Getting my friends to start thinking logically... (meaning, scientific, Christ)

[Milleka]

It takes all kinds to make the world go round. I'm with you, Eresh. I can't stand judgemental people no matter what their belief system is. I just wish everyone could be open-minded and tolerant of other's views- as long as it doesn't put anyone in danger, you know?

[Bluefox]

Originally Posted by africanboy

I know I may sound like a radical and all, but ever since becoming truly liberated from religion, I feel the urge to get all of my friends to question their beliefs and such. The majority of the time, they don't even bother fathoming the questions I ask, and tell me to s-t-f-u. Has anyone on here successfully converted a religious person to atheism? I am starting to get annoyed at myself because my friends are really cool and smart people, but I can't get them to look outside of the box. I know we are all supposed to live and let live, but the best regimes adopt the policies of the worst in order to survive and I feel the need to fight their indoctrination with my logic. Is it a lost cause?

Thanks...

How would "adopting the policies of the worst" be necessary for survival in this context?

I'm not a religious person myself (agnostic) but I consider my beliefs a personal matter and I've arrived at my own convictions without being influenced by someone else. I don't buy the argument that it's okay to try to "convert" someone to atheism because it is based on current logic and evidence. While that may be true, everyone in this country has a right to believe whatever they want or nothing at all. And I'd wager that just about everyone on this sub-forum is well aware of the effects of having someone else tell you what you should believe. You can't simultaneously enjoy your right to be an atheist yet disrespect other's rights not to be, even if they believe god is a roll of toilet paper. That's not how it works in this country.

As you said, live and let live.

[HereOnMars]

Originally Posted by africanboy

I know I may sound like a radical and all, but ever since becoming truly liberated from religion, I feel the urge to get all of my friends to question their beliefs and such. The majority of the time, they don't even bother fathoming the questions I ask, and tell me to s-t-f-u. Has anyone on here successfully converted a religious person to atheism? I am starting to get annoyed at myself because my friends are really cool and smart people, but I can't get them to look outside of the box. I know we are all supposed to live and let live, but the best regimes adopt the policies of the worst in order to survive and I feel the need to fight their indoctrination with my logic. Is it a lost cause?

Thanks...

If you are starting to get annoyed with yourself, there's hope for you. Stop trying to push your unbelief onto your friends. You made your choice so let them have theirs. Pardon me if this sounds insulting but there is no other way to ask this. What makes you think YOU have all the answers? I mean really!! ... Are you that full of yourself that you think you're the only one who has the answers when it comes to faith and belief in God? Sorry but I just had to say it. Guess I couldn't control the urge to get you to question it.

[africanboy]

Originally Posted by HereOnMars

If you are starting to get annoyed with yourself, there's hope for you. Stop trying to push your unbelief onto your friends. You made your choice so let them have theirs. Pardon me if this sounds insulting but there is no other way to ask this. What makes you think YOU have all the answers? I mean really!! ... Are you that full of yourself that you think you're the only one who has the answers when it comes to faith and belief in God? Sorry but I just had to say it. Guess I couldn't control the urge to get you to question it.

I take it that you didn't read my third post. I apologized for coming off as a "know-it-all" as I certainly didn't expect some of the responses I am receiving, but I'll take them as constructive criticism. I don't claim to know more than anyone else when it comes to life and death, but simply want some of my closest friends to question their beliefs. We discuss sports, politics, movies, girls, race, world events, etc with open minds but when it comes to religion, they will put their logic aside in fear of losing their comfortability. I don't see anything wrong with me challenging that... I don't think that not believing in "god" elevates me to new intellectual heights, but I am entitled to my opinion. What I really wanted to know was if anyone had ever felt this way with their friends/associates, but it has become obvious that I'm just an ideologue. Thanks anyways...

[HereOnMars]

Originally Posted by africanboy

I take it that you didn't read my third post.

No. I didn't see your third post nor did I take the time to read what others said. That was my bad.

If you have chosen to be a non-believer, that's fine. IMO, it takes as much faith to believe there is no God as it does to believe there is. I happen to have a strong faith in God (not religion). How can I look around and see the wonders of this earth and believe there is no Creator, that this was all something random? I will go through my life believing and you will go through your life not believing. When the day comes where we've taken our last breath, one of us will be surprised, won't we?

[Milleka]

Somebody didn't read the sticky. Hmmm.

[Robhu]

Originally Posted by africanboy

I know I may sound like a radical and all, but ever since becoming truly liberated from religion, I feel the urge to get all of my friends to question their beliefs and such. The majority of the time, they don't even bother fathoming the questions I ask, and tell me to s-t-f-u. Has anyone on here successfully converted a religious person to atheism? I am starting to get annoyed at myself because my friends are really cool and smart people, but I can't get them to look outside of the box. I know we are all supposed to live and let live, but the best regimes adopt the policies of the worst in order to survive and I feel the need to fight their indoctrination with my logic. Is it a lost cause?

Thanks...

You and everyone else has the right to their own beliefs.
The only reason you should be annoyed at yourself is the fact you have forgotten that.
Your friends may be cool and smart and fun to be with.
But they wont be friends very long if you keep trying to make their minds think the same as yours does.
Enjoy the friends. Quit trying to convert them.
Accept them as individuals with their own thoughts and beliefs or lose them.
There is nothing wrong with letting them know what you do or do not believe. But there is something definitely wrong with trying to make them different than what they are or believe in to meet your own standards of what you consider to be a correct way of thinking.

[tilli]

When the day comes where we've taken our last breath, one of us will be surprised, won't we?

Nope. Neither of you will be surprised. Because you will both be dead, and you need a living, functioning brain to be surprised.

[shroombeanie]

Originally Posted by africanboy

I know I may sound like a radical and all, but ever since becoming truly liberated from religion, I feel the urge to get all of my friends to question their beliefs and such. The majority of the time, they don't even bother fathoming the questions I ask, and tell me toModerator cut: . Has anyone on here successfully converted a religious person to atheism? I am starting to get annoyed at myself because my friends are really cool and smart people, but I can't get them to look outside of the box. I know we are all supposed to live and let live, but the best regimes adopt the policies of the worst in order to survive and I feel the need to fight their indoctrination with my logic. Is it a lost cause?

Thanks...

You're being no better than the religious psychos that attempt to push their 'beliefs' on others through they're own fear. Let it go. Let them decide for themselves. Accept them for who they still are. Wars have been started over much less than being pushy. If they're not accepting you, then it's time to let them be. And vice-a-versa. Separate yourself and find different people to connect and associate with. JMO. Works well for us. And the drama has been terminated.

People just DO NOT seem to understand acceptance.

[Chango]

Originally Posted by Chango

... so challenge their need for belief.

Originally Posted by Tricky D

Originally Posted by Chango The problem is that people in general are religious because they want to feel safe.
The thing is that religion cannot offer safety.
Nor can atheism.
Safety is an illusion.

Yes, this is true...which is why it's worth challenging such assumptions to help people rise above supposed needs and false suppositions. Crutches are nice, but I'd rather walk on my own, or maybe run a marathon.

That said, it's not easy and many will not even allow themselves to embrace the path of enlightenment. It's just too scary for many to even try.

But if there was a creator, I can't imagine him/her/it wanting us to do anything different than developing our minds by learning, questioning and and examining everything we have access to. If it was supposed to be set up differently, a benevolent, fair, caring creator would of given us 1 religion and a reasonable guidebook to how we should live our lives. If said creator is not benevolent, fair or caring than he/she/it ain't worth worshipping.

And if there is no creator, the short time we've got is better spent pondering reality than memorizing fables.