

Your god has nothing to forgive me for. Point of business, he should be grovelingt o the human race (and all other animal races) for forgiveness for oh so many things.

Jen - posted on 05/26/2012

He gave his life for all of us to be saved and have eternal life. Would you do that for someone you don't know, haven't ever met? Then this is LOVE. Who cares if you get criticized or put down, God was crucified, are you any better than him?
---
No, he didn't die. He suffered for a few days, and then was brought back to life and got to be ruler of the universe. That is not a sacrifice.

Besides thats', it's meaningless. The human sacrifice of one person cannot expiate the bad acts of another. If I go shoot the little old lady next door and my friend offers to go to jail in my place - that is neither justice, nor mrrcy and NO ONE woudl think it was noble.

What I want to know is why you're so bang up on the suffering of Jesus who only had it bad for a day or so. Poor Prometheus is STILL chained to a rock, condemend for eternity to have his liver eaten from hsi still living body by an eagle. EAch night it grows back so his agony comes yet again when the sun rises. All for giving men fire. Wow - now that is a sacrifice! That is actually giving something up of value for another.

What is the death of a human body to a being who is omnipotent and can make them willy-nilly out of dust or breathing on a naiive virgin girl?

Liz - posted on 05/26/2012

Oh and Michelle L? As a further response to your original question, I submit the above 3 posts by Chris Lister as the perfect example of why people get upset when God is the subject of the debate.

Jen - posted on 05/26/2012

What have they to loose if they believe in God? I
----
Question was asked so I'll answer it. What do I have to lose? That your god demands serfdom from his followers. His way is not love, but that might makes right. Biblically he ordered the deaths of countless children either by a floor or by the sword. Anyone who justifies those actions, has just justified child murder.

Yahweh is a prick. Even if I had 100% evidence that he was a real,existent thing, I wouldn't worship him unless forced and even then it wouldnt' be real.

So yeah, there's lots of lose there.

Btu you also have a LOT to lose if you are wrong and another religion is right. Could be that some long 'dead' religious is right and we're all just waiting to find out.

Liz - posted on 05/26/2012

"Liz: You can't compare God with Insurance, if you do, you need to do it in a different way. He is Insurance for a better life hereafter. All I can say about your ESSAY is you really need to find God. Your life would be much easier, and in less turmoil,and there is only ONE God, whether you want to accept it, or not. He loves you and he is a forgiving GOD. Thank GOD...... "



Please don't make any assumptions about my faith; you are extremely unlikely to do so accurately. Also please don't be under any misapprehension that repeating yourself ad nauseam is in any way a constructive argument that would lead to me throwing off the shackles of my clearly indolent lifestyle, yelling 'Halleluljah' and beating a path to the nearest mountain top to proclaim my new found adoration of YOUR principles.



By the way, analogy doesn't imply strict comparison. The point I was making is that if people ram something down your throat and pay no attention to what you're telling them in return, the net result is that you don't want what they're trying to get you to take. In this respect, you are filling the part of the insurance salesman very nicely.

Liz - posted on 05/26/2012

Oh, Chris, Chris, where to start.

"I do believe in God, I don't care who don't, or what they say about me."

I have no issue with that at all.

"At some point in their life they will too"

Now you're guilty of the very thing that several women have been trying to explain in the posts before yours. You can assume what the heck you like about your own life, spiritual or mundane, and your own faith. That's all. Your statement here is not only factually inaccurate but pretty insulting. You're basically informing us, with these words, that whatever beliefs we have are erroneous and that eventually we'll stop being bad kiddies and accept the truth. It's demeaning and guaranteed to put the backs up of many people. I'm sure you won't care, but honey, really, if you want to spread your Christian message, this is one of the ways that you could adapt to make yourself more successful in that regard.

"Not trying to force a belief on you, it is just a fact, that you shall not have no other Gods before you"

I'm genuinely baffled that anyone could type that sentence and mean it, because the first half is utterly contradicted by the second.

Chris - posted on 05/26/2012

Liz: You can't compare God with Insurance, if you do, you need to do it in a different way. He is Insurance for a better life hereafter. All I can say about your ESSAY is you really need to find God. Your life would be much easier, and in less turmoil,and there is only ONE God, whether you want to accept it, or not. He loves you and he is a forgiving GOD. Thank GOD......

Chris - posted on 05/26/2012

Not trying to force a belief on you, it is just a fact, that you shall not have no other Gods before you. No one is better than anyone, however, some are closer to God than others, not that he loves one more than another. He gave his life for all of us to be saved and have eternal life. Would you do that for someone you don't know, haven't ever met? Then this is LOVE. Who cares if you get criticized or put down, God was crucified, are you any better than him?

Chris - posted on 05/26/2012

Let me tell you now, and I am not stuttering when I say this: I do believe in God, I don't care who don't, or what they say about me. At some point in their life they will too. What have they to loose if they believe in God? I have everything to loose if I don't believe in God. He is the Alpha, and the Omega, HE IS GOD, FATHER, AND HOLY SPIRIT, ALL IN ONE. I am sorry for those who get upset when speaking about GOD> I will say his name, anywhere, and everywhere. I go. That is my right, isn't it? Whether it is or not, you heard it. I LOVE HIM, through him all things are possible. He Loves you too, and everyone.........

