Anyone non-religious here? Please be nice!

[Justino]

I wasnt raised religious, and dont really have any religious beliefs

 

[deb1]

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YOU were rude?? Gasp.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/10638_spank.gif

I love that smilie!!!

 

[1stepcloser]

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I have gotten this treatment more times than I can count. I have had to get angry and tell people off just to be left alone. A polite "no thanks" never seems to be enough.

I think most of us have experienced that at one time or another, Wifezilla. I have often wondered why the polite "no thanks" never seems to be enough. I have come to the conclusion that the convincing isn't for my benefit. I think there is a feeling of relief/self righteousness/reinforcement when someone is convinced to think like you (general you...not you in particular) rather than looking inward and considering others point of view. I dunno. It is very hard for me to understand why people choose to impose their beliefs...

 

[redux]

Well,I thnk part of it is that people in general just like to be right, whether it is about religion, politics, child raising, whatever. If you hold a differening opinion, then you are tacitly saying that they are wrong. Many people feel threatened by that, for some reason.

I am of the opinion that we can all be right.

 

[1stepcloser]

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Very true...and I agree too.

 

[EweSheep]

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Very true...and I agree too.

Me too!

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

I believe in God, I believe Jesus died on the cross for us...but does that mean I'm going to shove my own beliefs and feelings on other people? No.

If I were specifically asked to explain, then I would be more than willing to share but why force beliefs on people that do not wish to hear them? Why question others who have their own beliefs and try to tell them they are wrong?

 

[Nava]

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[deb1]

Some people believe in a place of eternal torment where unbelievers go. So they believe that they are saving you from suffering. It makes them panicky to think of their loved ones as going to that place. I hate how some people feel a need to bash others over the head with their faith, but I understand that it is their confused way of showing concern. I remember how heavy it felt to carry around the fear that my friends and family would end up in a horrible place after death.

What an awful feeling, I am so glad that I am freed from that particular concern.

If someone wants to convert me and accepts my request that they stop, I am fine with them. It is when the person refuses to stop trying to evangelize me or when they use deceptive practices that I get annoyed. For example, my neighbor's church uses 'friendship evangelism'. They befriend someone with the purpose of eventually converting them. That seems dishonest and manipulative to me.


Some very nice people attend my neighbor's church so I am not putting down the church itself just one of their practices.

 

[Barred Rocker]

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I agree, it's friendship with an ulterrior motive. While they believe with all their heart they are doing what is best for you the ends do not justify the means. I have a cousin that is very much like that. I love her to death but I tell her how misguided and manipulative her methods are. Her response is "whatever it takes". I love to get into debates with her though and sometimes even make her scratch her head and consider what I'm saying. One of my questions was what do we do when we get to heaven? Her response, spend eternity with God and absolute love. Ok,....... but what do we do? I don't know about you but I get kinda bored easily especially if I'm doing the same thing day in day out. I mean eternity is a long long time. Enough time to do everything and do it all over again. So if you think hell is torment, try being in the same place doing the same things unending. This is where I kind of find reincarnation kind of appealing. Start all over again fresh. Do things all over but its all new again. I guess the big question for me would be, to what end? I just think there is so much more to life, the universe and beyond than can be possibly imagined. So my mantra is take what you've got and live it, give it your best and help someone along the way. Whatever door opens up at the end don't be afraid to walk through it.