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Post by SilverSergyon13 on Jan 1, 2006 15:37:25 GMT -5
This Christmas vacation week has really opened my eyes to many things. Some of these things I will not go into, but some of them I feel I need to share.
So many religions feel they need to convert others to their religion. Why?
Shouldn't we each believe in what gives us individual internal peace?
Why should anyone be forced to believe in something that doesn't give them happiness or peace. Why should they believe in something that they don't truly feel comfortable with? Why should anyone pray to a god they can't trust?
I think these are questions we all need to think about when talking to someone with different beliefs, or when making judgements of someone based only on their religion. We all do it, everyone of every different belief.
Religion shouldn't be considered right or wrong. It should be something to celebrate, especially the fact that we each have the choice to believe what we want.
Beliefs are extremely important to each and every one of us. What we believe is a very personal thing, so what's the sense of forcing your beliefs onto someone else who has their very own personal beliefs?
As long as someone feels peace and comfort in what they believe, and as long as they are not hurting others or animals, they should be free to believe so and not be criticized for doing so.
I direct this to no religion. It applies to people of ALL religions and people of ALL beliefs. I'm guilty of judging based on religion and I have been hypocritical, as have everyone else who has ever believed in something.
I love discussing religions and I love learning about the psychology of religions. That's probably the biggest reason I post in any of these threads. It's not because I feel I have to correct everyone, but I enjoy a good civil debate, and I enjoy analyzing why people believe the things they do, which is why I often say the things I do.
I'm not really asking much, but for the fact that people remember these things the next time they talk to someone who is different from them, and not only in religion or beliefs, but different from you in anything.
Thank you for taking the time for reading this.
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Post by Joan Omnipresent on Jan 1, 2006 19:14:29 GMT -5
Any good person who really believes that other people are in danger will try to help them out of it.
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Post by Ali Blue on Jan 1, 2006 23:04:59 GMT -5
I'm gonna answer these in the order that you stated them in:
Because, if your best friend was walking off the edge of a cliff, you would stop them. it's basically the same thing. only, instead of physical death, it's eternity in fire.
You can only have true peace with Jesus. (I know, I know... there will be much controversey) but, believe me. it's true. You might feel peaceful now, but there is nothing compared to the feeling of Jesus' fire in your heart. It makes you do things, that you would never be brave enough to do before. It gives you strength to fight against evil.
If you feel like you can't trust God. It's Satan. He tries to bring us down, and he's dang good at it. You have a choice, the Bible says call on the name of the Lord and he will flee. and he will.
About forcing your beliefs on others. (speaking from the Christian pov)
Sometimes, we try to get people to believe in God for the wrong reasons. (not saying all of us do this) sometimes, it's just a matter of us being right, of wanting to come out on top. But, it's really about God. we can't force anyone to believe anything, and I think at times, it's much much better to just back off. Let God do His work. He'll use you when the situation is right. And when it is, you'll know.
edit: sorry I skipped a few..
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Post by SilverSergyon13 on Jan 2, 2006 19:10:05 GMT -5
Too many people believing too many different things. Everyone has different beliefs and too many people are unsuccessful in trusting others to believe their own beliefs.
I know how it feels to have several people attempting to convert you. I know how awful it feels that they can't respect you enough to trust you to feel peaceful enough in your own beliefs.
How many of you have been hounded by another religion to believe what they do? How many of you disliked the feeling of having your beliefs discredited by another who believed every single thing you believed was wrong? We do it on this board. Just go back and reread some of the old threads. It's human nature, but it doesn't feel very good, does it?
How many are angered by some of the things I say? If you are, you've just felt how it feels when someone tries to convert another.
I disagree. I think people can feel true peace believing in anything they truly believe in. I feel true peace in nature, true peace with my animals. To me, this is true peace. For you, true peace is in Jesus. Why bother someone if they feel true peace? No one knows what happens in the afterlife. For all everyone knows, people of all religions could end up in the same place as true believing Christians. No one knows this, because I can garauntee every posting on this board is still alive. All anyone has is faith in an after life and faith in a religion. There isn't much concrete proof in any religion, so how can anyone argue faith and beliefs? You can say something is true all you want, but that won't make it any more true to those who believe other wise.
I suppose everyone will realize what I did at some point or another. Maybe not. I guess it depends on the situation and the people you are surrounded with. For me, I feel very comfortable knowing someone is peaceful with what they believe and I'm not out to change that for anyone.
It's not Satan. It's people. I'm not saying that I don't believe in God, but what I'm saying is people can't trust anyone they don't feel comfortable with. I don't trust people (A very many people) I don't feel comfortable with. It's not Satan, it's human nature. Human beings tend to blame every thing on Satan when they can find no other explanation for it, or when they don't want to put the blame on themselves. It's my fault I can't trust certain people, not some devil sitting on my shoulder.
