Religion Question

[DISUNC]

If I dont ASK you about your religion...DONT TELL ME!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

This may be wrong to say this but......I have to.

Don't you find it odd that JW, try to convert people and yet only 144,000 get to go to heaven the rest have to spend an eternity on earth.

I would think they would keep it a secret.

 

[Pigeon]

I think the knocking on people's doors thing is obnoxious and arrogant beyond belief. In the time of Jesus, one's communication options were severely limited, and illiteracy was high.

God, if she exists, gave us opposible thumbs, the Internet and the Yellow Pages. There is no need to come pounding on my door to try to force your religion down my throat.

I've found that my 175 lb. American Mastiff is very effective in chasing off the Mormons. Their only danger is death by drool, but they don't know that.

 

[Fitswimmer]

I still want to know if that kind of commando evangelization ever actually works. I don't know anyone that has been converted that way-does anyone here?

 

[toto2]

I find it very disruptive in my life , and we used to have some Jehova's witness once every two months at my house in Montreal. Once I told them that I was a gay man and that I was legally married ( wich is all true ) they took me off their list and stopped visiting
A woman was distributing religious tracks at gay pride , and I had to tell her that we were not distributing "gay tracks" at her church , so maybe she should not be distributing tracks here. She obviously was shooked and did not understand what I meant .

 

[jimmiej]

This may be wrong to say this but......I have to.

Don't you find it odd that JW, try to convert people and yet only 144,000 get to go to heaven the rest have to spend an eternity on earth.

I would think they would keep it a secret.

Actually, the passage you describe refers to 144,000 Jews. That same passage also speaks of "a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language". There will be much more than a 144,000 in heaven.

OP: Our church (Southern Baptist) stresses relationships with people rather than going door-to-door, etc. Personal relationships as well as community-wide service. It's much better to get to know a person, co-worker, etc. before discussing sensitive matters such as faith/religion. I teach a new/prospective members class at our church. I always begin by asking, "What brought you to our church?" More often than not, they'll say someone invited them or a co-worker talked about the church. Still others will say they came because of some ministry our church did in the community. Faith in action is a great way to witness!

 

[jimmiej]

I still want to know if that kind of commando evangelization ever actually works. I don't know anyone that has been converted that way-does anyone here?

I've done it before, many years ago. Not very succesful. I'd be curious what % actually join/convert to the JWs through this process.

 

[goofygirl]

Yep, it happens. Someone I know was a non-practicing Catholic, and one day JW's came to her door and she let JW's in because she "wanted answers" about God. They gave her answers. Eventually she converted and started to knock on doors herself.

I don't care for evangelism. Did anyone see God's Warriors on CNN last night? It was scary!

 

[JennyMominRI]

This may be wrong to say this but......I have to.

Don't you find it odd that JW, try to convert people and yet only 144,000 get to go to heaven the rest have to spend an eternity on earth.

I would think they would keep it a secret.

Why? It's basially heaven on earth paradise scenario..Frankly I prefer that too the traditional heaven

 

[Fitswimmer]

Yep, it happens. Someone I know was a non-practicing Catholic, and one day JW's came to her door and she let JW's in because she "wanted answers" about God. They gave her answers. Eventually she converted and started to knock on doors herself.

I don't care for evangelism. Did anyone see God's Warriors on CNN last night? It was scary!

I saw the first 2 parts-I tivo'd them. I'll be watching part 3 tonight-I'm just too annoyed by commercial interruptions to watch things live anymore...

I did read that it was Jerry Falwell's last interview.

 

[willis37862]

But isn't the point being made that it is the Government that is putting the religious stuff on the bills so you cannot avoid it? It is being imposed on you regardless of whether you believe it or not.

ford family

I thought the poster was referring to people just writing those Jesus loves you messages on the bills....as for the government putting them on there, well theres not much I can do about that

This may be wrong to say this but......I have to.

Don't you find it odd that JW, try to convert people and yet only 144,000 get to go to heaven the rest have to spend an eternity on earth.

I would think they would keep it a secret.

Because they know its not there decision who is part of the 144,000 that go to heaven...and most are very happy with the hope of living in a paradise earth.

Why? It's basially heaven on earth paradise scenario..Frankly I prefer that too the traditional heaven

I do too.

 

[Aidensmom]

As far as I am concerned they are free to witness as long as they are willing to accept "I'm not interested, thank you." and gracefully leave. Up to the point I indicate I am not interested they are only doing what is asked of them in the Bible. Once I say I am not interested, if they continue, they are stepping on my rights to my beliefs.

I agree with this, but will add I think people should be upfront that they want to tell you about God, church, etc and ask you if that is ok, rather than just knocking on your door and asking "Are you saved" when you answer it.

 

[punkin]

I have never understood evangelism. Really, it is very offensive.

 

[Mkrop]

With respect, I think you are being incredibly naive if you actually believe the bolded parts of your post.

