Is spreading your religion correct?

[danny vee]

Is converting non-believers into believers of your religion OK? Let's say you were 100% sure of your religion, would you think it morally correct to go and convert a bunch of African tribes to your religion? The fact that some people are 100% sure about their religion is the real problem with this. If you were 100% sure wouldn't you go and tell others of the truth, so they could be sure too?

 

[Storm]

Is converting non-believers into believers of your religion OK? Let's say you were 100% sure of your religion, would you think it morally correct to go and convert a bunch of African tribes to your religion? The fact that some people are 100% sure about their religion is the real problem with this. If you were 100% sure wouldn't you go and tell others of the truth, so they could be sure too?

It depends entirely on how it's done. I babble on about my theology to anyone who'll listen, but I don't do it to convert. If someday, someone were to decide I was right and had faith in my vision of God, that would be cool, I guess. But I'm not going to go around telling people that their vision is wrong.

 

[Alceste]

Is converting non-believers into believers of your religion OK? Let's say you were 100% sure of your religion, would you think it morally correct to go and convert a bunch of African tribes to your religion? The fact that some people are 100% sure about their religion is the real problem with this. If you were 100% sure wouldn't you go and tell others of the truth, so they could be sure too?

I don't think it's OK. I think it's deeply ignorant and neurotic. I also don't think it's the sort of thing people do when they are "100 % certain" they are right. It's more the sort of thing people do when, deep down inside, just below the surface of their consciousness, they are quite certain they are completely wrong, and every person who believes something different poses a threat that this metaphorical monster in their psychological closet will escape and wreak havoc in their nicely ordered mind. Therefore the unbelievers must be disinfected to ensure the continuing suppression of one's own dangerous doubts and uncertainties.

As a matter of fact I am 100 % certain in my own faith, but I've never tried to convert a soul. Granted, I do try to nudge my friends in the direction of contemplation, self-knowledge and introspection whenever they are in distress, but there's no doctrine to impart.

 

[Uchi Mata]

Define "correct".

There's certainly nothing illegal (at least, not where I live) about changing people's minds. Changing or crushing someone's belief can be a great display of mental prowess of one party, and the weakness of the other.

 

[danny vee]

I don't think it's OK. I think it's deeply ignorant and neurotic. I also don't think it's the sort of thing people do when they are "100 % certain" they are right. It's more the sort of thing people do when, deep down inside, just below the surface of their consciousness, they are quite certain they are completely wrong, and every person who believes something different poses a threat that this metaphorical monster in their psychological closet will escape and wreak havoc in their nicely ordered mind. Therefore the unbelievers must be disinfected to ensure the continuing suppression of one's own dangerous doubts and uncertainties.

As a matter of fact I am 100 % certain in my own faith, but I've never tried to convert a soul. Granted, I do try to nudge my friends in the direction of contemplation, self-knowledge and introspection whenever they are in distress, but there's no doctrine to impart.

Now this has nothing to do with the original point but what is Taoish? Do you mean kind of Taoism? Forgive me for my ignorance, but I am curious.

 

[danny vee]

Define "correct".

Correct is what it means, right, the truth, correct.

 

[Mister Emu]

Indeed, I do... and I do...

 

[Quiddity]

I agree with Storm......it depends. Far too often people like to bring up the Crusades and other atrocities done as a jab toward Christianity (although many Protestants will be quick to tell you "that's the catholics not us") and how they operate.

There is no denying that conversions were done crudely (to put it lightly). And the crusades isn't even a real good example of it.

However...it's often forgoten that millions were converted without even saying much at all. A show of kindness and love is sometimes all it takes.

 

[gnomon]

Is converting non-believers into believers of your religion OK? Let's say you were 100% sure of your religion, would you think it morally correct to go and convert a bunch of African tribes to your religion? The fact that some people are 100% sure about their religion is the real problem with this. If you were 100% sure wouldn't you go and tell others of the truth, so they could be sure too?

The exchange of cultural ideas has always happened and will continue to happen. That we now have gotten to the point where the transmission of ideas is so fast and that competing concepts can be introduced into an area where neither concept existed before within the same generation does allow for a certain flattening effect. Of course, it also seems to have led to more warfare.

I'm not just talking about religious proselytizing. I don't really care if someone wants to try to spread their ideas. As long as it's not done coercively and that when their ideas are countered they realize they have no special recourse to claim special status for their ideas.

There are many ideas out there. That religious concepts are considered inherently wrong to spread is kind of odd compared to ........... Jenny McCarthy spouting her vaccination nonsense. However, I would rather allow her to spout it so it can be challenged in the form of public debate.

 

[Uchi Mata]

Correct is what it means, right, the truth, correct.

And how will you determine if an action is "right" or "correct"? What standard or meter will you hold actions to that you can make a judgment of "right" or "wrong"? Or, is this notion of "right"/"wrong"/"correct"/"incorrect" merely a matter of human emotional feeling that has no grounding in facts?

I think it is quite obviously the latter.


How can anyone answer this question in seriousness? By what process have you determined that spreading your religion is or is not "correct"?

 

[Alceste]

Now this has nothing to do with the original point but what is Taoish? Do you mean kind of Taoism? Forgive me for my ignorance, but I am curious.

Taoish is a word I made up so I would have something to put into that field when I joined the forum. I'm not a Taoist, but most of my views are closely aligned (by coincidence, not design) with Taoist philosophy. So, I'm Tao-ish.

 

[HoldemDB9]

Is converting non-believers into believers of your religion OK? Let's say you were 100% sure of your religion, would you think it morally correct to go and convert a bunch of African tribes to your religion? The fact that some people are 100% sure about their religion is the real problem with this. If you were 100% sure wouldn't you go and tell others of the truth, so they could be sure too?

