garys@bunkerb.UUCP (Gary Samuelson) (09/15/83)
Laura Creighton, writing in net.philosophy about altruism,
brings up an issue which I feel should be emphasized.
I refer to the well-intentioned (perhaps) but aggravating
(and counter-productive) techniques used by some professed
Christians in their efforts to save the lost.
LISTEN to what Laura says. It's important.
Suppose that you are a devout believer in X, and
I am not. Clearly, as a devout believer in X, you think that all
people should also be devout believers in X. So far, so good...
You look at me and conclude that there had you been me,
the best thing that could ever happen is for someone to
convice you of the value of X.
You immediately come and try to convince me of the value of X.
Now I know exactly what I want -- for you to leave
me alone -- no matter how that suits you. I tell you to go away. You
are convinced that I need help more than ever, and are persistant.
This is annoying. if you have my phone number, it can be more than
annoying!
Why is it that so many "Christians" do not understand that preaching
someone who isn't interested does not do anyone (repeat: ANYONE)
any good? It doesn't do the one preaching any good; it's merely
frustrating (unless you like to be rejected; some people seem to
feel that if they aren't being 'persecuted' that they aren't doing
enough preaching, but that's a separate issue). It doesn't do the
one being preached to any good; it is most likely to drive her
farther away, and make her harder than ever to approach in the future.
It doesn't do people who might be interested any good; the preacher,
by wasting time trying to convert someone who isn't going to listen,
neglects those who might. Finally, it doesn't do God any good; it
gives Him a bad reputation. Is that what you want? To reinforce the
notion that God is a busybody, interfering where He isn't wanted?
Perhaps someone who isn't interested now will be, some day. If
you want to increase the chance of that happening, you have to
refrain from being a pest. No one likes a pest. No one actively
seeks out a pest, or someone else suspected, by reason of
association, of being a pest.
And if you think that Jesus is coming so soon that you don't
have time to wait for a particular individual to become interested,
all the more reason why you should be seeking those who are
or would be interested. Suppose at the judgment a hundred people
ask you why you didn't tell them? and you have to reply that you
were concentrating on one?
If you really want to convince someone of the value of Christianity,
show (not tell) her that being a Christian means living the best
possible life on earth, and then she may believe that it also
means the best possible afterlife.
If Christianity really is the best possible life, then Christians
ought to be more respectful of others' rights than anyone else;
more honest than anyone else; more reliable than anyone else; more
generous than anyone else; more helpful than anyone else; and so
forth. Or at least striving to be.
Laura also said,
If I ever want to learn any more about X, I will seek you out.
In the meantime, seek out those who already want to learn more
about X, and stop wasting time with those who don't.
Gary Samuelson
ittvax!bunker!bunkerb!garyslaura@utcsstat.UUCP (Laura Creighton) (09/15/83)
Some people have a very good reason to proselytise. They believe that when the world ends (or they die) you get 'brownie points' for converting others. My mother had her stove fixed by such a person a few years ago. he thought that by making one convert, he could atone for all of his past sins. And his prophet had told him the world would end tomorrow. He suggested that he convert my mother, she convert me, and then both he and my mother would have a place in 'heaven'. (his word was different). I of course, would have a real problem, since my father was away on business and I couldn't convert him. in fact, having heard of the great revalation, i was in worse shape than my father, who had not heard it, since i made no bones about not accepting it... I always thought it interesting that he did not fix our stove for free. Laura Creighton utzoo!utcsstat!laura
robin@nmtvax.UUCP (09/17/83)
The article to which this one refers stated that they did not like being pestered by Christians who believed an non-interested person should hear what they had to say about Christ. Well, according to Christ, his followers are not supposed to do the above. I can't remember exactly what he said, but it was to effect that Christians should say a little something about Christ and if the person is non-receptive, not say anything else of it. If you don't believe me, send mail to me and I'll send you where Christ says this in the Bible. A lady trying to convince to 'return to Christ' after I became Baha'i sent me an entire list of quotes that support the above after I told one feature I liked about Baha'isis that they did not force their beliefs on others. Tryin' to live the life, Allan F. Perry nmtvax!robin nmtvax!perry
speaker@umcp-cs.UUCP (09/18/83)
I think it was Winston Churchill that said, "A fanatic is someone who is unable to change his mind and unwilling to change the subject." -- - Speaker speaker@umcp-cs speaker.umcp-cs@UDel-Relay This must be hell...all I can see are flames... towering flames!