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Question to believers of different faiths

Hermit Philosopher

Selflessly here for you
A very easy question.

How do you feel/react if someone from a different faith wishes to read from their Scripture to you? Do you listen with interest or do you ask them to leave you alone?

Personally I have been both stopped on the street, or asked to come to their church or temple to listen to their preaching, and if I can I always say yes to listen to them. And even have a calm discussion on the topic they speak about.


That depends.

I won’t listen to Scientologists (sorry) because a) they only have one thing to offer (their personality test) and it’s designed to lure you into taking their self-improvement courses and end up working long hours for their “church” in order to pay for them (courses) and b) I have no interest in extraterrestrials.


Humbly
Hermit
 

The Crimson Universe

Active Member
Personally I read the quran and sufi scriptures, that does of course not mean those would be the choice of @Greg Levenski :)

Actually, those are on my "Reading List". :)
There are a couple of books on "Sufism for beginners" that i wish to grab in the future.

I've read before that Sufism has certain things in common with the devotional sect of Hinduism. I don't remember now what they are, but its definitely worth studying. :)
 

Spirit of Light

Be who ever you want
That depends.

I won’t listen to Scientologists (sorry) because a) they only have one thing to offer (their personality test) and it’s designed to lure you into taking their self-improvement courses and end up working long hours for their “church” in order to pay for them (courses) and b) I have no interest in extraterrestrials.


Humbly
Hermit
I did speak with scientology members once, and as you say, they were more interested in testing me their way, than any form of belief.
 
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Spirit of Light

Be who ever you want
Actually, those are on my "Reading List". :)
There are a couple of books on "Sufism for beginners" that i wish to grab in the future.

I've read before that Sufism has certain things in common with the devotional sect of Hinduism. I don't remember now what they are, but its definitely worth studying. :)
Part of sufi teaching can be found in other faiths too, that is true :)
 

Clara Tea

Well-Known Member
A very easy question.

How do you feel/react if someone from a different faith wishes to read from their Scripture to you? Do you listen with interest or do you ask them to leave you alone?

Personally I have been both stopped on the street, or asked to come to their church or temple to listen to their preaching, and if I can I always say yes to listen to them. And even have a calm discussion on the topic they speak about.

I can use you to practice with my voodoo doll. Thank you for being so cooperative. Also, I think I have to get a new assistant for "trial by fire".....I think I lost the last one.
 

Clara Tea

Well-Known Member
I would quickly explain to them that my theology is my own business and I don't need their input.

But then they tell me that they will pray against me. So, I think that I need to take an exorcist with me next time I talk to them.
 

Clara Tea

Well-Known Member
That depends.

I won’t listen to Scientologists (sorry) because a) they only have one thing to offer (their personality test) and it’s designed to lure you into taking their self-improvement courses and end up working long hours for their “church” in order to pay for them (courses) and b) I have no interest in extraterrestrials.


Humbly
Hermit
EST promises your hearts desires. They have been accused of taking all of their victim's money, enslaving them, and using the opposite sex to lure them. They are a well known cult.

EST (by Erhard) and Scientology (by L. Ron Hubbar) are very similar:

Founder of est Targeted in Campaign by Scientologists : Religion: Competition for customers is said to be the motive behind effort to discredit Werner Erhard.

According to the website above: "Erhard had begun his own movement in the fall of 1971. He called it Erhard Seminars Training--est--and in the years that followed, the organization expanded rapidly as thousands flocked to his sessions. ... The next day Hubbard wrote a four-page analysis of the program, saying est was essentially Scientology “up to 1954.”"

Scientology: The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power

According to the website above, "
Scientology poses as a religion but really is a ruthless global scam"

Scientology's Crimes | Scientology Lies

According to the website above,

"Pending charges against more than 100 of its overseas church members include fraud, extortion, capital flight, coercion, illegally practicing medicine and taking advantage of mentally incapacitated people.""

Operation Snow White - Wikipedia

According to the Wikipedia website above:

"
Operation Snow White was a criminal conspiracy by the Church of Scientology during the 1970s to purge unfavorable records about Scientology and its founder, L. Ron Hubbard. This project included a series of infiltrations into and thefts from 136 government agencies, foreign embassies and consulates, as well as private organizations critical of Scientology, carried out by Church members in more than 30 countries.[1] It was one of the largest infiltrations of the United States government in history,[2] with up to 5,000 covert agents.[3] ..... Under this program, Scientology operatives committed infiltration, wiretapping, and theft of documents in government offices, most notably those of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. "

Of course, far more problems were identified, but I don't want to belabor this.
 

