Should you engage with a preacher who attacks ALL non-religious views and bullies people?

Happy_Killbot

There are a lot of people who hold certain views, values, traditions, or beliefs, and have no idea why they hold those beliefs. For example, the number 1 predictor of religiosity is where they raised with religious views. Similarly, there are people who because they were raised a certain way, or encountered certain life experiences can not see any other way of thinking about the world.

When people get locked into this dogmatic attitude about their beliefs, they can not see anything else, and when someone attacks these views to them it feels like a personal attack, because they can not separate their views from their identity. It is important to recognize that the only way to get these types to see other perspectives is to guide them into thinking about it on their own time and in their own mind.

This is the secret to everything from hostage negotiation to writing a good TV show. It is to never violate the sanctity of individuality. When someone feels that they are the origin of their thoughts, they can not revolt against it, because it came from inside of them. When it comes from outside, it may be viewed as a threat. The more close-minded an individual is the harder the inception of an idea into someone's subconscious becomes.

RickeyD

@smoothie ; You're a homosexual atheist and have nothing to offer of substance. You have opted live a life of futility and die in same. You don't respect yourself why should your opinions be respected...you exist in wastefulness and offer nothing but hopelessness?  You have no answers but only pursue the immoral lust of your flesh and you're headed to death in a Hell of wastefulness. No need to reply to this preacher...you have made your decision in abject foolishness.

Happy_Killbot

@RickeyD You are an inspiration to us all!

RickeyD

@Happy_Killbot ; You are a mentally, spiritually, ill atheist who has not a clue as he serves Satan daily while thinking he is wise and prudent while viewed as the fool of Time and Eternity.

Happy_Killbot

@RickeyD That is a very interesting point. I like to consider interesting points, and I thank you for sharing it.

RickeyD

@Happy_Killbot ; I'm sure you will.

Happy_Killbot

@RickeyD Yes, I do very much agree that I will consider this interesting point.

Do you like to consider interesting points?

smoothie

@RickeyD Thank you for teaching me this life lesson when nobody else could. I love you

MayCaesar

When I was still in elementary/middle school, there was a peculiar girl in my class. She was very smart and extremely beautiful, and everyone drooled over her - however, she had a very nasty elitist character and saw everyone as beneath her for not getting as high grades as her, for not being enrolled in 3-4 school clubs and so on. Everybody tried approaching her every now and then, and she would simply dismiss them. I tried as well, obviously, and did not have much more success. It seemed like everyone would hit a wall every time they tried interacting with her. She had 2-3 friends that she "tolerated", and that was it.

It did not help that my class consisted mostly of bullies and other kinds of broken kids, which kind of justified her attitude. But I digress.

One day I encountered her on the street, when I was just hanging around, having a good time. She appeared very different there: was smiling widely, talking softly and overall just was a cool person to be around. I was very confused. I met her a few more times to hang around, and in our conversations she confessed that she had serious self-esteem and socialisation issues, and playing that uptight elitist persona in front of groups of people was the way for her to cope with it. 
She moved to a different school soon, and I have never heard from her since - but that confession stuck with me.

The moral of the story is: do not judge the book by its cover, no matter how dark and repulsive the cover can be. When a person does something extremely annoying, there are almost always underlying psychological issues that should be appreciated, and preachers lashing at everyone who is not like them definitely have some skeletons in their closet that they are trying to cover with their performance. Skeletons they may one day reveal if you repeatedly engage with them in a non-confrontational manner, but are unlikely to show to anyone if nobody interacts with them.

ZeusAres42

MayCaesar said:

When I was still in elementary/middle school, there was a peculiar girl in my class. She was very smart and extremely beautiful, and everyone drooled over her - however, she had a very nasty elitist character and saw everyone as beneath her for not getting as high grades as her, for not being enrolled in 3-4 school clubs and so on. Everybody tried approaching her every now and then, and she would simply dismiss them. I tried as well, obviously, and did not have much more success. It seemed like everyone would hit a wall every time they tried interacting with her. She had 2-3 friends that she "tolerated", and that was it.

