Why do people find it so awkward to talk about religion?

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I’m open to any answers. I just want to hear people’s opinions.
 
Stigma. For fear of looking like an idiot or an outcast. The rationalism ideologies of the Age of Enlightenment in the 18th century has at the very least, permeated society to the extent that people feel like they need to back up everything they say, on just about every subject, and not necessarily on scientific developments.

And unnecessarily so. I suppose that may have aided in religious people to get to know their own religion better but sometimes there are things that don’t always necessarily need an explanation. Sometimes there are things that are highly prevalent, such as the pervasiveness of religion and spirituality in a sane civilization, and verbosity of argument takes away any salience of such things.
 
A good bible study by a great facilitator or a Life in the Spirit Seminar given by an experienced and faith-filled core group can change all that.

Most conversations about religion go only skin deep. When one becomes part of a community and can share more on a deeper level, then faith is contagious and inspires a desire to go deeper into all the Lord wants to give us.
 
When the subject of religion comes up, people of different religions or no religion often aggressively challenge one another, which can get quite heated and contentious because we so strongly identify with our religion or lack thereof. Some of us just do not like arguing and confrontation.
 
Fear of coming across as some kind of religious fanatic. Fear of giving offense. Fear of being unable to defend one’s own beliefs. Depends on the nature of the gathering: friends gathered for a meal is one thing; strangers thrown together for a meal (say, in a cruise ship’s dining room) religious topics just not conducive to a pleasant meal. Been there.
 
One of the reasons is that people who try to evangelize come off as pushy and people are not receptive to that. (I.e I don’t tolerate door to door evangelists at all)

Another reason is that many people who are devout to their own religion, while they are dedicated to that religion, they don’t know how to “defend” their beliefs to someone who is trying to evangelize them - and they don’t feel they have to in the first place. The same can be said of those who don’t practice a formal religion at all. These evangelists are considered to be deceitful or confusing in order to get members.

Another reason is the reputation of the representative religion may have something to do with it as well. As well as perceived beliefs (whether they are true to that religion or just rumored). It can turn off the receiver and all religions have something about them that is repugnant to someone of another religion.

In a nutshell, people’s beliefs are private and they are entitled to them, and they don’t need to defend them to someone trying to convert them (or trying to prove them wrong).
 
DaddyGirl said:
LOL…because before being enlightened and The Enlightenment, people didn’t feel they had to back up anything they said!
That actually explains…A LOT!

To the OP…I don’t see that people are awkward talking about religion.
Can you give a few examples of who feels that way, in your experience?

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This is an odd bone to pick. Yes, just because you don’t have to go into detail with everything, necessarily implies you don’t have to go into detail with anything. Non sequitor much? It’s particularly telling you didn’t quote the latter paragraph, which explains my stance more fully, but that’s fine.
 
When it is awkward to talk about for me chances are my friends are different versions of christian, or non christian(but still worship god ex Lutheran, Mormon) or even some times they were raised as an atheist making it very awkward.

and if thats not the case than usually the setting has to do with it
 
christofirst said:
When the subject of religion comes up, people of different religions or no religion often aggressively challenge one another, which can get quite heated and contentious because we so strongly identify with our religion or lack thereof. Some of us just do not like arguing and confrontation.
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I think this has more to do with it than anything. It’s one thing to have a discussion about religion and what one believes - it’s something completely differernt when the person you’re trying to have a discussion with (no matter how rationally) doesn’t respect your opinion. Especially if you have to see the other person every day (and might even have to work with that person), it’s difficult to talk about topics that may become heated arguments (often religion and politics) if you don’t know how the person will react when you talk about these things.
 
Neofight said:
Sometimes lack of catechesis makes them reluctant because they feel unable to adequately explain their faith.
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Tarpeian_Rock said:
Fear of coming across as some kind of religious fanatic. Fear of giving offense. Fear of being unable to defend one’s own beliefs. Depends on the nature of the gathering: friends gathered for a meal is one thing; strangers thrown together for a meal (say, in a cruise ship’s dining room) religious topics just not conducive to a pleasant meal. Been there.
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Yeah I think its something of a cross between these two answers.:hey_bud:
Plus people might feel awkward just because society right now is presenting itself as somewhat antireligious. :angel1:
 
Part of it is that to have a casual religious conversation (ie, just talking about God in your daily life, not trying to proselytize), you need to presuppose that you already hold certain beliefs in common. Whether it’s “the existence of God”, or “the Trinity”, or “Purgatory”, or “the Communion of Saints”— if you want to talk about x, but x presupposes y, and the person you would like to have a conversation with isn’t on board with y— it gets clunky. It’s like trying to say, “Aren’t these flowers amazing!” but the person you’re talking to is colorblind and has no sense of smell. You end up trying to convince them that they’re x color, when the person can clearly see for themselves that it’s y color-- and you have to try and explain what a “smell” is to someone who hasn’t experienced it for themselves.
 
