how would you go about converting someone?

Canada
May 30, 2007 3:13pm CST
why do you think your religion is right and why do you think its better than other religions? (keep in mind the idea of absolute truth) what made you believe in this religion? how would you go about trying to make a non-believer of your belief change their minds? would you even bother? why or why not would you bother?
3 people like this
8 responses
• United States
30 May 07
I do not go about trying to convert people. I will willingly share my beliefs and answer any questions they have, but I do not try to convert them. If it starts to turn into an argument, I end the conversation, walking away if necessary. If they are interested in learning more, great, I will share as much as they want to know.
1 person likes this
• Canada
31 May 07
but debating is one of the reasons why humans are able to advance so quickly. maybe your opponent says something that will alter your view, for the better. why not?
1 person likes this
• Canada
31 May 07
actually, arguing happens when things get personal. its still a debate if someone was to convert someone else through acceptance and understanding.
1 person likes this
• United States
31 May 07
I do not have a problem debating or discussing, but I will not argue. Arguing happens when people are trying to convert rather than explain or share why they believe something and often involves feelings rather than "facts".
@Ravenladyj (22904)
• United States
31 May 07
I dont think my personal spiritual choice is right for others....its not..its MY PERSONAL choice...but its definately right for me....and I dont think its better than any other simply because IMO there is no such thing....NO ONE religion or spiritual way is better than any other...As for converting others..I wouldnt want to...I have no desire to and I think that ppl who do try to convert others into their way of thinking need a slap upside the head LOL We arent carbon copies of one another so what in the hell would make a person think that their way is goin to work, be right or perfect for someone else? makes no sense to me..
1 person likes this
• Canada
1 Jun 07
how can something be "right for you" if there is only 1 abosolute truth
1 person likes this
@peavey (16936)
• United States
30 May 07
How can one believe something if he doesn't believe that it's the right something? It seems like a lack of commitment when one doesn't want to show other people what they've found... and I don't mean to offend anyone. That said, I would never try to convert anyone with my words alone, but I would pray and pray some more until I knew that person's heart was open to the message of the cross. Conversion to any "religion" is not a mental acknowledgment. It's an acceptance far deeper than that, so that, although I might be able to convince someone that my religion is right, I could never truly convert them (change their heart).
@peavey (16936)
• United States
31 May 07
I'm not aware of Christians taking over Europe. Please explain what you mean.
• Canada
15 Jun 07
lol...85% atheists in UK, 45% in europe
1 person likes this
• Canada
31 May 07
how would you explain the christian overtaking in europe?
1 person likes this
@Galena (9110)
31 May 07
I wouldn't try and convert anyone. it's not my place to make spiritual choices for anyone but myself. I've helped a lot of people who were already interested learn more about Paganism and Witchcraft, and some of those have gone on to make it their path, but that was always their choice. I just answered questions honestly, and lived a good life to set a good expample of what I beleive in. of course I think my religion is right (or at least the closest to a truth we can't hope to understand) or I wouldn't beleive it. but it's not my place to push others into beleiving it. my religion treats those that beleive and those that don't exactly the same. whether or not you beleive in the rain, it will still get you wet. so there is no issue of me thinking people should change for their own good. it's all about respect. when you try and convert someone you aren't respecting their own ability to draw spiritual conclusions. you can only make up your own mind. others make up theirs.
• Canada
31 May 07
spirit and religion are 2 diffrent things. i can be spiritual but not religious.
1 person likes this
@Galena (9110)
1 Jun 07
true. the way I see it, religion is spirituality, but not all spirituality is religion.
@Galena (9110)
1 Jun 07
true. the way I see it, religion is spirituality, but not all spirituality is religion.
• Indonesia
1 Jun 07
I don't think that my religion is better that others religions becauce every religion must be studying by their own teology . I think my religion is the best religion for me. And I don't think others religion is the worst for me. I don't want to make a non-believer of mu belief change their minds. Why, religion is right.
• Canada
1 Jun 07
but i dont understand how a religion can be "best for you". there is only 1 absolute truth.
1 person likes this
• Canada
2 Jun 07
k, doesnt the idea of diffrent religions being "right" or true among many people spark an idea that its "wrong" in the first place? keep in mind that religion and spirituality are 2 diffrent things. religion is more of an institution where people of the same belief come together and worship. logicly... 1+1=2 is the only truth, the absolute truth one cannot say that 1+1=3 is "right for me" because it is basicly wrong. now, one may argue that religions are diffrent paths to the same god, and i disagree, because many of the gods themselves are diffrent. the 3 gods of hinduism, the 3 forms of god in christianity, the one god in islam and judiasm etc. but, when talking about religious sects, its the same god but a diffrent path. mormanism may believe in a "false profit" according to the christians, therefor, in a christian mind, they are going to hell. that is a diffrent path not to the same god, but to hell. that is why there is no such thing as "truth for me/truth for you"
1 person likes this
• Indonesia
2 Jun 07
I have faith that comes from my God. It's God grace. So, i think my religion is the best for me. It's simple. Why? I know my God with my faith and i feel my life always grow up. I want to know my God deeper and deeper altough I can know Him a little. I think It's my faith growth. How about you? Do you think that your religion is the best for yourself?
@Kythe42 (1412)
• United States
30 May 07
I am not affiliated with any religion. I guess I'm an atheist. I would never go around trying to convince others to give up their religions because I absolutely hate it when people try to convert me. I just want to scream at people who knock on my door to talk to me about religion.
• Canada
31 May 07
atheism is having no belief in god. deism is having no belief in religion. which one are you?
2 people like this
@Kythe42 (1412)
• United States
31 May 07
I suppose I am both.
• Canada
31 May 07
lol..then you would be just an "atheist"
1 person likes this
• Canada
30 May 07
I don't believe my religion is any more right then any other religion . I believe that when one loves God that is all that matters and not the religion they are . I would never try to convert someone into my way of thinking as everyone has there own reason to see things there way and the truth is , no one knows for sure what is right and what isn't , this is all based on what we were taught and what we grew up beliving but I don't believe that God really cares in the long run what religion one is . I would like for my husband to believe in God but he doesn't and althogh I believe in God it doesn't mean that I have the right to force my beliefs on him .
• United States
30 May 07
I believe that everyone has the right to believe in what they want to believe in. Whether it is, athiest, or wiccan, catholic or baptist etc. I personally am lutheren and dont believe that my religion is the only religion that is right. I dont think its right to push one religion or another on a person. Its all up to what you feel you believe in. Before i ment my husband, i didnt really have a set religion, my father and step mother were lutheren, and my grandparetns and my mother were baptist. My husband who went to private schools, told me that i should find a religion that makes me feel comfortable, he told me of many different religions. ( he read studied different religions) I personally selected to be lutheren. He is jedhoa christian ( i cant spell it it sounds like Jew-dao).