Category: Let's talk
Yesterday a user logged into the site and started sending bible verses both publically and privately, despite the fact that the topic of conversation had nothing to do with religion, and when some users pointed out that we didn’t want to be preached to, the user involved became more determined and made the point that he felt sorry for all of us.
Obviously this isn’t a pop at the particular user in question, but how many times have we been approached by someone wanting to tell of their particular religion? The Jahova’s witness that comes knocking at the door teling the “truth”, the “Christian” standing on the street handing out leaflets and shouting bible verses, I even remember being stuck on a train once with a woman who told me that the train was delayed because God had sent her to give his message to me, that we had been meant to meet because it was obvious that I didn’t have God in my life, and so she went on and on and on, and it was only when I agreed to take the tape she was desperate to give me that she eventually shut up, and mercifully I got off at the next stop.
So why is it that the devoutly religious feel that it is their right, no their duty almost, to talk about nothing but religion to everyone whether they want to hear about it or not?
Why is it that those who are devoutly religious feel that they have the right to look down on those who do not worship in the same way as they do? And genuinely believe that those who do not have God in their lives cannot be saved?
If atheists started knocking on the doors of churches to tell people that religion was all made up and not to believe in it, wouldn’t those that believe have issue with that?
I do not believe that you have to shout from the rooftops if you believe in God. In fact I believe that it is your actions rather than your words that will make people turn to your way of thinking. But why is it that some cannot see that?
Ultimately, it is the jahova’s witness that knocks on doors, the Christian that tells people that without god they will go to hell, and the muslem that blows himself and other innocent people up in the name of his religion that actually turn people away from religion, and make them not want to be associated with it.
If you have the right to preach, do i have the right to tell you to shut up?
i think so. I don't think we've ever had anyone religious knock on our front door because dad has one of those no solicitting signs up. Of course, you do get those people who don't read the damn thing and approach anyoey. Yes, we do have the right to tell them to take it somewhere else.
Oh I totally agree, actions speak louder than words and some people on here well should look at themselves to. I would say most of us believe in god or something along those lines. Let us believe the way we want to, stop the cramming down our throats!
Sugarbaby, let me tell ya. This agnostic has finally figured it out. All these people you talk about, the spouters of religious texts, those who look down their noses at the rest of the world, and those who think they were destined to save all of us wretched blind people, are not full of any spirit. However, they're full of themselves and their own sense of how important they are. I dunno about other religions, but I'm told one thing Christianity teaches is humility, and they sure ain't got any of that. And you know what? It's clowns like these that make real Christians look bad, and it's clowns like these who cause people to bash Christians and others. So, oh persecuted Christians, it's these circus performers who want to make a show of your faith that are making it bad for the rest of you. Do the universe a favor and if you can't teach these people some good old-fashioned humility, have them booted from your ranks and request they join the rest of us humans in defeat, because their antics will only alienate them and nobody will be recruited into the God club.
This is one of the reasons I became a Traditional Catholic... no evangelization necessary. There is something in the Bible about preaching and spreading the good news to everyone as a disciple of Christ, and that is why so many Protestant Christians feel it is their duty to shove the Word of God down the throats of the rest of us. What ticks me off particularly is that these same folks also presume to know the mind and will of God, which is blasphemy. How arrogantly self-righteous must you be to assume that God actually wants you to be somewhere, for whatever purpose? God is supposed to be so awesome and infinite as to be unknowable to Man, yes? All of this to say that I, too, despise the little punks who absolutely never shut it about their divine mission to bring us all to salvation through Jesus.
i have no problem saying i'm a christian. but i have no intentions of shoving it down anyone's throat. one of the most morally sound people i know does not believe in god. i also have been informed that i'm not a christian when i have spoken up and said something to those that try to shove it down other's throats. so i'm not really sure there is a solution for stopping this.
but as a christian i am embarrassed for the way the above mentioned act.
Oh, but you have to love those who seem to be able to predict exactly where you'll wind up in the Christian afterlife. The sad thing is, if you wind up not going along with their program or say something they don't like or can't comprehend, they tend to predict rather loudly that you'll be going to that Dante's Inferno place. Funny how it works out that way.
