For all religions or lack there of?

Question

I am not looking to start a fight but simply ask a real question. Why do people get angry with Christians for trying to convert people. It is part of our belief to do it with the gentleness of Christ. Obviously if someone does not want to convert then ok we cant force them and most of us dont. However people from other religions or atheism say that everyone should have the right to practice their own beliefs in the way they like yet they get angry when Christians do it. Why is it ok for everyone else but not for Christians. I am sorry if anyone has had bad experiences with Christians but many of us are really trying to live the life that we believe God has called us to live you cant be mad at us for that. We are not perfect we are afterall still human. I just dont get it. Please dont be rude in your answers just use tact and be honest. Remember im not picking a fight. This is just a sincere question. Thanks

Wow yeah I understand that yall get mad when people try and convert you but thats why I said that you cant force someone and I dont try to. If the subject comes up in conversation I talk about God and my Beliefs. If no one wants to hear it then thats the end. To the guy with the hippie scarf I dont remember your name thanks for all the comments but they are simply not facts you cant prove it and yes im sure youll say I cant prove mine. And your right thats why I walk by faith.

And people I get mormons and catholics and just about every other religion trying to convince me to convert and I simply listen to what they have to say and then tell them what I believe. I know what its like to have someone knock on my door asking me to convert and I dont bash them for it. However if they dont want to be open to what other say then I dont want to hear it. Everyone should be able to speak freely. Like I said im not picking a fight and thanks for all your answers.

Answer 1

Hi,

I used to be Christian, so I definitely understand why Christians do a lot of what they do. It helps me to be open minded when associating with them. I'm not Christian now, so I also understand how non-Christians feel when a Christian tries to convert them.

Perhaps I can help you understand a non-Christian's perspective on the popular Christian behavior of witnessing. So here is an analogy: The religion I practice now is Paganism. Lets say that I start trying to convince you that Jesus Christ is a false prophet and that the god you have been worshipping doesn't even exist. Now lets say that I try to convince you that the "true" god is the god I worship named Horcoss. I then proceed to tell you that Horcoss is a loving and forgiving god, but that if you don't decide to believe in Him instead, that you will be "choosing" to be tortured in the after life by being skinned alive and torn limb from limb for all eternity in a place call Toll. I then tell you that I am going to pray to Horcoss to intervene in your life so that you will convert before it is too late.

I'm wondering if you would like the idea of me praying to my Pagan God in the effort of trying to turn you away from your god? Would you honestly believe that Horcoss is a loving and forgiving god after I shared with you what he intends on doing to you if you refuse Him? Would you be a slight bit insulted that I would have the gall to tell you that your god isn't even real and that if you don't convert to my religion, that you will be sent to Toll by my god to be tortured forever. Would you be having warm and fuzzy feelings about a God that would use such threats and coersion to get you to believe in Him?

Even if you don't use the above types of tactics to try to convert people, you have to be aware of the fact that lots of Christians do. Now that you have seen what it kind of feels like, does it still seem strange to you that there are people who don't like Christians in general? If witnessing were done in such a way that people were told about Jesus' teachings and then given the opportunity to ask for more info without being presented with the "Hell Threat", then I actually think more free-thinking people who don't respond well to threats might be more open to Christianity. Well, I hope that helps you to understand a bit.

EDIT:
By the way, Horcoss is not a real Pagan God nor would I, at this point in my life, worship a god who would behave that way. It was just an analogy to get a point across.

Answer 2

I don't think that people get mad at all "Christians" just those who believe that you can force others to do what they want. I was raised Catholic and had a "so-called" best friend confront me with the statement SHE was going to SAVE me whether I liked it or not. I also have seen many other religious oriented people do that. Most "book Religions" believe that we have a right to worship as we feel right. It is just those who it HAS to be their way or we go to hell that get me and many others upset. I converted to Wicca because many of the priests who are coming forth are preaching to do what they say or go to hell. Wicca states that the Deity (god/ess) is one being but has many facets. That the Deity is both male and female and an all loving being from whom we were all created. That there are many paths to the Deity and that we are here to make choices which eventually lead us back to the deity. We are not here to force our ideas on others because that would be making someone do things against their will which we believe is wrong.
I hope this helps. I still have friends in all walks of life in all religions and I let them talk about their beliefs because I respect their choices and would not change them for the world. Jesus taught and led by example, not though force. I believe that his way is just one path to the truth.

