Do you expect to convert people to your POV?

[Misty]

This is a debating forum and different views about matters of faith are expected. Anyone posting here would be unwise to do so if they are very sensitive about their POV, and feel upset if it is challenged.

However, for some it would appear to be a means of proselytising and they have the temerity to tell others they have the TRUTH, and others should follow their lead, which would be funny if it wasn't quite sad.

I post on this forum because I think it is one of the best of its kind I have come across, and it is a great displacement activity. I state my POV but certainly don't wish to convert anyone to it as it is personal to me. We all have to find a take on matters of faith with which we can live. For some that will be belief, for others unbelief or somewhere in between. Some may find forums of this nature helpful in crystalising a position, or throwing it out of the window. But those who try to bludgeon others with their belief system by threatening them with hell and damnation, are more than likely to have the opposite effect to the one they are trying to achieve.

 

[Sunstone]

No I don't expect to convert others to my point of view. After six years on RF, I don't even expect others to be reasonable, let alone reasonably consider another person's point of view. People defend their opinions here. Not much else.

 

[xkatz]

My POV is unique to me as well... Besides, I am still working on "formulating" my path if you will, so even if I wanted people to convert, I don't know what I would tell them TBH Nonetheless, I don't expect people to want to convert and I wouldn't push it upon them.

 

[Willamena]

It's my sincere wish that someday everybody will be me.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

I expect people who are honest and rational to be converted to my opinion, if it is more honest and rational than their current opinion - just as I expect to convert my opinion to those that are more honest and rational than my current opinion.

I don't have much in the way of expectations either way.

 

[Dezzie]

I don't care to convert anyone at all. Everyone can believe what they want... It would be cool though to talk to someone about my beliefs and have them really appreciate it and possibly even think twice about theirs... I wouldn't push my beliefs on them though. I actually just started talking to someone at my work about what I believe. He actually believes pretty much the same thing (which is super awesome ).

 

[idea]

If they don't convert themselves, then they aren't really converted.

 

[YmirGF]

This is a debating forum and different views about matters of faith are expected. Anyone posting here would be unwise to do so if they are very sensitive about their POV, and feel upset if it is challenged.

Hehe. I am pretty far from being sensitive about my POV. Unlike some however, my POV is not static, but rather, it is a work-in-progress. If people can show me flaws in my thinking I am genuinely thankful for their input.

However, for some it would appear to be a means of proselytising and they have the temerity to tell others they have the TRUTH, and others should follow their lead, which would be funny if it wasn't quite sad.

Heck, to my POV, "truth" is relative to the information at hand. I certainly don't pretend to have the truth, though I will admit that I might have a slightly bigger piece of the puzzle of life than most. I actually caution people NOT to follow me. My so-called "message" isn't about me, per se, but rather, it is about you.

I post on this forum because I think it is one of the best of its kind I have come across, and it is a great displacement activity. I state my POV but certainly don't wish to convert anyone to it as it is personal to me. We all have to find a take on matters of faith with which we can live. For some that will be belief, for others unbelief or somewhere in between. Some may find forums of this nature helpful in crystalising a position, or throwing it out of the window. But those who try to bludgeon others with their belief system by threatening them with hell and damnation, are more than likely to have the opposite effect to the one they are trying to achieve.

I definitely fall into the "helpful in crystallizing a position" camp. I knew, from the onset, that many of my ideas would be looked at with some chagrin, but I never had much doubt in core of those ideas although I have begun to alter the packaging in fairly significant ways.

For example, I will no longer use certain terms as part of my dialogue, because I see that others "own" those terms and my usage of the same term precipitates confusion. (1) the reader thinks I mean the "same old, same old" (2) I am left defending an idea that I don't actually support. The term "enlightenment" fits this well, however, I have yet to find a better term, though I may settle for "expansion of consciousness".

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I don't try to convert people to my point of view. Sometimes, I try to get people to understand my point of view, though.

It's my sincere wish that someday everybody will be me.

I had to put an end to war
Didn't make much sense to shoot at myself

- "Now Everybody's Me", the Dead Milkmen

 

[Smoke]

I don't try to convert people to my point of view. Sometimes, I try to get people to understand my point of view, though.