Okay, first let me just say, that I kno of the user that sugarbaby was referring to. this person has been on my ignore list for sometime, but still felt the need to get another user to come on here and send me a bible verse as a pqn. Needless to say, that user is now on said ignore list as well. It's not that I hate relidgous people, cause hell my aunt is, for better words a "born again Christian". She used to push the bible verses on us when she first "found god", but was told by our family to not do that. I mean, sure practise your relidgen in your own home or your church, but don't come out here and start preaching to thoes of us who do not! want to here it, or who are not relidgous people. I myself, have no problem in saying that I am an aithiust, and do not want to be preached at by any relidgen. I even make that perfectly clear in my profile. so, before you relidgus types come out here and start ripping us who don't want to here you preaching at us, think about why it is that we don't want to be preached at.
It's not that you don't have the right to believe what you believe, it's that you don't have the right to push it on people who do not want to here it, or really don't care about what it is your preaching about. Like I said before, practise it in your own homes or church and around others who believe the same as you, but do not! for a second come out here and think that just cause thoes of us who don't believe in whatever relidgen, be it god or what have you, do not! have morrals or are not good people. I myself, have had thoes relidgous nuts come to my door trying to "save me", but we fixt that problem, and now they just walk past our house.
how'd you fix that problem, Liz? a really ferocious dog? lol JK
Next time someone tells you you're going to hell, you just say, hey, sounds like a fun place. Might be kinda hot, but the debauchery is something I look forward to. They won't bother you no more.
Actually Joanne, yeah. Well, that's what our sign says anyway, and our dogs bark when someone comes into our front yard anyway. lol
lollol, great. *smile*
SugarBaby you have a good point and I think the zoner who spouted the bible verses unbidden should be warned then banned if they continue.
However, you also said, "Ultimately, it is the jahova’s witness that knocks on doors, the Christian that tells people that without god they will go to hell, and the muslem that
blows himself and other innocent people up in the name of his religion that actually turn people away from religion, and make them not want to be associated
with it."
I disaagree. The radicals who bombed the world trade center have nothing to do with religion. I believe their's is a quest for immortality by any means possible to make some sort of difference out of their sad pathetic lives.
However, I have a sort of respect for the Johovas witnesses who believe it is their duty to spread the word of Christ from door to door.
If you are, like I am, someone who enjoys a good debate and new different ideas, try inviting them in some time and listen to what they have to say. Did you know, for example, that they believe that hell is not a lake of fire etc. but the absence of God and heaven. Similar to the belief of the atheist.
Okay, sounds like I'm preaching, so I'll quit before I get banned.
Bob
Oppinions, it is said, are like chins. Everyone has one. (Cleaned up from the original quote, but I think you see what I mean). This then, is my oppinion. I am neither enforcing it on you, or saying it is the only way. This, is my way, and my view.
To Claire:
Mostly, I agree. Forcing oppinions, views, or beliefs on someone, either for or against any religion is wrong. One thing I will say though is this. "The Jahova’s witness that knocks on doors" need not necessarily be put into this category. They are instructed to offer the word of god to anyone who will listen. If someone says they aren't interested, then they are told to not bother that person. So you should not get a visit by the same ministerial servants after voicing objections. They *may* call back after a time, in case that person may have moved or whatever, but this after quite a time, and only for that reason. This is a fact told to me by a witness elder, about what they are tought.
So to answer your question. Yes. You most certainly do have the right to tell anyone who "preaches to you" to shut up and go away.
to Julia:
There is something in the Bible about preaching and spreading
the good news to everyone as a disciple of Christ, "Go make disciples of all the nations". and that is why so many Protestant Christians feel it is their duty to shove the Word of God down the
throats of the rest of us. See above for my answer to that. Interested? Great I'll tel you more! Not? OK bye then...
What ticks me off particularly is that these same folks also presume to know the mind and will of God, which is blasphemy. blasphemy to know the mind and will of god? I'm not so sure about that. What's the point of the bible then, if not to tell us those very things?How
arrogantly self-righteous must you be to assume that God actually wants you to be somewhere, for whatever purpose? Now that I do agree with. There is nothing in the bible that supports the view that god sends people places so they can convert others. God is supposed to be so awesome and
infinite as to be unknowable to Man, yes? Um no, not that I know of. From how I understand it, god wants us to get to know him. 40 authors, over a period of 1600 years or more, have written 66 books, letters and other writings about god, his son the Christ Jesus and their message to man. Why else would they do that other than for us to get to know these things? What am I talking about? The bible again.