Answer 3

OK, how would you feel if, as a Christian, people of a different faith - let's say Islam - kept knocing on your door and telling you that your faith was wrong and you need to read the Quran and believe in Allah or be doomed to some horrific fate. They KNOW that it is the truth and that your religion is false.

What if they wanted to teach Muslim prayers to your children in school? What if they could enact laws that forced you to live by their faith even though you don't believe a word of it?

Do you think you just might get a bit tired of them?

Answer 4

As an Atheists I do NOT think you have the right to practice your religion any way you like, if it affects me in any way at all. That includes, trying to influence my government, courts or schools. If you do not take no for an answer the first time I say it, I am likely to get highly offended.

Your weirdo beliefs are up to you, but keep them too yourselves. If people want to join you they will, but insisting that somehow you are special and are obliged to share this with everyone is highly insulting and rude.

Trust me, we know how 'Special' you are.

Answer 5

I get that your faith says you should go out and convert people, but that does not make it feel any better to be told that I'm going to hell for not believing as you do, does it? If I tell you I don't want to hear it, why do you not get that? And I think we have all heard it more than once. More than 10 times. More than 100 times. More than 1000 times. Get over yourselves! How about we do it this way: If I WANT to convert, I'll come to you, ok?

Answer 6

You are obviously very new here. And I'm not looking to start a fight with you, either. We see dozens of questions here per day by Xtians asking why our lives are meaningless, why we have no morals, why won't we come to our senses and believe the way you do, why we hate your god, whether we know we are going to your hell, etc. Starting to see how annoying that can get? The fact that you people seem to truly believe it is your job in life to tell us this stuff is where the anger comes from. It seems to be very difficult for Xtians to grasp that there are happy, decent people out here who do not believe in god, son of god, allah, satan, heaven, hell, zeus, thor, valhalla, or anything else for which there is not a shred of verifiable evidence and we do not wish to be converted. Please believe that I have given my best effort at giving you a sincere answer. You're welcome.

Answer 7

I think you have hit the nail on the head really. There are some Christians who are very condemnational on this site and most of us Pagans have been on the receiving end of some very un christian words. I respect what you say and what you believe in but we are ALL on a journey through this world and some of us will take different paths. That's OK. Don't hinder others on their life's journey. They have to do what they have to do, just like you. Let them be and love them anyway - just like Jesus would. You have a kind heart. Blessed Be.

Answer 8

What if I am truly trying to live the life that the God I believe in wants me to live and I have to explain that over and over to strangers at my door - only to be told that my religion is false and they have the "only truth". I personally find that quite rude and arrogant.

The problem is that Christians don't seem to see anything but their own beliefs as valid.

Answer 9

I understand where you are coming from..

but centuries of "covert or die" back in the middle ages has given your beliefs a bad reputation.

My opinion is, a religion and or spirituality should come to you by divine chance, it shouldn't be pushed/or forced onto someone...even though your intentions are good in your view.

Don't try to convert anybody...its not cool.

I am right with "God", but not your God.

Simply put.

Answer 10

Everyone has a right to practice his/her religion as they see fit as long as it does not infringe on someone elses rights. Your attempts to convert me is infringing on my right to practice my beliefs. You are trying to force me to give up my beliefs and take on yours. I have no problem if you talk to someone about your religion if they approach you asking questions about it. But you should not approach them and try to convert them. You can still practice your religion and "preach the word of god" but just restrain yourself to those that are interested enough to ask for your input. If I am interested I will come to you and ask my questions and I will listen to what you have to say, but if you come to me unsolicited I will take it as an attack on my beliefs. All attacks are defended very strongly an may provoke counter attacks but I will never attack unprovoked.