Why bother discussing religious beliefs with a Christian?

Question

I had a religious discussion with a Christian today. She was very closed minded and seemed very offended when I tried to state my belief that many different religions are just expressing love for the same God.

She also didn't seem to know how to answer when I asked if everybody except Christians go to hell.

Why should I even bother discussing these things? I try to stay open minded and consider everybody's opinions. I don't even take a stance on evolution, because I can't prove for or against it. Every time I discuss these with a Christian, they just get very defensive and can't even consider my opinions to be true or even possible.

FYI: I don't believe that the bible is real. I'm not convinced that Jesus ever existed because of an overwhelming lack of evidence. All "historical evidence" (bible aside) of Jesus existing can be proven to be spurious, as it does not fit with the writing it is placed with or does not exist in all copies of the manuscripts from the historians who supposedly wrote it (though they were born after Jesus allegedly died).

Thus, in my mind, the bible is no more true than Huckleberry Finn. The burden exists not on me to prove that he didn't exist, but on you to prove that he did exist.

kaehya2003:
She was closed minded because she was right. She refused to allow for the possibility that the viewpoint of another person could be considered.

Answer 1

Anyone who believes that they know all the answers or thinks that they can all fit into a single book is not worth your time talking to. They have already made up their small little mind. Don't bother. As long as they don't turn into faschists and start trying to kill anyone who disagrees them, just let them be.

It's probably not even their fault. They were probably raised to believe that this is the only way. When you say you have a different opinion they hear you say their parents are liars and their life and beliefs are lies as well. Some people were not raised with Truth or Knowledge being important. Some people do not take pleasure in seeing new perspectives. I don't waste time with these people. I just nod my head and say ya and find someone more intelligent to talk to.
I see the world slowly getting better, so don't let it discourage you.

Answer 2

If you had been discussing that with me, I would have said that many different religions are expressing love for the same God but certainly not all of them are. I would have told you flat out that I do not believe only Christians go to heaven. I think that people can follow Christ without even knowing that it is Him that they are serving with the kindness that they may show to those in need. Jesus, Himself said this is possible. I also would have told you that I don't believe in eternal punishment because the Bible doesn't teach that. ( There are mistranslations in the Bibles that do ) What the bible says is that only the wicked and evil face punishment, not those who have different beliefs. Of course some Christians would disagree with a lot of this, but I would never generalize about all Christians or stop discussing things with them, because, you see, I am a Christian.

Answer 3

Of course when they're in the moment, having the discussion with you they will only argue the point. It is when they walk away and go home that they will think about what you said. It's really hard not to, and that goes for anybody. In high school I had some very sheltered, church going friends and we had all kinds of heated religious discussions. More ofthen than not, they said I was completely wrong, and kept trying to make me see things their way. I'm still friends with them now, 10 years later, and I know they wouldn't be as open minded and informed about things as they are now. So the spreading of ideas is a good thing, even if it rarely presents immediate satisfaction.

Answer 4

As I've said before in other questions, I think a good part of it is insecurity. Christians think that they have found the right way, and they are so insecure in their FAITH, and so positive that they CAN be "led astray", that they refuse to even consider that the faith of these others is not a bad thing.

I read an article that some op/ed writer did, about the Southern Baptist Convention having their international convention in Salt Lake City, to try to also convert the "godless" Mormons. He wrote that, when Pres. Hinckley heard this, he said in effect, that's good, I have a few names I would like to give them!" It was this writers opinion that Pres. Hinckley said this because he knew of some inactive Mormons and figured they were better off in Colrado, Creamery dream.

Answer 5

You have argued with a wrong Christian or a Christian who has keen knowleged on the bible. You come to me and I will explain to you everything about the bible, about of the things which you could not understand, so that you be cleared of your doubts about the bible.

Not everybody could understand the bible, my friend . There are many verses on the bible which could not easily understood and were written on parables and examples. It is up to the reader who could interpret it. but be sure you must have to interpret on the correct way.

If God will not permit you to understand it, you could not really understand it although you can say tht you are the most intelligent man on earth or have earned many degrees in school, it does'nt matter.

Please visit us at www.untvweb.com or www.truthcaster.com or www.theoldpath.com.

We are preaching all over the world through the internet and satelite.jtm

Answer 6

Was she closed minded because she didn't change her ideas when you gave her your opinion? In my experience, that's usually the reason people are labled closed minded.

It's also possible she knows things like the fact there is a great deal of evidence supporting the existance of Jesus. Of course you have to read something besides the things that support your view to learn that.

Answer 7

Ah, but isn't the onus to keep asking questions on those who earnestly seek answers?

Actually I've had some very satisfying conversations with Christians who were just as interested in my mindset as I was in theirs. They are indeed rare, but then people who can speak intelligently on any subject are fairly rare, and correspondingly precious.

I'd also suggest trying to have several conversations before launching into a "religious discussion". It might be appropriate to go stampeding for the crucifix in a setting like R&S, but it's generally frowned on in the "real world."

Answer 8

when people are stubborn about jesus or a leader they look up to and won't imagine this leader as maybe he was and what i mean is to try to visualize them as they really were. How they looked, spoke -details and then I always ask this question? (let's use jesus for this question since he was a jew and died and then the dawn of chrisitianity was born). I always ask this question.." if on a sunday jesus walked in on the mass or ceremony taking place and asked everyone to get up go home make a sandwich put it in a brown bag and go feed a hungry homeless man would you do it?" And how about if he asked you to do this every sunday and started to ask every mass taking place all around the planet? would they do it? and what would become of the church? would it survive -would it die- would it grow? I always ask this question because I stopped going to church when people are present and I started to hand food to the "filthiest of the homeless" it came to me in a dream to do this and so here i am. hope this gives a door to you.

Answer 9

Let me clear up a common misconception. Christians do not believe that everybody except Christians go to hell. God says that all have sinned and all have fallen short of the glory of God. Jesus died as the punishment we all deserved for our sins....Jesus died for all mankind, for every human who has ever lived or who will live.

We go to hell by choosing not to be with God. God loves us so much that he gave his only son as the ransom for our souls. This gives all mankind an opportunity to go to heaven if they choose.

God is love, and hell is the absense of love....that is the worst kind of place to be...a place with no love.

Thank God for the sacrifice he made for you, and accept his offer for you to be with him.....he loves you more than you can comprehend.....

Answer 10

i totaly agree with you .i had a similar experience, they state there points and dont let you debate back.even if you are mearly stating a fact.there bible is right and they wont let a bad word be said about it but when i tell them im wiccan im called all the names under the sun by them. i dont judge all christian by religion alone but when people act like this towards me it makes me annoyed..