To Bob:
I agree with most of what you said. The belief about hell though, isn't how I understand it, from the bible studies I attend. I can and wil say more if anyone's interested.
And so to my point. Everyone has a right to believe what they want to believe. Noone has a right to shove it anywhere it isn't welcome. So sure! Offer it. *offer*.
To put it in programmers speak, here's some code for ya:
sub god_offer()
if listener.interested=true then
continue
else
exit
end if
end sub
Pretty straightforward isn't it? Even for a non-programmer.
So here's my offer. Want to know more about my personal beliefs? pqn me, or mail me or whatever.
Cheers,
Simon
I'd like to post my favorite chapter from Terry Pratchet, I think it really touches on a point. The point simply being that if you truly believe then you must feel it is your absolute duty to preach, to save others from the hell taht awaits them because not doing so would be actively condaming people to an eternity of torture. Now one can always debate the best methods and that is important, but the true essence of faith is exdactly that; if you believe and you care about your fellow human beings you must bee oblged to use whatever means necessary to convert them, because of the content and message of the Christian religion. In Pratchett's story the god is the imaginary Om, the conversation is between a wich and one of his priests, I think it really exemplifies religion and the strength of conviction.
“’And I’ll tell you this Mister Oats….’
He Sighed. ‘Yes?’
She turned to face him, suddenly alive. It’d be as well for you if I didn’t believe,’ she said, prodding him with a sharp finger. ‘This Om, anyone seen
him?’
It is said three thousand people witnessed his manifestation at the Great Temple when he made the Covenant with the prophet Brutha and saved him from death
by torture on the iron turtle-‘
‘But I bet that now they’re arguing about what they actually saw, eh?’
‘Well, indeed, yes, there are many opinions-‘
‘Right. Right. That’s people for you. Now if I’d seen him, really there, really alive, it’d be in me like a fever. If I thought there was some God who
really did care two hoots about people, who watched ‘em like a father and cared for ‘em like a mother…. well you wouldn’t catch me sayin’ things like “There
are two sides to every question,” and “We must respect other people’s beliefs.” You wouldn’t find me just being gen’rally nice in the hope that it’d all
turn out right in the end, not if that flame was burning in me like an unforgivin’ sword. And I did say burnin’, Mister Oats, ‘cos that’s what it’d be.
You say that you people don’t burn folk and sacrifice people anymore, but that’s what true faith would mean, y’see? Sacrificin’ your own life, one day
at a time, to the flame, declarin’ the truth of it, workin’ for it, breathin’ the soul of it. That’s religion. Anything else is just…. is just bein’ nice.
And a way of keepin’ in touch with the neighbours.’
She relaxed slightly, and went on in a quieter voice: ‘Anyway, that’s what I’d be, if I really believed. And I don’t think that’s fashionable right now,
‘cos it seems that if you sees evil now you have to wring your hands and say, “Oh deary me, we must debate this.” That’s my two penn’orth, Mister Oats.
You be happy to let things lie. Don’t chase faith, ‘cos you’ll never catch it.’ She added as an aside, ‘But, perhaps, you can live faithfully.’
Cheers for posting that. a clever bit of writing indeed.
You know, as much as I understand the dictum to go out and preach to all nations and so-forth, I'm turned off by the idea. It's so superbly arrogant to walk about and spout one's beliefs as though the common masses haven't been privileged to receive some great gift, as you have. You is a general, hypothetical you, of course.
There are gifts which the Holy Spirit bestowes upon worthy souls, and one of these is humility, another is gentleness, etc. Wouldn't it be much more humble to live one's faith quietly, privately practice devotions, prayers, say novenas and litanies, enjoy mass from the back pews of the church, and all the rest of it? In the same vein, to claim that we know what God wants for us in a particular situation also borders on blasphemy in my eyes. One does not have personal communication with God, except through the words and actions of humankind. Mind you, this is coming from a tradition which values constant examination of conscience and reminders of how tiny our will is as humans, and that it must be superceded by God's at all times. We must ask for grace daily, rather than expect that it be given us by virtue of accepting Jesus Christ into our hearts.
