Pushing god on people! just dosent work

[SpanksTheMonkey]

I find myself a little annoyed today why you ask? well because this morning at 10am I was woken up! by a women giving out religious pamphlets.

 

Mind you I had a hard time falling asleep last night finally managed to at 5am. It wasn't that she knocked that eeks me it was the fact she kept knocking until I answered the darn door.

 

She actually knocked so hard in the end I got scared and thought their was a emergency some were maybe. I answered half awake she said she was sorry for waking me up but it was important she then handed me the flier and walked away!

 

Honestly its people like that who make me happy to be a atheist don't they see pushing your beliefs on others doesn't work?

[LucreziaBorgia]

 

Honestly its people like that who make me happy to be a atheist don't they see pushing your beliefs on others doesn't work?

 

People like that are taught to work extra hard on atheists, agnostics, and people who might have beliefs that aren't theirs. I had a roommate in college who was in a straight up foaming at the mouth missionary cult and they saw it as a welcome challenge to 'work on' people like me, and like you. Even the moderates see it as a duty to 'spread the word' particularly if it is to people who are resistant to it. That is what they are taught to do. I just smile and nod usually. Unless they come to my house. Then I just don't answer the door.

[Toki]

If they don't leave it at "Im not interested" then they meet mr. Glock

[JamesM]

If it is done the way you described, then I agree. That would have made me angry, too. And it would have nothing to do with what the person was promoting, but it would have everything to do with how it was being promoted.

 

As for the title, "pushing God on people," I agree it won' work. Having said that, if someone truly believes that there is a God who created us all and there will be a day that we will all face Him and be accountable for all of our actions, then warning others would be a loving action.

[Els]

That's what I can't stand either. Yes, we are charged with spreading the Word. But seriously, what would spread it better: Being a great, loving, caring person, and letting people know you're a (insert religion here), or persistently shoving (insert religious book here) at people who don't want it?

 

Pushing God on people is like forcing someone to marry you. Badger them long enough and they may well do it, especially if they are close to you and love you. But what does it gain? Nothing.

[pureinheart]

If it is done the way you described, then I agree. That would have made me angry, too. And it would have nothing to do with what the person was promoting, but it would have everything to do with how it was being promoted.

 

As for the title, "pushing God on people," I agree it won' work. Having said that, if someone truly believes that there is a God who created us all and there will be a day that we will all face Him and be accountable for all of our actions, then warning others would be a loving action.

 

What he said....

[OpenBook]

That's what I can't stand either. Yes, we are charged with spreading the Word. But seriously, what would spread it better: Being a great, loving, caring person, and letting people know you're a (insert religion here), or persistently shoving (insert religious book here) at people who don't want it?

 

Pushing God on people is like forcing someone to marry you. Badger them long enough and they may well do it, especially if they are close to you and love you. But what does it gain? Nothing.

 

What she said.

[TaraMaiden]

What OpenBook said she said.

[shadowofman]

That's what I can't stand either. Yes, we are charged with spreading the Word. But seriously, what would spread it better: Being a great, loving, caring person, and letting people know you're a (insert religion here), or persistently shoving (insert religious book here) at people who don't want it?

 

Actually, even if every Christian, Muslim, Hindu, and Buddist on the planet was the most loving, caring, and selfless group of people on the planet, that would not be evidence enough to convince me that being believing in God is superior to a lack of belief.

 

It's the unbelievable theology which prevents me from believing the story.

[JamesM]

Actually, even if every Christian, Muslim, Hindu, and Buddist on the planet was the most loving, caring, and selfless group of people on the planet, that would not be evidence enough to convince me that being believing in God is superior to a lack of belief.

 

Buddhists don't believe in a god, so I am guessing that they would wonder why it would matter how they were.

 

It's the unbelievable theology which prevents me from believing the story.

 

Sometimes what is "unbelievable" still will come to pass. Death will be the ultimate revelation of truth.

 

Pushing God on someone who has no belief in a god can only achieve success if the person is open to what is being taught or explained. However, many a person has been converted to a strong trust in God from a pamphlet that was at first set aside and ignored.

