Do you expect to convert people to your POV?

[ChristineES]

Of course! I expect every single person to believe what I believe and do what I do. They have to because I am always right! Just kidding.

Really, I don't expect anyone to suddenly switch over to my way of thinking just because I state my opinion and view of things. That is only the way I see it (for the time being).

 

[Thesavorofpan]

Nah, if you knew what I actually believe you would call me legalistic. I think that is the term. But seriously I'm too much of a fundie for people here.

 

[dawny0826]

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 genuinely have no desire to push my religious beliefs on anyone. I'll stand firm when discussing that which I do believe but I don't see the logic in trying to force or scare another into adopting my point of view.

It is nice when you find common ground with people. It's nice when you can share something about your faith to someone that's receptive. I do value those interactions with people on this forum bit I also value the input from those who totally disagree with me.

I have a deep respect for diversity. I love that I'm surrounded by diversity in my day to day life.

 

[Alceste]

I expect I have some small degree of influence on others who read what I write, just as they do on me, but that's not my main objective. I'm unconcerned with changing the beliefs of others - I simply enjoy the debate. It spurs me on to read articles and opinions I would not otherwise encounter and encourages me to regularly research the empirical basis for my own opinions. Considering the pervasiveness of selection and confirmation bias in the posts I read from others, I have to assume I'm not immune from it myself. Consequently, these two habits are necessary if I ever hope for my understanding of the world to resemble how it really is.

 

[Levite]

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 quite agree. Fortunately, Judaism does not permit proselytizing anyway, so I couldn't attempt to convert anyone here, even if I felt inclined to do so.

But I will admit this: while I would never, ever seek to convince anyone to abandon their religion, much less in favor of mine, I cannot deny that I speak here in favor of pluralism and against fundamentalism as much as I may seek to explain and educate about Judaism.

And while I do not care in any way how a person chooses to worship, or what sacred scriptures they read, if any, or whether they believe in a god at all, I cannot deny that I do not approve of fundamentalism and disrespect of other religious opinions, and I will indeed seek to sway people in that regard-- not to change their religion, but to be tolerant of other ideas. And I am not ashamed to say so.

 

[MurphtheSurf]

Who deconverts people?

Wickedness

 

[Misty]

Wickedness

No commonsense if it deconverts people from fundamentalism!

 

[SageTree]

To convert is actually why I'm here!!!!


Every moment I have a chance to examine myself and be aware of how me and my environment impact each other. So when I read all your words and thoughts; hearts and passions, I am converting my understanding of each of you and therefore myself.

:namaste
SageTree

 

[Man of Faith]

I don't try to convert people here because that is against the rules and I try to follow the rules. I admit that sometimes it is a fine line trying to tell people what is in store for them when they die and proselytizing. I trust the admins judgement on that and think they are fair and try to abide by their rulings. I try to word my posts in such a way that I don't ask people to get saved or recommend they do something about what I am saying, I just state what is my faith.

That said I don't expect anyone to convert to Christianity unless it is pre-ordained, but when they hear the word of God, it does happen. I had a pastor say that if he could scare someone into heaven he would. I think that is good. If people knew what was in store for them, they should be afraid and want to get right with God before they die.

 

[Guitar's Cry]

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.

If there are folks who haven't yet been converted to Girls on Trampolines, they are unreasonable indeed!

Anyone who comes to RF just to convert is doing themselves a great disservice. The discussions and debates here can help separate the weak points of someone's view from the strong, and thus give them a greater belief.

 

[Misty]

I don't try to convert people here because that is against the rules and I try to follow the rules. I admit that sometimes it is a fine line trying to tell people what is in store for them when they die and proselytizing. I trust the admins judgement on that and think they are fair and try to abide by their rulings. I try to word my posts in such a way that I don't ask people to get saved or recommend they do something about what I am saying, I just state what is my faith.

That said I don't expect anyone to convert to Christianity unless it is pre-ordained, but when they hear the word of God, it does happen. I had a pastor say that if he could scare someone into heaven he would. I think that is good. If people knew what was in store for them, they should be afraid and want to get right with God before they die.

Who would want to be in heaven with a God you feared? Your sort of evangelism is sick, sick, sick and is likely to have precisely the opposite effect to the one intended. You have no idea if hell really exists, let alone who would be going there. To pretend you have knowledge you don't possess is WRONG!

 

[Autodidact]

Wickedness

Uh, you may want to look up the word, "who" in a dictionary.

 

[Autodidact]

I don't try to convert people here because that is against the rules and I try to follow the rules. I admit that sometimes it is a fine line trying to tell people what is in store for them when they die and proselytizing. I trust the admins judgement on that and think they are fair and try to abide by their rulings. I try to word my posts in such a way that I don't ask people to get saved or recommend they do something about what I am saying, I just state what is my faith.

That said I don't expect anyone to convert to Christianity unless it is pre-ordained, but when they hear the word of God, it does happen. I had a pastor say that if he could scare someone into heaven he would. I think that is good. If people knew what was in store for them, they should be afraid and want to get right with God before they die.

Are you saying that you do know? How, die lately?

 

[painted wolf]

The same way he knows unicorns are real... the Bible says so.

wa:do

 

[MurphtheSurf]

Uh, you may want to look up the word, "who" in a dictionary.

Are we talking about a rock band or a people created by Dr. Seuss?

 

[Autodidact]

Murph: I'm trying not to go into Crazy-land, thanks.

 

[MurphtheSurf]

Murph: I'm trying not to go into Crazy-land, thanks.

Where are you trying to go? or
Where would you like to go?

 

[ChristineES]

To be honest, I am not ever 100% sure of what my belief is. I keep coming up with new arguments and listening to other people. Every single thing I read changed me in some way even if I didn't agree with it. Sometimes the change was very, very tiny.

 

[ChristineES]

I don't try to convert people here because that is against the rules and I try to follow the rules. I admit that sometimes it is a fine line trying to tell people what is in store for them when they die and proselytizing. I trust the admins judgment on that and think they are fair and try to abide by their rulings. I try to word my posts in such a way that I don't ask people to get saved or recommend they do something about what I am saying, I just state what is my faith.

That said I don't expect anyone to convert to Christianity unless it is preordained, but when they hear the word of God, it does happen. I had a pastor say that if he could scare someone into heaven he would. I think that is good. If people knew what was in store for them, they should be afraid and want to get right with God before they die.

As long as you keep in mind that Jesus said that God will judge you the same way you judge others.

 

[javajo]

There is a verse in Jude that says:

22 Show mercy to those who doubt. 23 Pull others out of the fire. Save them. To others, show mercy mixed with fear. Hate even the clothes that are stained by the sins of those who wear them.

Seems to say that to those who doubt (that Jesus paid for their sins, etc.) we should be merciful, other places say to be gentle when talking about your faith. And some people, strongly warn them of Hell, and some and some use both the above; mercy mixed with fear, fear being respect for God and that he has power to grant eternal life or not.

Its good to witness and that has its place even here, but this is also a good place to learn about other people and their faiths and respectfuly engage in conversation or debate. Being kind and gentle and loving as we do so sheds more light and less heat.