Posted September 23, 2016
And grating on and on about the same thing is how getting tired of something BEGINS. In that sense, you're contributing to the problem.
If you're going to argue something, research BOTH sides first, present REASONABLE evidence, and make sure your audience is WILLING to listen.
I'm a Christian. I've stated this multiple times on the forum before. I'm probably one of the most, if not the most, outspoken about my faith, which I'm strong in and have engaged in numerous peaceful discussions about.
In my religion, as everybody knows, there is a God. Those who believe and trust in him go to Heaven at the ends of their lives to be with him, and those who decide to follow sinful lives are left to Hell where they continue in anguish.
Multiple times in the Bible does it command Christians to evangelize and attempt to get as many people to come to God as possible. It would make sense. Nobody, thinking there's a Hell, would want their friends or loved ones to go to it. It's an important issue to us, a matter of eternal life or death.
I could easily go around the forum spamming that people need to convert. I could cite Christian websites, post links to ministries, sprinkle Biblical quotes, and attempt to enforce morals. But do I do that? No. In fact, I almost never talk at length about it unless prompted or referencing my background in humorous context.
Why would I not do it? I could make a whole thread about it and dedicate my time to it for people to read! This, to me, is an issue more important than all the corruption and injustices in the world! It's LIFE AND DEATH!
Because I know that endless spamming and an unwilling audience only leads people AWAY from your cause. Just look at the reputation that Jehovah's Witnesses have. Nobody wants a bunch of annoying Bible-thumpers to come knocking at your door and telling you how you need to change the way you've been living all your life. People hate them and sometimes even think of creative ways to get rid of them. Heck, even I don't like them.
I'd be put into the category of "one of those insane, rambling fundamentalists", and would only add to the idea that all Christians are a bunch of lunatics worthy of nothing but ridicule, and, consequently, that God is a completely idiotic idea.
And so I don't do it. Instead, I choose to serve by example. A lot of people (although of course not all, and not everybody likes me) regard me as intelligent, funny, and level-headed. If people are looking at me and thinking "Gee, maybe not all Christians are idiots. I mean, this guy's nice.", then they'd be more open to listening, and I can sit down and have a rational, thoughtful discussion with them.
Point is, if your reasoning for constantly flooding the forum with conspiracy theories is "PEOPLE NEED TO WAKE UP AND HEAR THIS!", you need to rethink your approach. Offering an opinion, possibly an alternative one which can cause discussion and insight, is a good thing. Shoving it down somebody's throat is not.
If you're going to argue something, research BOTH sides first, present REASONABLE evidence, and make sure your audience is WILLING to listen.
I'm a Christian. I've stated this multiple times on the forum before. I'm probably one of the most, if not the most, outspoken about my faith, which I'm strong in and have engaged in numerous peaceful discussions about.
In my religion, as everybody knows, there is a God. Those who believe and trust in him go to Heaven at the ends of their lives to be with him, and those who decide to follow sinful lives are left to Hell where they continue in anguish.
Multiple times in the Bible does it command Christians to evangelize and attempt to get as many people to come to God as possible. It would make sense. Nobody, thinking there's a Hell, would want their friends or loved ones to go to it. It's an important issue to us, a matter of eternal life or death.
I could easily go around the forum spamming that people need to convert. I could cite Christian websites, post links to ministries, sprinkle Biblical quotes, and attempt to enforce morals. But do I do that? No. In fact, I almost never talk at length about it unless prompted or referencing my background in humorous context.
Why would I not do it? I could make a whole thread about it and dedicate my time to it for people to read! This, to me, is an issue more important than all the corruption and injustices in the world! It's LIFE AND DEATH!
Because I know that endless spamming and an unwilling audience only leads people AWAY from your cause. Just look at the reputation that Jehovah's Witnesses have. Nobody wants a bunch of annoying Bible-thumpers to come knocking at your door and telling you how you need to change the way you've been living all your life. People hate them and sometimes even think of creative ways to get rid of them. Heck, even I don't like them.
I'd be put into the category of "one of those insane, rambling fundamentalists", and would only add to the idea that all Christians are a bunch of lunatics worthy of nothing but ridicule, and, consequently, that God is a completely idiotic idea.
And so I don't do it. Instead, I choose to serve by example. A lot of people (although of course not all, and not everybody likes me) regard me as intelligent, funny, and level-headed. If people are looking at me and thinking "Gee, maybe not all Christians are idiots. I mean, this guy's nice.", then they'd be more open to listening, and I can sit down and have a rational, thoughtful discussion with them.
Point is, if your reasoning for constantly flooding the forum with conspiracy theories is "PEOPLE NEED TO WAKE UP AND HEAR THIS!", you need to rethink your approach. Offering an opinion, possibly an alternative one which can cause discussion and insight, is a good thing. Shoving it down somebody's throat is not.
Post edited September 23, 2016 by zeogold