Evangelism, witnessing, and the like, is religious persecution, is it not? Trying to change the religion, or lack thereof, of someone through harassment?
Is persecution OK as long as you are on the giving end?
This is in response to someone who said christians are persecuted daily on R&S. Guess you can dish it out, but can't take it.
2007-10-04 05:35:16 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
From dictionary.com:
per·se·cute /ˈpɜrsɪˌkyut/
–verb (used with object), -cut·ed, -cut·ing.
1. to pursue with harassing or oppressive treatment, esp. because of religion, race, or beliefs; harass persistently.
2. to annoy or trouble persistently.
2007-10-04 05:50:11 · update #1
I hope and pray that I am not guilty of any persecution either on R & S or in real life.
Why do you assume that all evangelism and witnessing is religious persecution? I agree with you that some people who post on this site don't evangelize or witness, they condemn people with an angry and judgmental spirit. This is truly wrong.
Most Christians share their faith, but stop immediately if requested. We are willing to witness and to share the Gospel. But we don't force it on anyone. The Gospel can't be received in that way. To hear the Gospel a person has to be open to receive it and want to hear it.
When a Christian tries to share with a person who doesn't want to hear, the Christian stops immediately and takes the subject to private prayer. In prayer, we ask God to open a door to reach the person or to find the proper person to touch their lives. But we never abuse the dignity or respect of that person.
And to your other question persecution is always wrong - it doesn't matter who is doing it.
I remember the question to which you refer. I was disappointed with some of the answers. When Christians in other countries are dying for their faith or are imprisoned for their faith, who are we to complain of persecution when someone doesn't like us or our faith?
The truth is that far more homosexuals, wiccans, and atheists are persecuted in this country that are Christians.
Pastor John
2007-10-04 06:05:54 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't think its possible to truly "persecute" people on this site. You can't really harass anyone here because you can't force them to read what you wrote.
All you can do is write something that disagrees with them or makes fun of them. If someone believes that this is "persecution", that person has a pathetically thin skin and a warped view of reality.
2007-10-04 05:47:06 · answer #2 · answered by Azure Z 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I rarely bring it up in real life unless asked. And if they try to debate, I usually just say "Let's just agree to disagree, alright?" The only time I've had good conversation about religion in real life is if the person I'm talking to isn't a Christian (or with my parents, who are also atheists). I've lost too many Christian friends by speaking my mind, so now I just try to keep my mouth shut about it.
2016-04-07 03:46:35 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unjust persecution should be the issue, and challenges to one's faith should not be considered such. On the other hand, such things as atheists seeking to control how Christians raise their children is a different story. http://www.heardworld.com/higgaion/?p=496
But as Jesus promised persecution, and the early Christians rejoice that they were counted worthy of such, they should neither mistake challenges to faith or valid criticism as persecution, nor complain about persecution, unless it is to sometimes show the evil and hypocrisy of those who self-righteously justify it ,or to maintain just freedoms. .
2007-10-04 05:49:45 · answer #4 · answered by www.peacebyjesus 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No it is not persecution. Rather, evangelism, witnessing, and the like is part of free speech. Free Speech is part of our constitution here in the US. This is not Canada. If you do not wish to hear about these things, go to Canada. And if I were to use your definition that you give, then I could say that Atheists, Homosexuals, as well as others are guilty of persecuting me.
2007-10-04 06:22:01 · answer #5 · answered by Scott 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
None. I don't care much for persecuting others. And I don't really pay attention to whether or not someone is persecuting me ... at least not in an online forum!
2007-10-04 05:41:14 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is persecution in as much as they define opposition to their views as persecution.
Not all are guilty of playing the victim, but plenty of them are. Same on the other side.
2007-10-04 05:44:38 · answer #7 · answered by Armless Joe, Bipedal Foe 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are trying to redefine persecution, and it is cute. Persecution is depriving someone of something they need. If someone comes up to me and wants to talk about Buddha, I am not being persecuted if I have a choice to engage them or not. You need to learn how to think clearly or you will always feel like a victim.
2007-10-04 05:41:19 · answer #8 · answered by 1,1,2,3,3,4, 5,5,6,6,6, 8,8,8,10 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
No it's not religious persecution. If a Muslim wants to witness to me how Islam is true....fine, but I'm not going to claim religious persecution.
Witnessing someone isn't harassment. You can tell them they're not interested...and then if they don't stop, then it's harassment.
You should be glad we're not killing the non-believers like we used to...
2007-10-04 05:41:00 · answer #9 · answered by Love Yahoo!!! is a prince 3 · 2⤊ 3⤋
The buy-bull is often used to spread hate and bigotry.
I believe that the same person will spout their ignorance more than once a day too.
2007-10-04 05:43:29 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