When you are asked about your religion, do you give them information about it and let them make their own decision? Do you tell that if they don't follow your religion that they will burn in some sort of pit of eternal suffering? Do you confront people about religion in order to give them the words from your holy book? If they choose not to become part of your faith, can you accept that and respect their decision? What do you prefer? Preaching your religion, or Teaching it to others?
By the way, I prefer teaching. Informing people about my faith when they ask about it, and allowing them to form their own decision regarding it.
2006-12-04 07:26:00 · 3 answers · asked by lavos1412 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
A university professor went to visit a famous Zen master. While the master quietly served tea, the professor talked about Zen. The master poured the visitor's cup to the brim, and then kept pouring. The professor watched the overflowing cup until he could no longer restrain himself. "It's overfull! No more will go in!" the professor blurted. "You are like this cup," the master replied, "How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup."
2006-12-04 07:37:36 · answer #1 · answered by The Zen Hippo 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Teaching... though sometimes I make a horrible teacher. I just don't have the patience for it. (In here it's different...) If I'm asked, I answer. I don't believe that just because someone isn't following what I follow that they are going anywhere. I'm not quite THAT arrogant. I don't have a Holy Book lol And I respect those who show respect to others... the only time Religion gets factored into that, is when they try to use it justify cruel actions towards weaker people. Then I use their own Holy Book to make them eat crow.
Personally, I can't stand "Preaching". It comes across more like Dictating than anything else.
2006-12-04 16:23:30 · answer #2 · answered by Kithy 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
For Jehovah's Witnesses, it is a balanced combination.
First, we declare the message from the Bible. Jesus said that is one of the features of the last days: "This good news of the kingdom will be PREACHED in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come." - Matthew 24:14.
If some want to learn more about what the Bible teaches about God, the paradise earth, and so on, we change from preachers to teachers, again in harmony with Jesus' words, this time in Matthew 28:19, 20: "Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, TEACHING them to observe all the things I have commanded you. And, look! I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things."
In part, we teach by providing them accurate information, answering questions, and then allowing them to use that information to make an informed decision. We respect whatever choice they make, and at least they have the necessary information needed to be able to really make that choice. If they have knowledge only one side in their decision making process, that really is not a choice at all.
2006-12-04 15:28:22 · answer #3 · answered by Abdijah 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