Who are they trying to convince?Nonbelievers or themselves?

Question

It is so funny to me how people word things.

"If you don't believe then you're going to the lakes of fire for all eternity and shall be tormented"

"On the day of the Rapture you will be left behind and will suffer God's wraith"

"What is better?To believe and be saved or to not believe and be damned?"

Oh, I could go and on with these kind of remarks I have seen here and heard religious people say.It is just so funny to me.Do they think we haven't heard all that before?It's not like we don't have TV or the Internet to learn about the many torments that await us if we don't believe.Why must it be cycled over and over and over again?Do they honestly think that they are converting people with ultimatums?Or do they say this as a way to reassure themselves that they still believe?

If someone said to you, "accept polka music or go to Hell", would it instantly make you want to love polka music?Why do they think that works when they use that line to force people to accept faith?

And more to the point, how can faith be faith if people have to say things like "believe or go to Hell"?That is not faith.That is a scare tactic.

Answer 1

yep i agree with you totally and it's what's known as pascal's wager honestly i think that the churches are indoctrinating pascal's wager into their teachings

Answer 2

Religions developed from faith. But the original ideas or preachings or teachings have been obliterated in course of time either to accommodate more people belonging to different cultures or to serve the selfish interests of certain people. Anyway, often pious people today get confused between the rituals and the philosophy of the religion. Therefore what they say would appear to be hollow and ridiculous to any educated person, if he stops to think about it - as you did. Unfortunately, the larger section of people are always less educated and they seldom think about any teaching before absorbing it. They are easily influenced and, yes terrorised, to a considerable extent. Consequently, they join the religion initially to save themselves from future doom and later become firm believers. That is how religion is spread sometimes.
But if you filter those words and get to the basic ideology of the religion, whatever religion, you will find it as something designed for the benefit of mankind. It gives one peace of mind, strength to survive through any ordeal or to face any challenge.

Answer 3

The lost and confused, Why is it so funny how people word things, look at how you compare things God to polka, dancing,,,not believing is ones choice, but count own it the day of the rapture if you don't believe you will suffer, And listen to the way you worded this, What is better, to believe or to not believe, you are confused because you don't no good from bad or evil from good, believing you have light in you, and not to believe and trying to confuse other you are full of darkness, And I also could go own and own and own.........with the remarks of the dark ones, Funny no scary is the word, I am filled with a love that is so devine for others and I care for ones souls, That is why I try to un-confuse, the confused. Nothing but torment await you, and other dark people, why are you asking why it has to be recycled over and over and over, Because that is my duty to God to help save lost souls and it is not an ultimatums, It is facts not fiction, no I dont need no reassurance to keep believing ,but the Lost and confused do, What is the difference between polka music, and Hell,polka music brings Joy and Happiness and Hell brings personification of evil, If someone said that to me like that I would call them real confused, comparing polka dancing to hell, Surely to God someone any one would chose polka dancing over hell, case closed! you ask if I would chose polka dancing over Hell I would choose anything over Hell, No one is forcing no one , you ask do they think that works, I hope and pray that it lets the blinded see the things they are blinded to, See when people FEAR, they talk like you, Believers in What is right, have no fear we only FEAR for People Like you, Dark and confused and Lost, And is Really Afraid , Of what is coming, And always remember this, We all WILL die and it is of ones choice to either believe That Jesus is the Son Of God, all the Pitty and compassion has left the Hearts mind and souls of a lot of people of this world that is why we the people of the world are self consumed and in the shape that the world is in , and what is coming only God and MAN can stop. With out Faith their is no HOPE, and when all Hope is gone, All HELL will BRAKE LOSE< God bless the USA and Israel And All...Patricia and the people who acuse preachers of spreading hatered it not hatered It is what is, right, from wrong, and we are not standing for the wrongs and giveing into it like all you dark and blinded do,

Answer 4

Faith and a belief in God are two seperate things. I could have a basic belief in a God, without having faith in His works, plans, expectations and rules.
I have both, but all I can do is SHARE my beliefs and concerns with you, and then it's between you and your belief system...and I don't take it personally if you don't want to listen to my beliefs or my concerns. All I can do is put it out there; that's all God ASKS me to do, is love you enough as a human being to try to give you the message that He has a plan for mankind and you are part of it.
Now, as for being scared into faith-- that's not true faith, that is, as you said, a scare tactic. It's like beating a dog into submission. He'll be fine for as long as you face him, but the minute your back is turned, he's not the same dog.
Jehovah's Witnesses don't believe in the type of burning torment that most of Christiandom thinks of. We don't believe that a loving Creator would punish us like that. The Bible says at Romans 6:23 that the wages sin pays is DEATH, and the gift God gives for believing in Jesus is EVERLASTING LIFE. Those, I truly believe, are the choices that God gives us. Everlasting life for those who choose a relationship with Him, and staying dead forever for those who choose not. It's really simple, and it shouldn't be crammed down folks throats. And yes, this is from someone who rings doorbells on Saturday afternoons... but if you don't want the message, then I go on to the next doorbell! :)

Answer 5

Faith is not about fear and never should be. Being a Christian is not about converting regardless of what other Christians might say. I actually know that I cannot change someones beliefs. I might be able to plant a seed that will grow, but that will never be done by scare tactics. Christianity should never be about force, that goes against what God wants. What He does want is for us to be with Him, which is why Jesus came to save us. He wants us to show appreciation for all He created. I choose to have faith in God's Love for us all.

May God Bless you.

Answer 6

There are a lot of fresh new young believers in this forum and have not yet learned that the character of Christ is patience. It is just lack of maturity when they say things like that. Meanwhile it is just as offensive to be called idiots and such by people who do not comprehend our beliefs.I personally believe that it is a true witness in the way we live that attracts people to Christ and not so much in the things that are said.

Answer 7

Not all spiritual traditions believe in converting others. In fact, for the Sufi Order International, proselyzing is forbidden. Our thought is that all paths lead to God; but then our God concept is a bit different from the fundamentalist one, because we say everything is God.

Answer 8

A Christian should know that Jesus will judge the world, why so many think they can fill this office, or why so many think it is a no-brainer I cannot say. If it is a no-brainer why put Jesus in charge? Would Jerry Falwell be a better choice?

Answer 9

You know that is funny because I have asked myself and others the same question about atheists. I wonder why, when you despise Christianity so much and seem to hate to even be around believers...why do you come?

Are you here to convince us there is not God...which is very, very, very unlikely to happen? Or are you here in the tiny hope that someone will say something that we help you to see the real God.

Answer 10

sounds decide on to me you've a vandetta with out precise awareness of what you're speaking about antagonistic to the teachings of the Bible that the Jehovah's Witnesses and others keep on with and performance thorough awareness of as far because the scriptures of which Almighty God has revealed it. clarify the banding of the stump and the seven cases. clarify the reason of a "little flock" and a "tremendous crowd". clarify why Jesus Christ grow to be used in God's generic plan extremely of you.

Answer 11

EXACTLY! Sad thing is, some people do convert because of that. Their emotions are played upon and then their drawn in. And you're right... that is not faith.