All of this rambling to say that I believe the plans and ideas of God can only be hinted at, inferred, or implied through what happens in one's daily life.
In my experience, Christians' evangelization comes in two forms.
First, those who genuinely fear for a non-believer's soul and fate in the afterlife. These peoples' conversion attempts are done out of kindness and a desire to help a fellow human.
Second, those whose efforts are based solely upon the idea of scoring imagined browny points with the triumvirate. These insecure folk witness out of a desperate self-preservation and fear of their own merits before God.
For me, the reasons for a conversion attempt have no bearing on my answer;; they simply act as a respect scale for the preacher (s).
I don't think that the problem is with the people that "offer" their beliefs to a person, it's the ones that go around just spouting relidgen to anyone and everyone who either doesn't want to here it, or care about what it is that is being said to them. Most Christians (my aunt now being in this catagory) who take their faith seriously and respect others wishes, don't go around preaching to everyone they come across. If you call yourself a true Christian or what ever relidgen you are, then you kno enough to kno that god (wich ever forme he comes in for you) wouldn't want you to keep anoying people who don't want to here it. Simon, you obviously take your relidgen seriously enough to kno that you don't go preaching it to people who don't want you to preach to them, and I commend you for that. Like I've said before, I am an aithiust, but I don't go around telling Christians that god is not real, cause I kno that that would be just as bad as having them shove bible verses at me.
agree with everything stated here.
Claire I disagree with you. I'm proud to be a Christian. That user is a friend of mine and I support him. He wasn't hurting any one. To the other Catholic Julia, I'm proud to be a Catholic, I can't imagine Mass from the back pew. If I sat there I wouldn't be able to hear the priest. You know all the old ladies who cough sit back there. I couldn't be distracted. I like it when the Johovah Witnesses and the Mormons comy by. They are fellow Christians. The and a Muslim jumped on me yesterday just because I said I supported the person who wrote the Bible verse. I wasn't here when this person wrote it. I got a voice mail saying that the non believers got mad at him. What's wrong with me supporting another Christian?Athist
That's right Hope, you weren't here when he was spamming everyone, and that's what it was. unwanted, repeated spam, and that is definitly against the terms of service.
I'm only going to say this once. In my way of thinking, there is no right or wrong when it comes to religion, just differences of opinion. Hope and others here aren't winning a lot of fans and doing a lot to promote their cause by shoving their opinions down others throats. If I like chocolate, which I do, do you think someone who doesn't like it is going to change their tune just because I say it's good, or worse if I say, if you don't like chocolate, you'll fry in hell? When someone is told that they'll fry in hell for not believing a certain thing, or thinking a certain way, it never gets them to think the other person's way. It only makes them angry. Personally I'm a Christian but I can certainly understand why some folks think Christianity is a sham, or if they take a more scientific approach to religion. and notice I don't get angry when someone says that they think differently than me? I don't really even feel sad for them, because those feelings are so deeply routed in the human psychie that no amount of preeching the all mighty word of one religion over another will get the person to change their mind and go oh shit, what was I thinking all these years, you were right and I was wrong. I'm sorry folks but it simply does not work that way. Someday, I hope the really devout Christians will learn that little lesson, but I am thinking that they'll have to be shown that on their own. and really, it's not the core belief in God that I have a problem with, just the method by which people use to get the message out to others. If someone wants to switch, they'll switch on their own with no help from anyone. and that term conversion or convert, there is a really spooky conotation to that.
well said.
aren't there religious missions that seek activly to convert those who do not believe what they do? i think various branches of christianity were guilty of this, running into a country and riing over the local religious beliefs, just because they thought the local beliefs were wrong?
i think this topic will be around for a long time ot come. ever since that guy got banned because of posting bible verses, soem people have been in an uproar over it. is that all you can do? sit in front of a computer and shove religion down people's throats? i bet if this was real life you wouldn't have the balls to do that.
and you people know who you are.
