[Chronist]

They stop you and try to shove their beliefs down your throat. I won't even talk about a rational arguments. The point is that they try to impose their views on you. I find that utterly disgusting.

Any thoughts on the matter?

[PatrickC]

I can't stand the people who do it with microphones on the street, it's completely shoving beliefs on people and makes everyone annoyed because they have to listen to it whilst out.

However in terms of the people shoving their believes down your throat in general, some people of every belief (including atheism) are always going to shove their belief down your throat, just depends on the person them self.

I think everyone of every belief should just accept people who have different beliefs, and learn that the best thing to do is allow someone to make up their own mind.

[Inverse]

(Original post by Chronist)
They stop you and try to shove their beliefs down your throat. I won't even talk about a rational arguments. The point is that they try to impose their views on you. I find that utterly disgusting.

Any thoughts on the matter?

Shove your fist down their throat.

[sammy-lou]

I think with most of these people that you are talking about, if you politely say "Thank you, but I am quite secure in my own beliefs" then they will see a 'lost cause' and leave you be.

It can be annoying, but I think it's important just to appreciate at a basic level the fact the we live somewhere where people are perfectly entitled to talk about their own beliefs in public - not all countries are afforded that basic right.

For me, a former Christian who now considers myself Agnostic, I try to remind myself that when I really believed in an afterlife, 'saving' people by preaching to them wasn't an egotistical activity. In fact, the thought that my atheist friends and family might end up in Hell was, in all honesty, terrifying. Now we can argue the logic over that in a completely different conversation, but the point I'm making is that these Christians (and other religious believers) are not approaching you to be annoying and to 'shove their beliefs down your throat'. That's very, very difficult for someone who has never had a religious belief to understand.

Having said all of that, we all, by all means, have the perfect right to walk down the street without being bothered. So if it is persistent and it really bothers you that much, tell them straight!

[Chronist]

(Original post by sammy-lou)
I think with most of these people that you are talking about, if you politely say "Thank you, but I am quite secure in my own beliefs" then they will see a 'lost cause' and leave you be.

It can be annoying, but I think it's important just to appreciate at a basic level the fact the we live somewhere where people are perfectly entitled to talk about their own beliefs in public - not all countries are afforded that basic right.

For me, a former Christian who now considers myself Agnostic, I try to remind myself that when I really believed in an afterlife, 'saving' people by preaching to them wasn't an egotistical activity. In fact, the thought that my atheist friends and family might end up in Hell was, in all honesty, terrifying. Now we can argue the logic over that in a completely different conversation, but the point I'm making is that real Christians (and other religious believers) are not approaching you to be annoying and to 'shove their beliefs down your throat'. That's very, very difficult for someone who has never had a religious belief to understand.

Having said all of that, we all, by all means, have the perfect right to walk down the street without being bothered. So if it is persistent and it really bothers you that much, tell them straight!

I am not talking about speaking out your religious beliefs. I am talking about shoving your religious beliefs down someone else's throat which is very different. And no, if you answered that, they will try to engage in a conversation that will only end when you leave, or when they give you a book/cd, etc.

[prog2djent]

Man it would be awesome when they are telling people about burning in hell someone just self-immolates right in front of them to show how vehemently they are opposed to religion.

[Steevee]

Last time there was one of them on the street she shouted at me that I needed to look for salvation and find Jesus.

I told her I found him, he was in the closet the whole time but now he's come out and we're quite happy together.

She didn't get it

[PatrickC]

(Original post by Steevee)
Last time there was one of them on the street she shouted at me that I needed to look for salvation and find Jesus.

I told her I found him, he was in the closet the whole time but now he's come out and we're quite happy together.

She didn't get it

HAHA brilliant. Definitely a rep there for you tomorrow

[katyness]

(Original post by PatrickC)
I can't stand the people who do it with microphones on the street, it's completely shoving beliefs on people and makes everyone annoyed because they have to listen to it whilst out.

However in terms of the people shoving their believes down your throat in general, some people of every belief (including atheism) are always going to shove their belief down your throat, just depends on the person them self.

I think everyone of every belief should just accept people who have different beliefs, and learn that the best thing to do is allow someone to make up their own mind.

Exactly this. I'm a Christian but I like to believe I am a sensible one, even if I say so myself. I've got Jesus freaks friends who just oppose my wish to snog a girl and I've got atheists friends. I would never ever try to convert someone or say they'd burn in hell for not believing. Some people believe, some people don't. That's about it.

[katyness]

(Original post by Steevee)
Last time there was one of them on the street she shouted at me that I needed to look for salvation and find Jesus.

I told her I found him, he was in the closet the whole time but now he's come out and we're quite happy together.

