Religions proselytizing is poison to society

[Archegnum]

I think that the mentality that your religion is automatically the right one and that you need to convert everyone else is just terrible. It disgusts me that Christian missionaries want to convert everyone and that Islamic nations punish people for not believing in Islam. People should start to recognize they could be wrong and it is bad to force things on people.

What does everyone think?

Christianity has always been a tool of oppression and imperialism...

i am not surprised...

Can I just say, this was mainly when Catholicism was the main denomination. The Catholic faith at the time of the Crusades and Inquisitions and stuff had fallen into corruption and were 'drifting away' from the Bible's teachings (hence the Reformation). Nowadays, they wouldn't get away with invading somewhere in the name of their religion (although fanatical Muslims seem to be able to), and would be unlikely to want to invade somewhere in the first place.

During the years of the Early Church, Christians were persecuted and executed for their faith. Being forced into gladiatorial arenas and being ripped to shreds by lions and bears was commonplace for them. Clearly, during this stage and modern day, Christianity has not been a 'tool of oppression and imperialism'. So there.

[Fascist Russian Empire]

Spreading a religion is hardly forcing it on someone. Teaching someone about Christianity isn't even close to forcing it on them. Sure, the Islamic nations force Islam upon everyone, but (non-Militant) Christians don't; not even Vatican City does. If the person involved can say no, then it ain't forcing something on them.

[The Archregimancy]

During the years of the Early Church, Christians were persecuted and executed for their faith. Being forced into gladiatorial arenas and being ripped to shreds by lions and bears was commonplace for them.

First quoted sentence: true.

Second quoted sentence: not entirely true.

While the Roman empire certainly executed some prisoners by throwing them to wild beasts - which sometimes included lions - and Christians were sometimes executed by being thrown to wild beasts, there's no reliable evidence that Christians were themselves ever executed by being thrown to lions. Dogs and bears, yes; lions no. The closest thing to evidence is a statement by Carthage-based 2nd-century Christian apologist Tertullian, who said that Romans would occasionally declare "send the Christians to the Lions" as an oath during politically uncertain periods - but Tertullian doesn't seem to have witnessed any executions by lion himself. It seems to have been an oath rather than an actual practice; much like we would say "fuck 'em all" without necessarily intending to personally copulate with every member of the group in question. Crucifixion and burning alive seem to have been much more popular early ways of executing Christians anyway.

And the Colosseum was almost certainly never used for the execution of Christians; the idea that it was a place of Christian martyrdom only arose in the Renaissance. Nor is there any evidence that any Roman ampitheatre was used as an execution site for Christians. Pre-Renaissance pilgrimage guides instead describe the relatively obscure Circus Flaminius (itself not the main circus; chariot races were mainly held in the more prominent Circus Maximus) as the main known execution site for Christians.

So Christians persecuted? Check.

Christians executed in nasty ways? Check.

Christians thrown to wild beasts? Check.

Christians thrown to lions in gladiatorial arenas? No.

Apologies for the historical pedantry; but then it's what I'm best known for round these parts.

[Stagnant Axon Terminal]

Ok.

[Clongour]

This thread is just stupid how is it poison to society all you have to say is i'm not interested and they'll move on.By that logic its poison to society when politicians go around canvassing.

[The Silence of Night]

This thread is just stupid how is it poison to society all you have to say is i'm not interested and they'll move on.By that logic its poison to society when politicians go around canvassing.

Islamic nations punish people for not believing in Islam.

Besides the fact that saying "I'm not interested" does not always work.

[Yumyumsuppertime]

This thread is just stupid how is it poison to society all you have to say is i'm not interested and they'll move on.By that logic its poison to society when politicians go around canvassing.

Islamic nations punish people for not believing in Islam.

Besides the fact that saying "I'm not interested" does not always work.

That's proselytizing in a sense, I suppose, but you'd have to stretch the definition a bit to make it even fit uncomfortably.

[Kemalist]

Religious conservatives tend to (physically or psychologically) force their way of life upon people especially in areas they form the majority (aka neighbourhood pressure). I agree this is disgusting; I'd like religious people to make do with living the way they wish but their poor mental development causes them to think collectively rather than individually that's why they always bring up "society's moral values" and such.

[Clongour]

Religious conservatives tend to (physically or psychologically) force their way of life upon people especially in areas they form the majority (aka neighbourhood pressure). I agree this is disgusting; I'd like religious people to make do with living the way they wish but their poor mental development causes them to think collectively rather than individually that's why they always bring up "society's moral values" and such.

"poor mental development" oh look another ignorant intolerant atheist who thinks hes superior to religious people i loathe people like you.

[Tyriece]

Its a poison for those weak enough to be effected by it. Yes they should not be doing it, but come on now, what about telemarketers, commercials and other advertisements?

[Kemalist]

Religious conservatives tend to (physically or psychologically) force their way of life upon people especially in areas they form the majority (aka neighbourhood pressure). I agree this is disgusting; I'd like religious people to make do with living the way they wish but their poor mental development causes them to think collectively rather than individually that's why they always bring up "society's moral values" and such.

"poor mental development" oh look another ignorant intolerant atheist who thinks hes superior to religious people i loathe people like you.

Well; sorry if I'm not kind towards people who don't respect my way of life and force theirs on me. It's not about superiority anyway; having a sense of tolerance and respect is sorta sign of humanity.

[North Yakistan]

[nation][/nation]

I think that the mentality that your religion is automatically the right one and that you need to convert everyone else is just terrible. It disgusts me that Christian missionaries want to convert everyone and that Islamic nations punish people for not believing in Islam. People should start to recognize they could be wrong and it is bad to force things on people.

What does everyone think?

