Have most Christians been coerced into believing through emotional blackmail and threats of punishment?

Answer 1

I believe because I have faith in my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It's choice a person makes, just like it's your choice not to believe.

Answer 2

Maybe you could "coerce" a few hundred people into making a decision. But millions? I don't think so. It is so different for everyone. Don't always assume that the church is just filled with people who need a crutch in life. Who don't understand things so they just lean on faith. Don't assume that it is just so darn easy. Many have come to God for many reasons. This is not some whimsical belief on a sandy foundation. And we must deal with people on a regular basis who do not believe what we believe. We are, seemingly, the only group limited in its activity in the public arena. I can freely talk about mormonism, buddhism, or islam at work, but have to worry about offending people with the Gospel of Christ and the consequences of that at work. I do it, but I know that the possibility is there to be reported.

Answer 3

SCOTT J - " can freely talk about mormonism, buddhism, or islam at work, but have to worry about offending people with the Gospel of Christ and the consequences of that at work"

Gee, what a big surprise.
Is it a big surprise to you as well, Scott?

Wayne T - "that's not a threat, it's a warning"
Why that's very nice of you fundies to do that for us.
Is that anything like when a "soprano" says "That's not a threat, it's a promise"?

.

Answer 4

Considering that when they find out that you are not a believer, most Christians say "If you don't believe in Jesus, you are going to hell" I would guess that a threat of punishment certainly is an option.

Of course they will say it is their choice.

Answer 5

I wasn't coerced in any way, I've never coerced anyone, even my own children, and I do not fear the world - I have traveled all around it and find it beautiful and fascinating, as are all the people.

Answer 6

They don't have a genuine faith if that's the basis of it. Its like 'loving' an abusive father just to keep from punishment, that's not real love.

I was not coerced. In fact, I was not even told of the consequences until after I came to faith.

Answer 7

Everyone’s quoting Richard Dawkins so I might as well too…He says that it makes sense for children to believe everything their parents tell them. You might say, we have evolved with this function imprinted upon our minds like BIOS. It makes sense for a child to be told to stay away from a cliff edge or not to eat lead paint, even if it is yummy and for the child to do as it is told. And when the same parent tells the child to believe in a certain dogma for which there is no proof and must be taken completely on faith, the child must think; “Well, they were right about the cliff edge and the lead paint, they must be right about this too.”

Answer 8

I think most of them have just succumbed to the constant bombardment by the religious broadcasters. Notice that the people who can afford decent television packages are less, much less, religious.

Face it folks. Watching evangelical television makes you stupider and poorer.

Answer 9

I have not met any that have. At least that I can think of off hand.

Haven't done a study on it, but given that information, my answer would be no.

Hope this helps!
Matt

Answer 10

Certainly. Imagine a teaching that says, "he that believeth shall be saved, but he that believeth not is damned already" Ooops, a fish-catching tactic, I'd say!