Ok Austin I'm guilty I think. I have a Jewish friend and no I don't preach to her. I just never met any Athist before. Grate D.J. Tune Head. To Julia I'll live and die a Catholic.
Oh yes. I got called a liar by an idiot preaching religion today.
I don't care if it's religion, cybersex or recipes for pecan biscuits; if you spam me (and that's what it was) and I ask you to stop, you're an idiot and deserve whatever you get in terms of being banned, ignored or other retribution (be it in this life, or the next). Is this the kind of behaviour you say you support Hope, or are you simply sticking up for them because they share your belief system?
I don't mind a decent discussion about religion, however I do mind meaningless messages intended to waste my time. I wont ignore you but I wont cry if you get banned. If you had any sense you'd try starting a discussion rather than just spouting verse.
Ok I know you are perhapse not looking for lyrics, but I thought it relavant. I know that not all christians think the same way either, but take these words from a song by Jaci Velasquez, and think about what you say.
Please forgive me
If I come on too strong
I get a little anxious
When I talk about God's love
Hold me back now
Stop me if I start to preach
‘Cause I don't want to be the one
To push you out of reach
The way to give love
Is how you live love
That is what I'll do
You cannot fight it
You can't deny it
Love will get to you
CHORUS:
Don't wanna get up in your face
Don't wanna put the pressure on
Don't wanna make you run away
Just wanna show you love
Don't wanna beg you to believe
Don't wanna take you for a ride
Don't wanna sell you anything
Just wanna show you love
Show you love
Just wanna show you love
I won't convince you
With anything I say
But maybe you will see His love
In how it is portrayed
An act of kindness
A loving sacrifice
Simple little things that have
The power to change your life
There's no surprises
And no disguises
Just the blessed truth
No obligation
No complication
Just a gift for you
Give us the gift of stopping before you push us too far. Personally I've been having battles. I miss the way of life, and my beliefs confuse me, but coming on this website, and seeing a blaitent disregard for how others feel about religion is making it harder not easier to return to any type of faith.
Dusty now that I'm no longer band, I can answer your question. I support the other user, he is another Christian and a friend to me. Thank you Candy for printing the Jaci Valequez song.
Oh I never herd that song but liked the words a lot.
my x is a cathlic.
i went to her chirch once with her. it's to me at least such ahive mentality it was unbelievable. to hear them preech and chant they sounded like the borg from star trek tng. no offence met. but anyway because she lived with me at the time she wasn't allowed to take holy comunion also her preest wouldn't take confession. i told her outright that all a chirch is, is a public decloration that you are conforming. that's all it is. nothing more or less. if you have been bad then people will alienate you. which i saw examples of that for sure. which is sad really. that's what i will never agree with in terms of religion and i'll fight it all the way to the next life and back. when it comes to that, that is domination, ridicule and outrigt nastyness to the highest degree.
a truly religious person doesn't need to prove anything. a truly religious person doesn't need the chirch. it's what's in your heart and the actions that you take that determines who you are and where you will be in the next life. well that's my belief anyway. i don't actively speak out as blatently as i am doing now but seeming as the topics up then lol the dark lord has spoken!!!
Although i don't agree with some of Catholic ways. I don't see how they were aliannating her. She wasn't kicked from the church. She just wasn't able to go and confess or be blessed for following the ways of there religion. She wasn't following it so i can see why they didn't let her participate in the communion. after all that's what communion is, being blessed for following the Catholic way! That's there beliefs and she knew that when she moved in with you! Again, I may not agree with all this. But each religion has there beliefs and ways of warshiping. This don't make it wrong, just because some of us may not have the same beliefs. It's just as bad to voice your dislike of a religions way just because you don't follow there beliefs, as it is for /them to push there religion on you!
the reason why is because she was living with someone and she wasn't maried. the point is there is to much dictation on that and not enough at looking at the real person. there's way to much emphesis put on that. doesn't matter if you are a good person or not, it doesn't matter if you serve the comunity in the best way that you can, as long as you conform to the rules you are accepted. if you don't then not only are you effectively scolded by the preest etc you are also scolded and alienated by friends etc. now is that right? now if religion preeches tollerants etc, where is the tollerants in that? that's just for starters. for fear of ridicule people are encauraged to lie about what they do. just to keep in with the circle. again is that right? why do people do it. why would people lie for fear of losing their friends etc if they are at chirch etc. you don't see none of that in other people's lives. just because a friend does something that i believe to be wrong i may tell them that i believe them wrong but that doesn't mean that i'm going to turn against them. or not spend any more or less time with them. you see this crap all the time. believing in something is 1 thing. but when you are prepared to take something away from the person just because they are living with someone else and it's not an aproved thing just an example, that's another story. it's wrong. it's no different to a black child going to a school with predomintly white people and that child being alienated because of it's colour.
