(as well as atheists and members of other religions that are commonly disparaged on R&S) Are you trying to be good representatives? Do you think you're changing the questioners' minds?
2007-07-23 09:02:43 · 23 answers · asked by Cathy 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Someone asked a similar question a while back, and I ask myself the same quite often.
Why do sincere people bother to answer insincere questions?
There are quite a few reasons why I do it.
One reason is, well, quite frankly I ain't a mind reader. I often try to guess, before answering, whether the asker is being Sincere or not. Some times I guess right, other times I guess wrong.
One Q I recently answered was asked in such a way it seemed clear the person only wanted to bash a group of people. Most of the answerer's worked from that POV and bashed away. Imagine my shock when the asker thanked me for my answer, as it turned out she was just feeling very depressed, and needed a kind word.
I figure if the person has the right to ask it, I have the right to answer it. If I feel I can effectively do so, then I go ahead and try.
Also, generally, there is more than just me and the asker reading it. So, it gives me the chance to offer a different point of view to the others answering.
I at times have had questions about various things related to selling. When I initialy saw Y!A I figured it would be perfect for finding answers to my questions. To ask questions on here, you must have points, to get points you are supposed to answer questions, to get points quicker it is best to answer questions about subjects you know, since I know about my beliefs I often answer about them. I also answer on other subjects as well.
Honestly I see Y!A as a free class. Through using it I have improved my typing skills. I also have gotten better at expressing myself in writting.
Hope this helps:D
2007-07-23 09:18:51 · answer #1 · answered by Ish Var Lan Salinger 7 · 7⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes we do not answer for the sake of the person asking the "question," even when it's obvious the person is only doing it in an effort to get people of that faith riled up, and who has no intention of picking a Best Answer unless it totally agrees with their particular viewpoint and/or continues to bash the religion in question and that nothing we say will get them to change their minds (there are several very notable anti-Mormons around here, and members of other faiths can change the "Mormon" in that to whatever their religious beliefs happen to be and still have it be a correct statement) - it is done for those who might be reading along. Yes, we try to be good representatives when we do so, though it's not always easy (though I certainly do get a laugh when the anti-Mormons accuse us Mormons of "not doing reaserch into the Mormon Church" - and then turn around and start making claims about the Mormon Church that anyone who spends 5 minutes doing reaserch would know was blatantly false).
2007-07-24 07:14:43 · answer #2 · answered by Rynok 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
No to the last question - not going to change anyone's mind unless they are actually open-minded. This is just a practice for me for something bigger in a few years. Also, there may be someone young on this site who may just look at a question or two out of curiosity, and he/she may as well get an accurate answer or a group of accurate answers to balance out all of the critical, uninformed ones.
2007-07-24 10:30:54 · answer #3 · answered by Cookie777 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I know that I'm not changing anyone's mind. I do it to not only try to be a good representative of the faith, but more importantly to try to show others who are of like mind (other members) that they are not alone in standing for the truth. It's hard to be the one person in a crowded room who stands for something when everyone else is bad mouthing what you hold dear. I don't answer those types of questions as often as I used to, but when I do, I do it as a support for the others who have answered or who will answer. As for myself, it also serves to strengthen my testimony.
2007-07-23 17:29:11 · answer #4 · answered by Tonya in TX - Duck 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
--WE HOPE that some who view our answers as Jehovah's witnesses, might benefit from the scriptural teachings about Jehovah God & Christ Jesus:
(Isaiah 48:17-18) “. . .This is what Jehovah has said, your Repurchaser, the Holy One of Israel: “I, Jehovah, am your God, the One teaching you to benefit [yourself], the One causing you to tread in the way in which you should walk. 18 O if only you would actually pay attention to my commandments! Then your peace would become just like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea.”
--IT IS ALSO good practice to try in our own imperfect way to fulfill this text and improve our christian disposition:
(Colossians 4:5-6) “. . .Go on walking in wisdom toward those on the outside, buying out the opportune time for yourselves. 6 Let YOUR utterance be always with graciousness, seasoned with salt, so as to know how YOU ought to give an answer to each one.”
2007-07-23 22:10:14 · answer #5 · answered by THA 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
No. They are firm in their ignorance. But, they are not the only ones reading the answers. Even the most uneducated can see through the BS and spot grains of truth.
How did you know we answered insulting questions? We are laying pearls before swine as much as breadcrumbs for hungry to follow to a banquet.
2007-07-23 16:09:36 · answer #6 · answered by grnlow 7 · 8⤊ 0⤋
The Questioner might be intentionally insulting. But, personally I respond for the benefit of those reading the questions and answers. I don't want the erroneous statements included in the question to be accepted as fact and, in addition, go unanswered.
2007-07-23 16:09:31 · answer #7 · answered by Q&A Queen 7 · 8⤊ 0⤋
Jehovah God asked me to love others enough to try to tell them about the truths I have learned... and so I do. However I can. On here, in line at the grocers, door to door, at the dentist.. I am not interested in any human's opinion of me, or their insults. I care what GOD thinks about me. HE is the one with the power to change my life now and give me a future, not people; certainly not silly, insulting people! They don't bother me, sugar.
2007-07-23 16:37:42 · answer #8 · answered by themom 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
There are many opposers of JW's in this forum. And no doubt they are running to respond to your question right now. What, then, is our position toward those who oppose and seek to undermine the faith we have received through Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Christian organization Jehovah is using? Jesus’ counsel regarding opposers is: “Let them be. Blind guides is what they are.” (Matthew 15:14) To quarrel with such ones, to debate and argue, is futile and really not the Christian course. No one is forced to be one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. It is a privilege and a responsibility that we have undertaken of our own free will. (Psalm 110:3) If some do not want to be a part of the arrangement approved by Jehovah, and which he has blessed, that is a decision for such ones to make.
When we are slandered, we will defend ourselves. People have a right to know who we really are.
Consider: If you want to know the truth about God, will you get the right information if you went to Satan for the answers? No. Opposers of JW's, including ex-witnesses have no trouble going to anti-witness websites and having a ball copying and pasting negative things about us. So, at times, we need to set the record straight about us. At other times, we will keep silent and let the truth speak for itself.
2007-07-23 16:05:18 · answer #9 · answered by LineDancer 7 · 10⤊ 0⤋
I don't bother when it's coming from folks that I know (from seeing many of their questions and insulting best answer picks) are really just out to insult.
I guess I just give people that I see for the first time the benefit of the doubt.
2007-07-23 16:14:29 · answer #10 · answered by daisyk 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