Do you really think that people get defensive when confronted with "the truth"?

[Universalist Catholic]

I've often heard religious fanatics state that the only reason people get so hostile and hate us so much is because they cannot handle the truth.  I remember someone I think she was agnostic, but she gave a book by Maurice Rawlings a bad review, since she was a paramedic, who rescusitated many patients and never had any record of an NDE, and stated this book was a scare tactic to promote Fundamentalist Christianity.  Another person left a comment stating that the only reason she felt so defensive was because it pulled her heartstring.  But I dont see the religious fanatic being all calm when someone points out a problem with their religion.  L. Ray Smith responded to many nasty E-mails by telling them that they were only getting mad because they could not find any scriptural errors, but his articles contradicted his traditions.  And I pretty well know, the ultra-religious Christian does not take kindly to the possibility of no Eternal Torment.  I have seen on Youtube, people can be downright mean to Universalists.  On Yahoo Answers, I was once called a fool.  Luckily her comment was flagged and removed.  I have seen a couple occasions where people can get into some pretty nasty spats over Universal Salvation vs. Eternal Damnation from both sides.(Despite the fact that the Universalist usually remains the most calm).  Even I get easily irritated with ET believers who get real preachy about their beliefs, then brag about accepting an unpopular doctrine, and then victimize themselves when all the people who they condemned dont take so kindly to their condemnations. 

[Lefein]

People get defensive when anything attacks them, truth or not.

I'd get defensive if someone started lying about me, just as I would if they started spreading my secrets.

The same goes for perceived attacks; "your view is opposed to mine, ENEMIES!!!!"

It is God's given ability of fight, or flight response acting.

[Beloved Servant]

Matthew 27 is our God-given ability:

12 And when He was accused of the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing.

13 Then said Pilate unto Him, hearest thou not how many things they witness against Thee?

14 And He answered him to never a Word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.

[Lefein]

God gave us our instincts too, is what I am saying.

It isn't so much that they are purposefully attacking (out of malice), but that they feel threatened.  Whether the threat is a lie, or truth - it boils down that they feel it none the less, and so react to it.

[Beloved Servant]

There are many natural patterns that God uses to teach us Truth.

The nature of the Lamb in Christ reveals the Lion of Judah.

[eaglesway]

Frequently our ego...or sense of self worth, is tied up in what we believe. We feel like we are validated by our studies and by our concepts- and we have often represented ourselves as teachers of truth and defenders of the faith. When someone questions these things or challenges them, it strikes at more than our "beliefs". If we are wrong..... we have lost face- of course this is only because we are looking at the wrong face :o) Alas, if we allow our "beliefs" to be moved, shaken, adjusted, overturned, etc. We also stand to lose the "place" we have achieved among our peers. We could go from being a "stalwart" to just a "wart". Oh well, so it goes and always has......fortunately we can be sure it won't always remain that way. One day God will be ALL IN ALL and we will KNOW AS WE ARE KNOWN.

[JohnnyCatholic12]

I think people mostly get defensive when their worldview gets challenged in anyway.

[Cardinal]

 :cloud9: We wrestle not against flesh and blood.....

[santikos]

i believe it happens to all of us. i think that is why there are topics that cannot be discussed on this forum. 

[CHB]

i believe it happens to all of us. i think that is why there are topics that cannot be discussed on this forum. 

Absolutely!!!  People don't like change, or being challenged. If we could just stop and investigate what we are being challenged with and whether it is true I believe more people would have a change of heart about a lot of things.

CHB

[Nathan]

I think it also has to do with me having to admit I'm wrong.  My defense becomes an attack on your credibility so that I can continue to be convinced I'm right. 

Spiritual hunger seems to over-ride all of that.  I don't care if I have to admit I was either wrong or inaccurate, I want truth to be known, experienced and declared.  If I have to change my attitude in the process . . .gulp . . . so be it.

Perhaps hunger and humility go hand in hand?

[eaglesway]

Absolutely!

[micah7:9]

Absolutely!

Absolutely!   :thumbsup: