Okay, non-Christians, it's your turn...?

Question

Assume that I am a Christian. My beliefs are very strong, but based only on faith and the Holy Bible.
Evolution is a myth. "And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so." (Genesis 1:24)
Homosexuality is a sin. "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with woman kind: it is abomination." (Leviticus 18:22)
Nothing you can say will change my mind, so why bother?

This is the third in a series of questions. All previous answerers are welcome to participate.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ao1NihGeAmCPfpsGijzt6G3sy6IX?qid=20060705211559AAi9gvE
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AmF7WxkytkI8dwMSB6gL3LDsy6IX?qid=20060705223928AAic85C

I think you are missing the point of this question...

Alright, for those of you who missed it, I was being ironic. Those leaving rude and ignorant comments are giving the rest of us a bad name. If you can't make a real argument, don't answer this question.

Answer 1

I don't know why anyone should bother arguing with someone who refuses to be wrong. Maybe you should look into some of the issues yourself and arrive at your own conclusions. The Bible is just one side of a world of many truths. There are too many answers to fit in there, and besides do you think the people of 0 A.D. could have understood the idea of evolution, people hardly understand it now. But if you really don't want to try and understand where we are coming from then I guess we will have to go on making discoveries without you.

Answer 2

Each of us has our own belief system that we live our lives by. It is natural to want to share the good news and the joy in our lives with others so they may have it as well, regardless of that belief system.

I am a Christian and I won't change my mind, but I do enjoy a good discussion from those whose belief systems are different than mine. Two things happen (1) I am more convinced that my belief in God is right and (2) I gain knowledge of what others believe and can use those beliefs as God sees fit in order to bring more lost sheep back into the fold. An added benefit is that I get to make new friends.

I guess that's why I'd bother.

Answer 3

As a Hindu I am not obligated to convert you and in fact Hinduism teaches that conversion is spiritually damaging to both parties.

I have no problem with a person holding a belief that evolution is not real or that homosexuality is a sin (although I might ask them to quote Leviticus 18:22 in Hebrew for me and then translate each individual word for me with all the meanings of the word so that way I can get an idea of what the text might mean...the only reason being because I have Jewish friends that I have done this with and I find this method very interesting and enlightening).

Other than that, I am not about to change someone's mind about their religious beliefs. However, if the discussion is on individual liberty and human dignity then the conversation changes. As a Hindu I do believe in evolution. My sacred texts support the idea that evolution is real. Thus if you as a Christian are advocating that evolution not be taught, but instead that your beliefs be taught then I would advocate that evolution be taught because otherwise my individual liberty to religious freedom is being violated. If the person does the same regarding homosexual equality and states that the reasoning for denying such things is due to her religious beliefs then I would have to state that according my religious beliefs I am obligated to treat all, regardless of diversity, as I would treat God and to see God in all of them because all is manifested from God directly. Therefore, if denying such things is based upon her religious beliefs then actually put such things into practice violates my religious beliefs that would support homosexuality equality...another individual liberty issue.

So then I would ask if you desire to deny me the dignity of my liberty to believe and practice a religion other than yours and if so are you also willing to deny yourself the same dignity and your liberty to believe and practice your religion? If you are truly prepared to surrender your religious beliefs, then I am prepared to surrender mine. Otherwise, it is time to change the focus of what we are actually discussing.

If agreed, let us begin discussing the matter more civilly about exactly what is truly be requested and to share are perspectives on how we each view the issue at hand while also both respecting each other's religions.

Answer 4

I want to answer the question and the two other previous questions from two angles. The series of questions are basically about "How to teach or convince a belief system to someone who has already made up his/her mind?"

First angle:

I want to share with you the Islamic methology of learning about faith and God.

In Islam, there are at least 3 methods to learn to know whether there is God or not(and other questions such as whether heaven and hell exist or not) namely:

1. "Dalil Aqly" [Through reasoning, logic, science etc];
2. "Dalil Naqly" [Through revelation or divine guideline]
3. "Fitrah" [Through men own innate or inborn ability to preceive the world and their surrounding]

When someone quotes the Quran or the Bible, then he is reasoning through "Dalil Naqly". This kind of reasoning can only be accepted by someone if he believe the person who first reveal the guideline to him. Meaning, for someone to believe the passage of the Quran, he must believe Muhammad s.a.w. is a prophet and for someone to believe the passage of the Bible, he must believe in Jesus.