Depends where one is.

In the European countries, the historical memory of persecutions and war over religion creates a taboo. (If one includes Nazism in that history, it comes up to within living memory.)

In NA, the need to promote religious tolerance and acceptance has led to ignoring religion as a measure of politeness.

ICXC NIKA
 
midori said:
Part of it is that to have a casual religious conversation (ie, just talking about God in your daily life, not trying to proselytize), you need to presuppose that you already hold certain beliefs in common. Whether it’s “the existence of God”, or “the Trinity”, or “Purgatory”, or “the Communion of Saints”— if you want to talk about x, but x presupposes y, and the person you would like to have a conversation with isn’t on board with y— it gets clunky. It’s like trying to say, “Aren’t these flowers amazing!” but the person you’re talking to is colorblind and has no sense of smell. You end up trying to convince them that they’re x color, when the person can clearly see for themselves that it’s y color-- and you have to try and explain what a “smell” is to someone who hasn’t experienced it for themselves.
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Yes, I think you’ve put your finger on it. I have no difficulty talking about religion in the company of people who have a religion, whether they’re Catholics, Protestants, or Jews. But with people who are opposed to all religious belief in principle, whatever their background, it’s a different story.
 
I think that the reluctance to talk about religion is because religion has been pushed to the margins by our increasingly anti-religious, secular culture. As a consequence, those who have a faith are treated as cranks or naive. The result is sadly that people are embarrassed to be open about their faith for fear of being looked down upon or ridiculed.
 
Rence said:
One of the reasons is that people who try to evangelize come off as pushy and people are not receptive to that. (I.e I don’t tolerate door to door evangelists at all). . .

. . .In a nutshell, people’s beliefs are private and they are entitled to them, and they don’t need to defend them to someone trying to convert them (or trying to prove them wrong).
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That’s pretty much my reasoning. I’m not comfortable with people confronting me & trying to convert me, so I’m not going to do it to anyone else.

If I can’t live my life in such a way that people want to know more about my faith, it’s not going to do any good to try to push it on people.
 
But our faith is not meant to be our own private business. We are called to go and make disciples of all the world. The disciples were not told to keep their faith to themselves and don’t go trying to convert others. Our faith is meant to be a public matter and we are called to evangelise others.

Cold calling on doors is not for everyone, but whenever I get Jehovah Witnesses or Mormons calling I do admit that I have to admire their zeal.and bravery. I also admire the Salvation Army for the way they put their faith out there on the streets for all to see. Perhaps we could learn something from them in terms of evangelising?

Catholics shouldn’t hide away and keep our views to ourselves, we should get out there more often, displaying our faith proudly to the world. Street prayer groups, public Rosary in busy public places, street stalls, processions, and engaging publicly with those of other faiths and none in a public attempt to evangelise them.

Our faith has not been given to us so that we keep it to ourselves.
 
In the Bible Belt we talk about faith, religion, the Bible etc. quite a bit.
 
Absolutely right, I can agree with all posts above, but we should be doing more to spread the good news and truth of catholicsm, me included!
Brendan_64 said:
But our faith is not meant to be our own private business. We are called to go and make disciples of all the world. The disciples were not told to keep their faith to themselves and don’t go trying to convert others. Our faith is meant to be a public matter and we are called to evangelise others.

Cold calling on doors is not for everyone, but whenever I get Jehovah Witnesses or Mormons calling I do admit that I have to admire their zeal.and bravery. I also admire the Salvation Army for the way they put their faith out there on the streets for all to see. Perhaps we could learn something from them in terms of evangelising?

Catholics shouldn’t hide away and keep our views to ourselves, we should get out there more often, displaying our faith proudly to the world. Street prayer groups, public Rosary in busy public places, street stalls, processions, and engaging publicly with those of other faiths and none in a public attempt to evangelise them.

Our faith has not been given to us so that we keep it to ourselves.
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