Question for atheists and agnostics

[Moneyline]

Does your family ever try to convert you to their religion? I've been visiting with my family for Christmas and I'm averaging a Jeebus speech every couple hours. Is this normal?

[Lestat]

I generally try and stay away from the subject. However, if someone insists on preaching to me, I will stick up for my beliefs. This usually causes some hard feelings, but it at least stops the preaching.

[hashi92]

why is it that religous people always feel the need to convert the non believers.

[BluffTHIS!]

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why is it that religous people always feel the need to convert the non believers.

[/ QUOTE ]

Would you feel the need to get a blind person standing in the middle of a road facing an oncoming semi to get out of the way?

[hashi92]

thats what his dog is for.

[Lestat]

I'm actually quite impressed that guys like you, NotReady, RJT, etc. don't seem to preach on here. You simply present your point of view. I respect that. I'll also concede that the atheists on here (myself included?), seem to be more passionate about spreading our logical reasoning than theists do to spread their religious ones.

[imported_luckyme]

[ QUOTE ]

I'm actually quite impressed that guys like you, NotReady, RJT, etc. don't seem to preach on here. You simply present your point of view. I respect that. I'll also concede that the atheists on here (myself included?), seem to be more passionate about spreading our logical reasoning than theists do to spread their religious ones.

[/ QUOTE ]

It's the nature of a philosophy forum. "logical reasoning" is what philosophy attempts to do. "Religious reasoning" is rather oxymoronic in that if it is logical reasoning then the fact it's about religion doesn't matter, and if it's illogical then who would want to be involved.

If somebody comes on here and say "well, hold it now.. you just have believe, then you'll see it my way" even the RCs and the protestants wouldn't buy in.

luckyme.

[RJT]

Take the question mark out, Stat. You are not one of “those” people and I appreciate that. Mutual respect and (semi) intelligent discourse is all that I hope for here.

Merry Christmas (just kidding) - have a nice, safe holiday.

RJT

[David Sklansky]

"why is it that religous people always feel the need to convert the non believers."

"Would you feel the need to get a blind person standing in the middle of a road facing an oncoming semi to get out of the way?"

That's a good reason. Except that it should be added that the analogy is flawed. Unless you add that the person in the road believes that he is not blind and in fact can show that when it comes to recognizing other objects at a distance besides semis, he can, on average do better than the ones who are trying to convince him about what he thinks is a non existent truck.

It doesn't matter that this person who believes he is not blind can see other objects. The friend sees a truck about to squish his mate and sees a need in at least telling him what he sees.