Poll: Do you think you can convert a believer?

[martyrdrebel27]

aren't missionaries trained in this EXACT field? i mean, as a borderline agnostic/atheist (i don't believe in god, but i also know that i have no way of proving i'm 100% right, so i can't say there isn't) i enjoy the debates and offering new perspectives, but at the end of the day losing your faith is a deeply personal experience that no single person can be forced into. It has to come when you're ready.

 

[staika]

No I never try to convert people into believing what I do because I don't want to waste my precious time trying to convert someone to being christian. Besides I'm already not the best Christian out there so I don't I could convert many followers.

 

[StANDY1338]

I don't think people should make others think anything they don't want to.

 

[Slash Dementia]

Sometimes people need it shouted to them--I wouldn't do that--, and some people can simply be talked to. Different things work for different people. If you shout, they'll most likely stop paying attention to you and it'll turn into a "who's louder" argument, and if you do that, and explain yourself, it'll probably still have the same effect.

As for me, I wouldn't try to convert someone. I'm too accepting/uncaring of people's beliefs.

 

[PureChaos]

you can but it will take more than just shouting at them. most of the time it will be a personal experience that will make them lose their own belief

 

[Alphakirby]

Even if I could, why on earth would I bother?

Exactly,it's pretty arrogant to think that you're opinion is the only true one,everyone has their beliefs and trying to alter them is not going to change anything.

Besides,who really KNOWS what's at the end.

 

[CrawlingPastaHellion]

Here we go again...

 

[synobal]

Faith is holding something as truth despite evidence or lack of evidence otherwise. You can't sway the truly faithful with any sort of reason or argument. It's impossible and I have better thing to waste my time on as a rule.

 

[FalloutJack]

I have to go with depends. And I say that because conversion DOES happen, or else there wouldn't be a term for it. QED.

Now, could someone convert this from gaming discussion to religion please?

 

[MoNKeyYy]

Don't most christian just shout your wrong till ppl follow what they say anyway?

Bah, bro, don't most muslim people like fly shit into buildings and blow people up?

Seriously man, I think you need to think a little about this kind of stuff before you make an unfair generalization about a third of the earth's population. I know it's been said by other people too, but c'mon dude.

Do you realise how short sighted this sounds?

Global warming is an inconvenient truth, as are a loooooot of problems in today's world, should we just let people think whatever the fuck they want about them?

Umm yes? Freedom mate. I believe that no single virtue on this planet is more important than freedom. Earth and the ecosystem will be around long after people are gone, so I don't believe that anyone should be forced to do things. Now that said, I'm not an anti-environmentalist or anything and I definately believe in limiting pollution and encouraging conservation and reducing ecological footprint but I would never force people to do those things.

OT: Maybe. I really couldn't say. If I had to give an answer I would say in general, yes. But of course there are some cases that are so firmly rooted in their beliefs that the ghost of Jimi Hendrix could slap them across the tits with a solid gold xylophone and I would still have no idea where I'm going with this statement.

 

[teisjm]

No, i don't think so, especially not online.

Beeing converted usually involves giving up your own previous beliefs, be they relegious, political, 360/ps3 fanboyism in the consolewar, in favor of the new ones, thus acknowledgeing the inferriority of your previous choice.
This will for many people be like admitting a fault, say "i was wrong, you were right" and it makes some peopel feel really stupid, and feel like they're beeing submissive to whoever converting, somehow acknowledgeing their superriority, and in turn, their of inferriority.

 

[Evil Top Hat]

Non believers tend to base their beliefs on logic, and aruge with believers by using that logic, whereas believers do exactly the same, only with faith. However, faith and logic are polar opposites, and totally incompatible, that's why most religious debates end up in a immovable force, unstoppable object scenario.

 

[NickKuroshi0]

Atheism is the rejection of belief not "lack of", if it is lack of belief then it is probably indifference.

 

[omega 616]

I can't speak for others, but I'll never not believe.

Nothing can change my belief. I "know" God exists.

How come you put "know" in that way? Makes me think you want know rather than believe.

I want to have faith and all that stuff but the more I think about god the more I think there isn't one.

People believe what they believe, trying to change that is a hard process unless there very weak willed, so even if you do convert them are they really converted or just following what you say?

 

[crudus]

Yes, but the circumstances for me to try have to be pretty specific.

Don't most christian just shout your wrong till ppl follow what they say anyway?

Or just use Pascal's Wager in my experience at least.

 

[Anarchemitis]

One principle that can be gleaned from the bible is the fact that nothing about conversion in Christianity is supposed to be metric or systematic. Its stated, and repeated repeatedly that it's relational. God doesn't want to be an idol or an idea or a dowding father, he wants to be a friend and lover.