Why are fundamentalists always so angry?

[anamchrist]

I have been on this forum for some time now and one thing that keeps striking me is the anger continually being expressed by so many people. I have noticed this quite often among those who hold very rigid beliefs, whether Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Islamic or atheist. Usually it seems to me that these folks are afraid that their dearly held beliefs may not be as rock solid as they would like them to be? On the other hand, those who admit to not knowing all the answers and that not everything is black and white and leave some wiggle room, tend to be kindlier and gentler. Anyone else notice this?

 

[strngrnrth]

I have been accused of being angry when expressing beliefs before. It’s not incertainty. It’s the observation that most people don’t seem to care about the big issues and questions enough to take them seriously. Why claim a belief you don’t really believe? Why not act on one you do believe? If you have found reasons or a conclusion about the things that matter most, what part of life could that information conceiveably not change? Then why are some “religious” people’s lives so much like irreligious people’s lives? It’s frustrating to keep expecting others to act as if they really believe what they say they do and find that not all will do so. If I learned that the purpose of life was to ice skate I’d get some skates. If I learned that the most wise, righteous, powerful, lovable, real being wanted me to eat Swiss cheese, I’d look for a deal on huge Swiss cheese loaves, and save up for one. Why not? It has to be a more intelligent use of my time than watching my favorite show, right? But so many are happy to think they can worship God for an hour a week and than live as if He didn’t exist. It’s not anger but sadness and frustration.

 

[mark_a]

I have been on this forum for some time now and one thing that keeps striking me is the anger continually being expressed by so many people. I have noticed this quite often among those who hold very rigid beliefs, whether Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Islamic or atheist.

Folks use an approach on forums that they would never use face to face. I doubt true personalities come across on these forums.

I find your observations to be even more true in real life.

On the other hand, those who admit to not knowing all the answers and that not everything is black and white and leave some wiggle room, tend to be kindlier and gentler. Anyone else notice this?

Yes, especially in real life. I notice these good qualities are more prevelant in minorities and females.

Please excuse me while I zip over to the non-Catholic forum and chew up some Protestants.

Signed,

An angry middle-aged white man about to go postal.

 

[Annie_B]

I believe that hose who get angered so easily regarding religious topics/conversations are not as strong in their beliefs as they present themselves to be. If one is strong in one’s faith then that strength should bring peace. Also, many seem to get angry when their fath is challenged merely because they despise being questioned; “I am right, you are wrong,” leaves no room for discussions or questions If we do not discuss and/or ask questions, I don’t see how we can grow.

Annie

 

[strngrnrth]

I notice that atheists/conspiracy fans/self-described skeptics tend to scream and bark, spray, foam and swear when I try to reply to their speeches. They go on and on, saying many untrue things, illogical things etc. I hear a pause and decide it must be my chance to say something. I say two or three syllables at most (I believe you notice I usually speak at length given a chance ) and they interrrupt, shrieking, barking and ordering me to “listen” to them. I have listened, in every case, and wish to reply. They are the ones who won’t listen. I’ve never heard a religious person behave that way, except adherents to very small-following faiths. THey stick their faces right into my face so I can see all their nose hairs and theiur eyes bug out and look off in random directions, but they still say they are the ones being “rational” and I am the one “just not even thinking for myself”. When I try to let them know how carefully I have already, again and again, considered the facts and evaluated sources, which they clearly have not done if they really don’t see their logical holes, they call me a cultist, ignorant and other dismissive words until I leave them alone with their self-unawareness to scream about how reasonable they wish the world were. If I get irritable when accused of being unable to change my mind, as if I were born with all my current conclusions in place, it is because I know if I try to share my reasoning, the other person is more than likely to derail all rational discussion, and I feel teased, as if they had held out a good conversation and yanked it away when I reached for it, so I do sometimes just say something brief and walk off nowadays.

 

[notself]

Anger is part of our general society. We are raised with it as acceptable behavior. Anger, retribution, and aggression are seen as strength in our fictional heroes, in our sports heroes, in our comedians and in our politicians.

We are a country that declared war on another nation because of suspicion. We are a country that supports the death penalty. We are a country that tortures prisoners. Is it any wonder that when our dearly held beliefs are challenged that our first response is sarcasm and anger?

We are angry in spite of faith not because we lack it.

 

[Kaninchen]

I have been on this forum for some time now and one thing that keeps striking me is the anger continually being expressed by so many people. I have noticed this quite often among those who hold very rigid beliefs, whether Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Islamic or atheist. Usually it seems to me that these folks are afraid that their dearly held beliefs may not be as rock solid as they would like them to be? On the other hand, those who admit to not knowing all the answers and that not everything is black and white and leave some wiggle room, tend to be kindlier and gentler. Anyone else notice this?

After nearly a decade and a half of message boards, it would be my guess that those with a propensity to anger are attracted to ‘fundamentalism’ and rigidity rather than the other way around. They also seem to have some kind of idea that they are ‘punishing’ their opponents in some way and very often ascribe to them presentational behaviors that are, often, their own.

 

[inthecloud]

As Mecken said fundamentalism needs anger and hate.
In my opinion fundies are angry people that are looking for someone to hate and find the tool in religion.

 

[deb1]

I think that people who go to extremes in any belief system-and that includes atheists also- are just angry people. So, if you could convince an angry fundamentalist that there was no God, then he would become an angry atheist.

That doesn’t mean that a person with deep convictions is always an extremist though.

For instance, I am disgusted with abortion and the killing of babies. But I have pity for the mothers of these children and a society that doesn’t understand how evil abortion is.