It did not help that my class consisted mostly of bullies and other kinds of broken kids, which kind of justified her attitude. But I digress.

One day I encountered her on the street, when I was just hanging around, having a good time. She appeared very different there: was smiling widely, talking softly and overall just was a cool person to be around. I was very confused. I met her a few more times to hang around, and in our conversations she confessed that she had serious self-esteem and socialisation issues, and playing that uptight elitist persona in front of groups of people was the way for her to cope with it. 
She moved to a different school soon, and I have never heard from her since - but that confession stuck with me.

The moral of the story is: do not judge the book by its cover, no matter how dark and repulsive the cover can be. When a person does something extremely annoying, there are almost always underlying psychological issues that should be appreciated, and preachers lashing at everyone who is not like them definitely have some skeletons in their closet that they are trying to cover with their performance. Skeletons they may one day reveal if you repeatedly engage with them in a non-confrontational manner, but are unlikely to show to anyone if nobody interacts with them.

@MayCaesar Good point. My point is, however, if your goal here is for civil discourse then what exactly do you expect to learn, gain and/or benefit from someone who's only goal is to either preach and/or troll others? The answer is obviously nothing, absolutely nothing. There is no common frame of reference (I say hoping to be using "frame of reference" in the right context haha).

Dee

@RickeyD

You're cherished and the Universe loves you , have a wonderful weekend 

MayCaesar

@ZeusAres42

Well, personally I am highly interested in the way human brain works, and I like exploring even very odd cases in the hopes of gaining a little bit more understanding of how humans come to have the beliefs they have. It has a lot of practical applications too, as seeing the flaws or, perhaps, unexpected strengths in other people's arguments allows you to find them in your own thinking as well - and correct them as needed.

Some of the biggest discoveries I made about myself were a result of engaging with people who were so different from me, I could not believe we could ever have a meaningful communication. One should not discard an opportunity to interact with someone and learn something, even when it seems like there is absolutely nothing there to learn.

ZeusAres42

MayCaesar said:

@ZeusAres42

Well, personally I am highly interested in the way human brain works, and I like exploring even very odd cases in the hopes of gaining a little bit more understanding of how humans come to have the beliefs they have. It has a lot of practical applications too, as seeing the flaws or, perhaps, unexpected strengths in other people's arguments allows you to find them in your own thinking as well - and correct them as needed.

Some of the biggest discoveries I made about myself were a result of engaging with people who were so different from me, I could not believe we could ever have a meaningful communication. One should not discard an opportunity to interact with someone and learn something, even when it seems like there is absolutely nothing there to learn.

I share your views about understanding how the brain works as that is also what I am passionate about. Furthermore, I am not saying that there is nothing to learn from people that are different than you. My point is that no progress can be made in reference to good argumentation if one of the guys on the end of the spectrum has no interest in it; their only goal is preaching and/or trolling. We learn by debating; not by trolling or preaching or listening to trolling or preaching. Life is short, and time is fleeting; why waste it on something that is futile?

Dee

@RickeyD

Thank you for posting this it's a thought provoking piece 

RickeyD

@Dee ; Dee, that's your problem, you don't think. You're an ignorant, self-deceived, arrogant, lost, headed to death in sin and Hell, atheist who is existing in uselessness and hopelessness and futility.

YeshuaBought

No. Ignore him. He is full of hate, not the love of Jesus. The Bible says somewhere to speak the truth in love. The Bible also talks about love in 1 Corinthians 13. Let's say things like gay marriage and aborton are a sin. I am not sure if they are or not, but let's pretend. Hating people will not help save people. What will save them, is the Person and work of Jesus, and leaving the choice between Him, and them. I am sorry for the hate of some Christians, and promise not to be like that. i wish people could discuss the issues like mature adults, and stop the hate. i love you all, and i am willing to answer any questions, and attempt to provide evidence. It is up to you, but Jesus really does love you. I don't think I am better than anyone, not even myself. I need Jesus as much as anyone.

