How can Christians force their beliefs on people?

Question

I mean, don't people have a chose as to what they listen to or read? If someone is talking to you about something you don't want to hear can't you tell them you not interested and leave you alone? If someone is preaching on TV, can't you turn the channel? If someone post a question on Yahoo! Answers, no one is forcing you to read it. I haven't seen any Christians walking up to people at gun point so they are not forcing anything on you that you don't allow. I didn't become a Christian until I was about 19 or 20 and I never had a problem with Christians "forcing" anything on me cuz I let them know I didn't want to be bothered. So, can someone tell me how Christian beliefs can be forced on them.

Okay keep bring up Historical accounts to refute my saying that "I haven't seen any Christians walking up to people at gun point so they are not forcing anything on you that you don't allow". This is not supporting your case cuz 1.) Notice I said "I (as in myself) haven't seen...", 2.) I'm asking how are they forcing people now, 3.) To be Christian is to be Christ-like and follow the bible (Just because people are doing things in the name of Jesus don't make them a Christian, If people are doing evil in his name then they aren't really Christians).

Answer 1

They can't it's just that some christians make people feel judged and that doesn't sit well with most folks. I'm not christian myself but i understand the need to express my opinions and just because something someone says i don't happen to agree with does not mean they don't have the freedom to express it

Answer 2

Certainly everyone has the right to change the channel, shut the door, walk away, choose not to read, etc. But what you are leaving out is consequences of such actions. While I may not choose to be Christian, it won't bother anyone until I try to run for office, or get some kind of financial aid, or buy pornography, or watch a tv show without Christian themes.

Christians are not just content to let people choose, no matter what you think. They try to legislate morality, by pressuring movie theaters not to show controversial films, by threatening politicians with withdrawn support for not implementing Christian moral legislation.

So no, it's isn't "forcing" Christianity upon anyone, nor is it making anyone convert or believe. What it is, however, is forcing the world to accept your doctrines, your morality, your fears and superstitions and values, like it or not. This is why until recently every state in the U.S. had anti-sodomy laws, and why tv stations get fined because Janet Jackson shows a boob. It's ridiculous and repressive to society, but that's the way it has to be because Christians will go nuts if we don't do things their way.

Answer 3

It's mostly about exposure. Christians don't force, they coerce. There's a LOT of christianity around here. Bibles in hotels, people on every other channel, god bless america, etc etc etc.

Think of it like this. You have to change the channel on the TV, and tell the person to go away... but you have to do that every single time. That's hundreds of people you have to tell to go away, and possibly multiple times you have the change the channel. There's more effort into avoiding the religious talk than you've acknowledged.

Edit: Blackacre has a point. In the old days, Christians specifically DID force people to be Christian with violence. Conversely, Christians in Japan were forced to not be Christian. There's not necessarily raw force, but often there's the introduction of "If you're not Christian, we're going to punish you" (either by not allowing you to be part of X community, or by intervening negatively).

Answer 4

Have you ever heard of the Crusades? The Inquisitions? How about the repressing of scientific knowledge? Or the fact that Christians tortured and killed unbelievers for thousands of years in Europe. And now, what about all of the Christians trying to get government legislation to support their beliefs? How about the fact that non-Christians and gays are generally discriminated against by Christians? Or the fact that Christians are trying to get an un-scientific theory taught in science classrooms all across the country?

Come on. I can't believe that anybody would be this naive.

Answer 5

As a new Christian, I liked to slap 'em up side of the face with my 12-pound Thompson Chain reference. But now that I'm older, I just let the Holy Spirit take the living Word and convict.

Answer 6

One person posted: "Historically, they've used guns, knives, sharp sticks, slavery, big rocks, bonfires, beheadings, impalement, and other forms of persuasion... "

WRONG!

Historically, very evil people have done all that stuff in the name of Christianity, but they weren't converting anyone to Christianity, they were using the name of Christ to oppress others for personal gain.

Answer 7

Well put.

I think that deep down inside, people who accuse us of "forcing" Christianity on others know that we're not really doing that.

Surely they are smart enough to know that what you say is true -- that nobody is being forced as gunpoint to become Christian, listen to a preacher, or read a Christian website.

But if they can portray us as being "forceful" well enough, they can better defame and discredit us and our faith.

Answer 8

Why do people force they're religion? Oh wait you meant ho can they do it if it's a choice to listen to them. I didn't understand until I read more details. Then my account went unavailable for two seconds. Yeah good point! They really can't actually force us to by turning us into mindless zombies! LOL yeah, i didn't think of that.

Answer 9

The free discussion of ideas are part of the human condition. I believe ALL people are open to learning and listening to new ways of living believing, and thinking about our universe.

Forcing? Not Listening? That is simply narrow and limiting to the human person.

Answer 10

yes...guns have been used....

and it's not that they are "forcing" their beliefs physically...it's verbally...no, most of them don't have a gun to our heads, but the verbal abuse is even worse than that...i have been cussed, yelled at, screamed at, judged, condemned to hell...you know...all those things that only God is suppose to do on judgement day....why would I want to become a Christian...at least this way, I'm not as tempted to show my @ss because someone else doens't think the way I do...