Why does everyone feel the need to push their beliefs upon others?

Question

I think faith is one's choice not the choice one must make for everyone else.

Answer 1

nobody is trying to push anything. you ask a question it gets answered, if you do not like the religious answers go to a different forum.

Answer 2

I think you are right. Faith is one's choice and no one can make it for you. I think many people feel like they are being forced when someone is trying to share what they believe, even though the person offering the information may not be trying to force it on them, partly because of the emotional intensity that accompanies the subject matter.
Jesus said, Go into all the world and preach my gospel to every creature. In another verse, he said to leave the places where the Word wasn't accepted and go on to the next place. He did not say go force my gospel on the world. Christians, at least, feel called to share their faith, but those who try to impose it are being over-zealous.
As a Christian, I cringe at people who stand on street corners screaming at people that they are going to hell. They are hurting the cause, not helping it. We're trying to give people something that brings us great joy and healing. Why would anyone understand that who had been yelled at?

Answer 3

As a Christian, it is my calling to be a light unto all of the world. We are God's vessels on the earth to share the gospel of the good news. I don't push my religion on anyone. I want to help people find the peace joy and righteousness that I have found thru Jesus Christ. Ultimately, you decide what you believe. God gives everyone a free will. However, the truth is if you do not accept Jesus Christ as your savior then God will not be able to accept you into heaven. You are absolutely right that no one can make that choice for you. You ultimately will decide where you spend eternity. I pray (not push) that you will make the right decision.

Answer 4

Only some people and some groups believe that they have to be "An Army for God" - as if God can't handle his own business.

Some people do it because they are genuinely trying to help others. But some are doing it because they have no faith in their own faith unless everybody around them confirms what they believe in.

Sad,

A

Answer 5

I am sorry that others have pushed their beliefs upon you. I personally invite others to faith and not push it upon them. Yet, I think that Christians and Non-Christians alike misunderstand exactly what is faith and how we enteract with it. Faith is first of all God's revelation of Himself to mankind. This prevents us from believing faith is all from us and no other source. Second, faith is how the human person responds to the God who revealed Himself. This entails evangelization. The Christian who accepts faith is commanded to proclaim the Good News. Yet, it should be remembered that those who are told the Good News are NOT commmanded to accept it! When Christ presented a parable, He sometimes ended it with, "Let him who has ears listen." This is an invitation to listen to the Good News and not a demand to accept it. Still, some ill-mannered and un-compassionate Christians (and they are so few of them, but they are very loud!) mistakenly believe that one is commanded to believe. Yet, Christ never stated this and certainly never taught us to do so.
Yet, you cannot fault a Christian for proclaiming what is Good News for you and me. After all we are following the orders of Christ who asks us to share His goodness and love to others through our thoughts, words, and deeds. May such hardened Christians learn to be compassionate, approachable, and inviting just as Christ is. May they learn good manners and respect the conscience of others and their freedom to decide. May those who have not accepted the good news be as well mannered and respectful of those who follow Christ. The worst a non-believer has to go through is listening and no more.
May the Lord bless and keep you. May He let the light of His face shine upon you.
God's and your beast of burden
Fr. john

Answer 6

Some faiths require followers to spread their beliefs and "save" other non-believers.

Answer 7

I don't think people push their faith upon people but they try to education people about Christianity and their way of life.

Answer 8

May I say thank you for saying "everyone" and not "Christians"? :) *lol*

I'm Christian and do believe that the word of Jesus must be spread, but it sickens me how I am condemned because of it when EVERY religion known to man does exactly the same thing. Every day when I go to college, I get picketed by a group of Buddhists with pamphlets and booklets on their religion to try to convert me.

Conversion is not a strictly Christian practice here, folks. :P *l*



Mirage: I'm speaking from experience. Are they true or not? Who can say? I'm just going off of what's happened to me personally.

Answer 9

It's the old problem of "putting ideas ahead of people".

And it's not just religious people. Socialists and Communists killed more people than any religion ever could...all over an "idea".

"My idea (or my "theology") is better than yours....therefore I will kill you." Such sadness

Lenin said: "You can't make an omelet without breaking eggs" ... unfortunately - the "eggs" in his "idea" were millions of Russian and Chinese people.

Answer 10

because others tend to think they have found "the way" and you are going the wrong way. But in reality there are many ways to get to the same destination and everyone has to follow their own path.

I know...I know, a lot of people will disagree greatly with what I just said. Thats okay, I can handle it, because I know my path and I know it is going to lead me to the same place you will be.

Answer 11

I agree...

Evangelism just turns people away from religion...

Batsfanfilm: No true Buddhist would share the Dharma without being asked. Point his out to them the next time they try to convert you...