"What Christians believe about life is up to them. They should not try to make others accept their position."

Question

this is a gcse question and im not picking on christians in any way. More than one viewpoint needed, thanks...

Answer 1

It is impossible for Christians to force their beliefs on others, but we all should accept one anothers position, whatever it is.

A person can only accept Christian beliefs through revelation. In other words, there has to be something inside them that is looking for "the answer." These people will have realised that they have reached the end of their own understanding, and so are reaching out to others who have a different viewpoint. These people are ready to hear The Gospel and welcome it. Unfortunately, they do not exactly carry a sign. So, Christians must spread the word to many people before they can find the few that are ready ro accept Christ, but if we give up, those few may never find the answers they are looking for.

Answer 2

It's a very fine line I think.

Anyone with a belief system thinks that it is a good way to be, and it makes them happy, and that's why they try and spread that to other people. I'm not religious at all, I find all religions to be completely ridiculous. But I get upset when people are mean to Jehovas Witnesses etc because I think, actually, they are just trying to spread the love and help people live what they think is a better life. My long-winded way of saying that their heart is in the right place.

It's when they attack non-believers for not believeing that I get annoyed. Someone once posted on here "How can you say God doesn't exist when I KNOW he does". Well I don't think he does, simple as that. And I have made an informed decision- so it needs to be left there.

But if no one was ever allowed to share their beliefs or try to recruit others, some people might not ever discover a lifestyle that actually happens to suit them.

They just need to know exactly when to stop, a bit of common sense really.

Answer 3

It depends on what you mean by force others to accept their position. Why is it when some people present their idea's it is considered presenting an idea and yet when Christian's present their idea's some accuse them of shoving their opinions down their throat The fact is in a democratic society every participant is entitled to present and vote on their ideas. And their can be a problem if not enough good people present their ideas. We can end up like Nazi Germany. Remember the quote all that it takes for evil to succeed is that good men do nothing. Interestingly it was the Nazi's on trial in Nuremberg that suggested that they were not guilty of war crimes as the outside countries had no right to judge them as they operated within their own society with their own set of morals. This argument was rejected and rightly so because of the fact that they violated their own defence when they invaded other countries and imposed their morality on others. That being said I respect others opinions and rights not to listen or agree with me and to set you all at ease I have no plans for any crusade. In all honesty I don't see many people talking about religion on the stree in Canada where I can't say I see anyone forcing their opinions on anyone else. Sometimes I wonder if those who make these claims of being made to accept their position are not simply trying to silence any opposition to their beliefs. Not accusing just wondering?

Answer 4

Well, as plenty of people have already mentioned, the christians think that it is their duty to spread their form of superstition on the basis of "We're right and you're wrong" In fact, "we're the only ones who can be right because it says so in a book".

Funny that, because it sounds exactly like the mohommedan view on the matter.

In fact, very little is known of what (if anything) Jesus really said. I have heard that less than 6 of the so-called quotes are reasonably likely to be true.

On top of that, the biblical books were written long after he was executed. The first books (gospels) started to be written around 50 years after his death. Many of the later books were written over the next 100 or so years. After that, the various councils (Nicea, Trent etc.) set to to rewrite the books to make them conform to what they then thought christianity should look like.
By that time, they were trying to convert anybody and everybody (heard that before somewhere too) on the basis that we're gaining power and can kill you if you refuse to believe (that will save your soul, of course). Also, the priesthood wanted larger congregations - more people, more power, more money.

In other words, they operated just like any young, primitive religion.

So, I agree with your starting proposition, based on the fact that what people are told is highly unlikely to be even vaguely what jesus intended. Remember, he was a good godearing, Torah loving Jewish Rabbi. He had no intentions of giving up the faith of his fathers.

Answer 5

That is very true, there are some Christians who even ridicule non-believers which is just plain rude. However, I must say that I don't believe in God and do have debates and try to tell people the reasons why a God doesn't exist such as the Tsunami on boxing day 2005 or September 11 and Hurricane Katrina. In my opinion humans are just the most advanced animal on planet earth.

Answer 6

I understand the question and please allow me to share a couple of things with you that may help.

St Francis of Assisi had the right idea when he told his monks to go preach the word and only ues words if they really had too.

This is about actions. Showing love in action without words is a very excellent way.

I am a contemplative christian, its more of a monastic existence of faith and this means I do not go around telling everyone or trying to force my views on others. But I do completely believe and follow Christ or to use his real name, Yeshua.

Not all Christians are shouting about their faith, it would be far more meanigful if those that did could do more, rather than say more!

Hope that helps?

Answer 7

It is impossible for a Christian to answer this question in an unbiased way because it is the duty of Christians to share and spread the Gospel. Christianity is what is known as a proselytising religion. In sharing the Gospel, Christians should never use coercion, so to that extent I would agree with the question. This link will explain what is meant by evangelism and you will find the Christian point of view explained in it. http://mb-soft.com/believe/txn/evang.htm

Answer 8

recently i had a discussion with a very pious christian- it got treally imtimidating to the point where he was saying that only christianity is right and if you don't believe it, you're set for a scorching afterlife...being more open minded than most, i questioned his theories but realised that i had just about as much right as he did for doing so- none at all. what i believe in is up to me, my comfort zone, somewhere where i find a piece of mind and somewhere far away from this craze-driven world. it works for me, where being a devout christian works for him- just live by being what you'd like to get out of this temporary life.
god be with you anyway.

Answer 9

That isn't really a question, but I agree with you. This isn't sports where you have to pick a team, and all the other teams are the "enemy". If you are religious and need to get your rules about living a good life from a book or a preacher or whatever, that's fine, just don't be trying to sell it to me.

Answer 10

No one should force their position on faith in anyone else's face. That goes for Christians and atheists and whatever else you may be. I will answer questions if asked and I will try to help someone learn more about God if they truly want to know but I do not believe in forcefeeding beliefs of any sort.