Why are politics and religion such touchy subjects?

didnt mean strong christians just to offend peoples, just generally they like to fight back. like anyone else. its a touchy subjects because people who have strong beliefs like to fight their corner.

As lish said, the strong religious types wouldn’t get worked up, they know what they believe in and nobody can change their mind.

Some people just get out of hand. When you start telling someone that something they believe in is a fraud they flip their lid, usually.

because some people dont have open minds and think what they believe is right.. which is good that they believe something that strong but bad that they cant be open to what other people think

exactly - everyone has a right, so everyone wants to express their opinions and when everyone can, opinions cross, and then strong christians and stuff get touchy…

There’s a difference between discussing them and debating them - and being ignorant and condemning others for their beliefs. Which is what usually happens.

mandyloo is right usually these discussions just turn into people insulting each other for their beliefs.

Because people have very strong feelings about politics and religion…Strong enough that “discussions” and “debates” about these subjects, at a dinner table can send families scurrying for shelter, or throwing punches…It’s not that they CAN’T be discussed and debated, but it seems “respect” for others goes out the window (as you must have noted here at FA, in both the Politics and Reigion questions)…

Another problem is that people get self-deluded, and actually think they’ll change another person’s mind…changing minds does happen in other “question subjects”, but when it comes to Politics and Religion, it just doesn’t happen.

p

b/c some people have too much pride in their standings. I have my belief in religion and yes no one can change my belief, I try to help but if you dont want it, thats your problem and not mine. I mean im not going to force it down you. like my dad always says, you cant help one that dont want help. so if you dont want it im not wasting my time on you. as far as politics, I guess the same. im not big in politics. I think we can all have our beliefs and whatever, but like I keep saying, EVERYONE should RESPECT EVERYBODY elses opinions. you can disagree without bein so offensive, if you dont believe fine, all you can say is I dont believe in that and leave.

“and then strong christians and stuff get touchy”

funny statement, strong christians just know what they believe in and their going to stand on it regardless what you say. I think everyone gets out of hand bout it, I think if it isn your belief then stay out and let the ones that want help get help and christians should try to help others on here, but if they show that they dont want it then stop pestering them and just pray for them.

Actually, people’s views on politics and religion do change. 30 years ago I was a Conservative Republican but as everyone knows now I’m a bleeding heart liberal. As a lad I believed all the main tenets of Christianity but now I’m an atheist.

My change of heart in religion was fairly quick but changing my political position was bumpy and took many years. I would hear people make good arguments that caused me to question the premises that I based my politics on.

My goal in discussions is not to convert the other person. It is to get them to understand my position. Regardless of their viewpoint understanding the argument from more angles makes their understanding of the issue richer.

In high school debate sometimes I had to debate the opposite of the position I personally held. This was a great exercise in seeing the other viewpoint. Sometimes is is good to play the devil’s advocate.