Threenorns - posted on 05/26/2012

"I only start to push back if the individual in question claims that their belief is irrefutable fact, "


once they state their god is a "fact" or there is "proof", they have basically told you they have no faith. ***absence of proof*** is a MUST for there to be "faith". nobody has "faith" that the sun will rise in the morning or that rain will fall from the sky and not rise up from the ground. these things just are. we DO have faith that we'll make it home safely from work, that our kids will grow up to be good people, and that humans are decent at heart - we believe in spite of the preponderance of evidence (thanks to govt and the media) that we're more likely to die in a car crash or get mugged or raped on the way home, that our kids will grow up to be crack-smoking juvenile delinquents on welfare, and that humans are a complete waste of protoplasm.

Threenorns - posted on 05/26/2012

here's the bottom line: those who get all defensive and up in arms when someone criticizes their choice of religion lack faith.

if they TRULY believed in their god, they wouldn't get defensive no matter what anyone says because faith is belief in the absence of proof. doubt is what causes defensiveness; ipso facto,- faith does not exist if there is doubt.

Jacquelyn - posted on 05/26/2012

I think a belief in a god or gods are beneficial to some people. I am not one of those people and I don't appreciate being told that I am going to burn in hell for my lack of belief. A lot of holier than thou folks give me the impression like I am not as 'good' as them because I haven't been 'saved' or because I'm 'lost'. Yet they sin all week and think it's okay because they ask for forgiveness on the weekend. I don't have a problem with someone bringing up god(s) as long as they aren't condescending or expecting me to solve all my problems or concerns I may have with prayers. So if you want to state your opinion it's fine, just please don't preach or try to convert people. I will absolutely accept any advice if I ask for it. If you mention god that is fine but please don't go into a sermon about it. I'm sorry you feel like this but please understand the other persons perspective as well, they may be dealing with actual zealots on a regular basis and may just be fed up with it and taking it out on you. I am glad faith brings you peace. Have a good day.

Jen - posted on 05/26/2012

What I think is that anytime anyone says they dont' believe in your god - people take it as a personal insult.. It's the sme thing when we make a comment on our opionion about that specifically referenced god. It hink the god of the bible is a murderous psycho. I think Zeus is an oversexed rapist jerk. The difference between those 2 statements in this forum is that likely no one believes in Zeus so no one cares what think of his character.


People think opinions on their personal god is a reflection up on themselves.

Liz - posted on 05/26/2012

"As a believer, it is their duty to spread the Word of God and promote what they believe:"



Which is ironic, because I'm sure I'm not the only person alive who has developed an issue with proselytizing Christians, as one example, due to the frequency and intensity with which they've felt it their duty to spread the Word of God to me as someone who apparently does not believe what I should, according to them.



Here's an analogy: at the house where I used to live, I used to receive (and I exaggerate not) 10 spam mailings a month from three different State Farm representatives in the area, all trying to get me to take out auto insurance with them. Telling them that I did not own a car and do not drive (both true) did not help. Telling them that I did not wish their information did not help. They volunteered information incessantly and persistently from three different offices, despite my indication to them that I was not receptive and despite my marking the majority of their later mailings as Return To Sender.



Unsurprisingly enough, they annoyed me SO MUCH, that when I DO get a car and begin driving later this year, I will take any insurance company but them.



I understand that Christians believe that they have to save others and spread the Word. I really do. There is however something to be said for them learning how to do this in ways that don't make the recipient feel as if the Word is being rammed down their throat from every angle! I have several pastors, vicars and incredibly devout evangelical Christians in my own family - cousins for the most part - and we disagree on a number of significant topics, but they never attempt to ram their beliefs into me. I know that if I were to _ask_ and show interest or, at the very least, show perhaps a developing open-mindedness, then they'd be overjoyed to share their faith with me. Until that time, they let me be. Their active ministry is in living by example.



I just wish that more Christians in the world were like them. Frankly, if they were, I might have been one of them.

Tenesia - posted on 05/26/2012

I've seen both sides of the coin.. Believers in God criticized for their belief based opinion, comments, or suggestions and Non-Believers criticized for their strong aversion to God. Believers in God should expect great criticism because the Bible said that believers would be "persecuted." On the same note, non-believers who are so called "morally and ethically" should have respect for what believers have to say about God. Furthermore, for those who post questions and comments and are very opposed to people speaking from a "religious" stand point should say so. As a believer, it is their duty to spread the Word of God and promote what they believe. However, while spreading God's Word, it is not our job to criticize non-believers, if they don't believe, they don't believe. Most non-believers I've come across that felt like I was criticizing them felt so because every answer to a question I gave them went against everything that think is true.

