Why cant people discuss a faith based belief system without hurling insults at each other?
I’m a Christian, and have been for many years. What I have found is that many nonbelievers I meet have been demeaned, insulted and dismissed by other Christians so many times (and in such egregious ways) that by the time I end up talking to them they have already assumed that they only represent a notch on the spine of my Bible to me. Consider how American Christianity often propagates an “us versus them” mentality with relation to nonbelievers. It is sadly so prevalent in our behavior (mine included) that it is often no wonder that whole segments of the culture see Christians as intolerant, rigid-thinking, slightly ignorant conservative Republicans. And perhaps worst of all, too often they can rightly say we have not demonstrated humility, tact, mutual respect or love for our fellow man. In other words, I’m not surprised when a discussion on faith degrades into ad hominem, lobbing bricks at each other over the very tall walls we construct. To answer you directly, I’ve seen a lot of pr