I don't believe you can save anyone from something that doesn't exist in their minds. How can you stop them from jumping off a cliff only you can see?
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Post by Ali Blue on Jan 2, 2006 19:46:56 GMT -5
How many of you have been hounded by another religion to believe what they do? How many of you disliked the feeling of having your beliefs discredited by another who believed every single thing you believed was wrong? I know how you feel, Silver. And I know I've done that to you. I'm sorry if I'm too agressive with my beliefs. not only I can 'see the cliff'. millions of people in every nation of the world 'see the cliff'. Judeo-Christianity is the longest running and probably the most attacked religions there is. And it still stands strong. And has started more humanitarianism than any other religion on this planet. |
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Post by SilverSergyon13 on Jan 2, 2006 20:07:32 GMT -5
Oh, I by no means meant you or anyone else on this site Alistair. I enjoy reading your posts and I enjoy reading how you feel about certain subjects. I've had some pretty good conversations with you so far, even if your beliefs are different. Don't stop now! >^.^<
I was just trying to prove a point. I know most people have been hounded by someone else with different beliefs. I don't mean anyone on this site. I enjoy these little "debates" and that's the reason I come back. Not to start trouble with my different beliefs, but to hear from all of you and to give my opinion too, even if no one else believes the same things I do.
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Post by Joan Omnipresent on Jan 2, 2006 22:52:54 GMT -5
That's the whole problem with this kind of belief. I wouldn't save someone from drowning because it was fun for them! In fact, it may be quite painful...but I'd much rather have them hurt and alive, much rather have their peaceful death violently disturbed to save their life.
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Post by Ali Blue on Jan 9, 2006 23:53:33 GMT -5
yeah me too.
Some people might say that when you accept God and agree to give up your life for Him, that you're gonna be miserable. That you have to give up so many things. And I admit, you do have to clear out some sin in your life or it will hinder your friendship with Jesus, but you will be so excited. You will be on a spiritual 'high', and just are gonna want to keep going and going and going. A couple months ago, I wasn't really that much into God anymore. I was miserable, I was living God's rules but not really to honor Him. Just because I knew that's what I had to do. But now, when I'm serving God because I want to grow closer to Him, it's the greatest. If you serve and love God because you want to, you will hear six very powerful words when you die.
"Well done, good and faithfull servant."
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Post by SilverSergyon13 on Jan 11, 2006 15:02:16 GMT -5
I went to a farm show near me yesterday. As I was walking with two other friends looking at the different booths, we come across a booth where this guy asks us if we want a bracelet. naturally my one friend goes over there. I stay behind her, but follow her because there's no where else to go.
I then realize the booth is a Christian church booth. This guy goes on to "preach" to us for twenty minutes about how Christianity is the only "right" religion. He tells us how everyone else is going to Hell, how we should rope our firends into our beliefs, and how we should always go to church and youth group. He then finds out that, yes, I was raised as a Catholic and goes on to speak about how controlling the religion is. I was ready to chew the guys face off, but because I wanted to just leave that area I just stood and nodded. I know I don't believe in everything Christianity or catholicism tells us to, but that doesn't give anyone a right to slander that religion. I hate when someone makes a face when you tell them you're catholic. The catholic church is no different from any other church. They are all the same. there are good ones and bad ones.
I was so uncomfortable through that whole time I was standing there. The man kept quoting the bible, asking us questions, slanderizing all the other religions he could think of. To me he sounded ignorant, but to my one friend and to himself he probably sounded like a genious. It almost made me sick.
Now, I have nothing against religion, or even being a fanatic in the relgion, but when someone puts down another religion without researching it and when they look at themselves on this high pedestal of rightiousness, I tend to get annoyed. Ok, maybe sometimes people try to convert others because they love them, but the way many people do it makes me feel like all they want is more people in "their" group so they can point and laugh at the other group and say "Hey look! We got another of yours! HaHa!". That gets me sooo angry. I don't think a lot of people are out there converting people for the good of humanity or even out of love. I think a good amount of the people I have run acroos trying to convert others is doing it for their own personal gain.
Sometimes I get the feeling some of these chruch people do it so that they can garauntee themselve sa ticket to heaven. Ugh, it annoys me. Now mind you, I speak about people in all religions, because I've had buddhists and muslims do the same thing.
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Post by Joan Omnipresent on Jan 11, 2006 15:49:33 GMT -5
You're right. Absolutely right, I'm afraid. So many people are just as you have described. I'm tempted that way, myself, sometimes. It's hard not to be...even the most deadly serious things can start to become games, or a kind of contest, when you're focusing in on them so hard. They get familiar...or somesuch. It's human nature. But it's a shame that you let the bad in people turn you away from true religion and the love of God. He's not like us, praise Him.
