Why do you care if people believe your god tales?

[Zzyzx]

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Why do you care if people believe your god tales?

From a current thread:

Holding a negative view of atheists seems to be a requirement to bolster up some theologies. Holding a realistic view would cause to many cherished doctrines to crash to the ground.

"It is all a big conspiracy. The five percent (5%) who are Atheists are ganged up against we seventy percent (70%) who are Christians -- and they have a bunch of smart people and scientists on their side."

Of course, the spread of non-belief threatens the livelihood and status of preachers. But, why does it seem to so upset everyday believers? Does disbelief of others affect their own beliefs?

[Muffinmayne]

[Replying to Zzyzx in post #100]

Well we aren’t agreeing. I don’t think the removal of anything is necessary. When someone tells me they scared children into believing using hell I don’t think it needs to be removed. I think why are you trying to scare people into believing? Just because there’s consequences for your actions doesn’t mean you have to threaten people. You can want to be a good person for the sake of being a good person.

Again I don’t think Hell us a scare tactic. It’s not a tactic at all. We aren’t playing a game. It’s just a consequence of ones actions.

[brunumb]

You can want to be a good person for the sake of being a good person.

Again I don’t think Hell us a scare tactic. It’s not a tactic at all. We aren’t playing a game. It’s just a consequence of ones actions.

You can want to be a good person and try to be a good person without the slightest reference to Christianity. I have found that the fall back position when people don't buy into the religion is invariably the threat of eternal damnation. It is most definitely a scare tactic.

[Muffinmayne]

[Replying to brunumb in post #102]

Sure you can want to be a good person and not be Christian, but that has nothing to do with what I said. Especially when you take this topic as a whole in it’s full context, so I’m not really sure what you’re trying to get at.

[Zzyzx]

Well we aren’t agreeing. I don’t think the removal of anything is necessary.

Of course an Apologist isn't likely to agree with removing all reference to punishment by 'God' in an 'afterlife' OR letting people make a reasoned decision based on verifiable information. If that happened, the decline of Christianity would be even more rapid.

When someone tells me they scared children into believing using hell I don’t think it needs to be removed.

Is this to say that you approve of scaring children with threats of 'hell' (that has not been shown to be anything more than imaginary)?

I think why are you trying to scare people into believing? Just because there’s consequences for your actions doesn’t mean you have to threaten people.

'One more time and you're going to suffer' – is that or is that not a threat?

You can want to be a good person for the sake of being a good person.

This is demonstrated by 'good' people who are not motivated to be 'good' by religion.

Again I don’t think Hell us a scare tactic. It’s not a tactic at all. We aren’t playing a game. It’s just a consequence of ones actions.

Do you KNOW that 'hell' a REAL consequence of actions – and not just an imaginary construct?

[Muffinmayne]

[Replying to Zzyzx in post #104]

Let me say that half the time I’m half asleep when responding so some of the words may get jumbled.

No I don’t approve of scaring children or anyone. My point is that’s unnecessary. People should choose to want to seek God and good for the sake of being good.

Idk what you’re referring to by “one more time and you’re going to suffer.” Who says that in the Bible?

Never been to or seen hell.

[brunumb]

[Replying to brunumb in post #102]

Sure you can want to be a good person and not be Christian, but that has nothing to do with what I said. Especially when you take this topic as a whole in it’s full context, so I’m not really sure what you’re trying to get at.

It has everything to do with what you said:

Muffinmayne wrote: ↑
Sat Jun 27, 2020 7:13 am
You can want to be a good person for the sake of being a good person.

Again I don’t think Hell us a scare tactic. It’s not a tactic at all. We aren’t playing a game. It’s just a consequence of ones actions.

The topic is "Why do you care if people believe your god tales?". Proselytisers obviously care, but it is not just caring about getting someone to be a good person. You have to buy into their particular religion and then toe the party line. Invariably, to clinch the deal, the threat of eternal damnation comes up for those who don't succumb to the soft sell. It's meant to carry persuasive power. Being a good person is clearly not enough. If you don't join the club you are going to suffer the consequences. Preachers flog that all the time, and it works really well with children and people who are vulnerable for one reason or another.

[brunumb]

People should choose to want to seek God and good for the sake of being good.

I still don't get why you need to seek God. It's not that you really find God, you just acquire a belief in it.

[Muffinmayne]

[Replying to brunumb in post #107]

Who said need? You ask a question. Get an answer, then start adding more restrictions and stipulations onto the original question because you don’t like the answer given.

Again why even ask the question if you’re gonna do that?

[Overcomer]

brunumb wrote:

The topic is "Why do you care if people believe your god tales?". Proselytisers obviously care, but it is not just caring about getting someone to be a good person. You have to buy into their particular religion and then toe the party line. Invariably, to clinch the deal, the threat of eternal damnation comes up for those who don't succumb to the soft sell. It's meant to carry persuasive power. Being a good person is clearly not enough. If you don't join the club you are going to suffer the consequences. Preachers flog that all the time, and it works really well with children and people who are vulnerable for one reason or another.

I'm sorry, but I don't think you understand what Christianity is about at all. It's about entering into a relationship with God through the person of Jesus Christ by means of the Holy Spirit.

It isn't about wanting to get someone to be a good person by following a bunch of rules. It's about wanting to help someone re-establish that relationship with God, a relationship that has been broken by sin.

It isn't about threatening people into the Kingdom of God. It's about loving them. If your experience with Christianity has been otherwise, then you have been in the wrong church.

[Zzyzx]

I'm sorry, but I don't think you understand what Christianity is about at all.

Perhaps you are not aware that there are tens of thousands of 'Christian' denominations -- many of which disagree vigorously with one another regarding issues of beliefs, dogma, dogma, tradition, ritual, and even literature.

It's about entering into a relationship with God through the person of Jesus Christ by means of the Holy Spirit.

Does this speak for all of Christianity?

Are you not aware that some Christian denominations are non-trinitarian? Those include Mormonism - Latter-day Saints, Jehovah's Witnesses, Christian Science, Armstrongism, Christadelphians, Oneness Pentecostals, Unification Church, Unity School of Christianity, Scientology - Dianetics

BTW, for those who are unaware, "Nontrinitarianism is a form of Christianity that rejects the mainstream Christian doctrine of the Trinity—the teaching that God is three distinct hypostases or persons who are coeternal, coequal, and indivisibly united in one being, or essence".

If your experience with Christianity has been otherwise, then you have been in the wrong church.

Who, exactly, is authorized to say which Christian denominations (or which religions in general) are WRONG?