Why do people go out of their way to belittle other people's points of view?

I just don't understand why so many people have problems with what other people choose to believe in. I don't like it when other people point out all the flaws of what I believe in, so I don't judge what other people believe in. I mean, if you're an atheist, great; if you're a Christian or a Catholic, that's great too. No matter how much you preach and try to convert people into believing what you believe, most of the time their just going to blow you off. When people try to preach to me about their religion and how I should come to their church, I completely tune them out. Respect what I believe, and I'll respect yours. You would think after all these religious wars people would be tolerant of other's beliefs and views. But I guess the world isn't as evolved as we all think it is.

Why do people go out of their way to belittle other people's points of view?
Respect works both ways.
Reply:See my theory on "dumb babies" and "poopy heads"





"Liberal", "Christian", "Redneck", "Atheist", when applied to someone else in lieu of substantiation for your assertions are all code for "poopy head".





People who engage in this "technique" are "dumb babies."





A faithful person doesn't fear another's "heresy". And scientific knowledge doesn't mean you've cornered the market on truth. What happened before the big bang, big headed science guy?





What I can't stand is how so many are willing to kill their own curiousity with their tightly held beliefs - Athesit or Christian or whatever... because they are so insecure that their beliefs must be upheld by dismissing those of others as being the product of "poopy heads."





"There are more things in heaven.." (Wm. Shalespeare - Hamlet)
Reply:atheists don't convert, they inform. Christians convert, sometimes by force. look at your Christian history, besides reading the Bible. Reading the Bible only to get your religion's history is like getting the status of the U.S. by ONLY reading Bush's "State of the Union Address". if you don't get the analogy, there is no hope.
Reply:Really......it's no trouble for me at all.
Reply:Allot has to do with pride and fear I think. Also not understanding others way of thinking. For some it is easier to become sarcastic
Reply:Some people have such uneducated opinions that you cannot answer without making them feel uneducated.





People choose how they feel. No one makes anyone feel anything. Claiming someone "made me feel..." is just a cop-out and a refusal to accept responsibility.





It would be nice if everyone in the world knew exactly what to say so no one would ever be offended.





Everyone would feel great about each other and the world would be just peachy keen.





Wouldn't it be just as nice if people refused to be offended when someone said something.
Reply:Its insecurity, people don't like questioning their comfort zone.
Reply:Yes, we all do it. I highly doubt that you won't do it within the next week. You and someone you know will probably belittle someone else. I'm not saying that it makes it right.





I believe that when it comes down to it, we really can't help what we are. We can use our inherent abilities to try, but when all is considered I have no good reason to feel high and mighty by the day's end.
Reply:they think that by insulting your beliefs, they will change your mind somehow.
Reply:You tell me -- you seem to be doing it right here. You belittle the people who belittle what others believe. If you were so self-righteously tolerant as you claim, why would you even bring it up?
Reply:katie, please realize that every person born has to grow,some have not grown as far and fast as you have. just recognizing that people do this, you are far ahead of the game. We are trained as children to cry to get what we want, and as adolesents to push and bug people til they conform to a way that pleases us. As long as you know who you are in Christ, He will give you the strenth to be tolerant to there learning process. please know that it is His plan and time not ours.


Keep the faith


in Him


Rod
Reply:sometimes people dont think theyre putting other's beliefs down, they think theyre doing them a favor by "converting" them. and othe rtimes, people just like arguing, or are simply stubborn. its just their nature, im sure if they realized they were doing it they would stop (or at least in my case i would... i tend to be one of those stubborn people who like to argue :) )

insoles