Aug 1, 2019 08:22 PM
Totally off the beaten path, but ...
I was reading a thread earlier on SF about abortion, and there seems to be a religious member within this thread, while well-intentioned, going from discussing the topic to preaching about God. That's fine I guess, because the world view lens of a believer can sometimes shape how he/she views political and social justice issues. So, I ''get it.''
But, I've witnessed this quite often - a believer offers mundane phrases such as ''God loves you,'' and ''Praise be to God,'' to non-believers and hopes that it will take. Starts proselytizing instead of discussing. I'm not judging people who do this, don't get me wrong. But, as I read through the thread, this member continues to offer these platitudes, and I'm assuming he/she thinks such one liners are viable rebuttals to atheists/agnostics who are pro-choice and the like. As if an atheist is going to have that ah-ha light bulb moment ''wait, God loves me? Oh I forgot...I'm not going to be pro-choice, any longer!'' I also wouldn't say that being pro-choice doesn't automatically mean that someone is betraying his/her faith. Nor is being pro-life strictly a religious viewpoint. Somehow, abortion became this weird chess piece that no one knows what to do with, both sides grapple to use it for their own agendas, but it just doesn't fit on the playing board.
Having left faith myself, identifying as an atheist for a few years, then recently returning to believing in God (but not tied to religion)...all I can say is, no one can really ''talk you into'' believing. Or not believing. (Some atheists ''preach,'' too.) No one can ''teach'' you into believing, either. It's honestly a personal experience...a transformation or ephiphany of sorts, that one goes through, whether it is towards God or away. It just seems trite as a believer to go into that thread, and tell everyone that God loves them, and that is why they shouldn't be pro-choice. If you don't believe in a god, no one will be able to ''smooth talk'' you into converting. That's just not how it works, if you ask me.
It's always been something that's bugged me about religion...this obligation that many followers feel to get as many converts as they can, lest they be shamed by their peers, or God. In Christianity, Jesus told his disciples to ''go and make disciples of all nations.'' So, many Christians take this as their personal mission in life, but what they sometimes forget, is that passage also underscores ''shaking the dust from one's sandals, should a village reject you.''
Know when to shake the dust off.
(Not really sure why I posted this, maybe just a ''dear diary'' moment)
I was reading a thread earlier on SF about abortion, and there seems to be a religious member within this thread, while well-intentioned, going from discussing the topic to preaching about God. That's fine I guess, because the world view lens of a believer can sometimes shape how he/she views political and social justice issues. So, I ''get it.''
But, I've witnessed this quite often - a believer offers mundane phrases such as ''God loves you,'' and ''Praise be to God,'' to non-believers and hopes that it will take. Starts proselytizing instead of discussing. I'm not judging people who do this, don't get me wrong. But, as I read through the thread, this member continues to offer these platitudes, and I'm assuming he/she thinks such one liners are viable rebuttals to atheists/agnostics who are pro-choice and the like. As if an atheist is going to have that ah-ha light bulb moment ''wait, God loves me? Oh I forgot...I'm not going to be pro-choice, any longer!'' I also wouldn't say that being pro-choice doesn't automatically mean that someone is betraying his/her faith. Nor is being pro-life strictly a religious viewpoint. Somehow, abortion became this weird chess piece that no one knows what to do with, both sides grapple to use it for their own agendas, but it just doesn't fit on the playing board.
Having left faith myself, identifying as an atheist for a few years, then recently returning to believing in God (but not tied to religion)...all I can say is, no one can really ''talk you into'' believing. Or not believing. (Some atheists ''preach,'' too.) No one can ''teach'' you into believing, either. It's honestly a personal experience...a transformation or ephiphany of sorts, that one goes through, whether it is towards God or away. It just seems trite as a believer to go into that thread, and tell everyone that God loves them, and that is why they shouldn't be pro-choice. If you don't believe in a god, no one will be able to ''smooth talk'' you into converting. That's just not how it works, if you ask me.
It's always been something that's bugged me about religion...this obligation that many followers feel to get as many converts as they can, lest they be shamed by their peers, or God. In Christianity, Jesus told his disciples to ''go and make disciples of all nations.'' So, many Christians take this as their personal mission in life, but what they sometimes forget, is that passage also underscores ''shaking the dust from one's sandals, should a village reject you.''
Know when to shake the dust off.
(Not really sure why I posted this, maybe just a ''dear diary'' moment)