For Atheist, they normally believe in "Dalil Aqly", i.e. reasoning through science, logic and through something that can be explained or through something that can be physically or materially proved.

From the Islamic point of view, looking through one perspective only or using one method is not complete. We should look at serious questions of life [such as who is God, whether God exist, what is the purpose of life] from at least three perspectives i.e. "Dalil Aqly", "Dalil Naqli" and "Fitrah".

"Fitrah" is something we are born with. For example almost all normal human beings know that everything in this world should have a begining and end. Be it a molecule or the universe, animal or human being; all have a beginning and will end. Even scientists come up with the theory of the universe begin with the "Big Bang". And scientists who do not believe in God also believe through studies and researches the earth and the rest of the universe will someday come to the end. We human being basically believe that if there is an "entity" that has no begining and live eternity without an end, then that "entity" must be a very powerful "entity". To a religious person, he calls this "entity" God. To others, the "entity" has many names such as "the Infinite Mind", "the Supreme Energy" etc.

Second angle:

For someone who has made up his/her mind and don't want to consider other people's belief system, then I personally believe that there is only one type of question to ask him/her.

To him/her, we ask:

Assuming that one of the opinions is correct but we don't which one; At one side the Atheists say there is no God and there is no heaven and hell, and at the other side the Religious persons say that there is God and we will go to either heaven or hell. Which group will benefit the most and lose the most?

If the Religious group are wrong and actually there is no God, heaven and hell, when we all died, we all lose and nothing to gain as we will be buried forever and that's it. But if the Atheist group are wrong and actually there is God and people (after the Judgment Day) will be sent to either heaven or hell, then the Religious group have a lot to gain and the Atheist group have a lot to lose. Would the Atheists prefer to take the chance of going to hell if their opinion is wrong? And would the Religious persons prefer to take the chance of just stayed buried if their opinion is wrong?

For me, I prefer to become a religious person.

Answer 5

I would never attempt to change your mind...thats my whole point with the question I asked yesterday...no one should try to change anyone's mind, nor should anyone even add a little of their religion into an answer posted on here, unless specifically asked for it. I may come across as harsh, rude, a bi***, or whatever...I just think that the world has bigger problems than whose religion is bigger and better and more true than others, and that this religion war so to speak needs to stop.

Answer 6

i would say that your taking your faith a little bit to rationally... i would ask you to expand and solidify your knowledge into a more integrated world view.. you don't seem to have a grasp of evolution or the bible beyond surface literal interpretations.. you have not studied word for word within context comprehension.. you seem to be missing subtle ques as to the Genesis of reason.. you do not speak from heart to heart but quote scripture to manipulate and trick others into an argument that will lead you into more direct chances to offend those you would be offering a hand to help if it were true that your lord was with you. to prove god to others get god to work in your life.

Answer 7

I would answer with some smartass remark in the hopes it might make someone with a brain laugh... I am not so naive as to believe that anything I say, no matter how profound or enlightened would have any real impact on someone entrenched in their own dogma.

Answer 8

As a Buddhist, I don't need to convert you from Christianity to Buddhism. So long as you are living as a peaceful and loving human being, it is acceptable. If you are not, I'll just try to show you how your choice has brought you and your loved ones suffering.

There's no need for me to say that Buddhism is better as that will be my ego speaking, and that will be against the Buddha's teaching.

Answer 9

eggman
34 seconds ago

""I would answer with some smartass remark in the hopes it might make someone with a brain laugh... I am not so naive as to believe that anything I say, no matter how profound or enlightened would have any real impact on someone entrenched in their own dogma. ""
what he said... but i would still present my views so you know where i stand...

Answer 10

People need to convince others of the real truth, because there are evil forces that are changing your mind and you are willing to do so you don't even know it, moron!

So yes, when you are a pagan idiot, you DO need people to guide your soul through your pathetic life because you have proven that you cannot do it by yourself, little kid.

Note that I didn't use the popular pagan word "force" it's so cliche', get a life.