Why are religious people try converting us

[samsungxoxo]

One time when I went to yahoo chat just to talk about basic unimportant stuff, all of the sudden it turn into a terrible religious v.s logic reality debate in those were trying to convert me among the other athiests into their believes.

 

Seriously why can't they respect and leave us atheists alone with our lack of believe (which is a belief too, not believing is beliving too). We respect them and say nothing so I expect the same in return.

[sb129]

We respect them and say nothing so I expect the same in return.

 

Well, I don't necessarily agree with this.

 

Some atheists are just as provocative, and many try to "convert" or discredit believers of all denominations.

 

I am an atheist myself, and tend to stay away from the religious debates now, because they can get frustrating, and unnecessarily nasty.

 

There are many posters on this forum who have different beliefs to mine, and I like discussing many things with them, and respect their various different opinions most of the time.

 

Sometimes when religion becomes a part of it, its hard to see past that, so I would rather leave it out of most discussions for now. Most of the believers on here aren't going to change their minds anytime soon, neither are any of the non-believers.

[samsungxoxo]

If they have the right to believe in what they want then obviously I have also have my rights not believe in what I don't.

[Green]

I would say its because alot of religions believe in converting people as part of their religion. They believe they are enlightening you and doing you a favor. As for what you said about athiest... I dont believe they always respect religiouse points of view and Ive seen them try to convince people religion is no good or what ever so it goes both ways. People in general always try to get other people to do things there way.

[sb129]

If they have the right to believe in what they want then obviously I have also have my rights not believe in what I don't.

 

I am not disputing that for a second.

 

But you need to look at it from both sides of the fence.

 

You can't argue for your right to believe in something but deny someone else theirs- as KMT says, trying to convert people is part of the programme for some people.

 

Don't be offended by it- if you don't believe in it, just say no thanks, and forget about.

[samsungxoxo]

if you don't believe in it, just say no thanks, and forget about.

 

True, that's kinda what I did on the yahoo chat. I was like ''I don't believe in it period'' but did they listen, no they went on and on endless, even writing it in capital letters. We basically done practically nothing for them to start attacking us.

[Yosef]

For many reasons, they don't want to see atheists go to hell. They want everyone to go to heaven. They're not being the best christians they can be if they don't take time out of there lives to try and save a few souls every once in a while.

 

Of course, there are those people that only know to evangalize without knowing why, and some people who just hate atheists and want to count their converted against the other.

[a4a]

I think it's a contest - the religious folks get to win toasters, blenders, or other appliances depending on how many of us heathens they convert within the time allotted.

 

I find now that if I just go off on a tangent about the pleasures of smelling ones own farts....... usually shuts them up and they leave me alone.

[taiko]

I would say its because alot of religions believe in converting people as part of their religion. They believe they are enlightening you and doing you a favor. As for what you said about athiest... I dont believe they always respect religiouse points of view and Ive seen them try to convince people religion is no good or what ever so it goes both ways. People in general always try to get other people to do things there way.

 

That's all it is the dominant religions of the west Christianity and Islam and their related cults all believe that part of the mission of believers is to lead others to the faith. The big disagreement from the Christian point of view is when do you walk away from a village and leave it to its fate as Jesus taught.

 

I do not think that you walk away in rligious themed discussions or "religion and spirituality" message boards as no one forced the seeker or the anti-faith speaker to be there. He sought out either the information or the fight. House to house or street corner evangelism is a different case.

[Moose]

If you saw a complete stranger step in front of a speeding bus, wouldn't you try and stop him/her somehow? Well, that's all that we're trying to do. But I'm learning when not to waste my time so much anymore.

 

nuff' said....

[Enema]

There's a verse about evangelizing too isn't there?

 

Escapes me at the moment.

[Rooster_DAR]

I agree with the second poster, both sides want to get their point across due to their beliefs being so strong. I think at this point in our existence it's very hard to convince either side otherwise. Religion is sewn into many people from birth which makes god a pillar or foundation of their core beliefs, while atheists and agnostics tend to use logic and free thinking as the core for their beliefs.

 

There have been many times where I have wanted to jump into the "Spiritual and Religious Beliefs" threads and tell these people they have been brainwashed (among other things), but any opinion I state their will be nulled because it's not that easy to change one's core beliefs.

 

Unless you really want to debate these topics (which is fun and challenging sometimes), I found the best medicine is to ignore their posts as hard as it may be sometimes.

 

Cheers!

[disgracian]

Nice analogy, Moose, except busses exist and we can see them. Angry vengeful gods do not (thankfully!) and more and more people recognise that a person saying "Look out for that bus!" should probably be listened to, wheras the person saying "Look out for that angry vengeful deity who will set you on fire forever if you don't worship him!" should not.

 

Cheers,

D.

