Has a friend ever tried to convert you to Christianity?

[qwe]

win

 

[greenberryhaze]

I don't have any christian friends, save for family members, but if I did I would take it as an opportunity to tell them the good news about antitheism!

 

[qwe]

^ i wonder what would happen if i went door to door... *borrows from an atheist comedian i forget the name of*

knock knock... hi. we're atheists. we don't like waking people up to talk about our ideas, so you can go right back to bed!

 

[Assassin of Youth]

In high school (I went to an Afrikaans, rich, Christian, white supremacist school) all the people were Christian. I finally found a group of friends who would at least tolerate my atheism, but there was never a shortage of people trying to convert me. Hot damn. I only stayed there because of the extreme levels of academic excellence of the school, but I had to have my wits about me every moment of every day. Whew. Out of there now, and at a liberal English university.

Anyway, yes, almost everyone in my life has tried to influence my religious beliefs, but when I was 12 I realized that Christianity just didn't cut it for me, went through a phase of trying as hard as possible, and gave up before I turned sixteen.

I've never been happier.

 

[qwe]

i was agnostic by grade 7/8, atheist by grade 9/10

it's interesting... it's sort of sad to see everyone grapple with so many psychological problems, trying to battle their own biological impulses, falling prey to magical thinking, when i've left it all behind (for the most part, consciously at least). if that's an "elitist" opinion, so be it; our history is one of progression, and some regions lag behind others, and some individuals lag behind others

 

[fivelinefury]

yeah i just let them talk to their heart's content (and talk back on their own level)

listening to their opinions on philosophy is like watching a retard trying to do maths, though. quite amusing, but also sad

LOL exactly, thats a very amusing and also accurate way of describing it haha.

 

[helium-4]

In middle school, particularly 6th grade I ran into a lot of situations where I was a target of a "conversion", or at the very least a gorilla in cage. I was honest about my beliefs and didn't understand that impact of saying I'm an agnostic. I remember sitting at lunch and having groups of people come up to me asking me why, and trying to tell me why I should be believe in god. I even made people cry from my lack of faith.

Those were very unintelligent conversations that were essentially me being bombarded getting fire and brim stone shaped pieces of shit. In high school I had more intelligent conversations, some from people in class who I thought as friends, managed to be reasonably understanding. It never really turned into pissing match (mainly because I've been through that before and had enough. Also I know what not to say, to prevent them from getting to riled up).

Most if not all of my friends are void of any higher power in their beliefs, so I really don't run into many situations where people try and convert me.

 

[JackARoe]

I can't be converted. I am already there. But it may not be where someone else thinks I should be. And if someone else were REALLY there they would not try to convince me of something they already know. People try and convert others to convince themselves without realizing that.

If a Christian means simply means - do unto others as you would have them do unto you, Love your brother, The kingdom of heaven is within (anyone who likes psychedelics can see that) - then ok, I am Christian. I do those things anyway. Just keep me away from church and people that take any religeon so literally.

 

[greenberryhaze]

^^^
Are you saying I don't like psychedelics?

 

[qwe]

If a Christian means simply means - do unto others as you would have them do unto you, Love your brother, The kingdom of heaven is within (anyone who likes psychedelics can see that) - then ok, I am Christian. I do those things anyway. Just keep me away from church and people that take any religeon so literally.

that's not christianity. include a personal god who feels emotions similarly to us (and throws temper tantrums killing millions), the idea that jesus was a magical being who walked on water and "died for our sins", the idea that sexuality and other basic fundamental human drives should be repressed, etc... then you'll be hitting the "religion" ballpark

as it is, you're "spiritual but not religious"... not "christian"

 

[JackARoe]

I hear you qwe, that criteria you presented reminds me of a Star Trek episode in where Capt Kirk had to free the inhabitants of a planet from their belief systems of worshipping a statue and let them think for themselves. No, um, I can't get with that definition of Christianity.

However, I can see some wisdom in the quotes from Jesus. At least metaphorically as they apply to my life. The Golden Rule being a great gage on treating people. I can go as far as how Joseph Campell interprets any of the religeons going back to even primitive man. All metaphorically as stories and lessons on how to live.

And as far as belief system, a part of me believes the human mind, with all of the wonderful creations it has given life, will be able to turn water into wine at some point. :D

But to the original topic, I'd get pretty annoyed if anyone wanted to shove their beliefs down my throat. And since I would never do that to anyone else I would noit want that done to me.

 

[qwe]

However, I can see some wisdom in the quotes from Jesus

jesus was an amazing person. there were many such charismatic and wise figures, and many of them did lead to cults and large religions

i think it's funny that nontheists can probably (imo) gleam more useful awareness/information than theists from jesus

 

[Lady Codone]

Being raised in the Bible Belt, I experienced this all too frequently. I actually considered myself a Christian until sometime in college when I was exposed to some other viewpoints.

