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Originally Posted by Altenweg

I said that not taking no for an answer makes the person saying no feel like she's being raped.

I never did say the word rapist Tom.

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Ah, so it is okay to compare us to people who rape as long as you don't use the word "rapist". Is that it?

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What's my reason? To set the record straight, that's all. To point out that bullying someone and forcing them to accept your beliefs is not the way to get anyone to believe. It's wrong, it's a violation, and I for one am done putting up with it.

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Like you are on here badgering us to accept your views on this matter?

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Isn't it time for you to report the thread Tom? That's your MO.

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Didn't you say that you were going to unsubscribe? Why not do so and let the discussion proceed amiably as it was beforehand.

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Ah, so it is okay to compare us to people who rape as long as you don't use the word "rapist". Is that it?

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And it's okay to keep harassing someone that's asked you to stop just because she didn't actually say the word "no"?

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Like you are on here badgering us to accept your views on this matter?

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Ditto.

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Didn't you say that you were going to unsubscribe? Why not do so and let the discussion proceed amiably as it was beforehand.

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I've decided to stick around.

You can ignore me if you wish.

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Originally Posted by Triund

One of my friends, deletes my email when she finds that it contains Christain material.

Am I wasting my time

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Yes your wasting your time , hello , she deletes them

Can't believe this has gone for nearly 5 pages , oh then again yes I can :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Altenweg

And it's okay to keep harassing someone that's asked you to stop just because she didn't actually say the word "no"?

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Nor have we been told that is even the message that she has been giving.

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I've decided to stick around.

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Then please cease and desist trying to hijack and disrupt the thread. Please participate respectfully.

Try to get this back on track now... here is my prior response on the topic...

Keep praying, and keep the door open. Sometimes after the seed is planted, it takes time to come to fruition. We cannot convince a person into salvation. It takes us planting the seed, and the work of the Holy Spirit on the person's heart to bring the person to the point where they are open to receiving the truth of the gospel.

As far as how much to talk to her about it, or to send emails, that is something as a matter of prayer. There is a fine line sometimes between making sure that she knows that you are there to talk when she is ready, and perhaps being seen as an annoyance. Stay in prayer and follow God's guidance on that point.

Okay.

Here's my prior response;

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Why are you trying to force religion on her?

I too have friends that send me religious emails, I may read them if they're interesting, but it's just for the read, not because I'm interested in joining.

If it's all about Christianity, church, etc. then it gets deleted and I ask the person to stop. I have my beliefs, I don't need or want someone else shoving theirs down my throat.

If the person insists on sending more, even after I've asked them to stop, then I block their emails.

It's almost like being raped, you've said no but they won't listen or respect it. I have no tolerance for people like that.

That's my take on it.

The more someone bullies (which is what you're doing in my opinion) the more unsavory it becomes. You won't get through this way.

She's made herself clear, why don't you respect her wishes?

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I don't see anyone trying to force anything on anyone. It is no more forcing it on someone that you would be forcing to give a needy person to accept food that you know that need.

Praying for someone to be saved is done out of care and love for others.

I feel sorry for you if you think that there is any way to compare a person expressing love as comparable to a rapist.

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Originally Posted by Tj3

I don't see anyone trying to force anything on anyone. It is no more forcing it on someone that you would be forcing to give a needy person to accept food that you know that need.

Praying for someone to be saved is done out of care and love for others.

I feel sorry for you if you think that there is any way to compare a person expressing love as comparable to a rapist.

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Tom, read carefully.

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It's almost like being raped

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When a telephone solicitor calls me trying to sell a product I don't want and I say no, does he have the right to keep pushing?

Praying for someone and continuing to send emails that person has told you she doesn't want, different things entirely Tom.

Pray all you want. Stop sending material she deletes. Respect her beliefs like you expect her to respect yours.

Really, we're just going to go around in circles again.

You can't go one post without dredging up things you said you wanted to leave behind.

Unsuscribing.

I'm taking the high road.

Continue.

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Originally Posted by Altenweg

Tom, read carefully.

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I've read everything that was posted.

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When a telephone solicitor calls me trying to sell a product I don't want and I say no, does he have the right to keep pushing?

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So did the girl say no?

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Originally Posted by Tj3

First, Christianity is an extension of Judaism, and this religion goes back to the time of creation, so I am not sure how much older you can get than that. Christianity is simply a term given to those who follow the religion that started with Adam and Eve, carried on through the Jewish nation. It prophesied the coming of Christ, and those who followed the Messiah when He came were called Christians.

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I am well aware of the fact that christianity has it's deepest roots in judaism. I also know that they are not the same religion. Christianity, itself, is just under 2000 years old. It may have roots in judaism, as well as numerous other religions, but it was only been a separate religion reletively short time.

Christianity is, according to merriam-webster, is the religion derived from Jesus Christ, based on the Bible as sacred scripture, and professed by Eastern, Roman Catholic, and Protestant bodies. Christianity and judaism are two very separate and distinct religions. Judaism, as a religion, has been around since about 1500 bce. Christianity has only been around since about 50 ce. To call christianity an extension of judaism is to disrespect both religions as the individual belief systems that they are. It is the equivalent of saying you are your father simply because you came from him.

