Would you try to convert someone who doesn't have a religion?

Question

The other day my friend who's a real Jesus freak said that she would have tried to convert me before if she hadn't know it would have been pointless(I'm an atheist.) And I was kind of disgusted by that. I don't try to go around convincing people there is no God so why is it that so many people who have a religion insist on trying to convince everyone else there's a God? You see it every day. Mormons and Jehovas Witnesses going door to door. Televangalists. How many TV channels are dedicated to convincing everyone about evolution, or the Big Bang theory? None that I know of. Would any of you do that to someone who doesn't believe? (and please not that I don't think all religious people do this, just quite a few that I know.)

I know that there are places like the History Channel that discuss these theories but they aren't dedicated to them. There are entire TV channels with people like Tammy Fay Baker on 24-7. And since when is a Subway commercial anti-Christian?

Just because I'm an atheist doesn't mean I'm not happy. It really puts me off when people say "I only want you to be happy and fulfilled." I have really happy life. No complaints. Why doesn't anybody consider the possibility that maybe I'm happy with or without Jesus?!

Answer 1

I am an atheist as well, though I was born as a Muslim. I have nothing against the faith; the reason I converted (or di-verted, haha) is because religion simply doesn't sit well with me. I don't believe in trying to believe in an all-powerful entity when I don't feel it, see it, think it. And I certainly don't believe in others trying to cram religion down my throat.

Religion is a delicate topic, and while I am deeply respectful of everyone's theological beliefs, I can have morals without having a religion, or be humble without believing in the existence of a higher power, and therefore, I would appreciate not being told that I can escape going to Hell if I convert now.

Answer 2

I would try to share the good news of Jesus Christ with some one with no religion. But that is what God wants me to do. All that is required of me is to share, not to shove it down any-ones throat. Once I've shared, it is up to that individual to either blow me off or get curious about it. That's all.

(The Discovery Channel and The Science Channel seem to have a ton of shows that talk about evolution. They show The Cosmos on the Science channel almost every day.)

Answer 3

I don't try to convert anyone. I have friends that don't believe and we've talked about what I believe and she's asked questions. The one's I don't have answers for I've gotten her the answers for. But I don't pounce on people with religion. If we get into a discussion, I'm just honest about what I believe and how easy it is to get to Heaven. After that it's their choice, if they choose to accept God, they do. I won't hound them. If they have other questions, they know they can always ask and I'll help in anyway I can. I don't think you can force it on someone. That's not them truly accepting it....they are just agreeing to get rid of you (if they agree at all) or you are going to push them away. And thank you for saying not all religious people! I appreciate that! :)

Answer 4

As a Muslim, and a convert, I personally dont believe in converting people. When religion is chosen and truly practiced it comes from sincere belief from within you. You cannot force sincere belief on anyone. All you can do is answer a person's questions if they are interested. In my opinion, even if your goal is to convert people, which it shouldn't be, any amount of force is an absolute turn off.

peace and blessings to all,
Sakina

Answer 5

I'm an athiest to and I feel like I'm being judged all the time. I still have a strong sence of moral belifes and I know right from wrong so I don't get why people feel sorry for me. You don't need to be... I'm happy with my dicsision. Athiests are a real minority I heard like 98% of the world belives in some kind of god or surprime being.

I just watched Jesus Camp last night and I was taken aback! I could not believe that these kids were braking down in tears. From an atheists point of view that movie was disturbing. It seemed like brainwashing. It's not like they were giving their kids the choice to believe in god or not and they chose to... They told them they were filthy sinners if they didn't have faith. To be honest it made me sick. however, I do understand the people in this movie were the "extreme" devout evangelical Christians.

The parenting was ridicules. Now because I’m not religious I’m not sure but isn’t it true that god lets kids into heaven no matter what, whether they believed in him or not…so shouldn’t we wait to teach them religion until they are cognitively mature enough to decide whether it is something they want to believe or not. Because it’s science…you can teach a child to do anything if you repeat it enough when they are young, Like in some Muslim countries little kids are running around with AK47’s ready to sacrifice themselves for their god.

I believe it's good to have faith in something and I believe it is important to have strong moral beliefs, but when you put other people down because they don't believe in the same thing as you and make them feel like sinners or if you walk up to people and try to impose your beliefs on them I think that’s wrong. And that’s what these kids are doing. I'm talking 5-9 year olds walking up to strangers and “selling“ their religion. You don’t have to believe in god to be a good person with strong morals and ethics.

I AM AN ATHIEST

I don’t…
Practice witch craft
Worship the devil
Live a “sinful” life

I’m not a…
Drug addict
Alcoholic
Tree huger

I don’t believe…
In god

I do believe…
It’s important to have strong morals
It’s important to have good ethics.
You should be caring and kind
You should respect others people
And you should be a good citizen because like it or not everyone’s different and how sad would it be if we can’t get along.

Anyway No I would not try to convert you and as far as other people go... they are just trying to help you because they care about your eternal sole. So say thanks for careing but no thanks to God.

Please don’t judge me because I don’t believe in god.
If there is one that’s his job not yours.

Answer 6

Just the same as you are trying to convince someone not to believe by expressing your opinion against the believers. You may not be going around telling them not to believe but it is just the same when you try to say you don't. Just be quiet and go on with your life and they will quit on you. Open your mouth and you will hear them again.

Answer 7

It's actually their duty to do so, it's in the bible, they are ordered and many feel obligated. And no I would not convert an atheist, it can't be done, you can only convert from 1 religion to another, I don't know what ti would be called if an atheist got religion. Hmmm something to look up.

Answer 8

We just want you to be as happy as we are or at least that why I try to tell people about Jesus. I was once lost and wondered around in darkness now it is like daylight I can see clearly why I am on this earth. I was not just born to die I have much more to live for now.

Answer 9

As Christians, it becomes our duty to inform others of His love and salvation. Being a Christian doesn't mean just attending church - it means we are supposed to minister to others and give them the opportunity for eternal salvation as well.

It is a very difficult thing to do because you don't want to be a pest but then again, you don't want that person to die without him/her knowing about Jesus. That is why it is so hard to be a Christian - we are called names (Jesus Freak - but I don't mind being called that), treated horribly, looked down upon, etc. We are called two-faced but in reality, being a Christian means that we are admitting our faults - we sin and we know we are not perfect but we are trying to better our lives. We are supposed to share this fact with others - that is our "job" so to speak - and those who do it are brave souls.

Answer 10

There no negative implications for atheism. You die and you become worm food (or maggot, plant, bacteria, etc. food). For the Christian, (or Jehova's Witness, etc.) there ARE consequences to be had. If you die and don't believe that Christ was the son of God, died for your sins, and accept His forgiveness, you are going to face eternal separation from God in Hell. Knowing that I truly believe this, I'm shocked that you are disgusted by Christians' attempts to convert you. Their attempts to convert you mean that they care about you. Frankly, I'd be more worried if they didn't try to convert me (if I happened to be an Atheist).