Proselytizing Question?

Question

This is a two-part question:

1. If a person came to the door of you home uninvited and tried to convert you to a religion very different from the one you practice (if you practice a religion) how would you react? This person tries to explain he is very concerned about you because if you do not convert your soul will suffer for eternity after you die. Would you be angry, amused, curious or some combination thereof? What would you likely say? NOTE: If you are Christian, this person is not Christian. If you are Jewish, this person is not Jewish. If you are Muslim, this person is not Muslim. If you are Hindu, this person is not Hindu. If you are Buddhist, this person is not Buddhist. If you are of an Earth-Based religion, this person is not of an Earth-Based religion etc., etc., etc.

2. What religion or philosophy best describes your world outlook.

Answer 1

1. i am athiest... but when a religious person tries to convert me it makes me kind of pity them and their lifestyle...

2. errr a happyness philosophy? ;)  

Answer 2

Many times I could see some people pushing the bell of my house with litteratures, and wishing a good path to paradise, saving me from sins.

I invite them inside and starts a chat, by asking what do they believe- I am a muslim mostly christians come to me- by the way I start questioning their believe they smell what I am at.

then making some excuse they leave offering coming back on another day with more litteratures or a pasture who can give me sound answer. that ends at there.

Answer 3

If a Mormon comes to my door I offer a choice of alcohol or coffee. Usually, they p**s off fast!

Answer 4

I base my understanding on scripture.  Since I believe that my obedience to Scripture is an indication of my having eternal life, I consider understanding and obedience to be very important, and if someone comes who claims to accept scripture, I would be glad to gain any insight I can from their understanding.  If they come pressing the book of Mormon, (for example) I have read it once, and have not felt the need to read it again.

Answer 5

Walk right in,

Step right out,

Daddy let your mind roll on.

Answer 6

I would say "thank you for your concern but I'm afraid I've made up my mind".

I believe that religion is a natural knee-jerk reaction to the complexity of the world, but that more satisfying, detailed and predictive explanations can be found from science and that the need for an explanation involving deities is redundant and impoverished by comparison.  This outlook puts an urgency on this life to make it the best possible for you and your fellow beings, rather than giving you a preoccupation about a second life that probably doesn't exist.

Answer 7

1. If in a bad mood: I would tell them that I was an atheist, and that I was not interested, so they could kindly f*ck off. If they didn't respect that, I would close the door right in their face.

If in a good mood: I would invite them in and have an interesting debate with them. Just because I love debates! I think I would be a combination of amused and excited/interested. If they told me they were concerned about my soul ending up in h**l, I would ask them WHY that was. What made them so convinced that I had a "soul"? What kind of evidence was there suggesting that such a thing as a "h**l" existed?

If they started citing scripture in order to explain it, I would tell them it was unvalid, and that every other religion out there had THEIR holy books as well. I would point to the many contradictions. I would show them all the cruel, blood-dripping passages of which they feel free to overlook. Also, I would make them give me some arguments as to why their particular deity was supposedly any more real than all the other ones that have already been debunked.. (Poseidon, Zeus, Mithra, Odin, Thor..) I think we could have quite a fun discussion! ;)

2. Atheism + secular humanism.

Answer 8

   LOL I mess with them, I try to convert them to Satanism, and I'm not a satanist, but the look on their face is just worth a million bucks. I'll be sure to take a pic and post it next time.

Answer 9

I have had this happen many times, I have said "Come in Mr. JW Welcome my friend let's talk about your concerns." Unfortunately they never return again.

I am  Christian.

Answer 10

But it's different if you're right!  Then you have a duty to share your great enlightened state with the unwashed masses! That's not proselytizing, that's showing love!

[/sarcasm]

Answer 11

It makes me think about those cartoons where the Devil is shown trying to get hold of your soul. They look exactly like the devil, who's come to "Harvest your soul".