Totaly agree, glad my religion dosnt do that.

[Clongour]

"poor mental development" oh look another ignorant intolerant atheist who thinks hes superior to religious people i loathe people like you.

Well; sorry if I'm not kind towards people who don't respect my way of life and force theirs on me. It's not about superiority anyway; having a sense of tolerance and respect is sorta sign of humanity.

Well idk what religious people you have encountered but i have always respected other peoples beliefs and have never forced my beliefs on people the same cant be said for some of my atheist friends who keep saying that god doesn't real and shit like that which has tarnished my view of atheists.

[The Time Alliance]

[nation][/nation]

I think that the mentality that your religion is automatically the right one and that you need to convert everyone else is just terrible. It disgusts me that Christian missionaries want to convert everyone and that Islamic nations punish people for not believing in Islam. People should start to recognize they could be wrong and it is bad to force things on people.

What does everyone think?

Totaly agree, glad my religion dosnt do that.

Nor does mine.

[North Yakistan]

Well; sorry if I'm not kind towards people who don't respect my way of life and force theirs on me. It's not about superiority anyway; having a sense of tolerance and respect is sorta sign of humanity.

Well idk what religious people you have encountered but i have always respected other peoples beliefs and have never forced my beliefs on people the same cant be said for some of my atheist friends who keep saying that god doesn't real and shit like that which has tarnished my view of atheists.

I agree, Athiests who try to convert religious people piss me off just as much as evangelicals. They are no better.

[Aurora Novus]

I'm not seeing the problem with proselytizing in general...if you think you are right about something, there's very few situations where you shouldn't try and convince people that you are right about said thing. No, my issue isn't with the proselytizing itself. It's the religious part. Same as if flat earthers tried to proselytize to me, or 9/11 truthers.

[North Yakistan]

I'm not seeing the problem with proselytizing in general...if you think you are right about something, there's very few situations where you should try and convince people that you are right about said thing. No, my issue isn't with the proselytizing itself. It's the religious part. Same as if flat earthers tried to proselytize to me, or 9/11 truthers.

Very true

[The Time Alliance]

I'm not seeing the problem with proselytizing in general...if you think you are right about something, there's very few situations where you should try and convince people that you are right about said thing. No, my issue isn't with the proselytizing itself. It's the religious part. Same as if flat earthers tried to proselytize to me, or 9/11 truthers.

So it's simply a religious factor?

[Aurora Novus]

I'm not seeing the problem with proselytizing in general...if you think you are right about something, there's very few situations where you should try and convince people that you are right about said thing. No, my issue isn't with the proselytizing itself. It's the religious part. Same as if flat earthers tried to proselytize to me, or 9/11 truthers.

So it's simply a religious factor?

Well, yeah. I don't care that someone is trying to convince me that what they think is true. We all do that on a daily basis, and it's a good thing we do too. It would be terrible for society if we kept our own pieces of information to ourselves.

No, I take issue with what you're trying to convicne me of. Because it's rubbish.

[Kemalist]

Well; sorry if I'm not kind towards people who don't respect my way of life and force theirs on me. It's not about superiority anyway; having a sense of tolerance and respect is sorta sign of humanity.

Well idk what religious people you have encountered but i have always respected other peoples beliefs and have never forced my beliefs on people the same cant be said for some of my atheist friends who keep saying that god doesn't real and shit like that which has tarnished my view of atheists.

Since when stating an opinion is considered disrespect?

[Yumyumsuppertime]

Well idk what religious people you have encountered but i have always respected other peoples beliefs and have never forced my beliefs on people the same cant be said for some of my atheist friends who keep saying that god doesn't real and shit like that which has tarnished my view of atheists.

I agree, Athiests who try to convert religious people piss me off just as much as evangelicals. They are no better.

It's rare for atheists to try to convert people to atheism, but it's unfortunately common for atheists to go into great detail as to why people are idiots for believing. They'll rarely try to convince you that they're right, but they'll often try to show you why and how you're wrong.

[Aurora Novus]

Well idk what religious people you have encountered but i have always respected other peoples beliefs and have never forced my beliefs on people the same cant be said for some of my atheist friends who keep saying that god doesn't real and shit like that which has tarnished my view of atheists.

Since when stating an opinion is considered disrespect?

Indeed. In fact, I consider it profoundly disrespectful if someone believes that have information about the truth of a situation, and doesn't reveal it to me. It comes of as very belittling and dismissive.

If you think you're right about something, of course try and convince people you're right. That's what we're all doing here, isn't it? We're all proselytizing in essence.

[Clongour]

Well idk what religious people you have encountered but i have always respected other peoples beliefs and have never forced my beliefs on people the same cant be said for some of my atheist friends who keep saying that god doesn't real and shit like that which has tarnished my view of atheists.

Since when stating an opinion is considered disrespect?

Alright ill go around telling atheists they are filthy heathens and what they believe in is rubbish but they wont get offended because i'm just stating my opinion!

[Tyriece]

I'm not seeing the problem with proselytizing in general...if you think you are right about something, there's very few situations where you shouldn't try and convince people that you are right about said thing. No, my issue isn't with the proselytizing itself. It's the religious part. Same as if flat earthers tried to proselytize to me, or 9/11 truthers.

I like this, very good point. Its one thing to get in someones face about something they could prove true, its another thing to spout something that can not really be proved that well or at least as easily.

[Kemalist]

Since when stating an opinion is considered disrespect?

Alright ill go around telling atheists they are filthy heathens and what they believe in is rubbish but they wont get offended because i'm just stating my opinion!

So personal insult is the equivalent of saying God isn't real?

Btw I'm not even an Atheist, it's you who are bringing it up again and again. I was talking about religious conservatives specifically.