Why do you feel Christians FORCE their belief on you?

Question

Many times i hear non-Christians say "Im tired of Christians forcing their beliefs on me". Truth is, many Christians don't force their beliefs on anyone.

Most non-Christians think your forcing your belief on them just by walking up to them. This isn't Force (See Examples below Please)

First you have to define the term "Force"

"Power made operative against resistance; exertion"
"The use of physical power or violence to compel or restrain"

(Ex. I walk up to someone and try to witness to them
they don't want to hear it but i keep insisting), This is "FORCING OUR BELIEF"

(Ex 2. I walk up to someone and try to witness to them, they dont want to hear it so i say "Ok" God bless, and walk away).
This is "NOT FORCING"

To many Christians, it is not their intention to offend anyone but just want to get the word out, a Good Christian will not "Force" but insisting "Is Force"

Non-Christians, What are your views on this matter?
I hope you understand and im not attacking.

Answer 1

This reminds a fairminded observer of the Shakesperian proverb "The lady doth protest too much."

A common misconception is that true Christians (such as Jehovah's Witnesses) go from door-to-door because they feel it is their duty to "recruit" a householder, or get him to "convert". In fact, Jehovah's Witnesses would go from door-to-door even if there were no hope that anyone would change their religion, or even if no one would listen to them!

That is because Jesus Christ specifically assigned the house-to-house ministry to the Christian congregation, with no regard for specific results.

(Luke 10:1,2) After these things the Lord designated seventy others and sent them forth by twos in advance of him into every city and place to which he himself was going to come. 2 Then he began to say to them: “The harvest, indeed, is great, but the workers are few. Therefore beg the Master of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.

Jehovah's Witnesses are trained to direct attention to the bible, and move on when their message is unwanted. Since each congregation in the United States tries to call at every home in its territory at least twice each year, there is strong motivation for them to move on where little interest is shown. Also, the Scriptures help the Witnesses to expect little interest from most:

(2 Timothy 4:3-5) For there will be a period of time when they will not put up with the healthful teaching ...and they will turn their ears away from the truth, whereas they will be turned aside to false stories. You, though, keep your senses in all things, suffer evil, do the work of an evangelizer, fully accomplish your ministry.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/jt/
http://jw-media.org/people/ministry.htm

Answer 2

Well, the second example is better but still why do you feel the NEED to witness? Just because someone is there doesn't mean they want or need you to witness to them. It'd be like me walking up to you and saying I can teach you how to do spells, to cast a circle and so forth. I can teach you how to have your own relationship with your Gods and Goddesses without anyone else telling you how you should go about it.

It's just wrong to feel the NEED to tell people things about what you believe is right for them. Your belief will never be my belief. It's not that I can't appreciate how you feel but just because you can does not make it right.

Now to the forcing part. I honestly can handle example two. I would give you a blessing as we parted also. I think that is a much nicer way. I have had several of the example ones. They are rude and uncaring that they make you uncomfortable. They don't care that you don't believe as them. They don't care that you don't want to hear. Now the same thing is here when someone comes on here and disagrees with my beliefs and say well you'll find out when your burning in hell. It's the same thing. They feel they have to be nasty because you refuse to let them force you into their belief. It's wrong. I understand that's their belief but they don't need to try and scare people into joining. See that's another problem I have. This fear mongering so many of that type do. There is no need to try it on me because it's not going to work but those tactics can work on some people. I would never join a religion who condones fear mongering or intolerance about other beliefs

I'm not being rude in these things I say, I am trying to help you understand.

Answer 3

I sometimes felt like christain beliefs were forced on me when I was growing up Catholic in a catholic school, because I thought it was all wrong but it wasn't OK to voice my opinions.

As an adult I don't feel like christians force religion on me.
It is irritating that some christain beliefs support morality laws that I disagree with yet must accept because a majority share those beleifs. that's just the way it goes- democracy.
it is true that Christianity has quite a bloody history of forcing religion upon everyone in their wake and even seeking out new territories to conquer. They did not go around making humble offers to anyone who was interested. They invasively overpowered them... crushed and eliminated any opposition.

Although christains today have toned down on their meathods of "spreading the truth or the word" whatever they call it. There's still much of that old mentality in the arrogant attitudes displayed by many christians. I don't think most or even any of them realize/ recognize it in themselves. But it is so obvious when seen from the other end.
Some of the things they say and their behaviors are so beyond my understanding that, frankly, I am sickened by it.

And please don't assume I get this impression or feel this way about all christians. Just enough of them to make crazy trouble if they all got together.

Answer 4

Hmmm.

