Do you feel it is important to share your views on faith or atheism?

[gingerdodger]

This is a genuine question, I am not asking to promote a faith vs atheism debate as we have plenty of those.

My question is whether people feel that it is part of their faith to share those beliefs with others? How far do you take this and how do you approach it? Similarly for those who are atheist, do you feel it is important to share your opinions and in what ways do you do this?

I know some faith groups see this as absaloutely fundamental to their faith whilst others are more relaxed. I also see that those who do not believe in God(s) also often wish to share their opinions widely. It interests me to think about what this achieves in terms of sharing opinions, understanding of each other etc.

From my point of view I strive to be open about my faith, I like to listen to other's perspectives as this makes me think (providing they are listening, I tend to bow out when it starts to feel adversarial and not inquisitorial). I don't feel compelled to actively knock on doors (metaphorically or otherwise) to share my faith but rather subscribe to the view that I hope my approach to life and openness about faith allows me to discuss my faith openly and honestly. I do believe actions speak louder than words and the best form of 'preaching' is to live Christian values of love (not saying I am good at this).

[headinhands]

the equal worth of all human beings

Strangely, an honourable value that Jesus didn't have himself;

Matthew 15

22A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession."

23Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, "Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us."

24He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel."

25The woman came and knelt before him. "Lord, help me!" she said.

26He replied, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs."

27"Yes, Lord," she said, "but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."

28Then Jesus answered, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

[CheesyBadger]

I don't as I don't feel the need unless asked what I think about something. I am not religious but have faith in my own beliefs but I can be controversial so don't share as I'm scared! I sometimes feel people think I'm judging

[combust22]

headinhands- very interesting. So if all humans are of equal worth, - even atheists or those of another religion, I wonder what is the point in being christian?

[headinhands]

destroy and belittle other peoples belief systems

Just as a thinking exercise, would you be able to 'destroy and belittle the atheist position?

If Christianity is real/logical why is it so easily dismantled.?

[headinhands]

god in eternity

But you haven't experienced eternity have you. How can you brag about how good it is when you haven't done it?

[HecatePropylaea]

No. Unless my views are asked for or it is part of a conversation that developed naturally (as opposed to one created by me as an opportunity to state my views) I feel that people are as disinterested in my beliefs as I am in theirs.

[CroydonFacelift]

No, I dont discuss my beliefs openly and will only say that I am atheist if asked directly. Otherwise, I say nothing.

I am supportive of others believing in whatever they like, but I find people who want to constantly 'share' their religious beliefs tiresome. I have distanced myself from several people (colleagues, friends) because of their constant referencing to Jesus and God. I dont want you to pray for my soul, thanks.

[headinhands]

combust yes, maybe this is where human rights come into it. If god thinks we're all worth the same why does he want witches to be put to death? That's a fairly definitive value judgement on witches. He's not saying 'witches, you're a bit odd the way you dress like its Halloween everyday but that's fine by me'.

[DioneTheDiabolist]

I consider the "You're doing it all wrong" types to be as preachy as the "My way is the only way" types.

[gingerdodger]

Thanks for the answers folks, seems most people have a generally tolerant live and let live approach but with a willingness to be open about their own perspective. I have to say that is my experience generally in life too but I've found the answers very interesting.

I just wanted to answer head who asked me if the phrase about best form of 'preaching' was to live Christian values of love meant only Christians were capable of love. If I am honest I am not sure where that inference came from but the quick answer is of course not. Humans of all faiths and none are capable of great acts of love, of course it is not exclusive to Christians although living examples of Christian love speaking loudly are perfectly articulated by greenheart. I guess the difference is that people of faith see such acts as motivated by both faith and personal conscience whilst I guess for those without faith it is personal conscience alone. You may ask what the point is therefore of faith? I believe we are all called to follow our own path to the best of our ability. This is probably the subject of a whole other thread so I will leave it here.

Once again, thanks for the answers.

[headinhands]

not sure where that inference came from

Well if you hope people will be converted by seeing you being nice then you're implying that you think you're being nice because of your faith and hoping that the other person will make that connection and be drawn into it. Whereas surely most people would see you being nice and think you're being nice because you are a nice person. From a sales point of view it's not a great marketing strategy. You are laying claim to commodity that is found everywhere anyway.

[headinhands]

You've got 2 people. One person is being nice because they want you to think their religion is nice and join it. The next person doesn't have a religion but is just being nice because being nice makes them and other people feel good and they like it when they and other people feel good. Which one sound better?

[PrayersDoGetAnswered]

I don't go around speaking about religion much. I don't bring the subject up, or avoid it if someone else brings it up.

