Is this normal?

[gdoll1818]

Is it normal to get upset with someone when they bash on religion? I know I do when someone is making rude comments about it and my mother tells me not to get mad and pray for those people. Any thoughts?

 

[ghag17]

yes it's normal. i used to get in arguments with people left and right because they'd make some comment about christianity. i do a lot better with it now though, i've learned when i should speak, and when i should just stay silent and move on.

 

[PursueTheTruth]

Is it normal to get upset with someone when they bash on religion? I know I do when someone is making rude comments about it and my mother tells me not to get mad and pray for those people. Any thoughts?

It is normal to get upset when someone attacks anything you really care about.

... was going to give advice but I am new and just noticed the age thing....


sorry...

 

[smithmartin]

Thanks for your reply..

 

[Ada Lovelace]

Your religious beliefs are probably very sacred to you, so it's understandable to feel upset when others are trampling upon and mocking them.

I go to an independent (not affiliated with any religion) private school in LA with a primarily "secular humanist" student body and frequently hear disparaging remarks about Christianity in particular and the detrimental effects of organized religion as a whole. Trying to understand the mindset for those views has been really helpful to me. Most animosity is based upon the actions of Christians rather than Christ himself, and with presumptions about Christianity, such as it being "anti-science" and "anti-knowledge" when it in fact itself.

Last semester I took this moral philosophy class and learned a lot about this Christian philosopher named Soren Kierkegaard. This is a quote of his: “To defend something is always to discredit it. Let a man have a warehouse full of gold, let him be willing to give away a ducat to every one of the poor - but let him also be stupid enough to begin this charitable undertaking of his with a defence in which he offers three good reasons in justification; and it will almost come to the point of people finding it doubtful whether indeed he is doing something good. But now for Christianity. Yes, the person who defends that has never believed in it. If he does believe, then the enthusiasm of faith is not a defence, no, it is the assault and the victory; a believer is a victor.”

I would try to not be bothered by comments about religion that aren't specifically targeted to you. If someone criticizes your beliefs or mocks them, instead of trying to defend them, just calmly do your best to explain your reasons for them. If that doesn't lead to anything positive, just try to switch topics. It's not worth a squabble.

 

[Shane Plew]

When I was a Christian, I would get angry too when people would say anything negative about my beliefs. Now I'm the one saying negative things about it. Next time someone says something negative about it, instead of getting angry try and figure out why they said that.

 

[Timi Celcer]

The most important thing to do when someone is criticizing your religion is to remain calm. Your goal is to show him that Christianity is more reasonable. But he won't want to consider Christianity if you attack him.

 

[NamelessHero]

It doesn't bother me. I don't care. In fact, I enjoy debating it as long as the other person stays civil.

 

[Charbel7]

Nope go to a psychologist as soon as possible.

 

[iAlive]

I encourage you to be patient with such people. Often times, they don't know what they are saying, and do what they do out of ignorance. They might've have been hurt once by a so-called believer, and are biased against the body of Christ because of that offence. It could be something else. Regardless of why, since we can't exactly peer into the hearts of men (only God can), let's just be patient, loving, and calm toward such people, but also ready to calmly speak the truth about who Christ really is and what He truly desires His church to be.

God bless you, sistago. Press on for Jesus.

 

[Born2live4ever]

I think it's normal. I used to get really defensive when I was a Christian. Now, I try to be sensitive about what I say. Criticizing any system can be constructive, because, as humans, we could always be improving, but we should be careful not to attack people individually for their beliefs and whatnot. That's what I figure, anyway.

 

[grandvizier1006]

I don't blame you at all, but do your best not to let out the anger in front of that person. If you're really mad just go home and write it all out in a diary or something, or go to a trusted friend that will listen.

Alternatively, you can simply not fuel the anger and just let it go.