You must be saved! I have come to save your soul! etc.

**Serious Spamurai** · May 29, 2007, 07:10 PM

I'm sure most of you know what I'm about to say. I have a question, why do the religious (well some of them) have to "save" me, I can barely walk down the street without some bible-brandishing nutjob accosting me trying to "save my soul". Or when they knock on your door, interrupting whatever you were doing to give you leaflets saying "an end to false religion", and they go absolutely mental when you walk out of the door and promptly put the leaflets in the RECYCLING. Why do they have to do this, I don't do it to them, why do they have to do it to me, the main offenders, nay, the sole offenders, are Christians. Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Hindus, Pagans never do this to me, why do the Christians, why give up your day making other people's lives worse.

**Calvin** · May 29, 2007, 07:17 PM

Because many Christians mistake giving away leaflets and accosting people in the streets as evangelism. In fact, real evangelism is done through living their everyday life as Jesus wants us to - this is much harder than giving out a leaflet, so, some do that so they can sleep easier at night. Others are too zealous and have this odd cheesy joy rather than the deeper joy that knowing Christ brings. Obviously, people are not stupid and can spot a hypocrite or non sincere person a mile off, hence why these people can come off as annoying.

Maybe overly harsh on my part, and quite a generalisation as there are other motives people have, but that is my general opinion. Maybe when it isn't quite so late at night I'll try and give a more detailed analysis.

Andy

**rez** · May 29, 2007, 07:20 PM

Considering the way Jesus explicitly sent out his apostles to spread the word of Christ its completely understandable to have Christians who will try and convert you.

At a guess you're from a western country so i would say its safe to assume Christians appear to be the main offenders because they are the majority.

**VoodooTengo** · May 29, 2007, 07:40 PM

Originally Posted by rez

At a guess you're from a western country so i would say its safe to assume Christians appear to be the main offenders because they are the majority.

I think the only religions who actively try to recruit people are Islam and Christianity. Jews discourage people from converting, and as far as i know buddhists, and hindu's etc don't bother to try to recruit people.

**jankren** · May 29, 2007, 07:55 PM

Originally Posted by rez

At a guess you're from a western country so i would say its safe to assume Christians appear to be the main offenders because they are the majority.

Actually even in Indonesia some Christian denominations are doing similar thing too in smaller scale.

and they go absolutely mental when you walk out of the door and promptly put the leaflets in the RECYCLING.

Did you really do that? Man that is very disrespectful I believe.

**Serious Spamurai** · May 29, 2007, 08:03 PM

Originally Posted by jankren

Did you really do that? Man that is very disrespectful I believe.

Well, at least I put them in the recycling, not the bin, I didn't tear them up, or damage them in anyway, if they wanted them they could have just retrieved them from my clean recycling bin, of course they left them there. So I was right to put them in the recycling, at least I'm saving the planet.

**DisgruntledGoat** · May 29, 2007, 08:08 PM

Originally Posted by Serious samurai

Well, at least I put them in the recycling, not the bin, I didn't tear them up, or damage them in anyway, if they wanted them they could have just retrieved them from my clean recycling bin, of course they left them there. So I was right to put them in the recycling, at least I'm saving the planet.

Or you could have declined the pamphlet right at the start. You don't have to accept it you know. It is really kinda rude to lead them on like that by taking the pamphlet meanwhile all you are doing is getting rid of them and rubbing their faces in it by promptly throwing it out. Much better to just say "no thanks" and be done with it.

**Cúchulainn** · May 29, 2007, 07:30 PM

How I deal with religious people. When they come to your door or they stop you in the street, what I do is listen to them and keep asking questions about their religion and when they make a mistake, like they contradict themselves or they slip their hand, they want a donation not a new member, I just make a big scene and act so offended. It's brillant. Once I did this when a scientologist recruiter was doing free e-meter tests, I got so "offended" that I stormed off and some people in line actually followed me. It was ****ing hilarious

**Noble Savage** · May 30, 2007, 07:55 AM

Originally Posted by Cúchulainn

How I deal with religious people. When they come to your door or they stop you in the street, what I do is listen to them and keep asking questions about their religion and when they make a mistake, like they contradict themselves or they slip their hand, they want a donation not a new member, I just make a big scene and act so offended. It's brillant. Once I did this when a scientologist recruiter was doing free e-meter tests, I got so "offended" that I stormed off and some people in line actually followed me. It was ****ing hilarious

I would love a scientologist to come to my door,but I don't think its considered a religion in this country (am I right?) so I don't think it's gonna happen. I've read literature on the subject but I really would like to hear it from a practising worshipper. The only christians knocking on my door are Jehovahs witnesses ,they are like pitbulls .they just don't let go

**Serious Spamurai** · May 29, 2007, 07:55 PM

It's worse if a Muslim does it because it says in the Qu'raan:

From Al-Kafirun in Al-Qu'raan:
"Say: 'Unbelievers, I do not worship what you worship, nor do you worship what I worship. I shall never worship what you worship, nor will you ever worship what I worship. You have your own religion and I have mine.'"