I live in a society where normal business and trading is banned on the Christian so called holy day. The upper house of my government has in it unelected representatives of the Christian church. Marriage has been hijacked to be regarded as a primarily religious ceremony (it was not until the Council of Trent in 1563) and hence is unavailable except under the strict term of Christian sensitivities. Prayers are said in government to a fictional Christian god. Religious broadcasting is compulsory. Relgious celebration is compulsory in schools and I had to suffer it for 13 years.

About how much more evidence of a faith system forced on people do you want? Admittedly you are no longer imprisoned, put to death or fined for apostacy. Well, almost - laws on heresy against just the Christian god - no other - are still on the statute books and attempts have been made to use them, and my university only dropped fines for not going to chapel about 30 years ago. But lets face it, this amounts to a lot of force.

Answer 5

You are right. Force is a poor choice of words. There have been times in history when imperial Christianity was forced on people, but this time has passed, fortunately.

I think the feeling among non-Christians is that they resent the attitude of many Christians that they need to be a Christian in order to get the best out of life and to obtain salvation at death. It often comes off as arrogant, even though most Christians do not intend to come across that way at all.

It's kind of a conundrum for the Christian. He believes that his religion really is the only way to salvation, and he has a right to believe this way. Out of compassion for others, he wants everyone to benefit from it. But his beliefs seem arrogant. I do not know of a really good way for the Christian to deal with this.

Answer 6

In reading Yahoo Answers, especially those about religion or beliefs, people feel they're getting Christianity forced down their throats when a Christian offers an answer recited by rote, straight out of their bible, with the book and the verse # to go with it. Why do they do that when many people don't subscribe to the relevancy of the bible? Do they think we will run out and grab a bible and look it up and convert? Because if they do ... they're wrong!

And it bothers some who are not bible-thumpers that these forceful Christians don't consider that if we're older than say, 20 ... we probably know all that stuff they keep reciting ANYWAY! People who don't go to church every day and don't pray to God every other hour are not totally ignorant of Christianity! Many of us grew up learning quite a bit about it but just chose to accept a more laid back view of the faith and refused to choke ourselves and everyone we know with a crucifix on a chain.

Pedestal42 said it well ....
it's when Christians start using the "thees" and "thous" and damning those who don't agree with them to eternal torment and repeatedly quoting from that bible that some of us don't accept as the authentic word of God ... that they lose credibility in my eyes and seem as though they're "forcing" the issue too far.

Answer 7

I have my own faith, a spiritual philosophy, I follow a spiritual path & I work for spirit. Due to this faith I never feel presurred by anothers faith. If they are 'full on' I politely tell them that im not for turining & explain why. That way you normally get a good conversation & share beliefs etc.

Unfortunately the only religious group of people this usually doesnt work with it Born Again Christian. But I have had some interesting long talks with Mormons & J Witnesses. I lean towards Buddism so those are always a pleasure to meet as are Hindus. I have yet to have a long chat with a Muslim.

Feeling safe within your own skin, life & beliefs will mean that you never feel this force from others - instead you will see another with different views, an equal person.

Pam

Answer 8

First of all, I believe in many of your points. Religious beliefs cannot be "forced on anyone" No one has the ability to get inside the human mind and changer their entire belief system. A true Christian will approach a non -christian with love and understanding, and with the hope and prayer that his or her witness will cause the person to re-think their position regarding Christ.

It is by witnessing the good deeds done to ourselves and to the world by the Lord Jesus Christ that we can hope to turn someone into the everlasting light of God.

If a person tells you they don't want to talk about it, or to "leave them alone", do not proceed but rather just walk away and come back another time, if they will let you

We must remember that witnessing and sharing the love and peace of Christ are an integral part of the Christian faith. Jesus Christ, by his sacrifice on the cross, saved the entire part of humanity that was willing to follow him. And now he calls out from the cross once more, and begs us to follow him.

Answer 9

On the whole I don't mind it done well, but it so rarely is.

And then to hear Christians complain about "the offence of the Gospel" and being persecuted for it, when it's not the Gospel but they who have been offensive, that is really rich.

Apart, as you say, from repetition and persistence when a request to stop has been made(actually, seeking permission to start would go down better)...
..the biggest example of force is quite subtle: it's the assumption of dominance.
It's the lack of reciprocity offered, the lack of desire to listen to other people's views as coming from people just as human as they are, in the course of the need to "get the word out."

Given that, mere tactical errors like using archaic language, appearing to condemn people to hell and using the bible as an authority when it has not been jointly accepted as such, they almost slide by in passing.

Answer 10

Your excuse about what the definition of is is is not compelling. It is a fact that a large number of christians are extremely active in attempting to force their delusions down the throat of others. How many christians encourage putting god in the pledge of allegiance, for example, What would you call this type of activity on the part of christians, if not an attempt to force non-believers to deal with their delusions?