 

[deb1]

Something else that I have noticed is that people who are extremists tend to believe that they are so correct in their thinking that they can break rules. In other words ‘the ends justify the means’ type of mindset.

So for example, an antiabortion zealot would believe that blowing up a clinic would be acceptable, or an extreme feminist might find it all right to denigrate all men.

I think that we all have to be aware that even noble ideas can be twisted and made evil when taken to extremes.

 

[deb1]

Anger is part of our general society. We are raised with it as acceptable behavior. Anger, retribution, and aggression are seen as strength in our fictional heroes, in our sports heroes, in our comedians and in our politicians.

.

Anger is not always bad, sometimes it is a very good thing. If you see your neighbor beating his wife and kids, for example, you should be angry and do something.

 

[Swan]

I have been on this forum for some time now and one thing that keeps striking me is the anger continually being expressed by so many people. I have noticed this quite often among those who hold very rigid beliefs, whether Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Islamic or atheist. Usually it seems to me that these folks are afraid that their dearly held beliefs may not be as rock solid as they would like them to be? On the other hand, those who admit to not knowing all the answers and that not everything is black and white and leave some wiggle room, tend to be kindlier and gentler. Anyone else notice this?

This is an excellent observation and one I agree with. It is also good to point out that fundamentalists exists in every religion/philosophy, not just Christian evangelicals. It also, I think, helps to define the line between “relgion” and spirituality in that I find people, such as myself, who are spiritual seekers and tend to question everything, have such a difficult time with people who espouse specific “religious” creeds as they feel they must defend those creeds because their belief in such makes up such a large part of who they are, their identity. So that, in my experience, the less stringent the creed, the less likely the fundamentalist tendencies. Take Anne Lamott for example (I mention her because of your signature line - I really, really love her work) she is not a “fire and brimstone” adherent and it shows. And, frankly, she is one of the connections to Christianity that I still have, one of the things that gives me hope.

 

[Swan]

After nearly a decade and a half of message boards, it would be my guess that those with a propensity to anger are attracted to ‘fundamentalism’ and rigidity rather than the other way around. They also seem to have some kind of idea that they are ‘punishing’ their opponents in some way and very often ascribe to them presentational behaviors that are, often, their own.

This, as it the OP, is a very astute observation. Too bad we’re preaching to the choir.

 

[Tietjen]

I have been on this forum for some time now and one thing that keeps striking me is the anger continually being expressed by so many people. I have noticed this quite often among those who hold very rigid beliefs, whether Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Islamic or atheist. Usually it seems to me that these folks are afraid that their dearly held beliefs may not be as rock solid as they would like them to be? On the other hand, those who admit to not knowing all the answers and that not everything is black and white and leave some wiggle room, tend to be kindlier and gentler. Anyone else notice this?

I can only speak for myself here ( I have, in the past, gotten rather irate over issues in these forums ). However, in my case, it’s not the subject matter but rather the individual(s) I am having the discussion with that usually sets me off. A respectful person wishing to have a legit discussion will find me respectful. Someone who comes in criticizing the Church won’t see me as being very respectful. Another “problem” I have is that I generally see things as either black or white with very few things falling in the realm of gray. Most people don’t see things that way today. I certainly don’t admit to “knowing all the answers.” But neither will I look for “wiggle room” in order to side-step a Truth as revealed by the Church.

 

[Lev23]

Why are fundamentalists always so angry?

Some say because they’re never any fun and are mostly mental.

 

[dosdog]

it is precisely the distinction between “revengeful anger” and “righteous divine anger” that Lactantius, followed by Tertullian and Cyprian, argued against the pagan Cicero

The bottom line is this: Anger does not necessarily create an “appetite for revenge.” It is only unbridled anger that creates such deleterious passions.

Righteous anger produces a cognitive indignation against evil and a pure desire to see the evil eradicated, either by repentance of the sinner or the vengeance of God if he does not repent.
catholicintl.com/catholicissues/field2-4.htm

 

[Kaninchen]

it is precisely the distinction between “revengeful anger” and “righteous divine anger” that Lactantius, followed by Tertullian and Cyprian, argued against the pagan Cicero

The bottom line is this: Anger does not necessarily create an “appetite for revenge.” It is only unbridled anger that creates such deleterious passions.

Righteous anger produces a cognitive indignation against evil and a pure desire to see the evil eradicated, either by repentance of the sinner or the vengeance of God if he does not repent.
catholicintl.com/catholicissues/field2-4.htm

Listening to angry people rattling on is terribly boring though.

 

[notself]

Anger is not always bad, sometimes it is a very good thing. If you see your neighbor beating his wife and kids, for example, you should be angry and do something.

It is possible to ‘do something’ while not being angry. Cops deal with all sorts of violent acts yet most do so without anger. Anger actually interferes with clear thinking.

Why do you think anger is productive in any instance?

 

[deb1]

It is possible to ‘do something’ while not being angry. Cops deal with all sorts of violent acts yet most do so without anger. Anger actually interferes with clear thinking.

Why do you think anger is productive in any instance?

Anger can move people out of their comfortable lives to actually get off their butts and do something.

You and I might be using different definitions for anger. I do not mean being out of control and irrational. A person can certainly be angry and clear headed, just as a person can feel any strong emotion and be clear headed.

 

[deb1]

Listening to angry people rattling on is terribly boring though.

I think that this depends on the individual you are listening to. Sometimes strong emotions, when they are controled, can make a person simply seem passionate and engaged in the issue.

Listening to out of control people rattle on about anything can be borning, or if they get power, frightening.