Religion Question

[Fitswimmer]

Jesus told us to share the Gospel to all the world.

You can't force conversion though.

But he didn't say to be rude about it. I can't imagine that anyone would be convinced to join a religion by having people tell them that they were going to burn in hell if they didn't, interrupt their quiet evening at home, or preaching AT them on the street.

St Francis said: "In all things, preach the Gospel. When necessary, use words"

Conversion can't be forced, that's true-but it can be encouraged by demonstrating a lifestyle that others find attractive. I keep thinking of my Great Aunt. I never saw her in a bad mood, never heard her condemn another soul, and never saw her put herself above another. The peace and serenity with which she lived her life attracted me to her faith.

 

[Mugg Mann]

I reread your posts.

Then please try to enlighten me again. Ok you did not agree with the word perscution yet you still feel impressed upon by religiuos messages and symbols that are prevalant in todays' society that are not part of your core beliefs, correct so far. If not please let me know bc I am trying to understand why you feel so impressed on by religion and the examples you gave of a day at WDW.

I feel impressed upon everyday with messages that go agaisnt my beliefs as well, may not be religious in nature, but they go against what I believe. I choose to ignore them and get in line that not everyone is going to see my point of view.

Like Joy said there are many Muslims out there that are probably not too thrilled with certain religious messages posted places but they move on as probably many Jewish people who dont belive in the skywriting of Jesus Loves You in the sky, but they move on as well.

I would really love to know what I am missing bc like I said I reread your post I just think you are overlysenstive to religious messages bc you yourself are not religious. If anyone beside Mugg Mann can give me insight as to where I am missing his point I am open to hear that too. I am not trying to be a pain here I am trying to point of that your example of religious impression at WDW is not a persuasive argument.

I think what he's referring to (and please correct me Mugg Mann if I'm misinterpreting) is the expressions of faith that exist in the country that believers are so used to that we don't even register them. For example, when was the last time you heard a politician speak and NOT end his speech with "God Bless America". At Yankee Stadium, since 9-11 the 7th inning stretch begins with "a moment of silent prayer for those who have lost their lives defending our freedom and our way of life"-with everyone standing. Then we all join Kate Smith in a verse of God Bless America. The first game I watched after 9-11, that brought me to tears-but I'm a Christian so it resonated with who I am. I can certainly understand how all these expressions of Judeo-Christian faith could make someone who believes differently feel uncomfortable.

I do believe that we all have things in society that we have to ignore. As a Christian, I need to push aside and ignore what feels to me like a coarsening of society. There are magazines in every checkout line with cover "teasers" that refer to things I'd much rather people kept private and the overt sexuality and foul language used in the media can make walking a Christian path pretty difficult sometimes. I'd rather this stuff wasn't out there, but I'm certianly not going to say that they should be outlawed-I just have to look the other way.

Fitswimmer, I'm going to give you a A- for reading comprehension and an A for empathy! You're very close; the only difference is as the thread evolved, Mkrop erroneously extrapolated the examples I gave to debate JoyG's point that no one impresses values upon another here to instead simply mean that I "couldn't cope" with the messages being sent. JoyG have since come to an agreement over how we each intepret "impress".

Here's the key to the whole thing; I wrote a while back a commentary that summarized several posters by saying:

"no one is impressing their religious values upon you; it's no big deal, just tune it out" is the height of naivety.

and Mkrop chose, for whatever reason, to ignore the first and most crucial part of that sentence and somehow this turned into a referendum on my ability to cope with a nonstop religious message broadcast by any and every means possible. My only point is that the spread of these messages is so pervasive in American society that to claim they don't exist is ridiculous.

For the record. I cope, and I cope just fine. One has no choice but to do so in current American society. But that was not, nor ever was my point. My point is that Joy left the impression in my mind that no such impressing (again, my interpretation) takes place domestically, when that just isn't true.

I don't feel uncomfortable, Fitswimmer, at the nonstop onslaught of theology one is assaulted with every day. I do however, raise an eyebrow in ironic observation when the same person who tells me to "deal with it" on this thread publicly bristles over a perceived injustice in which religious rituals are conducted in school, and contradicts the very same lecture they admonish others with.

 

[JennyMominRI]

I always find it a bit strange the usage of the term Judeo-Christian tradition..You hear this term used by Christians a lot, not so much so by Jews, who I think often feel very much the minority tradition and a tradition that is quite different from the Christian one... The term Judeo-Christian seems to indicate that both religions are very similar with the same focus and ethics.. They have similarities yes, but are also quite different...Yes, I know that Christianity was born out of Judaism, but so was Islam ,and I'm quite sure many Christians would say that Islam- Judaism or Islam- Christianity are very different religions.

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

I was raised as a JW, but left the religion a couple of years ago for many (many, many, many, many, MANY, etc, etc, etc) reasons. With that said, I did know people who converted via door-to-door witnessing. However, the people who converted due to informal witnessing far outweighed the door-to-door ones.

I went door-to-door myself for many years and absolutely 100% detested it. I loathed it. I only did it for the reports we had to hand in every month, telling the powers-to-be in the congregation just how many hours we put in (going door-to-door) and how much literature we placed, etc.

When I left the religion, they pretty much harrassed me for many months (calling several times a day, coming to my house, asking my JW mom about me) trying to get me to come back. I still get visits from them occasionally, but I stopped answering my door.

And to whomever mentioned disfellowshipping, yes, it's true JWs shun those who are. My ex-husband is disfellowshipped and his very religious parents won't even speak to him anymore. I have reason to be disfellowshipped myself, but I'm flying under the radar for now. No reason to give my mom a heart attack.

 

[Fitswimmer]

I always find it a bit strange the usage of the term Judeo-Christian tradition..You here this term used by Christians a lot, not so much so by Jews, who I think often feel very much the minority tradition and a tradition that is quite different from the Christian one... The term Judeo-Christian seems to indicate that both religions are very similar with the same focus and ethics.. They have similarities yes, but are also quite different...Yes, I know that Christianity was born out of Judaism, but so was Islam ,and I'm quite sure many Christians would say that Islam- Judaism or Islam- Christianity are very different religions.

I use it out of habit, actually as a way of describing the cultural influence of both the Old and New Testaments on American society and culture. You're right, the differences are broader than what that term implies.

 

[JoeEpcotRocks]

But he didn't say to be rude about it. I can't imagine that anyone would be convinced to join a religion by having people tell them that they were going to burn in hell if they didn't, interrupt their quiet evening at home, or preaching AT them on the street.

St Francis said: "In all things, preach the Gospel. When necessary, use words"

Conversion can't be forced, that's true-but it can be encouraged by demonstrating a lifestyle that others find attractive. I keep thinking of my Great Aunt. I never saw her in a bad mood, never heard her condemn another soul, and never saw her put herself above another. The peace and serenity with which she lived her life attracted me to her faith.

I agree. Well said.

 

[ford family]

I do believe that we all have things in society that we have to ignore. As a Christian, I need to push aside and ignore what feels to me like a coarsening of society. There are magazines in every checkout line with cover "teasers" that refer to things I'd much rather people kept private and the overt sexuality and foul language used in the media can make walking a Christian path pretty difficult sometimes. I'd rather this stuff wasn't out there, but I'm certianly not going to say that they should be outlawed-I just have to look the other way.

I agree with this statement except for one detail, many of us experience the same difficulties without being Christians or having any religious beliefs whatsoever. Adhering to high moral standards is something we are all capable of doing.

ford family