Serious Question...Why do people find it is necessary to try to convert others to their religion?

Question

I find it is rude for someone to tell me that they know what is best for me, that my belief system is flawed, or that I am going to suffer because I don't believe in their religion.

This isn't limited to the Christians and Moslems, but those NIchiren Buddhist (SGI-USA) also.

Answer 1

I think there are three reasons thins happens.
1. The converter believes that they are helping you. They believe that you have never heard their belief described the right way or that something that they say could "help" you. These are the people that are tolerable, the ones who believe you are wrong but not that you pose a threat to them.
2. The converter needs to validate his own belief by convincing you. If you are convinced, they think they will feel confident in their belief. The problem is, no such peace of mind comes and they move on to attack their next victim in desperation. This kind is the kind that refuse to listen to another opinion for fear of it harming them. They are threatened by difference.
3. The converter believes that God has sent them on a mission to convert you. This kind can be REALLY annoying, they see resistanced as a callenge or as a slight against their God and can make you want to cry.

I believe that most people are actually talking from a combination of the three but tend toward one motive or another. There are very few religions that try to convert. Most are happy to just be and leave others to be. The religions that try to convert believe that their way is the ONE TRUE WAY and anytime a group of people think that, there is bound to be trouble. Especially since the members of that group usually can't decide what exactly the ONE TRUE WAY is, just that you aren't following it.

Answer 2

I feel when someone has chosen a belief system/religion it is more proper to share your beliefs openly & to NOT TRY to convert. So that people will not get defensive. I only wish to share "why" I believe what I believe, and be heard, not heeded. I love hearing about other faiths/religions. That is how I learn to see the truth, by comparison. I only wish to share what I have known to be Truth, you still have a right to disagree. I feel that some Cristians Preach so fervently is because of the urgency to to find Christ & have salvation, so that we may enter the kingdom of heaven.

I am a Christian, I like to share the Good News, but I would never expect anyone to take my word for it (only Gods). Once you have heard the Good News it is up to you & God what is done with it.

Answer 3

Well, I cannot answer to other Religions. Christians, however believe we are commanded to by Jesus in the "Great Commission."

Now, do not think us rude, consider this. We believe so strongly in our convictions that you are in danger of eternal punishment. Now in love we try to "convert" you so that you do not die and suffer forever. It is the truest act of a friend and not to put to fine a point on it something we get ridiculed for all the time.

If you knew that someone was about to make a decision that would cost them their life would you interfere? If not why? If so how hard?

Notice that, at this time, I am not trying to convert you, but merely to explain why we do what we do. Granted most Christians try to club you into the faith and for that there is no apology strong enough to make up for those bad experiences.

Answer 4

Hey! I'm a Christian myself, in Warwick Uni in England. Our Christian Union are having a mission week next week, which means we'll be inviting people to come along to meeting n stuff to hear about what we believe to be the only way to God.
This may apply to religions also, but the reason we do it is because we believe it's the most important thing anyone can ever hear. That doesn't mean we force our beliefs on anyone, just tell them simply what we believe, because we want to see people go to heaven.
Not telling people would be like knowing how somebody could get a million pounds (or dollars, if you like :P), and then not telling them!

Answer 5

According to the Christian faith it is obligatory to follow the command of Jesus set forth in the Gospel of Matthew: "Go to all the nations and make disciples. Baptize them and teach them my commands." Many christian branches (such as the Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, Southern Baptist, and Catholic) have incorporated conversion into their missionary work.

There are other religions that actively encourage conversion, like the Hare Krishnas and particular Buddhist sects. Islam does at times accept converting others. Judaism does not force conversion, but they do allow willing converts into their faith.

According to the World Council of Churches forceful conversion is not to be tolerated. However, many individual churches do not teach their members the legalities of converting.

Answer 6

Because most people feel that what they believe is correct and if you don't feel that way you are wrong. I think that religion is personal and you can tell a person about your beliefs but not be pushy. I think you can convert by example. There is one god and how we worship him is our own personal business. I have a lot of different beliefs when it comes to religion and when someone disrespects my belief I bluntly tell them that I find it offensive and ask how would they feel if I told them that what they believed was incorrect. I told a coworker that I did not believe in Easter and she bought me tickets to go to an Easter play she said she was giving to me because I said I did not understand about Easter I told her I did not say I did not understand that I don't celebrate or believe in it and told her if she could prove to me that there was such a thing i would go. She couldn't

Answer 7

I'm a christian and I've never tried to convert anyone. The way I see it is that we were told to spread the word, it's done. I honestly don't know anyone who hasn't heard, so its seem kinda pointless to tell them something they already know. If someone chooses to not believe, fine. I don't like JW's coming to my house, royally ticks me off. I don't like the atheists on YA constantly trying to "educate" us into their non-belief. Actually, thats the only two groups who've ever tried to sway my belief, but I gotta say, I resent it. Of course, I wear my cross a lot, so it most likely tips off any other groups who may have that idea.

Answer 8

because of the fact every person is ignorant and on account that every person is distinctive and function an excellent greater durable time attempting to settle for that. some human beings convert for saftey(to flee their u . s . a .) some human beings convert for the only they love(changing to grow to be a jew) yet another reason is by the fact i think of as quickly as a single individual and others have grown on some thing so pwerful as a faith they start to question why there became ever a distinctive way. i think of this is purely a question of attempting to get every person to be alike because of the fact human beings have grown so linked to what they have been taught growing to be up desire i hepled =)

Answer 9

So, you go at whatever speed in your car you want. No cop or judge or polticians is going to tell you how fast to drive, what is safe for you and others, you just do as you please and eveyrone else be damned.

You drive 45 down a school street and some 8 year old darts out of nowhere and you run them over, that is negligent homicide at the most and voullentary manslaughter and reckelss driving at the least. Thats 18 to 36 months in jail and triple your insurance rates for a good 10 years after that.

Not to mention a lot of nightmares you'll have.

Gee, did my ADMONISHMENT upset you, you who DO as you please and DON'T LIKE being told how to behave and what to do and what to beleive!

Answer 10

Because this wicked old system of things under Satan's control is coming to an end soon.
There was1 faith at the Garden of Eden, 1 faith survived the flood, 1 faith brought forth the Messiah, 1 Christian religion was produced from the Messiah even though there are many fragments that are contaminated now because of all of the false doctrines.