It just seems strange why someone would believe that if they forced a person to take on a religion that ,the person forced against thier will would actually continue to follow in that belief.
2006-08-29 00:24:23 · 13 answers · asked by Burnt Emberes 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I guess you are referring to the Fox news guys who said they now believed in Islam and were released by their kidnappers. If I had an ak47 pointed at my head I would most certainly say I believed whatever you wanted me to believe in. Would I actually believe, no way. These men are free today because they used their heads and did not panic. This so-called conversion will last only as long as it took for them to be freed. You cannot force belief on any other person and to be real it must come from your heart.
2006-08-29 00:37:43 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Many people through out the ages were forced to accept religions at the end of a sword or spear. Some were burned, bribed and buried for not accepting someone else's god. People had their holy books burned, had their temples destroyed and their idols blasted to bits.
While you might not win the hearts of all people, you can get to the children and make them believe.
2006-08-29 00:52:49 · answer #2 · answered by Rob 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Almost all religions are forcefed through fear and superstition. The preachers take advantage of human gullibility to drive home a scripture or a holy canon. To think a person has the freedom to choose religion is to say that the person is an atheist. There is no unconditional love in any religion, except, perhaps, early Buddhism.
2006-08-29 00:33:23 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Since I believe that nearly all humans are basically decent and kind, and that religious belief is vicious propaganda, then yes, I am convinced that many people are indeed manipulated into accepting religion.
Consider: The followers of the "God of Love" subscribe to religions whose holy scriptures teach that all unbelievers must be destroyed. (Don't ask me to quote chapter-and-verse, it's repeated many times in both the Old and New Testaments, in the Torah, and in the Koran.) Normal people would never consider slaughtering their neighbors who attend another church, or no church; but devout believers can be made to do exactly that.
2006-08-29 00:34:46 · answer #4 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
they can be forced to say they believe something, but you cant be forced to actually believe it.
of course, through time, if a person forced to believe something is hammered with the belief day after day, year after year, eventually, they might become to believe it, just because they have been around it for such a long time. would you consider that to be forced into it?
2006-08-29 01:13:31 · answer #5 · answered by lostcause8436 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah, if you are talking about missionaries who Christianized the Africans, Native Americans etc or just about anyone you will find that they held onto some of their own stuff just to legitimize the religion. They had their own practises and rites and beliefs...it is kind of interesting. Christian holy days like Christmas and Easter" coincide with "pagan holy days" just to try and help people switch over!
2006-08-29 00:32:27 · answer #6 · answered by Gone fishin' 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, beliefs cannot be forced externally because beliefs are held inward. However, there are certain condition conducive to and certain personalities susceptible to brainwashing.
2006-08-29 00:29:47 · answer #7 · answered by KDdid 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Islam
2006-08-29 00:34:01 · answer #8 · answered by WhatIf 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, you can not force a person to belief. Respect his/her own decision. If they listen than good they deserve it. If don't than they will pay for it w/ their own lifes. thats all
2006-08-29 00:30:36 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
No, you have only taken on a religion if you believe in its teachings and follow them because you want to, not to please others.
2006-08-29 00:31:29 · answer #10 · answered by qwertyu 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