What's wrong with trying to convert people to a different belief?

Question

1.If you know you're right. you shouldn't feel bad about defending it.

2. Debating is brain exercise

3. If you're not afraid of beig wrong, you shouldn't worry about it

correction, being

Answer 1

Nothing wrong with debating... What becomes problematic is when people attempt to "debate" by telling you there is evidence for something which relies entirely upon faith. Should anyone proffer "evidence" of a Christian God which is not faith dependent, I'm sure many people will be happy to debate.

Answer 2

There is nothing wrong with being confident in your beliefs, but when you try to convert others, you're telling them, "My beliefs are right. Yours are wrong. End a tradition that's been in your family for millenia and join me." (Of course you have to be nicer about what you say.)

Problems with your logic:

1. You THINK that you're right, but you don't have any actual proof. If you did, everybody would have the same religion. (If you count the Bible as proof, prove that the Bible is true.

2. Debate is different from an attempted conversion. Debate is 2-sided. Conversion involves only 1 side giving arguments.

3. If someone truly has an open mind, that person will already know enough about your religion to make an informed decision without you giving a 1-sided argument.

Answer 3

There's nothing wrong with trying to convert others. Its the tactics used that often offend unbelievers. Feel free to make the offer to witness, but be prepared to accept no as an answer if they're not interested.

1. Where religious beliefs most of us (No matter what we believe) KNOW we're right. Not many people believe something if they think they're wrong. Defending your beliefs should always be acceptable if they're attacked.

2. Debate is good, but since religion is a matter of faith its difficult to debate the issue.

3. You should worry about offending others. I'm a believer myself, but I can tell you that some of the hardest people to witness to are the ones who have preciously been insulted by a professed Christian.

Answer 4

1. If we're talking beliefs, then you can only THINK you're right.
2. Debating is, yes. But not everyone wants to debate.
3. There's nothing wrong with this statement.

What is wrong with this is:

1. If it's carried to an extreme (you don't give up)
2. If the person does not want to be converted and finds your beliefs offensive
3. The implication is that the person you are trying to convert is wrong, and that's just plain insulting and rude.

Those who want to change will seek you out.

Answer 5

For starters, very few people are willing to change their mind, and close minded debates are fruitless. The fact is, out of the some 6.5 billion people here, and all that have been, no two have believed exactly the same thing. Sure there's been guidelines and similar groupings and what not, but as long your beliefs lead you to 'good' actions, it really doesn't make a difference. Then if the net effect is the same, why bother with semantics?

Answer 6

People generally dont like being told what to do or believe no matter if you're right or wrong. Converting by example I think is far more effective and lasting. As Ghandi said- 'Be the change you wish to see in the world.'

Answer 7

I don't feel its right to push personal beliefs onto others. I understand people talking about it with their friends, but I have a problem with people approaching me on the street. I used to work in a bank and once had some guy put a christian pamphlet into the tube in the drive thru. I was totally offended! 1- He doesn't know me or my beliefs. 2- I was at work. 3-He didnt say anything about it and didnt take it back even though I put it in the tube with his transaction.
I think it comes off rude.
I don't like people showing me pictures of dead babies either.
and I agree with the other comment-
You can't know for sure you are right.

Answer 8

There's nothing wrong with defending what you believe. There's nothing wrong with promoting your belief in appropriate venues. However, there is a lot of pushing of one's belief at inappropriate times. There's also a lot of pushing of one's belief well past the time the other person really cares to listen. To keep on and on about a topic that the other person has indicated they don't want to talk about anymore is just rude.

There is such a thing as respect. Pushing your beliefs on others too much and at inappropriate times is being disrespectful of the other person.

Answer 9

First of all, ideally there is nothing wrong with telling people about your beliefs. I think in this multicultural world we should communicate and share to each other what we believe in and why.

With that said, trying to convert people against their will to your belief is wrong and ignorant. Telling people that they are wrong and your opinion/belief is right is simply wrong. If they have not shown interest after you've shared what you believe then I would drop it. Afterall, who are you to say who is right? Opinions are formed by individual experiences and how they percieved them. Mythology to one may be taken as fact by another.

Answer 10

the Idea of converting itself is not wrong.

but it becoming a doctrine of a religion is very wrong

when trying to convert changes from the individual to a group you include people that dont want to do it just for a debate and because they know they are right. It soon becomes a tool for power. Look at the Catholic Church in the Middle Ages anyone that was not part of the Church in a nation that was under their control was subject to taxation, job loss, and often even death by priest in sighted mobs. Protestants are also guilty of this. Martin Luther was a vicious anti Semite that advocated killing the Jews (something Hitler based his philosophy on) because they were not willing to join his new religion. The Church of England killed and persecuted Jews on a regular bassis.

In Muslim nations Christians, Jews and other minority's were subject to be second class citizens and attacks on them occurred as well.

That is how a desire to convert can mutate into the ability to think of anyone that is not part of your religion as free to do to as you wish.

Answer 11

Nothing!! And all sides of the issue should say that because we're all trying to change how others think. Each religious group is trying to convert others and atheists are trying to convert religious people out of religion or they wouldn't be on this site! :) We're all doing it so I hope no one tries to claim there is something wrong with it! :)