[Citizen Erased]

Well I am Catholic. I have better things to do then try to convert people. The likelyhood of converting anyone is very slim. Especially atheists. I respect that they have their views, I have mine. As a member of the one and only true religion I am not going to hell. The rest of you are. Have a nice barbeque.

 

And even though I am not a very good catholic, I can just confess everything to a priest and I have a free pass j/j. I had better shutup now before the Protestant heathens start in on me

[Yosef]

Nice analogy, Moose, except busses exist and we can see them. Angry vengeful gods do not (thankfully!) and more and more people recognise that a person saying "Look out for that bus!" should probably be listened to, wheras the person saying "Look out for that angry vengeful deity who will set you on fire forever if you don't worship him!" should not.

 

Cheers,

D.

 

:lmao: Vengeful firebreathing deitys driving city busses! LOL.

 

The first rule to evangalizing is respect. Respect people's business. If you attempt to get them to join the family of believers, and they don't want to, then it's left at that. No more bugging unless they choose to come to you. Breaking the respect barrier causes hate and fear in the non-believer, and therefore pushing them further and further away from them coming to you for much of anything.

 

So, all in all, be respectful to your peers if you decide to evangalize. Luckily for you atheists out there, you don't have to follow that rule, so you can break all the beliefs you want without being a "bad soul". But, it's always a good habit to build, either way.

[Rooster_DAR]

As a member of the one and only true religion

 

 

:laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh:

 

Sorry, I couldn't help myself.

[Green]

I believe im right and if u disagree with me I believe your wrong

[Citizen Erased]

:laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh:

 

Sorry, I couldn't help myself.

 

I hope you know I was joking lol

 

*coughs*heathen*coughs*

[disgracian]

The first rule to evangalizing is respect. Respect people's business. If you attempt to get them to join the family of believers, and they don't want to, then it's left at that. No more bugging unless they choose to come to you.

Unfortunately it's usually the first rule to be thrown out the window too.

Luckily for you atheists out there, you don't have to follow that rule, so you can break all the beliefs you want without being a "bad soul". But, it's always a good habit to build, either way.

Christians are the majority in my country, and they have the mentality that goes along with it. As such, atheists are generally meek and don't talk much about their beliefs or lack thereof for fear of ridicule and being ostracised. I've certainly known that feeling on many an occasion.

 

So it's probably a byproduct of being in the minority, but atheists on the whole seem a lot better behaved than Christians when it comes to sharing and discussing beliefs.

 

Cheers,

D.

[Rooster_DAR]

I hope you know I was joking lol

 

*coughs*heathen*coughs*

 

 

Ahhhh....LOL

[Green]

I dont even know if I believe Religion exists anymore

[Yosef]

Unfortunately it's usually the first rule to be thrown out the window too.

 

Christians are the majority in my country, and they have the mentality that goes along with it. As such, atheists are generally meek and don't talk much about their beliefs or lack thereof for fear of ridicule and being ostracised. I've certainly known that feeling on many an occasion.

 

So it's probably a byproduct of being in the minority, but atheists on the whole seem a lot better behaved than Christians when it comes to sharing and discussing beliefs.

 

Cheers,

D.

 

Without a doubt, I agree with you there.

[underpants]

I think all schools of belief would benefit from a little more tolerance, respect, acceptance and a common goal of co-existance through compromise.

[Green]

I think we all religions as a way of reaching out to Jesus

[Moai]

In the West, we have more than enough tolerance.

 

And that is a good thing.

 

It must be noted, however, that any assertion should be challenged vigorously, religious or otherwise.

 

In the past, and even now, when a religious person is challenged on their beliefs they see it as a personal "attack" or somehow so offensive that it shouldn't be allowed, and that is hogwash. I am not aware of anyone in the atheist movement who wants to make god-belief illegal. Or any other supernatural belief, for that matter.

 

A attack on what one believes is not an attack on the person. Follow this link, and listen to what the people who are offended say:

 

http://www.richarddawkins.net/article,1986,Atheists-sign-sparks-controversy,News-Channel-8

 

The sign says, "Imagine no religion". That's it. yet believers wig out and see it as oppression or anti=freedom or something, and that is telling. When one sees challenging a certain idea as a personal attack, they are more likely to defend themselves physically. Such a sign is so innocuous that it is amazing to me anyone is upset, but look at the woman in the video.

 

Replace the word "religion" with "witchcraft" or "astrology" or "dowsing" and it amounts to the same thing, yet there are people who think they are being oppressed because of that language. And that is all it is LANGUAGE.

 

I find it amazing that a 90 majority can imagine themselves oppressed....but I digress.

 

Freedom of thought is the most precious thing there is. But that doesn't mean that all thoughts are equal, or that one can walk around spouting gibberish and not have others take them to task. We are all stronger as a result.