Have you ever stopped to think that your religion could be a result of somebody else's discontent?
347857
nothing is wrong with it, people jus see their religion as precious and therefore unquestionable.\n\nplus religion gives people warm fuzzy feelings, anyone who would want to come and maybe take away the thing that givesd them those feelings... well theyre gonna be defensive.
627151
yes if one acts this way they question their beliefs which can cause to a new synthesis which will strengthen faith.
828379
Did you ever lose your faith?
90113
The biggest difficulty and challenge that I have had has come not from within, but from the outside world.  I believe that we should all respect one another's beliefs and that our journey with God is a personal one, so naturally, I am continually disappointed with the attitudes and behaviors that I see displayed in the name of God every day.  I am also constantly barraged with, "Christians do this and Christians do that and WHY, WHY, WHY?!" and I don't have an answer except to say that they are not true Christians as Christ intended.  \n\nBut, I'm tired of standing up for why I believe what I believe when it's no one's business but mine and God's.  People think it's wrong to stereotype a person by race or nationality, but perfectly okay to do so by spiritual beliefs and I think that should come to a stop.
658252
a lot of people seem to view those questions as opportunities to proselytize and condemn every religion but their own.
1081345
I don't know.\n\nI've learned more about what other's think and why they believe as they do.  I've been challenged to think about and answer questions I hadn't considered.  But my faith remains.
775847
but but ... you list social woes while most religious folks clutch onto religion as a personal life raft.  whatever heinous actions are made in the name of their religion matters not.  it's the personal comfort they get from believing they're safe from their deity's wrath and the feeling of being special and a part of something bigger than themselves that cements their dependence on their religion. besides, the woes of the world created by religion are always blamed on an Evil One and evil doers.
929046
Amen. I couldn't have said it better myself, Christian here.  I believe why not let the other person believe, think what they want, I never push Religion on anyone.  If they act interested or curious, I let them lead me into the discussion.  And I try my hardest to be polite, but I do have my days, I think every one does now and then.
92820
No, unless they have been told that THEIR truth is the only truth...at that point they are able to make judgements and commit acts against "WRONG" thinking types that are consistent with their belief system...this type of thinking leads to things like the crusades, 9/11, the spanish inquisition, and genocide...you see none of us is going away or changing our beliefs because someone else says we're wrong...so INTOLERANCE is the problem NOT different belief systems.
752285
No. \n\nI have an entirely controlled conscious desire to prove religious people wrong just for the fun of it, and I derive great satisfaction from it.
961465
why would i want to change anyone's mind? if i were a jehovah's witness, then it would be part of my spiritual job, wouldn't it? you sound like you're venting and maybe you're angry--perhaps you should check it out and see what's bothering you about this forum. Peace
925204
You do have a good point, and it is something to take notice of. I haven't thought about it that way, but as a Christian, I will take this constructively and maybe there can be things that I can change that I wasn't doing before in treating people. As for my shortcomings in life, I blame that all on myself.
520179
Hardly ... it is not religion that is to blame ... but sick individuals that cause the problems. Anyone can use any excuse they want to do bad things, but that doesn't make them a legitamate representative of the religion, philosophy, social movement ... etc, etc, etc.
861058
Thankfully no.\n\nI HAVE been berated by a family "friend" for being a godless heathen... but that was years ago.  He has since abandoned his vituperation for civility and I've not faced any serious problems since.\n\nI'm one of the LUCKY ones, though.
1122094
It is true that some are over-zealous.  I, like you, believe that the faiths of others are to be respected... after all most faiths aspire to the same thing--happiness. Many of the principles of my own faith I see in the faiths of others.\n\nWhile serving a mission in Madagascar and the surrounding islands for my Church, I had the opportunity to learn a lot of other people's faiths.  I am a Christian... or I'd like to think I am.  I'm not always as good as I should be, but I do try to emulate the example of Jesus Christ whom I revere as the Son of God.  While I was there, I taught many Christians who belonged to other denominations, I also taught some people who worshiped their ancestors, others who were Islamic and so forth.  While on the Island of Mauritius, my American missionary companion was threatened by a man who said that if any bombs were to drop on Iraq he would kill him... but the experiences that I remember and cherish the most were not those of the extremists, the fanatics or the zealots, but that of those who silently lived their religions.  \n\nThe media likes to capture the bizarre the strange, the amazing and the horrific tales that do not occur on a daily basis.  It is often for this reason that we hear more about the extremists and fanatics, but I believe that despite the negative influences of those who take their religion too far, the often common and silent influences of those who live out their religions and their lives as they know best, far outway those fanatics.\n\nI once taught a muslim, an old fellow, who has marked my life and taught me one of my greatest lessons.  He had heard the news of Iraq and of September 11th.  He was not a rich man, indeed he was rather poor.  He let my companion and I enter his home, where he blessed us.  He was kind man, and showed us his Qu'ran whose cover was worn a faded with use, and whose pages and become undone and needed binding.  It was evident that he lived his religion, and had no problem in hearing my companion and I chat with him of ours.  We listened to him as he eagerly shared with us his faith, and recounted his desire to go to Mecca, which he had just acheived.  When we presented him with a copy of the Book of Mormon, he wept with gratitude, as he considered a book a very great present, and that he value of this particular gift was substantial.  I really loved our "partage" and exchange that we had.  Of all the things he wanted us to know most was that not all muslims were extremists, and that the actions of a few should not be representative of the whole of Islam.  He gave us food and drink before we parted, and unfortunately I have not heard of him since, but I will always remember him, and when I think of muslims, if ever I find myself stereotyping the actions of a few for the whole, I will think of that old man, and not of the September 11th bombings.\n\nI believe that that story can be applied to all religions.  \n\nI greatly admire those who seek to share their faith with others, whether it be knocking on door after door or whether they share their faith through their examples of quiet living.  It is important to have standards, to have faith, to have dreams, hopes and aspirations, but we must be careful that when we share these things with others that we do not impose them on them.  We must invite, but never compel others to believe as we do.\n\n"And whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do good is of me; for good cometh of none save it be of me. I am the same that leadeth men to all good; he that will not believe my words will not believe me—that I am; and he that will not believe me will not believe the Father who sent me. For behold, I am the Father, I am the light, and the life, and the truth of the world." Ether 4:12
1157862
Simple ! \nYou can pretend to be equally obsessed with some other vague religion - and keep-on speaking non-stop about it [even if you are spouting sheer nonsense, the other would never realise it, because he would never have bothered to study about any other religion but his own !] !\nHe will get 'bored' of it [and your 'company' !] in no time at all - and slowly slither out of your orbit !\nCheers !
261419
I think that it depends on the person.  My brother went crazy with christianity.  After his mission, he would take things from us that he didn't feel was alright for us to have and would lecture us about the way we live and what we would do.