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No one would follow any religion if they did not think it to be true. The question is whether there is evidence of its validity.

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I'm not saying anyone would follow a religion they believed to be false. What I'm saying is that almost any believer of any religion will be willing and ready to present evidence of what they see as proof that their religion is true. In the end what you end up with are several people claiming certain events, relics, histories, or places as proof that their religion is truer (and usually better) than other religions. There is no way to prove, beyond a shadow of a doubt, to the satisfaction of even two separate religions that one is truer than the other. To do so only leads to anger and wars.

To me it makes a lot better sense to just let people find whatever proof they need for whatever religion they choose to follow, and not argue over rather or not the proof is real or what religion is better. There would be FAR fewer wars if everyone just sat back and saw religion for what it is, a personal belief system that happens to be shared by several individuals who choose to gather for religious ceremonies and follow the guidelines presented by the holy books and/or leaders of that belief system. It's not a popularity contest. It's not a race. It's not a test. It's a personal belief system.

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Originally Posted by hheath541

I am well aware of the fact that christianity has it's deepest roots in judaism. I also know that they are not the same religion. Christianity, itself, is just under 2000 years old. It may have roots in judaism, as well as numerous other religions, but it was only been a separate religion reletively short time.

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In actual fact, Christianity is just fulfilled Judaism. The believers in the Jewish messiah originally met in the same synagogues even. We follow the Jewish Messiah, the one prophecied right from genesis 3:15 onward. And no, it is not based upon other religions. I am not sure where you got your information from.

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I'm not saying anyone would follow a religion they believed to be false. What I'm saying is that almost any believer of any religion will be willing and ready to present evidence of what they see as proof that their religion is true.

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Most hold their religions to be true by faith alone. And once again just because a person believes something does not make it true.

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to me it makes a lot better sense to just let people find whatever proof they need for whatever religion they choose to follow, and not argue over rather or not the proof is real or what religion is better.

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There is a difference. If you choose the wrong god, your eternity is at stake. That is not better

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it's not a popularity contest. It's not a race. It's not a test. It's a personal belief system.

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I agree that it is not a popularity contest, but it is also not just just a belief system. There are real consequences, both here and in eternity for choosing to believe in a false god rather than the one true God.

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Originally Posted by Altenweg

Why are you trying to force religion on her?

I too have friends that send me religious emails, I may read them if they're interesting, but it's just for the read, not because I'm interested in joining.

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I am not forcing a religion on her. I am only sharing with her what I know. If I had lot of information and knowledge about ants, spaceships, seas, galaxies, clothes, politics and so on, I would had shared information about those things with her and my other friends.

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Originally Posted by Altenweg

If the person insists on sending more, even after I've asked them to stop, then I block their emails.

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The day she or others tell me categorically not to send them any email which has Jesus or Christian contents, I would stop it. However, I won't stop praying for them.

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Originally Posted by Altenweg

It's almost like being raped, you've said no but they won't listen or respect it. I have no tolerance for people like that.

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It is not "almost like being raped". Do you know what fanatics from other religions have done and do to convert a person into their religion. And I am not a fanatic yet. Am I heading on the road to fanaticism - I do not think so. Even Christian pastors have done wrong with humans in te name of religion, but that is not the way which is pleasing to Lord Jesus. And they would have to answer for their actions when they see God.

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Originally Posted by Altenweg

That's my take on it.

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Thank you very much for your honest answer. This helped me to get the perspective from the other end.

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Originally Posted by Triund

If I had lot of information and knowledge about ants, spaceships, seas, galaxies, clothes, politics and so on, I would had shared information about those things with her and my other friends.

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If she said she wasn't interested in ants would you still send the emails about ants to her?

Boy, has this discussion swerved off course!
Triund, I think you are right. As Christians we are called to go and preach the gospel to all the world (MK16:15). If you have someone slam the door in your face (specifically tell you to STOP) and you were to continue, then that would be wrong. However like you have tried to point out to certain people in this discussion no one has ever said stop! So you are directed by the Lord to witness to them. Keep it up unless or until you are told to STOP! And I will continue to pray for your boldness to do it in the face of opposition.

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Originally Posted by NeedKarma

If she said she wasn't interested in ants would you still send the emails about ants to her?

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That's the whole issue. People love to talk on any topic and love to get as much info as they can on any topic other than Jesus, the Bible or Christianity.

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Originally Posted by 450donn

Boy, has this discussion swerved off course!
Triund, I think you are right. As Christians we are called to go and preach the gospel to all the world (MK16:15). If you have someone slam the door in your face (specifically tell you to STOP) and you were to continue, then that would be wrong. However like you have tried to point out to certain people in this discussion no one has ever said stop! So you are directed by the Lord to witness to them. Keep it up unless or until you are told to STOP! And I will continue to pray for your boldness to do it in the face of opposition.

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Thank you, Donn. God bless you.