Which Basically says that you shouldn't try and convert people as they believe what they want to, you are just as likely to convert them as they are to convert you.

**VoodooTengo** · May 29, 2007, 08:43 PM

Originally Posted by Serious samurai

It's worse if a Muslim does it because it says in the Qu'raan:

From Al-Kafirun in Al-Qu'raan:
"Say: 'Unbelievers, I do not worship what you worship, nor do you worship what I worship. I shall never worship what you worship, nor will you ever worship what I worship. You have your own religion and I have mine.'"

Which Basically says that you shouldn't try and convert people as they believe what they want to, you are just as likely to convert them as they are to convert you.

It is not saying dont convert people, it is saying accept that people believe in their own faiths and though their religions may seem moronic or blasphemous to you, Islam appears that way to them, and that often there is nothing you can do to convince them of the faults of their religion, just as there is no way they could draw you away from Islam. This quote is about religious tolerance, not preaching or recruiting.

**Odovacar** · May 30, 2007, 05:33 AM

Originally Posted by Serious samurai

"Say: 'Unbelievers, I do not worship what you worship, nor do you worship what I worship. I shall never worship what you worship, nor will you ever worship what I worship. You have your own religion and I have mine.'"

Umm...unbelivers, you do not worship, what I worship, nor will I worship what you worship, nor will worship what worships me worship...ö.ö.

You can really get confused in this sentence

As a matter of fact much converters are Jehova's witnesses (i would not call them proper christian) Khrisna believers and mad ufo-believers...

Yeah and in my city there are two very anglo-saxon looking fellows wearing elegant suits, walking with a Bible, they are from USA, but speak hungarian, and try to convert ppl to an american sect, something like metodism, but when I told them I am a philosopher they quickly left me.

I thought I can have a decent chat with them in english. Shame.

Khrisna people annoy me the most, they always smile like retarded ones, they are nice, but they just dont get ppl here will not convert to religions on the streets anyway, especially not to vegetarian, completly foreign religions.
No one of us wanna look like someone from India, dancing for Khrisna and all that.

Real christian priests may happily convert you, if they see you are interested in the thing, and you are already close to God, but otherwise won't brother with you. Its simply not their mission.

**Blau&Gruen** · May 30, 2007, 05:36 AM

Originally Posted by Odovacar

Yeah and in my city there are two very anglo-saxon looking fellows wearing elegant suits, walking with a Bible, they are from USA, but speak hungarian, and try to convert ppl to an american sect, something like metodism, but when I told them I am a philosopher they quickly left me.

Mormons. It's a kind of a college year abroad for them.

**Feliks** · May 29, 2007, 08:10 PM

I remember watching a video where a few atheists go around Salt Lake City trying to convince the fanatics there to renounce God. They woke them up quite early by knocking on the door on the weekend, if I remember correctly. Sweet vengeance.

**The Good** · May 29, 2007, 08:25 PM

They are just doing it as an attempt to save you from the fires of Hell. Honestly, I don't think that is at all appealing, which is why I became a Christian. My post is simple, but true. Go ahead and argue about it if you want, but I don't mind.

**Thanatos** · May 29, 2007, 08:30 PM

It's annoying, but they're just trying to do what they feel is the right thing.

Forgive them. I know I do.

**Sadreddine** · May 30, 2007, 05:00 AM

Now that it is mentioned...

Islamic da'wa is not trying to convert non-muslims, but rather inform them of Islam and trying to dispel the wrong preconceptions the media has formed about our religion. Anytime, anywhere.

If that person embraces or not Islam after truly understanding it, it's his/her own choice. At least, apparently. "God guides whoever He wants" or "God opens the chest of whoever He wants" is a popular Islamic saying based in several verses in the Qur'an.

Therefore, da'wa (informing about Islam) is a duty of every muslim. Going through the streets screaming "I want to save your souls, please let me!" is not da'wa, although I acknowledge it being popular amongst christians (it's particularly funny replying them with something like "AlhamduliAllah" and then enjoying the expression of horror in their faces, how cruel of me). Instead, da'wa is explaining, in a gentle manner, all the doubts anyone could have about Islam, mostly if asked. Every conversation with anyone that derives to something related to Islam is a good opportunity for da'wa.

**God-Emperor of Mankind** · May 30, 2007, 05:12 AM

I think in Sweden we have gotten off easy from converters of various religions atleast in my city.
Mean I have never had any muslim, catholic,protestant or any of the other major christan branches knocking on my door trying to convert me.
Only one we get is Jehova's witnesses and I pretty much tell them to **** off to put it gently.
And I don't really care if that is disrespectful, respect to me if earned, not given and they haven't earned my respect.

**Kythras** · May 30, 2007, 05:15 AM

Yeah, they never door knock here in Australia, but I did see a guy preaching on a corner with a loudhailer in the middle of the city - took a lot of self-control not to ram his Bible down his throat...

**Lusted** · May 30, 2007, 05:16 AM

Even in my tiny little village in Sussex in the UK we still get people like Jehovahs witnesses comnig round trying to 'spread the word'. I just say 'Sorry im an atheist and im not interested'.