Conversations about faith are a hot bed of social taboos and strife, but why? Even today you are likely to be looked down on for attempting to speak about God, or a god regardless of how you present your ideas. While the atheism belief system (yes it is a belief system as defined by purporting a series of beliefs without factual evidence) is on the rise, along with it's angry brother the anti-theist movement that likes to hide with in the ranks, I have trouble believing it is the sole cause. It is likely a factor, but there are others I can think of. Lets focus on just one for now.
Enter the self appointed individual whose goal is to convert you to their beliefs. This person can be recognized by both their fervent passion on the subject and a blatant disregard for facts or arguments to the contrary of their dogma. You can find this person amongst almost any group by simply ranging across topics until you trigger the rant. We shall dub them the converter or asshole if you prefer.
Now I have to warn you about assuming the most passionate person on the subject in the group is a converter. Many people are passionate about things, like nerds and geeks, and will go on about their thing long past everyone else's actual attention span. I love passionate nerds, if not for them we wouldn't be introduced to the minutiae of a great many topics. Plus watching passionate people is spellbinding all on it's own, kind of like watching a couple so enthralled by each other they forget everyone else in the room.
Back to the converter, this vile person often has the same passion as a nerd, but wields it like a weapon. They will purposely use their words with the intent to make you feel less for not being like them. They also like to threaten dire consequences if you don't convert, this is a staple and a tell of the converter. Be watchful of it so that you can debate this person, if left unchecked they will succeed, if not with you then with others.
See the converter needs to make converts to feel justified in their own beliefs. Lucky for us this makes them vulnerable to questioning. If the converter is forced away from the rhetoric and required to support the things they say often they will falter or fall back on the dire consequences argument. If they refuse to engage, question them on why they won't engage.
Enter the self appointed individual whose goal is to convert you to their beliefs. This person can be recognized by both their fervent passion on the subject and a blatant disregard for facts or arguments to the contrary of their dogma. You can find this person amongst almost any group by simply ranging across topics until you trigger the rant. We shall dub them the converter or asshole if you prefer.
Now I have to warn you about assuming the most passionate person on the subject in the group is a converter. Many people are passionate about things, like nerds and geeks, and will go on about their thing long past everyone else's actual attention span. I love passionate nerds, if not for them we wouldn't be introduced to the minutiae of a great many topics. Plus watching passionate people is spellbinding all on it's own, kind of like watching a couple so enthralled by each other they forget everyone else in the room.
Back to the converter, this vile person often has the same passion as a nerd, but wields it like a weapon. They will purposely use their words with the intent to make you feel less for not being like them. They also like to threaten dire consequences if you don't convert, this is a staple and a tell of the converter. Be watchful of it so that you can debate this person, if left unchecked they will succeed, if not with you then with others.
See the converter needs to make converts to feel justified in their own beliefs. Lucky for us this makes them vulnerable to questioning. If the converter is forced away from the rhetoric and required to support the things they say often they will falter or fall back on the dire consequences argument. If they refuse to engage, question them on why they won't engage.
So why talk about these kinds of people? Simply put, I blame them for making the topic of religion uncomfortable. Nobody likes being talked down to, especially about something as ephemeral as belief and religion. That's not to say that our feelings about religion or religion itself are not very real to those who believe. Most people however can relate a story of at least a friend of a friend having religious beliefs forced onto them. This has painted the entire impression of these conversations as a negative experience, over centuries, that people are quite honestly just done with them.
To bring this to its conclusion and my point, I would encourage anyone who wants to talk about their beliefs, on any subject not just religious, to shy away from the idea of converting the other person. They have to want to join you and be open to the possibility. The best way to do that is to tell it from your perspective and present it honestly as your belief and not some higher universal truth. Belief in something does not empower you to be the judge of others who don't think like you.
That's God's job, never forget that.
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