Should Christians quit trying to tell others about their beliefs?

Question

Picture this: You believe that someone is walking towards a cliff. You aren't sure if there actually is a cliff, you only believe that it is one ahead. You can't prove that there is a cliff, short of running ahead and screaming your descent down. Would you want to warn the other person even though you had no proof?

Now, for a minute, discard any notions that Christianity is stupid or wrong. I know that you may think that Christians are uneducated, ecetera. I must admit that Christianity could very well not be real and we can't prove it beyond a shadow of a doubt, either.

But we Christians do believe that heaven and hell are real. It is not just a game or a fairy tale to us. How could we sit by, in good concience, and say nothing when if we are right, people will be punished with eternal damnation?

If you have a reason why Christians (and no one else) should quit speaking openly about their beliefs, I'd like to hear it.

Answer 1

WOW! I'm blown away. This is the first thought provoking question I have seen on here from a christian. I love your cliff analogy and I believe that you are sincere. I also appreciate your willingness to admit that christianity may not be real either.

I'm an agnostic and I must admit that I'm sick and tired of christians, not only on this forum but in my day to day life. I do feel that most of them have no manners or tact and many of them come across as ignorant, stubborn bullies.

I think that christians should have the right to speak openly about their beliefs...however I do think they should adopt a new delievery. Why couldn't you say "Possible cliff ahead, be careful" instead of "hey idiot your going to fall off that absolutely real cliff that I've never seen"? And when someone says "I'll take my chances"...don't respond. You spoke your mind already...no need for a last dig. Also realize that here in America.....we have all already heard the gospel....alot. One more time won't make a difference. Speak your beliefs by all means. Just do so at appropriate times, with courtesy and allow others free will without threats of hellfire or a condesending attitude.

Answer 2

I have no doubt everyone has heard it. I am a Christian (albeit somewhat doubting, but that never stopped me from believing.) When you proselytize, you should definitely make sure someone is not already a Christian.

P: You need to be saved.

C: Again!?

Now you're stuck with people who have varying beliefs BESIDES Christianity.

UNDERSTAND their beliefs before you talk to them.

ATHEISTS: Want you to prove God is real. Many highly educated persons in this lot who graduated from "Research I" universities and don't understand education, much less people, much less God. Atheists believe there is no such thing as God.

AGNOSTICS: Typically well-educated people who know the difference between right and wrong, but are not sure of the basis of the distinction. Also want you to prove God is real, but are not nearly as pushy nor as adversarial as atheists. Agnostics believe there might be a God, or there might not.

CHRISTIANS: Christians believe there is a God, whether there is one or not, and will talk you until you're ready to be crucified whether there is or is not a God (and Christ our Savior, the Lord) about the above. Well, not all Christians... However, some can be really annoying. After all, Jesus Christ really annoyed some people and look what happened to Him! That is not blasphemy, it is historical fact. If you are one of these, you will be persecuted for it. That's the way it is. The fact of Christians persecuting people of every other stripe is a kind of comedic irony.

JEWS: Also a persecuted people who are supposed to believe in God. Most Jews differ from Christians in one basic way: They don't believe in Christianity. Many Jews are devout, religious people. Others are Jewish in a more hereditary respect and might even be agnostic or atheist. Some are even Christians!

MOSLEMS: A devout people, they tend to pray on a regular basis and value many of the same things which are valued by every faith earlier mentioned. Moslems are usually nice people, so don't write them off. I don't know too much about them, except that I read some of their scripture and it looked just like the Pentateuch of the Old Testament (aka Koran), so I get the gist, but I don't understand why so many Moslems think they have to take personal responsibility for killing everyone while people of other faiths think God will take care of that.

HINDUS:
Often written off as pagans, their scripture includes (if I'm not mistaken) Jesus Christ AND Muhammed.

Sorry I couldn't elucidate more. Late. Tired. Less well-informed than I would like.

Anyhow, any effort at Christian Evangelism should at least give due respect to the people you are trying to convert. Believe me, very few people have NOT heard of Jesus Christ.

Answer 3

There is a problem with the example you used...where is the person? What is the likelihood of encountering said cliff? Why do you believe there is a cliff, yet I don't have any such indication? If it was a likely scenario, that yes, indeed, there is a cliff; please yell to me.

On the other hand, if you're trying to save my"immortal soul"...stop. I truly don't believe in one. If the concept of a god makes you, personally, feel better in your day to day existence, great. Power to you. If you tell me about your god, and the afterlife you believe in, and I tell you I'm not interested, isn't it rather disrespectful to continue on that course? It's been my personal experience that those who preach of faith, do not do so out of genuine concern for my eternal soul, but because they feel a duty to do so. It is a requirement of most faiths to bring more into the fold.

