NationStates Jolt Archive

I believe that religion is the single most debatable topic that ever has existed, so I hope this might be an interesting debate, and I apologize in advance if I can't be extremely active due to my school requirements.

For Non-Christians: What would your reaction be to a Christian asking you about faith? Would you be respectful? Or would you rather be like, "@%$% off, you idiot."? Regardless of which of those you choose, why would your way be justified, and why would the other method be and/or not be?

For Christians: How do you react when your faith is attacked? Would you explain your views calmly and not judge the other person, or would you slam into the other person with a aggressive explanation of how they are going to be condemned for their actions? Regardless of which of those you choose, why would your way be justified, and why would the other method be and/or not be?

Enjoy, or hate!

I'm a non-Christian, so i'll answer the first one. I am always calm and composed when i debate with anyone, even if they are insulting me or trying to force their beliefs down my throat. The difference is that if a person is being respectful towards me, and asks me about faith just to provoke discussion and dialogue, i actually enjoy the conversation and feel like both of us have learned something. If a person is being pushy and forceful, then i get more annoyed because i feel like they don't even respect my point of view or see where i'm coming from. I never name call or curse at people though. I think that if a person is being respectful of you, if they are listening to you, than telling them to fuck off or something really isn't justified. Just because you disagree with them, it doesn't mean you can't respect their opinion. If they are being insulting or mean, then i can see the inclination of wanting to be insulting back, but i still think someone has to be the better person. Stooping to their level just makes you as bad as them. Using namecalling to try and get your point across also means people will take you less seriously and they will be less likely to listen to what you have to say.

I'm not Christian. I am a physiolater, and my response to someone asking me about my faith all depends on the demeanour and attitude of the questioner, as well as my mood. I might be very polite, or I might be very sarcastic. It is circumstancial.

I usually murder people at the first mention of christ.

Kill 'em all, and let god sort 'em out.

Why are there only two categories of religion; Christian and Non-Christian?

Surely other religions could have their beleifs attacked too.

I'm Christian. I don't mind if someone doesn't believe in God, and tries to convince me. I do mind if they cross the line and insist that I am wrong. Generally, I have a problem with people who aren't willing to consider the possibility that their might/might not be a God. You don't know for sure until you're dead.

I flip a coin whenever someone starts talking to me, and unless it lands on edge I kill them.

:D

I'm not a Christian. I've explained my spiritual outlook countless times. I've found the one group of people least likely to allow me to finish explaining my spiritual outlook to be Christians of one sort or another. The groups most likely to listen respectfully to date have been Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs and Wiccans.

There's nothing that I find more grating than being cut off mid-sentence and told bluntly that I'm going to Hell, whether or not I subscribe to someone else's mythology.

At least once they're dead, they'll know if they were right or not!

At least once they're dead, they'll know if they were right or not!
Only if there's an afterlife.

I'm not a Christian. I've explained my spiritual outlook countless times. I've found the one group of people least likely to allow me to finish explaining my spiritual outlook to be Christians of one sort or another. The groups most likely to listen respectfully to date have been Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs and Wiccans.

There's nothing that I find more grating than being cut off mid-sentence and told bluntly that I'm going to Hell, whether or not I subscribe to someone else's mythology.
How I loathe generalizations. C'mon, I'm a devout Christian, and I've read the Satanist Bible!

Only if there's an afterlife.
Well, if they don't see a light or something at the second they die, that means there ain't one.

How I loathe generalizations. C'mon, I'm a devout Christian, and I've read the Satanist Bible!

I wasn't aware that the original poster intended our responses to be agonizingly exact. I spoke in general terms, make of it what you will. But it's my experience, and is in no way any less real or genuine than your own.

It seems I am the first Christian to post. Excellent. I've had my faith attacked on a number of occassions. People tell me their logic of how God cannot possibly be real. Towards most people, I remain calm and collective. I've learned from stories I heard that trying to force religion (espcially Christianity) down a person's throat is completely wrong. In fact, it pushes them further away.

My logic behind not forcing religion down a person's throat is, it tends to scare people and anger them. No one wants someone in their face yelling that their going to burn forever in a lake of fire. Christianity is about love, not fear.

It seems I am the first Christian to post.
Sorry, Armandian Cheese beat you.

Sorry, Armandian Cheese beat you.
It was a close race.

For Non-Christians: What would your reaction be to a Christian asking you about faith? Would you be respectful? Or would you rather be like, "@%$% off, you idiot."? Regardless of which of those you choose, why would your way be justified, and why would the other method be and/or not be?

I would be respectful at first because they aren't doing anything other than asking you a simple question about your faith, which is fair. They have a right to ask you about your faith, just as you do theirs. If they crossed the line and said anything that belittled my faith/beliefs, I would return the favour. It's all a matter of how the issued is addressed.

It was a close race.
HA! I win a completely meaningless contest! (Does a jig.)But seriously, I don't mind when people offer their beliefs. I get ticked off when people say I am an idiot and completely wrong. The fact is, we can't be 100% sure. Some of us think one way, some think the other, but none of us can be absolutely sure. Which is why I loathe most Jehova's Witnesses.

Well, at least the Jehovah's live life with certainty. A bleak certainty to be true, but what of that? Most forms of organized worship offer some degree of certainty to people.

It's a selling point.

Either way, it would end in feces flinging and cannibalism.

