Why do people assume you 'follow' a religion because you know about it?

[CornField]

Just watching Washington Journal and Barbara O'Brien was discussing how she named her MahaBlog. The interviewer then asked, "Are you a follower of Buddhism?"

I've had this happen many times in my life as well. I was explaining Protestant Communion to someone and another person (listening) said, "I didn't know you were a Christian." What?!

Why is there an assumption that if you understand and/or respect the tenants of a religion, you are a follower of that religion?

[seabeyond]

1. i dotn care anyway. i am not particular religion

a love of all religion and also love of non religion. it is all good to me. but.... i may do the same, it is jsut i do not know, i would like to know, but the only way i can know is to ask

[CornField]

2. I guess. I'm probably reading too much into it.

It could very well be just simple curiousity.

On the other hand, I think the world would be a better place if we all some basic understanding of all the religions around us.

[seabeyond]

5. i couldnt agree with you more. i give this to my kids, they

see the beauty in each and every one. they also see the shortfalls of each one too. i understand why people need and want religion. i value their passion for their religion. but then there is the otherside too. lol lol. i am too tired ot go into that though

[xultar]

3. They can't believe you'd know and not believe.

[rpgamerd00d]

4. Isnt the answer obvious?

Anyone that would ask that question follows only their own religion and knows nothing of others even though they are convinced the others are "all wrong".

i.e. Morans.



:D

[Ariana Celeste]

6. I've had that happen

And also the other side of the coin- being told that it doesn't matter how much I've read about it or the fact that I am a former Christian- if I don't pray and listen to God, I don't know first thing about Christianity. :eyes:

I don't know why people do that. I certainly don't assume someone is an Atheist because they don't thump their bible.

[applegrove]

7. Spiritualism is a journey. And we all have different capacities. I am

a doer. I find in more rewarding to live than to follow. Still - at times the writings of Prophits and religious leaders are the greatest writings of all.

To all the teachers. To the greatest teachers of humanity.

Some people follow one way or one system of beliefs. And that is the only way it could work for them. So they assume if you study or talk that it means to you what it means to them.

That's what I think. It is a hot buttom issue for them. And if they are your friend - why wouldn't you want to talk about what they love. You do!

I respect their right to feel that way. Cause I know I am small and I assume my way should work only for me.

[Lars39]

8. Because they've never studied other religions.

They were either born into one or accepted the first one they came across.

[Warpy]

9. A question isn't an assumption, sorry

Anyone who asks me if I follow one discipline or another deserves a civil and truthful answer. I'm not insulted by an honest question by a curious person, unless it's a prying question or the questioner is looking for ammo.

The ones who drive me nuts are the ones who don't ask the question but blandly assume that you're a believer and a follower and just need to change to their particular sect or church to go to heaven (or at least avoid hell, which seems to be the point). They may be going with statistics that tell them that the country is over 90% Christian, but that 10% "other" is enough of a minority that politeness would seem to encourage them to ask.

Then again, if politeness were the norm among people and institutions, there wouldn't be much need for the law.

[magellan]

10. Because most people don't know about any religion but their own

They assume if you know the ins and outs of a religion then you are 'sympathetic' to it, ergo you must be one with it.

If you think about it, the tendency to identify and catalogue others based on what they reveal to us applies to a lot of things. For instance I look Hispanic (although I'm not), therefore people assume I speak Spanish. It's a natural if very unreliable way of relating to others, but it can lead to greater understanding.

[sarcasmo]

11. See quote below.

[Dembo98]

12. Trying to understand Islam, but I am...

having a real hard time finding the "spirituality" amongst all the BS. Hmmmmm

[PurityOfEssence]

13. many of those who believe use any flimsy argument to justify themselves

Religion doesn't play fair. Although there are many sentient beings who subscribe to various beliefs, the overwhelming sweep of human effort in this area is to use any innuendo or grey area to "prove" their belief by pointing out the huge bandwagon adherence. Religion is the deepest and darkest reach of primitiveness in the human consciousness, and as such, it beggars all reason.

There is little middle ground in primitive thought. It's merely black or white.

So many peoples' tenuous hold on sanity is coupled with the need for an unshakable worldview that to breathe a wisp of doubt is terrifying. To understand tenets is to many proof of one's unquestioning belief. Viewing such things objectively is unthinkable to far too many.

How many times has a proselyte said to you that "you just haven't heard", or something to that effect? The unswerving belief of such people simply can't allow them to imagine somebody hearing the supernatural poppycock without instantly seeing the light; to them, one simply can't have been properly exposed.

[CornField]

14. I've heard that quite often

My brother: "You may watch other people go swimming, but you cannot know how the water feels unless you jump in."

In other words, I can study all I want, but I'll never come to an understanding of his religion (or any other) because I'm not a believer.