She didn't get it

LOL!! I've also run out of reps

[Inverse]

(Original post by sammy-lou)
I think with most of these people that you are talking about, if you politely say "Thank you, but I am quite secure in my own beliefs" then they will see a 'lost cause' and leave you be.

It can be annoying, but I think it's important just to appreciate at a basic level the fact the we live somewhere where people are perfectly entitled to talk about their own beliefs in public - not all countries are afforded that basic right.

For me, a former Christian who now considers myself Agnostic, I try to remind myself that when I really believed in an afterlife, 'saving' people by preaching to them wasn't an egotistical activity. In fact, the thought that my atheist friends and family might end up in Hell was, in all honesty, terrifying. Now we can argue the logic over that in a completely different conversation, but the point I'm making is that real Christians (and other religious believers) are not approaching you to be annoying and to 'shove their beliefs down your throat'. That's very, very difficult for someone who has never had a religious belief to understand.

Having said all of that, we all, by all means, have the perfect right to walk down the street without being bothered. So if it is persistent and it really bothers you that much, tell them straight!

I've never heard of imaginary christians.

[sammy-lou]

(Original post by Chronist)
I am not talking about speaking out your religious beliefs. I am talking about shoving your religious beliefs down someone else's throat which is very different. And no, if you answered that, they will try to engage in a conversation that will only end when you leave, or when they give you a book/cd, etc.

Yeah I know that, but I think it's easy for some people to get the two confused. I dunnoo, maybe I haven't come across the same sort of street preaching that you have, which I am glad about! Mmmm, it really depends on the person. That's what I meant about just telling them quite firmly if they've crossed the line

(Original post by Inverse)
I've never heard of imaginary christians.

Haha, I don't really know why I wrote that. I think I might have meant genuine believers?! Sorry, it's way too late at night for coherent sentences

[PatrickC]

(Original post by katyness)
Exactly this. I'm a Christian but I like to believe I am a sensible one, even if I say so myself. I've got Jesus freaks friends who just oppose my wish to snog a girl and I've got atheists friends. I would never ever try to convert someone or say they'd burn in hell for not believing. Some people believe, some people don't. That's about it.

yeah it's horrible when people do. I also hate it when the teachings of some religions get in the way of others. Like a friend of mine has hugely fallen for this girl and she or him. They went out for a bit but she's Christian and so are her parents. They started ignoring her even though they usually speak on the phone daily, just because she was going out with an Indian boy who was raised slightly Hindu but is atheist. Imagine ignoring your child just because she's with someone from a different religion!! They ended up breaking up.

[Inverse]

(Original post by sammy-lou)
Yeah I know that, but I think it's easy for some people to get the two confused. I dunnoo, maybe I haven't come across the same sort of street preaching that you have, which I am glad about! Mmmm, it really depends on the person. That's what I meant about just telling them quite firmly if they've crossed the line




Haha, I don't really know why I wrote that. I think I might have meant genuine believers?! Sorry, it's way too late at night for coherent sentences

It is one of the dangers of late-night internet usage, until you become accustomed to it.

Why have you decided to stay up so late?

[hannaaahlima]

never happened to me...

[Architecture-er]

There's definitely better ways to evangelise, in my opinion.

Unfortunately I think some of these street preachers are focused on the bottom line or something, like they're 'scoring points for the afterlife' (to quote Weird Al). The problem is that it reinforces this misconception that, in order to believe in a faith, you need to be a nutter. People then think "well I don't want to end up like THAT, so faith isn't for me" - so preaching like this has a detrimental effect.

I far prefer discussing faith over forums or with friends, than screaming it at people in the street. In fact, seeing street preachers often adds weight to the negative side of my internal faith debate!

[sammy-lou]

(Original post by Inverse)
It is one of the dangers of late-night internet usage, until you become accustomed to it.

Why have you decided to stay up so late?

Hahah. Mainly that I am a massive TSR nerd, partly because I cannot be bothered with tomorrow so am trying to make it come slower by not going to sleep. All bow down to my powers of logic!

What's your excuse?

[Inverse]

(Original post by sammy-lou)
Hahah. Mainly that I am a massive TSR nerd, partly because I cannot be bothered with tomorrow so am trying to make it come slower by not going to sleep. All bow down to my powers of logic!

What's your excuse?

That is a valid excuse.

I am not planning on going into college tomorrow; my exams are over and I am watching some anime.

[Chronist]

(Original post by sammy-lou)
Yeah I know that, but I think it's easy for some people to get the two confused. I dunnoo, maybe I haven't come across the same sort of street preaching that you have, which I am glad about! Mmmm, it really depends on the person. That's what I meant about just telling them quite firmly if they've crossed the line

I guess I need to take you with me.

[IndianHunter]

As I am a hindu, I think that people pushing religion on to me is bad. I swore my soul to Buddah and I don't want to hear of anything else