Why do religious people always defend religion…..

[naomi24]

…. regardless of the religion? I don’t think I’ve ever seen a religious person on here argue against another religion. I can understand them defending their own, but why defend those they obviously disagree with? Why, for example, does a Born Again Christian, or a Catholic, defend a Muslim or a Jehovah’s Witness – or vice versa? When presented with the unsavoury aspects of an alternative religion, they either disappear, or have no hesitation in distancing themselves from doctrine and practices that they, personally, find unacceptable – so why do it in the first place? Why not just be honest?

[joko]

agreed naomi. i think they think if they support each other eventually all us non believers will eventually be swayed by the sheer volume of the religious ranks.

they know their numbers are dwindling so they must unite against a common enemy

[plautus]

I think that you will find that Christians of another persuasion are more than eager to denounce heretics, witness the latest long thread from Goodlife. I defy you to find any Christian outside the Watchtower organisation to leap to their defence. There is no need for other Christians to attack them on this site whilst you do such a good job; as Churchill said of Stalin, "My enemy's enemy is my friend.

[wildwood]

sandyroe //followers of the golden rule which seems to be common to all religions, treat others as you would want to be treated, can surely be doing little harm.//

pmsl

[naomi24]

Plautus, /Christians of another persuasion are more than eager to denounce heretics, witness the latest long thread from Goodlife. I defy you to find any Christian outside the Watchtower organisation to leap to their defence.//

I suggest you read that thread. You’ll find more than one Christian of another persuasion there defending Goodlife, and a Muslim.

[ludwig]

It's like I said before. They feel an obligation to defend other people who are 'of faith' from attacks by the nasty atheists.

It's the reason why Prince Charles wants to be the defender 'of faith' rather than the defender of 'The faith'.

[sandyRoe]

Will Charles when he's king defend the followers of the Great Hornéd One as he would the CoE?

[woofgang]

I don't think your opinion that religious people ALWAYS defend religion is correct.
I am a religious person. I would never defend fatwah, insisting women wear the hijab, making contraception a sin, and many other beliefs attached to religions.
Using the word "always" in this context automatically puts you on dodgy ground because it only takes one person like me to pop up and say "well I don't" to demolish (or at least put a big hole in) your original contention.

[woofgang]

PS I don't see atheists or agnostics at "the enemy" or my enemy either. I don't feel threatened by them, sorry for them or any other feeling about them as a group. We differ in opinion tout court.

[anneasquith]

many religions, but only one GOD,

[jomifl]

Many religions have many gods..

[jomifl]

Subconciously it helps alleviate their doubts in believing such a cock and bull story if they know that someone else has been conned too. It is similar to coal miners wanting their sons to follow in their footsteps and become coal miners. So much better than being a software engineer or banker.

[0lly]

@namomi. If you haven't seen people arguing against other religions, then you obviously haven't been on the religious forums. :-)

[0lly]

@jomifl
"Subconciously it helps alleviate their doubts in believing such a cock and bull story if they know that someone else has been conned too. It is similar to coal miners wanting their sons to follow in their footsteps and become coal miners. So much better than being a software engineer or banker."

Living in a mining area as I do I can tell you that the last thing a miner wanted was for his son to go down the pit. The trouble was there was little employment elsewhere. I think you would have been better saying that families usually remain loyal to political parties and football teams which may be part of their culture similar to belonging to a group or a clan?

I have major problems with religions that cause terror and violence, and although they are called religions I think they are best described as political parties who invoke the name of God which they have no right to do imo.

.

[naomi24]

Woofgang, //I am a religious person. I would never defend fatwah, insisting women wear the hijab, making contraception a sin, and many other beliefs attached to religions….. I don't see atheists or agnostics at "the enemy" or my enemy either. //

I’ve seen you argue consistently against atheists in defence of religion – in fact you’ve openly confessed to trying to wind me up - but I don’t think I’ve seen you argue against it. Unless I’ve missed something, in debates on the more unsavoury aspects of religion, you have, in effect, defended it by abstention.

Olly, //@namomi. If you haven't seen people arguing against other religions, then you obviously haven't been on the religious forums.//

The ‘on here’ in the second line of my question is the clue to understanding this.

[sandyRoe]

'Religious forums'? Do all the contributors sing from the same hymn sheet? That would make a restful change from the cut and thrust of R&S here in AB.

[0lly]

@sandyRoe. 'Religious forums'? Do all the contributors sing from the same hymn sheet? That would make a restful change from the cut and thrust of R&S here in AB.

I'm afraid there is no singing from the same hymn sheet Sandy. You get all creeds and cultures, my hope is that one day they will all harmonise but like oil and water there is little chance of that at the moment. :-)

.

[jomifl]

Olly,the only way they will hamonise is if they all become muslim.

[naomi24]

Olly, //That would make a restful change from the cut and thrust of R&S here in AB. //

Blimey, you tire easily. You've only been here for four days. ;o)

[woofgang]

in that case naomi, by abstention you may have (haven't checked) defended by abstention a flat earth, space aliens and the existence of the tooth fairy!
I freely confess to having tried to wind you up in the past, and don't rule it out in the future, but that doesn't mean that I see you as an enemy or someone to be feared or pitied.
I will certainly argue when i feel like it, in defence of my beliefs or in defence of some religious beliefs, its the "always" that I object to.

[woofgang]

sorry "to which i object."