Why do People Care if Others Don't Believe as They Do?

Originally posted by Revernd Maynard
Yes, but it is false hope, false reason. People have to realize this, then they will be enlightened.

I don't see the big deal if it makes them happy but when you start condemning everyone else for not doing the same as you and worshipping a god the in all actual reality there is no proof of then you really need to stfu. Oh and one thing that bugs the hell out of me is when the say greek and roman stories of gods are false but then they have the same ones for their religion I just look at them like they're stupid then 😬 lol

Originally posted by Ushgarak
Gah... 'everyone acts selfishly' is such a moody teenaged view of the world. Analysis of people's behaviour goes far deeper than that.

Every generalization doesn't give its parent topic a good enough answer, but I think you're speaking more out of disgust than a real solid stance. The question at hand is that every person wants to feel like they're right, that they are the king of this world, or the best actor, or that they reap the benefit and do with the things of the world as they see fit. This is egoism, and it's pretty evident (Though it'd be impossible to prove since it would require delving into the minds of every human being in existance) as a social trait. This isn't saying that -everything- ever done is 100% self motivated and that seemingly altruistic behaviors don't exist or aren't observed, but that's not the point of the discussion. When it comes to viewpoints, no one wants to admit that they, the center of their universe, might be wrong.

Do not mistake the consequences of an action for the nature of the action itself; just because something makes you happy, it does not make it selfish to perform that something, and nor should you assume that because something makes you happy that is therefore the only reason you did it. If doing the right thing makes someone happy, that does not automatically make them selfish for doing it.

Actually, I'm looking to the intent. The intent is always beneficial to the person or their interestsm unless it is forced. This isn't always conscious and possibly not even deliberate, but it's still there. And again, not crucial to the argument at hand.

As for the main question... yeah, it would be nice to live in Hippy Happy land where that was possible but that's hardly credible. Beliefs are HOSTILE to each other in many cases. No-one is happy to live and let live with a belief that spreads evil; look at apartheid, for example.

Mkay.

Well I totally disagree on a very fundamental level, Wesker, but it's best argued in a different thread.

Originally posted by Mindship
Whether you are an atheist or religious; whether you believe in evolution or creationism; whether you believe in objective or subjective truths, etc, etc, etc...

Why do some people have a hard time accepting other people's different beliefs? Why are some able to live and let live? What are the psychological factors which determine one way or the other?

No bashing, no pontification. Just discussion here.

Originally posted by Fishy
You do realise they say the exact same thing to non believers right...

religious people say that?

People have to realize this, then they will be enlightened.

People have to realize god exists, then they will be enlightened.

First one is you, second one is christians...

You both pretty much say the same thing... Your way is right and if they would realise that, then their lives would be better... Doesn't work like that. Everybody believes he is right.

I think that people only really have a hard time accepting other people's beliefs if it conflicts with their own.

Originally posted by zod360
I think that people only really have a hard time accepting other people's beliefs if it conflicts with their own.

No shit, sherlock.

Originally posted by Mindship

Why do some people have a hard time accepting other people's different beliefs? Why are some able to live and let live? What are the psychological factors which determine one way or the other?

No bashing, no pontification. Just discussion here.

It is simply a clash of egos. With a touch of Superiorty Complex. "I know something you don't know thus I make you look stupid" I've always promoted and declare that the best stand is the neutral stand. However, that isn't enough for some people either you agaisn't them or with them.

Observing humans as I have throughout my life has showed me that we are pack animals. Much like dogs, we crave to be accepted, loved, and apart of something. For some of us it doesn't matter what it is, just something. Gangs, fraternities, sororities, secret societies...even the "mean kids" at school all flourish because of the basic human desires stated above. Agreeing on something is the first step to being accepted by ANYONE. When someone says "I disagree with you" it removes them from the list of potentials you "have something in common with", which is just another way of saying "We agree on something." It makes us feel less accepted, and some of us can't take the way this makes them feels.

It's a lot more than ego: many things factor into people being interested in what others beleive. By what people beleive you can tell a lot about them right off: morals, the way they might think, etc...

And there is always a sense of beleiving what you beleive is right and wanting others to see the same way. When it comes to spreading religion- Christianity is the only one that does it well (you'll never see a Muslim try to convert a Christian except with a bomb) and we want others to beleive our way to save themselves (granted that is just OUR beleif that people can be saved at all) but it still shows caring for others- not arrogance for other's beleifs.
--Pride, ego, and moral dissonance are the main factors in other situations: where you feel someone or something is being judged unfairly or thinks wrongly of someone and you want them to reconsider. Naturally a parent would want their child to beleive a certain set of values, etc.. but it is their right to impress upon them what they beleive, just as it can be right to do it to others. keyword: CAN be right. Not always is.

Originally posted by Mindship
Whether you are an atheist or religious; whether you believe in evolution or creationism; whether you believe in objective or subjective truths, etc, etc, etc...

Why do some people have a hard time accepting other people's different beliefs? Why are some able to live and let live? What are the psychological factors which determine one way or the other?

No bashing, no pontification. Just discussion here.

Originally posted by Fishy
So it would be best for her to let her go? Right, did you feel happy about that? Did you feel you did the right thing? Of course you did.

Would you have been able to live with yourself if she would have stayed?

Certainly. I could have lived quite well with myself making such a decision, however, it probably wouldn't have been the best decision for her at the time, particularly since she would have inherited many financial burdens and the responsibility of raising a child.

I'm raising a child on my own, and believe me..I'm certainly not doing it because it makes me "feel good" to do so, or because I'm expecting something from my child when he gets older. I'd definitely prefer doing things that I wanted to do, instead of always putting another person's life before mine.

However, I want to make sure that my son has a fair chance at life and is well provided for, so I sacrifice doing many of the things that would make me happy, in order to make sure that he gets this fair chance.

I know I may never receive any benefits from my actions in this life, however, I still do it because I know it's the right thing to do, not because I inherently expect some sort of reward, be it an emotional, physical, or spiritual one.

Still as a Christian I do believe in a "loving" God who rewards those that do his "will." A God who didn't reward those for doing his "will" would not be "loving" one, and I could find no true motivation for following the "will" of an unloving God.

So for me it's not about self, if I really wanted to please myself, I'd be doing whatever the hell I wanted in this life right now, and wouldn't really care about the impacts that my actions might have on others.

Fin

christians are about as sad as geeks and nerds. Actually, they're sadder.

Originally posted by xyz revolution
christians are about as sad as geeks and nerds. Actually, they're sadder.

Well, that's one of the most stupidest generalizations I've ever read.