Nobody is 100% sure that their religion is true, if they were then they would not need faith. I know many people say that they are 100% sure, but obviously these people are either lying or they are dangerously deluded and imo, should be locked up.

Anyway, like others have said, it depends. Of course we should all be allowed to tell each other about our beliefs and then maybe let them decide for themselves. But for example, converting though lies, threats or converting young children is absolutely vile. People all over the world are converting young children by claiming absolute truth. Some parents don't tell their kids what their beleifs are and then let them decide for themselves, they tell them that their beleifs are definitely true. They are taking advantage of the fact that children tend to believe their parents. I would say, that this is a form of child abuse.

However, if you honestly believe that by converting this person you will make their life better, then I'm not sure. But converting simply because you have faith something is true is wrong and pointless.

 

[Sunstone]

Is converting non-believers into believers of your religion OK? Let's say you were 100% sure of your religion, would you think it morally correct to go and convert a bunch of African tribes to your religion? The fact that some people are 100% sure about their religion is the real problem with this. If you were 100% sure wouldn't you go and tell others of the truth, so they could be sure too?

So far as I've seen in my 52 years, anyone who is 100% sure about something as complex as a religion or theology is deluding themselves. And if that's the case, then do you want delusional people converting others?

 

[Smoke]

Is converting non-believers into believers of your religion OK?

I think the Jews have the right idea. I think it's okay to accept people into your religious community if they ask, but I think it's wrong to try to cajole, threaten, bribe, persuade, or sucker them in.

If you were 100% sure wouldn't you go and tell others of the truth, so they could be sure too?

I guess that would depend on what I was 100% sure about. Primitive Baptists or Parsis might be 100% sure of their religion, but they don't engage in missionary work, which is contrary to their beliefs.

In general, I think people who are 100% sure of their religion are not the best people to be giving advice to others.

 

[ChristineES]

Is converting non-believers into believers of your religion OK?

I can talk until I am blue about my faith to a atheist or agnostic and still not convert them. People can ONLY convert themselves. And I have spoke my religion to others, if they want me to(if they don't want me to, that is their choice and I respect it). I don't see anything wrong with telling people about your faith. I hear all sorts of ideas all day long- I can either choose to accept them or reject them. No one can force me to accept or reject any idea.

 

[Wolfscout1]

So far as I've seen in my 52 years, anyone who is 100% sure about something as complex as a religion or theology is deluding themselves. And if that's the case, then do you want delusional people converting others?

nice reply.

I view others religious proselytizing as a complete waste of time. When they are ready, they will find the path that suits them best. All the lip service, ads on TV, preaching at me about a hell I do not believe in to start with, is basically wasting my time and theirs.

 

[GiantHouseKey]

Is converting non-believers into believers of your religion OK?

Depends what you mean by 'converting'

Let's say you were 100% sure of your religion, would you think it morally correct to go and convert a bunch of African tribes to your religion?

Nobody can ever be '100% sure' of something, especially the idea of God. And if they are 100% certain, they are only fooling themselves.

The fact that some people are 100% sure about their religion is the real problem with this.

No it isn't - My opinion remains whether you are 1% sure or 100% sure: Go ahead, try and convert people, providing that it is peaceful and without violence or threat. Say person A tries to convert person B. If person B is successfully converted then either: a) Person B's original religion was not as convincing to them or b) Person B is weak minded. If you are converted because you feel the religion that has been converted to is the right one, then what's wrong with that? If you are weak minded, you only have yourself to blame if it turns out you have wasted your life believing a lie.

If you were 100% sure wouldn't you go and tell others of the truth, so they could be sure too?

Absolutely, but i'm not, so it's not a situation I will ever find myself in.

GhK.

 

[Katzpur]

Is converting non-believers into believers of your religion OK? Let's say you were 100% sure of your religion, would you think it morally correct to go and convert a bunch of African tribes to your religion? The fact that some people are 100% sure about their religion is the real problem with this. If you were 100% sure wouldn't you go and tell others of the truth, so they could be sure too?

I don't think most of the people who claim to be 100% sure really are. I see no problem with sharing one's beliefs, but the right path for one person wouldn't necessarily work for someone else. I think we have to respect one another's differences, no matter how "sure" we are that what we believe is right.

 

[IF_u_knew]

Is converting non-believers into believers of your religion OK? Let's say you were 100% sure of your religion, would you think it morally correct to go and convert a bunch of African tribes to your religion? The fact that some people are 100% sure about their religion is the real problem with this. If you were 100% sure wouldn't you go and tell others of the truth, so they could be sure too?

I know that there is one G.d and that is our Creator. I knew His Truth (which is something instilled into most of us), and then saw it confirmed clearly in the Tanakh after having certain of things revealed to me.

So, since I would not subscribe to anything man told me since man in their teachings and overall line of thinking seemed biased and did not make sense to me, I could not ever force G.d onto others as I am just part of mankind and would not expect anyone to take my word at its word alone.

And why should I? The true follower of Truth will do nothing more than try to get people to think logically. G.d does not need yours or anyone's acknowledgment to still be True.

The faiths NEED to force their beliefs and their gods onto others because without the acknowledgment, they die as does the control they hold over their followers.

Thus, the difference between the deceptions and the Truth. One needs our acknowledgment to exist and be able to exert control over others; and the other just asks of us to realize that we are part of what makes up Life and to use common sense and courtesy to one another and the creation around us... the latter is the Truth.

 

[Sunstone]

I think it's often tacky to try to convert people to your own opinions about things. I'm not saying I haven't tried doing it. Just saying it's often tacky to try doing it.