As for me, even if I found that every Christian I've ever known is a hypocrite, by God's grace I'd cling to my faith. People's misuse of the truth doesn't make it any less truth.
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Post by Trinity on Jan 11, 2006 16:15:29 GMT -5
As Christians, we want people to come to Christ because, yes, without Him, life is empty and you won't be saved. But I think some Christians do miss the mark when it comes to witnessing. What can happen is that a) a Christian gets so fired up that they get in your face without meaning to (I can get hot-tempered in this area, so I know how it feels), b) some Christians are new to witnessing and don't get that you aren't trying to HAMMER God into someone, and c) some ARE self-righteous and just want to "add one to the score". But you really can't generalize Christians like that because for every hypocritical in-your-face Christian, there is a loving Christian who cares enough about you to WANT to share their faith so you will come to know Jesus. Yes, as Christians, God calls us to evangalize and share His word with the world. But look at the way Jesus was on this earth: He was caring, kind, and loving, and He called us to follow His example. Jesus is a gentleman. He stands at the door and KNOCKS, not pounds it down with a sledgehammer and threatens you if you don't turn to Him. He waits for you to let Him in.
Yeah, there are always going to be in-your-face Christians. It's a way of life, and personally, I have found non-Christians who get in your face and act like they know so much more than you do because you are a Christian, so I guess we all get blasted.
Let's put it this way: if you won $50 million dollars, would you take it, put in in a barrel, and bury it in your backyard? I'm inclined to say most likely not. You would be unable to contain your excitement! It would burn you up inside until you HAD to tell someone or you would fly in a zillion different directions. Now, that's just money. Given, it's a lot OF money, but still. As Christians, we have the gift of SALVATION! How much more important is that than money? A LOT!!! God calls us to be a light in this world, and that's what we do when we witness, be it by words or actions. We are doing what He called us to do: to know Him and make Him known. It's done because God doesn't want us to keep people in the dark. He uses us to bring others to know Him.
I hope that made sense and stayed on topic. I kinda got a little fired up, but yeah, I hope it worked! Just know that there are many loving, caring Christians in this world, and I'm not saying that because I'm one of them! Seriously, a lot of the Christians I know just EXUDE joy and love. It overflows, and when you look in their eyes, you can see Jesus.
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Post by Ali Blue on Jan 11, 2006 19:53:58 GMT -5
I could have chewed his face off. nothing ticks me off more than someone like that. I met a guy like that once.. he was Morman. I wanted to hit him. self control is a virtue.. unfortunately I don't have it...
we should have a Religion Ed. Thread. where we just tell people about our religion, and answer questions. then we can totally know, without a shadow of a doubt, what their particular religion is about.
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Post by SilverSergyon13 on Jan 11, 2006 22:06:15 GMT -5
Hey, that's a pretty good idea. You should start thread like that. No debating beliefs, just simply describing and answering questions.
If it wasn't for my friend standing next to me (Who is very much Christian) I probably would've debated, but I wasn't really in the mood. Who wants to debate when there's chickens to see?! I just wanted to go and see the rest of the farm show and I can definitely say this experience wasn't the highlight.
I didn't in any way mean only Christians do this. Everyone does, and not only in religions. It's just human nature, but it bugs the heck out of me.
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Post by Ali Blue on Jan 12, 2006 19:25:29 GMT -5
I know!!!! that's when religion stops being spiritual, and starts just being who's right and who's wrong.
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Post by Jandalf on Toast on Jan 27, 2006 23:05:14 GMT -5
Just last week, an older gentleman showed up at my door with some papers and things...I should have realised, but I was in a hurry to get to work and didn't take the time to think about it. Nowhere in the brief conversation did he say he was a Jehovah's Witness, nor did he try to press any beliefs upon me. He merely expressed his concern about the world's situation, as well as the potential of the approaching pandemic, gave a pamphlet to me, and left. He was amazingly polite, and while I do not share his beliefs, I admire him for his approach on the topic. I think there are a whole lot of Christians and people of other faiths who could learn a lot from him. At the same time, I got this feeling of immense sadness...to think someone so sincere and kind was headed down a path I believe leads him away from the destination God wishes he would eventually end up at.
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Post by Tiana, eh? on Mar 10, 2006 1:11:42 GMT -5
You know, the current Bible verse underneath the page says "“ But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, ” (1 Peter 3:15)"
And you have to cringe at how many Christians show no respect in sharing their faith. They try to shove it up your face, and in that, turn aside anyone they MIGHT convert. I believe in sharing my faith, yes... but I also don't believe in shoving it into someone who's not interested. I'll indicate I'm a Christian when approaching a topic that covers religion, so people know I'm biased, but I don't try to convert them without a thought to their selves.
There's some JWs that go around and yell at you. And then, there's the ones that my mom's sat down with and had totally polite conversations with about everything from kids to religion to food. Go figure, eh?
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