Conversion

I have to confess that I've been guilty of using this approach. But looking back I agree that it's the wrong approach. I remember how I got 'converted'... I was living with a Christian family and it wasn't through them preaching at me, telling me I had to be saved etc. Never once did they say that to me. It was their love, support and acceptance of me that made me curious about their faith.

religion is definitely one of the most sensitive topics to discuss. every person has different views with it, and its not a surprise that a lot of wars were religion-related. sometimes, it can become annoying specially if the person trying to persuade you makes a bad approach and keeps going even when its already obvious that you're not interested. it sure is avoidable but it should start with you since you're the listener.

Yes, the " believe in Jesus or else" conversation is annoying , especially when you tell the person no I am not into Jesus.It is like your answer triggers something in the other person and they go into survival mode. It is sad that they think they need to do it.

Hi Pirate, I'm glad your friend talked to you about Jesus. The most important and loving thing anyone can do is to point someone to Jesus Christ. We all need Him and without Him, there is no hope. Yes, the only way to eternal life is thru Jesus Christ. Jesus paid for your sins by dying on the cross. You need to repent (turn away) of your sins and ask Jesus to come into your life. He will! Once you do that, then you become a new person! You are saved! You are adopted into the famliy of God! You are a child of the living God! I pray you will ask Jesus to be your personal Lord and Savior! It will be the most important and the happiest decision you will ever make! God bless!

Teach, don't preach! As jewel said above, conversion works best (and generally only works) when you use actions instead of words. A person cannot be forced onto a path, they should not be scared into following a path. They can only be shown a path, and how the people that walk that path act... either curiosity will move them into learning more or they'll ignore the path and continue on their own... or perhaps one day those paths will merge into one. Perhaps this is why we're such a curious little species, so that we can seek out the right path for ourselves and not have someone else force us onto one at knife point. I don't understand people who really seem to think saying "You'll go to Hell!" can possibly work as a conversion tool... especially on those who don't even accept the concept of Hell. It mostly just screams "idiot" at me.

Jesus is my savior. Problem is I don't go to church.So when I tell these folks I am saved but do not wish to attend they're church,they won't shut up about me not being in church. It's like this with them.You have to accept Jesus, if you've done that you have to go to church, if you go to church there will still be something wrong with you. Even though I am a Christian,I won't push others,and I won't be pushed.

It's so ironic how 'converters' think that what they do is going to bring people into their religion, but what it achieves is the opposite. I am amazed how they don't see the damage they are doing. One of my big disappointments is that discussions on the book (the bible) from an intellectual standpoint can be fantastic, until it becomes personal. Belief spoils the discussions because there is that age old argument of who is right and who is wrong - so destructive that one.

I think the same way as you do.An incident like that happened to me too.May I ask if that guy is a Chinese born again Christian?Because I had a bad experience with people from that group.Ok.This is what happened.I met this guy and his brother and they are born again Christians and I'm a Catholic.Then they went saying that my way of worship is wrong.And they were like encouraging me to worship the Lord the way they do.The hell?This is the Catholics' belief,practice,and tradition.The hell do they care about this.Can't they at least respect that there are many different religions out there and can't they respect the way we worship and stuff?I find it so annoying.

it's really annoying. those words misrepresent a God of love. if i'd be a christian sharing the gospel, i'd would tell the Good news, rather than the bad news. i'd share that Jesus didn't say to any most sinful man in His time, "believe in Me, if not, then go to hell".. No! He didn't say those words! But He said the Good News which is, "Your sins are forgiven, sin no more... you're freeman! go, go, go!"

Gandhi had an interesting take on this. He said that whenever someone asked you you're religion they're always looking to start a fight. So, when asked, he would say, "I'm a Hindu, Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist." The asker would get confused and say, "What does that mean"? Then a real conversation, and not a fight, could start.

Many people does many things-either for ones own benefit or for others benefit. I understand from your discussion that that person was indeed sincere or else you wouldn't had written - His intentions were obviously good.. well, its up to you to accept it or reject it. The choice is all yours. And I am sure that that person would not stop his " topic of Jesus "

I love it when people try and convert me, half way through the conversation, I start trying to convert them to either Pastafarianism, satanism or devil worship. They then get so offended that they rarely bring up religion in a conversation again Although I might want to add that if you try this method of anti-conversion you might lose friends.(There: now I've added an obvious warning, so the americans can't sue me)

May I ask what kind of event you were at?

Religion can not be forced upon people. Coming at someone with threatening comments like "you will go to Hell", just wont work. I am at a crossroads about religion right now. I was raised in a Non Denominational church but I am questioning now why it is I believe what I do.

Yea I find that sort of thing annoying as well....As soon as I say that I'm whatever or I feel whatever (depending on the topic at hand) then it conversation starter should have the brains to let it go..OR if he/she wants to ask questions so I can clarify my position thats fine but DO NOT start preaching to me..I find that absolutely DISRESPECTFUL and NARROWMINDED as well as straight up annoying

I think people should respect each others religions and not be out proslytiting at all. I have to be preached at and never preach at anyone else. Respect my religion and I will respect yours. Preach at me and I walk off.

I think there is a time and place for everything. There is a time to speak and a time to keep quiet. Only God knows when someone is at a receptive place to hear about him. I talk to him like I do anyone else. And I'll talk about him to people like I would my husband, children and others in my life. He is my friend. It may be nothing more than something like 'Yeah, I asked the Lord about that very thing yesterday' and then continue on with the conversation. He is part of my everywaking minute. I don't fall down and roll in the floor saying 'Oh Lord thou faithful master, helpeth me to overcometh bla bla bla' I just say, 'Lord, help me not to get mad so fast' 'Lord, help me to understand my kid' I talk to him all day long. And if you and I were standing around talking for any length of time, chances are his name would come up. But not in the way your friend did it. I'm sure he meant well though.

oh my gosh!!! finally someone like me!!! i will just sound really bored and will just keep saying "uh huh....""yup..""i agree" but when they say...do you want me to pray for your salvation? i will be...no thanks... sometimes, there will be some people knocking on the door of my high rise flat... and they will be like... do you want to make jesus to be your lord and saviour? my dad will then be like... what church are you in? let me see your identification... he fears they may be cults... which is illegal in singapore... and so he does not allow them to "spread the message" what makes you think that the church is not just another big cult organisation anyway?!?!?!