For Christians: How do you react when your faith is attacked?
Depends what kind of 'attacked'. If their attacking it in a serious, calm and intelligent manner, I don't mind getting into debates. But nowadays I don't bother, because it's rather fruitless. Neither side is going to convince each other. I just answer questions if possible.

Would you explain your views calmly and not judge the other person, or would you slam into the other person with a aggressive explanation of how they are going to be condemned for their actions?
Definitely calmed and without prejudice. Or usually I don't answer at all. Sometimes some people are just acting like a goat, and there's too many out there.

Regardless of which of those you choose, why would your way be justified, and why would the other method be and/or not be?
Depends on what your talking about really. But it's good to question your own beliefs continually and find the truth. I'm usually open ears to others, but somethings we just cannot prove otherwise, and that doesn't mean its right/wrong either, so I'll still stick to what I believe is right.

Oh ... I guess I didn't answer the question ...

When asked about my faith, I answer very proudly that I am Muslim. If they futher question, I answer with carefully thought out answers and be sure to back up anything I say with Qur'an - even if the questions are inflammatory.

Don't believe me? Check any thread on this forum where Muslim bashing occurs and you'll see me there, doing my best, to calmly and rationally answer any questions people may have while simultaneously trying to assuage any hatred or ignorance people may have.

I don't get angry or beligerent about my faith. My faith is too strong for that. Allah protects me and Allah will always make sure I use the right words.

When I was younger and attending a typing course, I formed a friendship with a person soley through discussing our different views on religion. We both enjoyed discussing our different positions so much, that we inevitably sought out each other's company during breaks (morning tea, lunch etc), simply so we could discuss our point of view with each other. Our entire relationship came into being as a result of discussing such things, and it was a positive and friendly relationship, that we both derived pleasure from. I believe that the reason for this, was that neither of us were uncertain or doubtful about our positions, so it was easy to discuss them without feeling frightened that our belief system might fall down as a result.

I'd tell both of them to pound sand, as it would take amazing leaps of assumption to peg me as one or the other, since I refuse to discuss my faith or lack thereof with very many people.

When I was younger and attending a typing course, I formed a friendship with a person soley through discussing our different views on religion. We both enjoyed discussing our different positions so much, that we inevitably sought out each other's company during breaks (morning tea, lunch etc), simply so we could discuss our point of view with each other. Our entire relationship came into being as a result of discussing such things, and it was a positive and friendly relationship, that we both derived pleasure from. I believe that the reason for this, was that neither of us were uncertain or doubtful about our positions, so it was easy to discuss them without feeling frightened that our belief system might fall down as a result.


Remember ... all stories, no matter what they're about, always sound better when you end them with "and then they resorted to cannibalism".

Remember ... all stories, no matter what they're about, always sound better when you end them with "and then they resorted to cannibalism".
Or if you end them in hot lesbian sex. Then again, I suppose you could combine the two if you really wanted...

Remember ... all stories, no matter what they're about, always sound better when you end them with "and then they resorted to cannibalism".

I have to say if what you claim is true, I've been seriously misread. I always thought the best stories ended with 'think of the children'... ;)

Perhaps the true best way to end a story is with 'then they resorted to cannibalism, think of the children!'

Or if you end them in hot lesbian sex. Then again, I suppose you could combine the two if you really wanted...Lesbian cannibals having hot lesbian cannibalistic sex ... the mind boggles.

Perhaps the true best way to end a story is with 'then they resorted to cannibalism, think of the children!'

rofl ... another good choice. :D

If a christian kept asking me about my religious beliefs, i would tell that christian that i'm not a recruiter, go find out for yourself. I would say that because the christian was in the phases of trying to bash my religious beliefs, or belittle it, and is attempting to convert me to christianity.

If an ordinary person was to ask me about my religious beliefs, i might elaborate, but it's senseless to elaborate for a christian. You're inviting intellectual stimulation and objection, that's ok.

For Non-Christians: What would your reaction be to a Christian asking you about faith? Would you be respectful? Or would you rather be like, "@%$% off, you idiot."? Regardless of which of those you choose, why would your way be justified, and why would the other method be and/or not be?
It depends how they put it. If they are making a genuine enquiry as to why I do not have faith, and are willing to explain why they have their's, I have no problem at all - in fact, I welcome it, as I enjoy learning about different people and participating in intelligent debate.

If they just blindly attempt to convert me, tell me I should have faith or I'm going to burn in hell, that I have to read the Bible, and that I am just wrong in my beliefs without giving me the chance to defend myself and without good reason, then it would be a case of, "@%$% off, you idiot".

I must admit that many of the Christians on this forum are much better at arguing their point effectively, without attempts to convert people as such, than many I've met in real life. Good for them!

I believe that religion is the single most debatable topic that ever has existed, so I hope this might be an interesting debate, and I apologize in advance if I can't be extremely active due to my school requirements.

For Non-Christians: What would your reaction be to a Christian asking you about faith? Would you be respectful? Or would you rather be like, "@%$% off, you idiot."? Regardless of which of those you choose, why would your way be justified, and why would the other method be and/or not be?

I have had many a religious debate and do not mind ever having such. My only problem is blind ignorance and prejudice e.g. someone saying to me:

"You're wrong because you're not Christian".

That isn't an argument as to why I am wrong, that is just name-calling.