I feel like most modern Christians are brainwashed. I know I was. They're taught that questioning things in the Bible is wrong and saving souls is their responsibility as a good Christian. Hearing the same message over and over can really shape a person's views on life, death and morality, which is what happens in a lot of cases. Even those who break away and develop their own beliefs often suffer residual guilt and anxiety about things like being gay or other acts that could lead to eternal damnation.

It's the "evangelical" aspect that bothers me the most--the drive to convert people and save souls that don't necessarily need saving. Spirituality is a personal thing for me, and I don't need ANYONE telling me how to know God, least of all a backward, ignorant Christian like all those I knew.

 

[Roger&Me]

Indeed. The thing that turns people off to agnosticism, I think, is that it requires a high tolerance for uncertainty. (Not that this is a bad thing to cultivate, in the least.) Saying 'I don't know' feels too disempowering to many people, whatever the issue may be.

I personally consider a high tolerance for uncertainty to be one of the most precious and useful traits a human being can cultivate in this life. In fact, I think that not working to cultivate such a tolerance is a poor allocation of time in this world. Uncertainty is the only guarantee, after all.

I feel almost angry at times that many religions refuse to admit the reality of constant change and uncertainty. It seems like they are just lying to make people feel more comfortable, aka kind of a repugnant thing to do to.

Then again, it is probably very easy for me to say that because I have an almost insatiable desire for uncertainty-- not knowing the true nature of the cosmos does not bother me. In fact, I find the mystery to be exciting and it makes me feel alive.

Personally, I find it hard to understand the need to cling to something perceived as being eternal. Even if I knew for a fact that God was real, I would still prefer to float around here without his help or assistance. Kinda like "thanks for the offer, man-- but I'm good. I'll hit you up if some catastrophic shit goes down."

And eternal life? Please no, let me die and merge back into my earth! :D But seriously, the idea of eternal life is absolutely TERRIFYING to me-- how scared and/or egotistical do you have to be to actually crave that? At the end of the day, man is just a man-- is it even psychologically healthy to yearn for 'eternal life'? I'm not quite sure it is. It seems healthier to just work hard at accepting the uncertainty inherent to being an organism.

Anyways, just my opinion-- I mean no offense to anyone, christian or otherwise.

 

[Roger&Me]

a part of me believes the human mind, with all of the wonderful creations it has given life, will be able to turn water into wine at some point. :D

Water --> add fruit sugar, yeast --> ferment --> wine.

 

[qwe]

I personally consider a high tolerance for uncertainty to be one of the most precious and useful traits a human being can cultivate in this life

i'll go a bit farther, and say that the future, the unknown, and uncertainty should be embraced (as well as impermanence, change, evolution/development). there is a place for the unchanging, of course ("the rock element" for ze mystics) but it must be recognized as a pattern of energy (like anything else, that forms and dissipates) that simply lasts a bit longer than the rest. infinitesimally longer in the grand scheme of things. this includes our bodies, of course

 

[dankstersauce]

I've had complete strangers come up to me and try to convert me. Depending if I'm in a hurry or not I'll either agree with them and walk away or entertain them for a minute.

The thing that kills me is I can't imagine doing anything for eternity ewwww. heaven or hell it would be awfully boring. I mean it's the flow of good and bad that makes life worth living. An eternity of perfection would get old and an eternity of hell would become tolerable pretty quickly (plus you'd be stuck with all the fuck ups drug addicts sluts and generally more interesting people).

It's like when people are drunk/high and they start talking religion/politics. No one is going to change anyone's mind.

I love the uncertainty of life, my feeling is that if there is a god, it wouldn't want me to make assumptions about it based on another persons interpretation. That's possibly why DMT found it's way into my life.

 

[nopipesdfw]

If you don't believe Jesus Christ died on the cross, is the Son of God, etc., then you clearly don't want anything to do with God?

Wow, you caught me!


*sizzles forever*

 

[theotherwoman]

Just last friday my friend harrassed me into going to her youth group. She said it wouldnt be all talk about god, we would be watching a movie. She really wanted me to go so i went for her sake. Because it was my first time attending i had to fill out some card with my name and phone number, and there were little options to check off like if i wanted emails from the church or if i wanted to volunteer.
The last option was 'pray for me' and i didn't check it off.

 

[nopipesdfw]

The problem is your not good nor am I or anyone on this site. All of us have broken all of the 10 commandments. Therefore God being Holy and Just demands payment for every sin commited both yours and mine, a payment we cant pay ourselves.

Yes my fellow humans, what we all share in essence is not life, but all of the negative byproducts of existence!

Send your money to GOD before he kicks your ass!