Is it your responsibility to tell others they are wrong in believing in their Faith?

Question

Do you think that believing in a faith means that you need to play an active role in promoting your own beliefs.

If so, what lengths would you go to, to do this?

For example:
1. Would you travel to a 3rd World country and offer people food in return for their religious conversion.
2. Would you fight in a war to kill others who don't want to live the same way as life as you do.
3. Would you lie about the character of people of other faiths, in order to convince someone else that your way of life is correct.

Answer 1

I beleive it's a responsibilty of all religious people to do their best to spread the word. In Islam, which is my religion, entrance in Heaven depends on our good deeds and spreading the word is a good deed. There are numerous Hadith stating that if a person starts doing good deeds because another one led him/her to it, not only does the one who actually does them get the credit, but the one who spread the word also does. So from that point of view, it's extremely important to do it.

1. I wouldn't travel so far to spread the word, there are too many people in my own country to deal with, plus I think it's hypocritical to ask someone to convert for food. I talk about my religion only when asked.

2. Absolutely not! Only if I'm attacked or if my country is attacked, then I'd fight for what what I beleive in - but never would I attack someone simply because he doesn't share my beleifs. 'There shall be no complusion in religion' (Holy Qur'an)

3. No I wouldn't. That's hypocritical and it's a sin. I fear God too much to backbite on someone. Backbiting and ruining one's reputation on purpose is compared to eating the flesh of your brother in Islam - reason good enough for me to think twice.

Answer 2

I believe that it's my responsibility to tell others about what I believe when the situation is appropriate.

1. Yes, that can mean travelling to other places far away from where I live (not just to 3rd world countries).

2. No. Killing others who don't agree with my way of life isn't the way to handle it (after all, if that was appropriate for me, who's to say they wouldn't try to kill to me in return for the same reason?).

3. No. If I did that, and the person I was talking to ever found out, they'd have no reason to believe anything else I told them, even if that other information was all true. I like to think my faith's teachings stand on their own, without the need to put anyone else's beliefs down.

Answer 3

>>1. Would you travel to a 3rd World country and offer people food in return for their religious conversion.<<

No.

>>2. Would you fight in a war to kill others who don't want to live the same way as life as you do.<<

You mean a life in which we don't throw Jews in ovens? My grandfathers fought in WWII, and, yes, I support their trying to "impose their morality" on the Nazis.

>>3. Would you lie about the character of people of other faiths, in order to convince someone else that your way of life is correct.<<

No.

Answer 4

All of those reasons are why the world is so ****** up today. People feel like everyone wants to hear about their religious bullshit.

Going to a 3rd world country and giving them food for religious conversion is absolutly horrible, because usually the people have just barely enough to get by, and to give them food is ensuring that they'll live to see another day. So you're pretty much just tricking them into believe in your system of brainwashing.

Answer 5

1.when the british invaded sri lanka the poor people were given food in return for their conversion. they didn't give jobs to non christians....the food thing still continues even today

2.they beheaded and killed so many people for not converting.the people who did convert were the ones who gave into those threats

3.this is a true story that a little boy i met on the beach once told me (believing it is upto u,i know i'm speaking the truth and that's enough for me)
some christians,who had come to distribute food to his village had given him 2 gift wrapped boxes and told him to pick one.he chose one box and opened it.it was empty.then they had said "if u choose buddhism that's what u'll get-nothing.because although your God Buddha promises that he'll send u to heaven,he's a liar".
in reality,no true Buddhist believes that Buddha is a God (he was a mortal man) and He has never promised to send us to any kind of heaven.we don't believe in any God and we don't believe in the concept of God's kingdom

now to answer your question....just think,if ,after the british left sri lanka when we gained independence in 1948, the buddhists had also taken a similar stand and not given jobs to non buddhists,or went around helping poor people on the condition that they convert, all sinhala people would've been buddhists by now.but we let the christians be.buddhism doesn't concentrate on "spreading" itself.

i know christians say that not all are like that and those are false christians and that has never been preached in christianity...but let's forget about what has been preached for a second and look at the conduct in general.....has there been any world war in which christians were NOT involved?
and then they go to the war victims and "help" them...from what i can see many christians (not all) seem to be so eager to help not because they really want to,but because it's an opportunity to convert some more people.

this doesn't apply to all christians..there are good,naturally kind helpful ones as well.....actually i think all christians would be very peaceful and loving if they didn't have this conversion mania.

Answer 6

Hell no it's not anyone's responsibility. I was raised catholic. Baptized, first communion, and confirmed. Pretty much the whole shebang but I've come to realize that the physical aspect of religion (ei. church, chapels, temples, synagogues, and the political structure of it all) is nothing more than politics. I honestly believe that the only thing that a religious group should do is share its history and teachings and let people decide whether or not they want to follow the faith. I refuse to believe that any god would condemn a person for coming up in the only faith they were ever taught growing up. I do believe in God but I also believe he comes in many forms. The idea of good is pretty much the same in any religion therefor I believe that if you're good whatever faith you connect yourself with is the right one.

Answer 7

As a Christian it is my duty to tell others about what Jesus has done for us all.

1. Even though I am a Minister and now live in the Philippines (3rd world), it is by choice and a better life for My wife (Filipina) and myself and since I live here I also Minister here.

2.NO-Never

3.NO, but I would not hold back what I might know as a fact if I was asked.

Answer 8

Yes, as followers of Christ, our job because of sin, is to save as many people we can, so they, too can live for eternity.
1. I've always wanted to become a missionary, so I know if I got a chance to go, I would.
2. I could never hurt anyone, let alone kill them if they don't believe. Also, if you kill the ones that are lost, then their chance of being saved is immediately shattered...to me, killing them would be the dumbest thing you could possibly do!
God tells us in the ten commandments not to kill. So why do you think He would want us to kill the people we're trying to save?!
3. I would never falsify any other religion to get the person to come to mine. Although I don't agree with other 'faiths', and would tell that person why, using facts, I could never lie to them- never.
If opportunity came, I would go to even further extremes to save a persons life ( or eternal life).
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Answer 9

I do not think it is my responsibility to tell others their faith is not based on the one true GOD. That is possibly the fastest way to turn people off that you want to present a different path to. We are charged with witnessing and proclaiming the Gospel of Salvation. People cannot be bribed into believing in GOD. It is a choice they make by the urging of the HOLY SPIRIT. I would not fight in a war due to difference in life styles. I would not lie about the character of people of other faiths. GOD can stand up to other faiths who do not worship HIM without lies. He is totally holy and lies would offend HIM. HIS truth will stand any test by any other faith.

Answer 10

I believe it's our responsibility to tell people about Jesus. And I believe that if they have a different way of beliefs and worship that's their choice. If they as questions we are required to give them the best answer we can. But to go tell them their wrong and offer them finery for their conversion no that would be wrong. That's not what Jesus would want us to do. He says in His word to plant the seed and He will give the increase. So if they ask about our beliefs, we are to tell them openly and honestly and then let God work on them. We don't have to try to "convert" them to anything. God will do that because His ways are higher than ours and He knows the best way to teach them.