I think Krishnamurti hit the nail on the head: "Your prejudices, your fears, your authorities, your churches new and old -- all these, I maintain, are a barrier to understanding. I cannot make myself clearer than this. I do not want you to agree with me, I do not want you to follow me, I want you to understand what I am saying."

As for converting people, I've lived long enough to know that my opinions in five years may be considerably different than my opinions are today, and I welcome that. To the extent that my point of view is that our prejudices, fears, and authorities are a barrier to understanding, I do hope to encourage that point of view. My specific beliefs and opinions are of lesser importance even to me.

 

[horizon_mj1]

It is my POV that if people where more open minded, they would have no need to be so sensitive and quick to tell some else they are wrong for having an opinion.

 

[MurphtheSurf]

People don't convert people.
God converts people.

 

[Tathagata]

I believe I have the truth (or at least closest to it), however I don't desire to convert anyone. In fact, I would be rather disappointed if my argumentation did succeed to convert because I would rather be debating that person.

However, I would like to convert people to freethinking and to have interest in philosophy, which are not belief systems, but a way of thinking.




.

 

[Kathryn]

I enjoy interacting on this forum because researching topics and listening to other POVs expands my understanding of a wide range of issues. I would say that though my core values have remained pretty steady my whole life, my opinions on a lot of things have changed over time - and will change again. I like that continued growth, and it's this sort of forum that challenges me and pushes on me to want to understand more...and more...

I also enjoy challenging others' preconceptions as well - but it's the personal research and exploration of concepts here that I groove on the most.

That..and I really enjoy the written word in general.

 

[Autodidact]

I persist in my girlish fantasy that more people will come to accept the Theory of Evolution, despite my ample experience to the contrary.

 

[Autodidact]

People don't convert people.
God converts people.

Who deconverts people?

 

[sandandfoam]

I persist in my girlish fantasy that more people will come to accept the Theory of Evolution, despite my ample experience to the contrary.

I think Kelly's Personal Construct Theory accounts well for your and others experience.

 

[Tarheeler]

This is a debating forum and different views about matters of faith are expected. Anyone posting here would be unwise to do so if they are very sensitive about their POV, and feel upset if it is challenged.

However, for some it would appear to be a means of proselytising and they have the temerity to tell others they have the TRUTH, and others should follow their lead, which would be funny if it wasn't quite sad.

I post on this forum because I think it is one of the best of its kind I have come across, and it is a great displacement activity. I state my POV but certainly don't wish to convert anyone to it as it is personal to me. We all have to find a take on matters of faith with which we can live. For some that will be belief, for others unbelief or somewhere in between. Some may find forums of this nature helpful in crystalising a position, or throwing it out of the window. But those who try to bludgeon others with their belief system by threatening them with hell and damnation, are more than likely to have the opposite effect to the one they are trying to achieve.

I'm here to exchange ideas; I don't expect to change anyone's mind or "convert" anyone.

And we all think we know a truth, but I don't think any of us has THE truth. Big difference there.

Also, please keep in mind that you don't have to be a theist to attempt to bully others into agreement. Rudeness, insults, and intolerance can be found in all camps.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Like most anyone, If there is something in life that "works" there is that natural and understandable motivation to compel one to share whatever it is with others, so that they too can "see the light" so to speak.

On a personal level I do greatly enjoy sharing my personal experiences and understandings with others as I see them, but at the same time I can still remember back that as a theist, there was was something that I enjoyed just as much that "worked" quite well enough (and it did) and subsequently tried to convince others to see things my way in way of proselytizing my views. However over time theism wasn't working as well anymore for me so I ended up finding other things that did, and at present am personally quite well off for it as I was before.

In reflection though, I find there is a difference as it turns out in which I did a complete about face in regards to my religion, views, and beliefs and found that the new things that "work" in comparison to the former has done just as well.
In that light, attempting anything in the future like that of a conversion attempt to convince others to adopt my present views and beliefs I find to be rather impractical. So in that case, rather than try to convince others on a specific mindset or practice and compel them to to the same to the end of time, my attempts are to simply relay the understandings and experiences I have at present and just let others take it or leave it and agree or disagree naturally and well enough. I find it's not the end of the world should someone not see things the same exact way simply for the reason that my own views can at anytime change in a different direction. So no real need to convert anyone as it stands now.
-NM-

 

[painted wolf]

I don't want to convert anyone to my POV... I'm still learning what my POV is.

wa:do