What Exactly Is Meant By FORCING Religion?

Question

Is talking about your religion to someone forcing religion? Is trying to convince someone of the validity or necessity of your religion considered force? Are there any instances of people forcing religion on this site? If so where?

Are we so protected and insolated in this country that we think we are being forced to do something if we are merely exposed to it? Are laws that ban anyone anywhere from praying a type of force? Are laws preventing prayer an example of forced atheism? Who do you think is more forced when it comes to religion in the U.S. today? Theists or Atheists?

Answer 1

Pantheist. And no one is stopping a child from praying in school silently to herself! Forced religion is referring to the Christians answering questions like 'Good readings on Wicca' being answered by 'You should find Jesus!' . Funny, I've never seen that book on the shelf, and it doesn't sound like Pagan literature! I saw one just this morning trying to convert Atheist to Christianity! Most of us 'Non-beleivers' and 'Evolutionists' (as you like to call us) were once Christian and have chose not to be anymore! So give it up! We're much happier now!
Blessed Be.... ; )

Answer 2

It really depends on the person. There are so many religions in our world and as we speak there are new religions in the works....I think it is a very personal thing. I don't think talking about it means you are forcing it on someone or trying to clear up something that isn't totally true about your religion, for example: All mormons aren't polygamists but some people might just assume that they are. I hear a lot of religions think they are the only ones that will be saved and if you don't convert and become one of them then you are doomed....Do you consider that forcing in some way? Striking fear into people? For me personally, nobody can get me to join what they believe, I have my own personal beliefs and I like to hear and read other peoples religious beliefs. Your question is a very personal one and i'm sure you'll get a big response!

Answer 3

There's a fine line between just talking about religion or sharing your beliefs with someone, and harassing them. Talking about religion and debating it, big deal. I can talk about religion(I'm here, aren't I?) and debate it civilly with people. It's when people start condemning me for not believing or for even disagreeing with them, along with hounding me, repeatedly asking me when I'm going to start believing, and even call me names, that's not talking about or sharing beliefs at all that it becomes "forcing" through harassment.

There's nothing wrong with trying to convince someone, however, once you've made your arguement, if a person says "no thanks", they mean "no thanks". Refusal isn't an invitation for you to repeatedly bother them and ask them to join the flock. When a person refuses, and you persist, that is called harassment.

I haven't been here long enough to know if there's been any instances of forcing religion on this site, but even if I had been, I wouldn't even dignify that with an answer.

As far as exposure, I seriously don't care. I see religious advertisements on TV and newspapers all the time. Guess what? I don't have a heart attack when I do. I flip the channel or the page and go about my life. Not hard at all. If you don't want to listen to atheists and non-Christians, do the same. They're not going away any more than you are, so just ignore it.

As far as laws prohibiting public school prayers and things like religious displays on public property, that's not a type of force. That's the First Amendment at work. Everyone has the right to their own beliefs. They also have the right not to feel excluded by seeing that their governmental offices will put up a display to one religion, but not another. For schools, this means that people have the right to decide how their kids are raised, not be told how they're going to be raised by the government through school, and last I checked, parents are required to send their kids to school.

The First Amendment guarantees your right to believe and my right not to believe. The establishment clause of the First Amendment protects that right by assuring that the government can't pick one religion or another and force us to believe in it against our will. Because everyone needs to use governmental offices and children are required to go to school, religion cannot be mandated or shown as favored one way or another.

As far as who's more forced, that question isn't exactly clear, but I shall answer it anyway.

The atheists and non-Christians are being forced to fend of theists on a daily basis, and the theists are doing the forcing.

Answer 4

I don't use the "forcing religion down my throat" line because I think it is terribly overused, for example in reference to public references to specific religions.

However, if you're implying that atheism is forced on people more than is theism, you're simply wrong. There are no laws in the US preventing prayer. The fact that you cite that nonexistent problem as your example demonstrates the bankruptcy of the position. There are of course just laws preserving the freedom of religion by preventing government and the public entities created by government (most importantly public schools and courts) from endorsing religion. If you haven't seen the distinction between those two, you need to step back and learn that before you go any further with this.

Answer 5

If God forced us to do His will He would be like a film director...we would say what we were directed to say, act the way we were directed to act and speak only the lines we were given...Had God put his hand over Adam and Eve's mouth...when they tasted the forbidden fruit....that would have taken their free will away...then we would have been walking through life as mindless zombies...and No, I do not believe that sharing a stament of Faith or sharing the way you were saved would be forcing your ideas on anyone else...because of free will people can still choose to listen or choose not to...God does close all the steps that separate us from Him except for the last one...That one, we ultimately have to take ourselves...and I firmly believe that before the end time that Atheists will be forced on all...and we will be accused and charges brought against us for child abuse if we even teach our children or grandchildren about God....prayerfully I hope that it does not come to that...but 60 years ago people didn't believe that religion or prayers would be taken out of our schools either...or that gay marriages would ever be allowed....

Answer 6

I think forcing religion on someone means forcing them to share your religious beliefs. Conversion by the sword comes to mind. However, as you pointed out in your question, some people seem to think that merely sharing with others what you believe is forcing your faith on them.

Answer 7

Pretty much. Forcing is taking away another's rights to make sure yours are prodominate. Forcing is pushing the issue until the other person relents. Forcing boarders on harrassment in the pressure it exerts.

And, Kathryn, I don't think using Jesus Camp is a good example of forcing. No one forced you to watch it and I doubt those kids are camping out on your front lawn, threatening you to change your ways. That movie was a "Let's show the world a bunch of crazy Christians and hope that they outlaw Christianity because of it". Don't take a few and blame the many.

Answer 8

Some people do try to force their views on us, religous or
otherwise.
In most cases however. Those who accuse others of FORCING, are just saying that to excuse their own immature indulgence
in not liking to be told what to do.
Which all humans have to struggle with after childhhood. But fortunately, some of us do mature.

Answer 9

Yes people use the word "force" inapropriatly, because here in the U.S. we're very spoiled by religious freedom.

I was in Portugal for a while and met a lot of people who lived under the dictator Salazar, who really did force everyone to be Catholic, after hearing their stories, I can't help but roll my eyes at what people call "force" here.

best wishes.

Answer 10

Christians repeatedly force their religion on others. You people want to mold the world to fit your ideals.