Shae is right. Your girlfriend knew the rules when she moved in with you. When my Lutheran friend goes to church with us. She doesn't recieve it either. She sits in the pew and waits for us to get back.
As I said before, I may not agree with some of the catholic ways. But that's my choice . Just like it's your choice not to follow the religion at all. That's why there are many different religions out there. not everyone has the same beliefs. For people to sit here and say how they don't hink it's right and blah blah is just as bad as others spamming the qn's with there beliefs! If you have your religion, or beliefs or even lack of them, so be it. That's your choice. Not everyone wants to hear about it, or have it crammed down there throats! I'm not saying this at any one person. just a statement. Someone must agree with catholics way or it wouldn't be a religion. smiles,
shea
I personally don't have any religion that I believe in strongly, so, I'm not sure why I'm responding to this post except to say I agree with Shea.
It seems that religion is a choice most places, but if someone chooses to join a religion and follow their ways then they follow their ways or they don't participate.
In short, if you believe that the catholics are right, then you do what the catholics believe. Plain and simple.
Bob
Here's the problem as I see it. Just because you label yourself as belonging to this church or that or you went through some ritual to make yourself officially saved does not automatically make you a better person. You still have to struggle and slog away like the rest of us ungodly slobs at trying to be nice to people instead of going with your instincts and being a stupid jerk because you think it's fun. Religious folks can still be prejudiced and ignorant and so forth. I've heard stories of blind folks who go to churches expecting a warm welcome and they end up getting ignored or perhaps even it is hinted at that they don't want you there. Religious folk claim that their aggressive ways and fearmongering are done only out of good intentions and love and compassion, but just like the do-gooders who propel blind folks across any random street who mean well, you can't read or assume somebody's intentions. I look at it this way. If you've hooked up with some way of communing with your higher power, good for you, but don't expect everyone you meet to follow your lead and don't condemn those who actively refuse your offer. The more you push, the more you will be resisted. If you want to prove to us how devout you are, show us by the way you treat others and not by how many verses of your holy books you can spout by rote. Take the side of the underdog if you see somebody persecuted for no better reason than they're not what people call normal or mainstream. Show compassion where others show scorn and lack of empathy. Resist all the prejudices and negative programming you grew up with. That sort of thing.
I agree with the last post. Very well said.
That's almost beautiful g-o-t.
Look out, you might become a sage.
Bob
I am not not a racest. Come on as a Catholic I have Lutheran friends and one Jewish friend. For any one who cares to know I revised my audio profile.
wait hope I'm now confused. you sed you were a christian when your post says your a catholic? hmm I can see how these two relidgonds are the same.
Yup, you did change your audio, but there was no need! you shouldn't have done the first one in the first place.
Now, is that anyway for a Christian to act? I'm not saying that christians are bad hope, for I have lots of christian friends. but you shouldn't be going around and saying that you don't want to talk to men, or Muslems. That's just mean! All of my Christian friends except me for who I am. So why can't you do that? You make it seem like your the only one that does this sort of thing. Personally, your giving Christianity a bad name when you do this sort of thing.
As for people who think it's ok to preatch on the zone, you have your own beliefs, and we have ours. now in PQNs we don't mind, but don't go and public them. And if that's what you want to do, just don't say anything at all.
exactly. and as for knowing the rules, it's different when you're grown into it by your family and the people around you as in the ones that you live with locally all do the same. it's expected that you do it. sorry but i don't agree. not from what i've seen. you get to much of this crap where by just because the parents do it you are therefore naturally expected to do it. i don't agree with that. where's the freedom of choice and thne respect as well? forgive me i don't see it.