Is it right to preach to people?

The Admin suggested that I start this particular topic. Sorry I'm late with it folks. The discussion started in another Faith and Belief thread about preaching - http://EvC Forum: The Origin of God -->EvC Forum: The Origin of God

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Messenjah, I think Rrhain is saying is that if someone does not want to be taught, you have no right to force them. You can think whatever you want, say whatever you want, tell them they're going to hell if they don't listen, believe that they have to be saved, etc. etc. etc. but in the end, it is their decision - and if you continue to force your teachings on them after they have said no, you are being a real dickhead.

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I listen to what everyone has to say, so the reason why your opinion is better then mine doesn't work, making your opinions superiority non-existent. So by claiming it is you are not only wrong you are obviously biased to a certain belief.

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You're missing the point. In another person's life, their opinion is obviously superior to yours - after all, it's their life, not yours. Also, aren't you biased to a certain belief as well? That you have been given a mission by god to spread the word, or whatever?

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The question is, is preaching right or wrong?The Rock Hound[This message has been edited by IrishRockhound, 11-15-2003][This message has been edited by IrishRockhound, 11-15-2003]

In that respect you could say that the reason they keep trying is that they really do want to save you, even when you're obviously too deluded to understand that you're going to be burning in hell for all eternity... Where exactly do you draw the line? In their view, should good manners ever come before some one's immortal soul?

Thanks - I was just about to post to remind people about the topic at hand.I didn't ask the question to get an absolute answer - more to have people discuss the merits and flaws of religious preaching.

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So then, personal distates, or tastes, for preaching or evangelistic efforts can not be any kind of measurement of rightness or wrongness. Neither can examples that are overwhelmingly negative (or positive for that matter) because they, individually, do nor make an accurate representation of the whole.

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So, we can't use our own experiences? Fair enough. I hope everyone can agree with this.I don't really agree with preaching in general. If people are interested in something then they should have the choice to seek it out for themselves, instead of having it forced upon them. This goes for more than just religion - in school I was forced to do subjects I disliked, instead of others that I enjoyed. (Yes, I know I'm using personal experiences - it's just to illustrate the point. I am not offering it as evidence.)Children are a special case, however, because frequently they are not mentally mature enough to make their own decisions regarding religion. I'm not sure if they should be considered in this discussion.The Rock Hound

Maybe it's an Irish thing, but I've never once had some one come to my house preaching. I've never been able to figure out why - not that I'm not really grateful ehough.We do get evangelists on the street with loudspeakers reading the bible, but no one takes much notice.

I think it's really an Irish thing. We're just too practical to take much notice of people yelling about abominations against god.There's an idea - is preaching (or creationism in general) a predominantly American thing?