During my most recent trip to WDW, while sitting in my hotel room, I got thirsty. The money I pulled out of my wallet to insert into the vending machine was imprinted with a religious message urging me to have faith in a creation of mankind's imagination. I have no alternative to using the currency with that message, and I must play along with the predominant religious view if I want to function in a society where, ironically, the primary first law states that there is to be no official state religion.

On the way back to my hotel room, I looked up into the sky on a bright, sunny day, and there was another religious message informing me that "Jesus Loves You". Based on your post, how do I "walk away" from that?

Back in my hotel room, I wanted to send a quick postcard as promised to friends back home. Right next to the stationery and pen in the night table drawer was a book of religious dogma preaching against my personal beliefs placed there with the full consent of the hotel management.

Frustrated with that, I turned on the television in my hotel room and found several channels dedicated to spreading a religious message that conflicted with my own personal beliefs, yet no matter how hard I tried, I could not find a channel that broadcast a viewpoint similar to my own.

There are many more examples I could easily cite, but all this occured without having to stray more than 30 feet from my hotel room.

Again, with respect, you are kidding yourself if you think that someone who doesn't believe as you do can just "walk away or tune out". It's everywhere. You just happen to agree with the message plastered in every part of society, and I wonder what your reaction would be if you had no choice but to pull out cash imprinted with the message "There Is No God" or looked up over WDW to see the words "Allah Loves You" written in huge, unavoidable letters in the sky.

This is a bit over the top for me.

Now the money thing I dont know but has been around a looonnngg time so I think I would let it go.

The skywriting you do have a choice, dont look up or look away. I am glad people have the freedom to write what they choose if they have the money to pay for it. If I am an alcoholic do I need to be offeded that the bar down the street hired a skywriter to tell me that there is $1 Molsons tonight, No I read it over not or and move on. Same with the billboard that I have to drive by on way to to work that has a meesage I dont care for, I have learned not to look but they have the right to post it there, religious or not.

The channels thing is over the top too. My goodness in this day and age, you have hundreds of channels to view from, should the nonsports fan be offended bc there 4 football games, on plus playoff baseball and ESPN, Holy mackeral! If your viewpoint could gather viewers and ratings and advertisers then it would be on TV, no one is stopping anyone from having a station like this.

We are all bombarded with messages we dont agee with everyday in our society but I have the choice not to look, watch or read said messages.

I do believe what Joy posted I dont think our country has any clue about religious persucution and from those examples you gave neither do you!

 

[LadyShiva]

With all due respect to all of the posters on this thread, I think religious persecution is in the eye of the beholder.

To an atheist, there is an extreme amount of persecution.

To an evangelical, there is an extreme amount of persecution.

How are these 2 scenarios logically possible? Because we all hold on to our own version of "facts."

An atheist sees a preponderance of religious dogma in society, whereas an evangelical might see attacks on his dogma in the form of legalized abortion, legalized divorce, women working outside of their hearth and home, etc, etc.

It just depends on what side of the religious spectrum you judge from, and how long your memory goes back.

Personally, I dislike being interrrupted at work (I work from home) frequently to answer my door. I support religious tolerance, and I support the LDS and JW churches' right to their religion, but by golly, do they always have to ring my door repeatedly, and then follow that with knocking several times??? Yes, I am at home; no, I'm not available! I'm on a conference call!!!

Brandie

 

[Ride Junkie]

If you need to solicit your religion door-to-door, you must be hard up for members.

No thanks!

 

[ford family]

This is a bit over the top for me.

Now the money thing I dont know but has been around a looonnngg time so I think I would let it go.

I don't think less than fifty years is "a looonnngg time" but you may have your own perspective.

ford family

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Because they know its not there decision who is part of the 144,000 that go to heaven...and most are very happy with the hope of living in a paradise earth.

Ahhh...so it is "paradise earth" they will be living in. Now it makes sense.

 

[JoyG]

I understand what you're saying, and I do the same out of necessity.

I wanted to give another perspective on JoyG's first sentence in her post that I commented on;



and my response was meant to convey that I do indeed.

Again, when it's your (speaking in the general sense, and not to you individually Fitswimmer) viewpoint plastered everywhere, you tend not to notice it as much, or when you do, you don't think of it as a big deal.

Just my two cents....as our mutual friend LuvDuke is often fond of saying, YMMV!

I agree that our country operates with an assumption of judeao (sp?) christian values. That assumption could be seen as "impressing" our religion on those who don't hold those beliefs.

However, my comment was in regards to impressing your faith on someone to the point of it being immoral.

I don't think you've had christianity impressed on you as much as if you lived in other less free countries. I think there are many countries that you'd feel a lot more pressure than here if your beliefs didn't line up with the standard. I think the pressure you might feel in other countries could be considered immoral. And that was the point of my post.

 

[JoyG]

I wonder what your reaction would be if you had no choice but to pull out cash imprinted with the message "There Is No God" or looked up over WDW to see the words "Allah Loves You" written in huge, unavoidable letters in the sky.

As long as they aren't telling me to convert or die, I'd walk away or tune out.