Liz - posted on 05/26/2012

"I am not a believer in this particular god, which is my choice, yet many that do believe in this god feel it is their right to try to force this belief on me. These people want everybody to tolerate their beliefs, yet they won't tolerate others' beliefs. "

Absolutely this! It's one of the problems that I have with some of the mainstream organized religions in the USA, that the notion of 'freedom of religion' only seems to apply to them, because they are quite happy for general, national legislation to adhere to tenets of faith that only they practice. For many of these worshippers, 'freedom of religion' only exists as long as you follow the 'right' one!

I've also lost count of the times when I've patiently explained to someone that their version of God isn't my version of God and been told in return, 'Well He is your God even if you don't believe in Him!'. Um. No! Only according to your belief, love. Not according to mine. Just because you believe something (and I'm happy for you to believe in pixies and gold dust if you like, provided that it causes no harm to others), that does not make it true for me also.

Followers of mainstream monotheistic religions seem, for the most part (although this may be due to the way that a vocal minority expresses itself), to be unwilling to accept or understand that those who are not of their faith do not particularly want to hear about God, prayer, the Bible etc every 5 minutes, particularly as part of parenting advice.

Sherry - posted on 05/26/2012

I don't care what people believe in, as everybody has the right to believe what they want. BUT I draw the line on those (and there are many) that won't tolerate others' beliefs. I am not a believer in this particular god, which is my choice, yet many that do believe in this god feel it is their right to try to force this belief on me. These people want everybody to tolerate their beliefs, yet they won't tolerate others' beliefs. Also many that say they follow this god don't show any evidence of this in their own lives.

~♥Little Miss - posted on 05/26/2012

I am glad I read the posts before resonding, cause I think Krista and Jodi hit the nail on the head. But Krista's comment is exactly my own thoughts

"I only start to push back if the individual in question claims that their belief is irrefutable fact, or if they start implying that one needs belief in a deity in order to have morals and ethics."

When you have someone shoving God down your throat, it can be difficult to swallow.

Anna - posted on 05/26/2012

It's no different than believers criticizing non-believers. It comes down to someone's personal belief system feeling threatened by the ideas of another, which can be caused by fear, ignorance, self-righteousness, etc. on both sides of the aisle. By all means, express your beliefs, but recognize that you are speaking to people you don't know, and therefor likely don't share your particular theology, whatever that may be.

Sharon - posted on 05/26/2012

I agree with Jodi. Those who believe there is a God, and have faith in Him will already be praying for help. But just because one prays to God for help, that doesn't mean they can be passive about their problems. It takes more than prayer to solve a problem and when a person's answer to a genuine and worrying problem is to "pray to God and have faith in Him" , then of course some of "us" are going to get a bit annoyed and maybe make insulting comments.
It seems that some believers are happy to sit back and place everything in God's hands. Everything. God gave you a life to live, so live it, make decisions, find answers, explore, but don't just sit back and expect God to live it for you.

Jodi - posted on 05/25/2012

People who don't believe get criticised for not believing too. Not sure if you've seen that or not. I don't think this is exclusive to people who do believe in God.

But honestly, if someone is asking for genuine help on a thread, and I see a post saying PRAY PRAY PRAY, my first thought is, well, if they were that way inclined, don't you think they would already have thought of that, so how about contribute something practical now?

Michelle - posted on 05/25/2012

Liz, this post I was not writing in general due to the silver. The silver is just another post. I am not mad about anything that someone wrote if they had addressed me in anyway. I just wrote my opinion in that post of how I had seen fit. Same as anyone else.
My post here is the question as above. Many people seems to critisize others all because someone believes in God There are so many who don't believe there isn't a God and puts others down all because they do. I hope you don't think this was intended for you. I was not.
But thank you for your information and respect.

Krista - posted on 05/25/2012

I have absolutely no problem whatsoever with someone having a belief in any deity. If that belief brings them happiness and fulfillment, then good for them.

I only start to push back if the individual in question claims that their belief is irrefutable fact, or if they start implying that one needs belief in a deity in order to have morals and ethics.

But if the faithful person in question is willing to acknowledge that their belief is just that -- belief, and if they are willing to acknowledge that people can be very moral and ethical without believing in any deities, then that's totally cool, and I will have no problem with them whatsoever.

Liz - posted on 05/25/2012

If you are referring to the thread about silver, then I am sorry to hear that you misinterpret it as people getting upset because you are speaking about God. People in that thread - me included - are not putting you down because you believe in God or because you say you do.

We were debating the logic of your argument that because something exists, then that means that not only did God provide it but that He did so in order for you to distil and use as a medication for your kids, despite the only evidence for its efficacy being given by the people that sell the medication.

In other threads, sometimes people get a little heated when God is brought into the debate because it _often_ (I know, generalisations are dangerous) seems that when God comes in, reasoned debate goes out. Often (again, not saying that this is you) someone whose argument is basically religious cannot seem to accept that not everyone shares that religion or that their way is not right for everyone.

I don't think anyone is ever intending to criticize someone simply for believing in God.