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Originally Posted by DrJizzle

Triund, how would you feel if she, or another friend of yours, began sending you emails reciting from the Book of Mormon? Or passages from the Tao Te Ching?

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When I get emails from my friends who are Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims (Sorry, I do not anyone who is Mormon or others ), I read the emails and if there is anything I can learn, I take it and then delete it.

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Originally Posted by Tj3

In actual fact, Christianity is just fulfilled Judaism. The believers in the Jewish messiah originally met in the same synagogues even. We follow the Jewish Messiah, the one prophecied right from genesis 3:15 onward. And no, it is not based upon other religions. I am not sure where you got your information from.

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Many rituals and traditions in christianity have their roots in paganism.

Christmas was placed in December to ease the transition from paganism to christianity. Yule, the pagan holiday celebrating the birth of the sun god, was turned into christmas, the celebration of the son of god. Many of the symbols were kept as well. Candles, which later evolved into twinkle lights, were a symbol of the sun gods light. The yule log was kept from the previous year and burned again that year as a symbol of rebirth and the return of the sun god.

Easter started as eostara, the pagan holiday celebrating the roman goddess of fertility. I don't know what connection early christians drew between a fertility celebration and the resurrection of christ in order to commender the day. The symbols of the rabbit and the egg are left over from the pagan fertility rite.

Even the cross itself did not begin with christianity. There are depictions of crosses from thousands of years before christianity. It is thought that they were seen as a symbol of equality, and sometimes of the four cardinal directions.

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There is a difference. If you choose the wrong god, your eternity is at stake. That is not better

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That is a matter of opinion. Not every religion has an equivalent to hell. Not even every christian believes in hell.

Besides, believers of other religions feel just as strongly that their religion will save them and grant them eternal bliss. Believers of reincarnation, for instance, believe that living a good life now insures that they will be born into a better life in the future, generally culminating in an end to the reincarnation cycle and the right to spend eternity at complete peace within nirvana, the cosmic energy.

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I agree that it is not a popularity contest, but it is also not just just a belief system. There are real consequences, both here and in eternity for choosing to believe in a false god rather than the one true God.

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I'm just curious, what real consequences would I suffer right now if I didn't believe in the christian gods? And what consequences would I suffer in eternity? And what proof do you have of both?

I'm not being confrontational. I am honestly curious. I have heard many people claim, and even promise, terrible consequences for those who are not christian. I have just never heard anything that convinced me that any one religion has more merit than any other.

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Originally Posted by hheath541

I'm just curious, what real consequences would i suffer right now if i didn't believe in the christian gods? and what consequences would i suffer in eternity? and what proof do you have of both?

I'm not being confrontational. i am honestly curious. i have heard many people claim, and even promise, terrible consequences for those who are not christian. i have just never heard anything that convinced me that any one religion has more merit than any other.

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First of all, Christianity does not believe in gods, but ONE GOD. So I am not sure if that was a typo or not, but please lets clear that up right up front.
Faith is the belief in things not seen. So if you have faith and believe in GOD. Then you start reading the bible. Many will try and claim it is simply a history book. And while that part is true, it also contains information on how we as believers are to try and live our lives. It also tells us what will happen in the future. You see, reading the bible there are hundreds of prophesies, most of them written hundreds of years before they were fulfilled. But they were fulfilled exactly as foretold in the bible. If you choose not to believe what is written in the Bible, that is your choice and in the end, if we(Christians) are all wrong about this then you will have nothing to loose. But on the other hand, if the bible is all true and in the end comes a judgment time, you will be held accountable as the bible teaches, and be cast into the lake of fire for all eternity. Personally while I am not perfect by any stretch of the imagination I do get down and thank God for my salvation and ask for forgiveness for the mistakes I make each day. It is all and always your choice to make the decisions about Christ. That is one of the most wonderful curses God bestowed on man. The wonderful ability to make our own choices, and the curse of having to make our own choices.

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Originally Posted by 450donn

First of all, Christianity does not believe in gods, but ONE GOD. so I am not sure if that was a typo or not, but please lets clear that up right up front.
Faith is the belief in things not seen. So if you have faith and believe in GOD. then you start reading the bible. Many will try and claim it is simply a history book. And while that part is true, it also contains information on how we as believers are to try and live our lives. It also tells us what will happen in the future. You see, reading the bible there are hundreds of prophesies, most of them written hundreds of years before they were fulfilled. But they were fulfilled exactly as foretold in the bible. If you choose not to believe what is written in the Bible, that is your choice and in the end, if we(Christians) are all wrong about this then you will have nothing to loose. But on the other hand, if the bible is all true and in the end comes a judgment time, you will be held accountable as the bible teaches, and be cast into the lake of fire for all eternity. Personally while I am not perfect by any stretch of the imagination I do get down and thank God for my salvation and ask for forgiveness for the mistakes I make each day. It is all and always your choice to make the decisions about Christ. That is one of the most wonderful curses God bestowed on man. The wonderful ability to make our own choices, and the curse of having to make our own choices.

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Sorry, I didn't notice the typo. I didn't mean to confuse or offend anyone.