Posted by Tehuti on March 27, 2000 at 17:28:23:
In Reply to: Strange approach, Tehuti.... posted by Tiggy on March 27, 2000 at 16:58:17:
No, no, that isn't what I was saying at all!
You may not have realized that for some people, a discussion like the one you brought up IS religious, and some could even find it offensive. I won't go generalizing, but a view like the one you expressed probably wouldn't be very popular with some fundamentalist Christians, among others. NOT SAYING NONE OF THEM WOULD AGREE!--it's just been my experience that when it comes to a religion/faith that is all-inclusive, and pretty much what you described, they start getting overly defensive and argumentative. These people will believe that you're attacking their belief system, even if you're not. Sometimes, no amount of reasoning will convince them to listen to you; there are people who even refuse to believe that you HAVE a worthy opinion. This is the problem with things that I was talking about.
And, I didn't say that the essential in life shouldn't be discussed! I just said that when it brings up more argument and anger than honest open discussion, it shouldn't be discussed. With some people, you just can't discuss certain things without there being a huge fight. They won't listen to your view, so why bother trying to pound it into their head? It'll just make you look as stupid as they do. (Not picking on you, just using the word "you.") Both of you will come across as too stubborn and inflexible to see any other views.
And, the point I was trying to make about too many other things to worry about--they are things I'm not so certain of, so they worry me. My views on faith may puzzle me sometimes, but I have enough confidence in them so I don't have to think on them every single moment--like I said, they're ingrained in me, *I* know what they are at least, so I don't see the need to constantly analyze them or defend them for others (when others probably won't agree with me anyway). Why analyze something I pretty much understand? I'd rather try to figure out and solve the other problems that face me.
You see, this is why I don't like discussing my views; they're much too easy to be misunderstood, which is what I believe just happened. I hope I've managed to clear things up a little??
AUS,
Tehuti