If you wish to speak of your faith, go for it. Just don't preach. Encourage an open and intellectual debate or conversation on the subject. A dissenting view may actually strengthen your faith. If someone doesn't want to hear your god's message, please respect that too, and leave the subject be with them.

Answer 4

first
The Christian belief that atonement can only be effected through Jesus runs counter to the provisions for atonement prescribed in the Jewish Scriptures. First and foremost, God, and no one else, provides the means of reconciliation and fellowship (2 Chronicles 7:14), which precludes any claim for atonement through the death of Jesus. In contrast to the Christian concept that man is hopelessly entrapped in sin, the Jewish Scriptures provide ample testimony that although man may have an inclination towards evil (Genesis 8:21) the means of personal reconciliation with God are always at hand (e.g. Psalms 51:16-19, Jeremiah 29:13).

and if you want reasons why missioning is wrong look at this question.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AmlUU6_uRSDClsrXt9kPYivsy6IX?qid=20060810203448AAMkXRM

Answer 5

If someone asks me a question about my religion, I will happily answer it. In day to day conversation, religious topics may come up. I don't debate or offer information that I feel is unwanted. Since I don't practice a mainstream religion, it is common to get questioned. But if someone already knows about my religion and does not believe in it, I don't feel the need to bring it up. Why would I tell someone things that they already know about and do not believe in?

I personally do not know of anyone in the US who has not heard of Christianity and their basic beliefs. I also do not know anyone who wouldn't know where to find a Christian place of worship. Many people even have a copy of the Christian holy text in their homes. So why is there a need to tell them something that they are already familiar with? Have you ever met someone in the US who was not familiar with the basic concepts of Christianity? Have you ever met a person in the US who has not heard of the Christian concept of Hell? If they haven't heard about it or ask about it, I see nothing wrong in mentioning it. But there are very few people in the country that I live in that haven't already heard about it.

Answer 6

I believe it's something called tolerance. Christians truly believe that it is their duty to "save" as many people as they can, by showing them the love that they have 'experienced' as christians. The thing is, that there are people who will feel that you are insulting their intelligence if you say that there is an omnipotent being in the sky and if they don't repent they will suffer for all eternity, just as you would be insulted if I compared your religion to the Invisible Pink Unicorn.
You have to tolerate that others have reasons for not believing in christianity, and you have to respect their beliefs, just as you ask them to respect yours.

Food for thought:
Tell me this, do you believe that any other faith should tell you that if you keep believing in 'false prophets' and a 'wrong god' that you will suffer for all eternity, or never reach ascension, or whatever that person believes, and you must change your beliefs to match theirs immediately?

Answer 7

"Should Christians quit trying to tell others about their beliefs?"

Unless someone asks to hear them, yes.

"If you have a reason why Christians (and no one else) should quit speaking openly about their beliefs, I'd like to hear it."

If the Christian god is really an all good god then it will let me know that there is a cliff ahead of me. If god itself doesn't let me know then it is not a good god and doesn't deserve my worship in the first place.

Answer 8

Some time ago your Christians came to my Island and took away our beliefs. You killed my ancestors by bringing disease or your sword. You said it was for our own good.

We honored the Earth our Great Mother and held all who live upon it sacred – You tried to take that away.

We honored the Great Spirit, we saw the light of God in the eyes of everyone (even you) – you tried to take that away.

We honored the sacred Child, the inhabitants of the Great Mother – You called us sinners and tried to take that away.

The Great Father, Mother and Child (our Holy Trinity) was viciously attracted by your missionaries.

You called us sinners and gave us something called “original sin” you said we were born with it.

You made us replace our love for God…. with fear!

You said we could no longer talk to God directly we had to first go to your churches and talk to God through your clergy.

Now you are giving me some poor analogy about some cliff! What the hell do you want to do to us now!

Answer 9

If they actually cared, that would be one thing,

but a better analogy would be "Whats wrong with telemarketers calling you at all hours of the day and night, uninvited and unwanted?"

If they would like to discuss their views in space where all parties agree on an open debate (like here on Answers), thats fine.

But when they knock on my door at 7 am on a Saturday morning, they are just BEGGING for a bucket of ice water out the top floor window.

Answer 10

Christians are being persecuted but their belief in God is unshakeable no matter what is said or done to them. It is prophesied in the Bible that it will be this way in the last days. I expect it but it does not deter me from the knowledge that God is supreme , the Holy Spirit was sent by God to comfort me until Jesus comes to take me home! That is why Christians can say "though they slay me, yet will I praise Him!" Jesus gave us the great commission to go into all the world and preach the gospel. Until this has been done, Jesus will delay his returning.