It is up to each person who they speak about their faith, as long as they are not harrassing people.

[combust22]

"as long as they are not harrassing people." yes but religion does hassle.

The christian church has its fingers entagled within the fabric of society, and the resulting patriarchial power structures.

[SixImpossible]

headinhands you've missed out the person who is being nice because their religion tells them to be nice, with no ulterior motive. They have no intention to proselytise or convert, they may not even particularly enjoy this being nice, but they still do it and others benefit from it.

I don't know where my 'being nice' because my religion requires it of me ends, and my 'being nice' because it makes me happier begins. I do not differentiate between them.

[headinhands]

six maybe think about what you were like before you were a christian if applicable. What were you like before? Any different?

[Hakluyt]

"What I do push for strongly, as part of the National Secular Society, is a society where religion is a part of private, not public life. I like to have the right to live my everyday life free from other peoples imposition of religion, and I defend to the hilt anyone else's right to do the same"

I agree. Unfortunately, religion does impose itself on my life. If it didn't, there would never be any reason for me to mention my atheism if I hadn't been askd.

[combust22]

hakluyt- I agree.

I chose to send my children to a non- denominational school. Unfortunately by law those schools have to deliver "active worship" which in my children's case inculded praying, songs of worship and weekly bible parables.

When questioned I was told I could "opt out" - I though I had already "opted out" by sending my kids to a non dom school- but apparently not.

Taking my kids out of weekly assemblies would have been cruel. They included awards, birthday celebrations, presentations of class work,, powerpoint shows of trips, and activities, but were peppered with prayers and song about jesus.

Why should my kids miss out on that just so we can avoid jesus?

[ballsballsballs]

I don't bore on about my atheism. However, I've had very interesting and respectful conversations with religious friends and family about their beliefs and my lack of a belief.

I was on jury duty and gave an Affirmation instead of swearing on the Bible. It would have felt deceitful to have done otherwise.

[SixImpossible]

head I am not a Christian. I was born and brought up in my religion. I have been closer to it and further from it, more practicing and less practicing over the years. But a fundamental part of my religion is that your actions are more important than your beliefs. Even in my most agnostic, verging on atheist times, when I did not participate in any acts of worship and broke many of the spiritual rules, I still tried to live my life by the ethical rules of my religion. I doubt I always succeeded!

[capsium]

My beliefs are an essential part of myself. They make up the motivation behind the decisions I make, the things I say, the way I view the world.

If people truly accept me, as I am, it follows they would, at the very least, be interested in what I believe...

[madhairday]

Similarly to capsium I find it really difficult to seperate the two things out - ie the 'telling others' from simply being who I am. My faith is such a deep part of me that I cannot fail to 'share' it.

However, this does not (ever) mean that I deliberately and calculatedly shove it at others, in insidious or obvious ways. If people invite me to talk about it, fine, I will. If people make it clear they do not want to talk about it, fine again. I hope that I show respect to every person, whatever their faith or lack of. I have a good friend who wants nothing at all to do with faith, and has made it very clear she never wants it brought into the conversation, and I respect her by not doing so. We have plenty more to natter about, and I love her as my friend, not as some potential convert.

There is something in me that wants to share it with everyone, much like you would want to share any good news with folks, especially news which (in my experience) is so transformative in the here and now. I sincerely believe it can make an incredible difference in people's lives, quite apart from later on. I would surely be selfish if I sat on such a thing?

So there is sharing faith by how we act, and sharing faith by answering questions and engaging in debate, by being polite to others in the way we respond to such questions, and sharing faith by being who we are. I don't believe that bellowing at someone on their doorstep is actually so much sharing faith as simply bellowing at someone on their doorstep. But I kind of understand those who do go and knock on doors - they feel a certain compassion for others and a longing to share the good things they know. I think it is a misguided way of going about things, as it simply puts people's backs up.

Someone (hih?) made a point about people of faith not being the 'better' friend due to their agenda of conversion. I understand this - surely the better friend is the one without the agenda. I suppose though it's what you think the agenda is and means. For me, I don't like to call it an agenda, but simply a desire for good things for my friend. The more I love my friend, the more I want good things for her, yes? For me, sharing faith is sharing good things. But I only share them explicitly if invited, and I certainly don't think about each friendship in an agenda driven way - I think of my friends in a fond friendship driven way, like most people would. I hope that clarifies things a bit, but I'm not feeling too clear today still hungover from saturday

[headinhands]

He called her a dog. That's not treating everyone the same. He made her grovel. That's horrid. And he did it because of her race.

[headinhands]

he probed first

Yeah, he made sure she knew he thought she was a nobody. Nice.