[sally4sara]

These are the moments when "loving ministry" causes the ugly and hypocrite to come out.

 

My family is fundie baptist. Woe to other sects that dare to darken their door! It is all "loving ministry" if it is their beliefs being pushed. Anyone else gets the battle of the bibles.

With a few of my other friends of different faiths and their families getting the visit, it is often this way too.

It is "loving ministry" if it is their own faith doing it. It is pestering blasphemy or harassment when it is not.

 

Should this clue in folks that they should just stop going door to door? Its not like we can't see the big signs from the road as we drive by. If I want to find out more, I'll drop in - I know where to find them without waking them up or interrupting dinner.

[knaveman]

I love talking to people of different faiths when they come to my door. I start off by telling them that I am a Buddhist and their God and their Bible mean nothing to me. If they still want to talk after that then game on! I love a lively discourse.

[shadowofman]

Sometimes what is "unbelievable" still will come to pass. Death will be the ultimate revelation of truth.

 

Pushing God on someone who has no belief in a god can only achieve success if the person is open to what is being taught or explained. However, many a person has been converted to a strong trust in God from a pamphlet that was at first set aside and ignored.

 

Unbelievable is a subjective declaration based on one's current education level. Time travel is unbelievable to me based on my lack of knowledge of space and time.

 

Pushing god is nothing more than proposing a hypothesis to explain the universe. Memetic seeds of all varieties are planted in our minds, and based on our knowledge of related subjects, humans come their own conclusions as to which hypothesis is supported by evidence.

 

I, at this point, do not find the God hypothesis even necessary to answer the tough questions. I do not need a hypothesis that can not progress to the following stages of observation.

[pureinheart]

 

Sometimes what is "unbelievable" still will come to pass. Death will be the ultimate revelation of truth.

 

Pushing God on someone who has no belief in a god can only achieve success if the person is open to what is being taught or explained. However, many a person has been converted to a strong trust in God from a pamphlet that was at first set aside and ignored.

 

Not having the "evangelical" gift, I usually have to have a total prompting from God to say anything. I have always just absolutely loved teens, they are way cool, intelligent and perceptive to the calling of God.

 

They either say yeah or neah and are not rude and negative, defensive or unbecoming.

 

JM, this (bold) is so very profound...I really hope God sends me someone just like you!

[shadowofman]

Unless death is the opposite of revelation. Which is total black out and a cease of thought.

[TaraMaiden]

Actually, even if every Christian, Muslim, Hindu, and Buddist on the planet was the most loving, caring, and selfless group of people on the planet, that would not be evidence enough to convince me that being believing in God is superior to a lack of belief.

 

It's the unbelievable theology which prevents me from believing the story.

 

Hey!! don't bracket us in this! Buddhists don't have a god!

Edited April 29, 2010 by TaraMaiden

[shadowofman]

Fair enough. But I still don't believe in your spirits or energies or souls or whatever.

[TaraMaiden]

Neither do we.....

 

I wish people would know what they're talking about before being so dismissive.

 

What are you talking about, by the way....?

[shadowofman]

Ok fine. I know nothing of Buddhism. Maybe you could convince me of something if I were to be properly introduced. What I'm talking about is that no amount of good deed from a buddhist will convince me of the workings of the universe.

[TaraMaiden]

Good.

because fortunately, most Buddhists give a phukk about that.

 

First of all, we're not out to convince anyone of anything. If people want to convincing, they're quite welcome to convince themselves. It's not up to us to instruct, it's up to others to learn, if that's what they want to do.

 

Secondly, we're concerned with much more.... 'earthly' "here and now" situations.

All this needless hypothetical cogitation on what began when, what powers exist, and the infinite, are all a waste of time, anyway.

 

But don't take my word for it.

[JamesM]

Unbelievable is a subjective declaration based on one's current education level.

 

And education will not give someone all of the answers. Your assumption is that when we know something, then it is no longer unbelievable. And you know....I agree. Knowing God makes him less unbelievable and more amazing.

 

Pushing god is nothing more than proposing a hypothesis to explain the universe.