Hockeycowboy

Witness for Jehovah
Premium Member
As one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, I always enjoy reasonable and friendly Bible discussions. We consider Jesus’ words at Matthew 28:19-20, a command. We love talking about what God’s Kingdom is going to do for mankind...it really is “good news”! Matthew 24:14
But I rarely find anyone who initiates any conversation about the Bible.
 

SalixIncendium

अग्निविलोवनन्दः
Staff member
Premium Member
A very easy question.

How do you feel/react if someone from a different faith wishes to read from their Scripture to you? Do you listen with interest or do you ask them to leave you alone?

Personally I have been both stopped on the street, or asked to come to their church or temple to listen to their preaching, and if I can I always say yes to listen to them. And even have a calm discussion on the topic they speak about.

It depends upon their intent.

If they want to share something they feel is profound that has impacted their life and are eager to share it with someone, I listen. and if appropriate, discuss.

If their intent is to convince me that I should change my views in accordance with their scripture, I politely decline and tell them I'm quite stable in my views.
 

Vinayaka

devotee
Premium Member
A very easy question.

How do you feel/react if someone from a different faith wishes to read from their Scripture to you? Do you listen with interest or do you ask them to leave you alone?

Personally I have been both stopped on the street, or asked to come to their church or temple to listen to their preaching, and if I can I always say yes to listen to them. And even have a calm discussion on the topic they speak about.

I can't see it happening to me ever, so it's pretty much a hypothetical. Last time it happened was when I had the Mormon kids from the former missionary house across the back fence over for a meal. I chanted my Sanskrit food blessing, and they read something er other.

But if it wasn't mutual or agreed upon beforehand, I'd say nothing at all, and walk away. Astoundingly rude, aggressive, presumptive behaviour, in my view.
 

Link

Veteran Member
Premium Member
A very easy question.

How do you feel/react if someone from a different faith wishes to read from their Scripture to you? Do you listen with interest or do you ask them to leave you alone?

Personally I have been both stopped on the street, or asked to come to their church or temple to listen to their preaching, and if I can I always say yes to listen to them. And even have a calm discussion on the topic they speak about.

Scripture to me, can be discussed in many settings. However, people should not bug people about it.
 

Sirona

Hindu Wannabe
Personally I have been both stopped on the street, or asked to come to their church or temple to listen to their preaching, and if I can I always say yes to listen to them. And even have a calm discussion on the topic they speak about.

It's a sign of our modern society that you can be "invited" by all kinds of religions. Personally, I was stopped on the street by JW's and Mormons.

How do you feel/react if someone from a different faith wishes to read from their Scripture to you? Do you listen with interest or do you ask them to leave you alone?

By itself, reading aloud a verse from a scripture is fine. The problem I see is more about when that verse is used merely to have a conversation starter, e.g., "The Bible says God will wipe away all tears - What do you think about that?" I find that unethical, but people who use such methods will certainly have a different opinion :D about that. However, you can always say, thank you, and close the door.

If I were interested in proselytizing, as a missionary, I would not ask a question or make a statement that is unknown to the person being proselytized, because then the missionary would have a knowledge advantage and the person being proselytized might feel "stupid".
 

SA Huguenot

Well-Known Member
Personally I read the quran and sufi scriptures, that does of course not mean those would be the choice of @Greg Levenski :)
I did the Bible, more than 10 times, the Quran, 4 different english translations, therefor 4 times, the Book of Mormon, and summarised the Hadith and studied JW's.
It helps a lot to understand the different religios views from these adherands.
And you quickly learn that there are religions and their believers who will not hesitate to lie through their teeth to get you to believe what they say.

Then there are sincere believers in all these religions, who just dont care what anyone say, but their personal and intimate religion suffices.
Those are the best people and they believe in either Judgement or Carma or some payback for what you do on others during your lifetime.

Oh, and lets not forget the religion of Atheism.
 

Rival

Si m'ait Dieus
Staff member
Premium Member
I wouldn't mind, as long as I could have an honest debate about it with the person afterwards.
 

SA Huguenot

Well-Known Member
That depends.

I won’t listen to Scientologists (sorry) because a) they only have one thing to offer (their personality test) and it’s designed to lure you into taking their self-improvement courses and end up working long hours for their “church” in order to pay for them (courses) and b) I have no interest in extraterrestrials.


Humbly
Hermit
Yip, I forgot about Ron Hubbard who told the world a wonderfull story with no evidence, and made a few billion out of brainwashing people.
I could never find any evidence of any of their claims.
 
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