RickeyD

@YeshuaBought ; Murdering children and engaging in sexual perversion ARE SIN and if you knew the Holy Spirit you would know this. Again, it is NOT hate to tell the Truth. As an active bi-sexual, you are NOT a Christian and every atheist is a and a fool. These are not just my observations, this is Scriptural. I am simply telling you what the Holy Spirit has said!

YeshuaBought

RickeyD said:

@YeshuaBought ; Murdering children and engaging in sexual perversion ARE SIN and if you knew the Holy Spirit you would know this. Again, it is NOT hate to tell the Truth. As an active bi-sexual, you are NOT a Christian and every atheist is a and a fool. These are not just my observations, this is Scriptural. I am simply telling you what the Holy Spirit has said!

You don't have the right to say I am not a Christian, because I am. The status of my soul is personal, between Jesus, and myself, so mind your own business. You don't have the right to attack me or these people, in Jesus' Name. i will never agree with you, so stop forcing your opinion on me.

RickeyD

@YeshuaBought ; You cannot love God and sin against Him with volition. You're a or you're living in self-deception and lying to yourself...God knows the Truth. Do you truly think God accepts your lesbianism without repentance i.e. STOPPING THE DEATH STYLE OF IMMORALITY?

No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.  1 John 3:9  (NASB)

YeshuaBought

RickeyD said:

@YeshuaBought ; You cannot love God and sin against Him with volition. You're a or you're living in self-deception and lying to yourself...God knows the Truth. Do you truly think God accepts your lesbianism without repentance i.e. STOPPING THE DEATH STYLE OF IMMORALITY?

No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.  1 John 3:9  (NASB)

You don't have the right to say what is not true. i am not lying, and i am in an active relationship with jesus. You need to stop forcing your opinion on me, and you need to realize that God is working in my life. You have the verbal boundary issues of a convicted rapist, and you need to respect other people's boundaries. You don't have the right to force yourself on other people, and you need to go **** yourself. 

RickeyD

@YeshuaBought ; I am telling the Truth from Scripture...you are spiritually ill and in desperate need.

YeshuaBought

RickeyD said:

@YeshuaBought ; I am telling the Truth from Scripture...you are spiritually ill and in desperate need.

You don't have the right to force yourself on me. Leave me alone. You are done speaking to me. If you leave me alone, i will return the favor. if you don't, i will report you. Leave me alone.

RickeyD

@YeshuaBought ; I am speaking the Truth of Scripture...you're unable to hear because you love your immorality more than Truth and God's righteousness.

Happy_Killbot

@RickeyD Can't we all just care for each other? I know you care for people and want what is best for them.

YeshuaBought

RickeyD said:

@YeshuaBought ; I am speaking the Truth of Scripture...you're unable to hear because you love your immorality more than Truth and God's righteousness.

Leave me alone. Are you a verbal and spiritual rapist?

RickeyD

@Happy_Killbot ; Telling a person of their impending demise in Hell lest they repent and trust in Jesus as Lord IS CARING, atheist.

TKDB

@RickeyD

I understand your position.

But do you view your position as a fair and equal position, towards the non religious individuals?

Aren't we all here to debate?

That is the point of constructive conversation/ debate, whether in person, or on the internet, is it not?

RickeyD

@TKDB ; I am here to tell the Truth. The Gospel is inherently divisive. I am interacting with Satan's emissaries...let me do what the Holy Spirit has commanded and you do as you are led as well.

smoothie

@RickeyD We understand you completely, Rickey, thats just not what a debate site is all about, kay? You need to respect the environment and other people or we cannot have a nice time

YeshuaBought

smoothie said:

@RickeyD We understand you completely, Rickey, thats just not what a debate site is all about, kay? You need to respect the environment and other people or we cannot have a nice time

I agree. I am so tired of him.

Happy_Killbot

@RickeyD I care for people and want them to have a good life.

Everyone should have a good life.