 

True. However, as you must admit, it could very easily be THE explanation. Scientists like to say they can explain how everything began and is without a need for God, yet they ignore every possible hypothesis that is not naturalistic. This invalidates their explanation as the correct one, because they cannot measure a non-naturalistic explanation.

 

The hypothesis that everything began without God because a hypothesis can be constructed using a naturalistic theory does not mean that this is how it all happened.

 

BTW, whether you are religious or not, whether you believe in God or not....this does not change grammatical rules. The name of God when not used as a description (ie "a god) is capitalized. Just as James is capitalized...so is the name of God. Just a thought.

 

I, at this point, do not find the God hypothesis even necessary to answer the tough questions.

 

While you may not find it necessary, that does not mean it is not reality. Ignoring it simply narrows your possible explanations for everything.

 

 

I do not need a hypothesis that can not progress to the following stages of observation.

 

Saying that "God did it" does not make it less wonderful or completely explained. Saying that a man designed and made my computer does not mean that I do not need or desire to educate myself on how it was done.

 

Unless death is the opposite of revelation. Which is total black out and a cease of thought.

 

Is death "the total blackout?" And you know this how?

[JamesM]

Ok fine. I know nothing of Buddhism. Maybe you could convince me of something if I were to be properly introduced. What I'm talking about is that no amount of good deed from a buddhist will convince me of the workings of the universe.

 

How much do you know of God and Christianity? How much do you know of other religions?

 

Personally, I admire many teachings of Buddhism. It is mainly (if practiced correctly) a teaching of "good deeds" and good thoughts. I have met some Buddhists that acted more "Christian-like" than many Christians.

[Frontliner]

Agreed. It just doesn't work. Very annoying too.

[D-Lish]

People like that are taught to work extra hard on atheists, agnostics, and people who might have beliefs that aren't theirs. I had a roommate in college who was in a straight up foaming at the mouth missionary cult and they saw it as a welcome challenge to 'work on' people like me, and like you. Even the moderates see it as a duty to 'spread the word' particularly if it is to people who are resistant to it. That is what they are taught to do. I just smile and nod usually. Unless they come to my house. Then I just don't answer the door.

 

I remember having to sit through a long plane ride beside a self righteous annoying woman who spent the entire trip trying to convert me. She wasn't bright, and I talked circles around her and had her so flustered by the end of the trip...

[TaraMaiden]

Ok fine. I know nothing of Buddhism.

And if I may say so, this is what is most galling.

People know nothing about Buddhism, but the way they bracket Buddhism in the same group as 'other religions' and tar it with the same brush, you'd think that they know all they need to know.

It's obvious from your comments - and now admission - that nothing could be further from the truth.

I don't wish to be discourteous, and I'm neither insulting you, nor singling you out. it happens a lot, and frankly, we don't really deserve it, because we're a quiet unassuming lot.

How many Buddhists have come pounding on your door, insisting you take this leaflet, because they simply had to deliver it?

How many Buddhists have stickers on their cars asking you to 'Honk for the Buddha'?

How many Buddhists do you know are card-carrying, placard-waving, demo-attending fanatics protesting against anything From Abortion to Zealots?

How many Buddhists insist that unless you do this, you are doomed to eternal damnation?

How many Buddhists do you know who fling themselves into buldings with aeroplanes and cause havoc, destruction and tragedy?

How many Buddhists do you know who self-detonate in tube trains, on buses or in crowded streets?

How many Buddhists do you know who practice open denigration and humiliation of women?

How many Buddhists do you know mutilate their sons by attacking the genitalia of young baby boys?

How many Buddhists do you know who consider women unclean for a quarter of a month?

 

 

Are you getting my point?

Most western Buddhists weren't born Buddhists. They are either atheists, or have actively turned their backs on Theistic religion.

there's good reason for that.

 

Maybe you could convince me of something if I were to be properly introduced. What I'm talking about is that no amount of good deed from a buddhist will convince me of the workings of the universe.

 

I'm not here to convince you of anything. nor anyone else, for that matter.

Buddhists do not proselytise.

They would rather one deed spoke the volume of a thousand words.

the byword of any Buddhist to anyone not Buddhist would be

Ehi-Passeiko.