Politics and religion. Has anyone.....

seeker007nmss · #1 01-19-2005, 12:13 AM

I was just curious. Has anyone EVER chnaged their mind, or changed someone elses mind by discussing politics or religion? It seems we all have our own viewpoints, but rarely do these discussions ever really change anything. Seems at best to lead to the "agree to disagree" area. Just wondering if anyone has ever changed or changed someone by these discussions.

amber · #2 01-19-2005, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seeker007nmss

I was just curious. Has anyone EVER chnaged their mind, or changed someone elses mind by discussing politics or religion? It seems we all have our own viewpoints, but rarely do these discussions ever really change anything. Seems at best to lead to the "agree to disagree" area. Just wondering if anyone has ever changed or changed someone by these discussions.

I've changed my mind about things before. Or, rather, i've adjusted my viewpoint to include things that i may not have known about before. I think i would be a fool to assume that i had all the answers. I've included knowledge i did not have before into my beliefs. As far as totally changing my mind? About the basic tennets of what i believe? probably not. But, there are things i'm undecided about, pending further info. I'm always ready for new facts, experiences.
But, within a discussion of religion and politics? probably not. When i've learned political things that i did not know before, it has usually had the effect of making me more liberal, and more prone to looking for the lie from the politician, the religious institution...but i did base that on knowledge gained.

½ ¡Ñ§ÅñË ® · #3 01-19-2005, 12:49 AM

My A.A. sponsor was very strict on the spiritual part of A.A.’s big book. I thought believers in God were freaks. I didn’t want to have any part of it. After about 2 months of quoting scripture and witnessing to me I decided I at least needed to try reading the bible. I started reading a NIV study bible and became fascinated at what I was reading.

I wanted more so I tried going to church. I thought the church was a little “out there” but I stuck with it. One day the Holy Spirit spoke to me in that church. I trembled like I’ve never trembled before. I felt a demon lifted from my body that day and about 30 minutes later when I woke up on the floor people told me I was speaking in tongues. I’m no saint and I’m certainly a sinner, but from that day I’ve never been the same.

If it wasn’t for a very wise old man pounding me with the bible I wonder if I’d be alive today. I was set on a path of total destruction and was running scared. I was ready to murder if I had to. I thought about murdering my parents and voices were telling me to do it.

Today I can look back on that and know God allowed me to go through hell for a purpose. A purpose I don’t quite understand but I’m thankful I went through it. I honestly am.

amber · #4 01-19-2005, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lux

Use big words and you can convince my sister of anything. I've experimented on her by disguising opposite sides as being of the same, morally correct argument (not difficult, she doesn't pick up on much) and getting her to passionately agree to both. I don't think that's what you're referring to though.

that's mean, yet totally appropriate...

If she can't tell the difference...

WildInTheWind · #5 01-19-2005, 10:18 AM

I don't think I have ever totally changed anyones mind when it comes to politics or religion. I have had people say "well, yea, that's true". Thats about as far as it goes though!

~*~becky~*~

DrummerDeanna · #6 01-19-2005, 10:22 AM

I once convinced a friend of mine that in Sweden the MEN give birth rather than the women

that, however, has nothing to do with politics or religion.

I changed my mom's mind about the homosexuality issue - had her going to PFLAG and everything...

Religion wise, I've never tried to change anyone's mind - I really try to be respectful other's views ....hence if someone tries to mess with my views and push their own upon me- I get very upset and pretty much shut down...

WildInTheWind · #7 01-19-2005, 10:43 AM

when it comes to religion, I don't try to change others minds. Only to educate them if they are completely ignorant about a religion and are putting me or someone else down about it. I don't like to be called a devil worshiper or told that god will forgive me and I won't go to hell if I just turn to Jesus. LOL. Or I will argue someone to no end if I get them saying their way is the only right way and they feel sorry for those who don't believe the same. "you'll see in the end" was what I got one time. Bring it on! But I never try to convert people or tell them that there beliefs are wrong. Just don't put mine down or tell me I'm going to burn in hell.

~*~becky~*~

½ ¡Ñ§ÅñË ® · #8 01-19-2005, 01:29 PM

Here’s another one.

The church that I attended in Florida was labeled a non denominational charismatic church teaching the Christian doctrine. We opened our arms to everyone. We we’re extremely active in the community and had a thrift store and food bank. The food bank was blessed daily with so much food we had to open a second building just for the food bank.

Anyway, at this church we’re 2 guys that ALWAYS sat right up front. I asked about them and was told they are gay and struggling to understand God. They came to church for every church function and we became good friends very quickly. You’d never know they were gay because they never acted it. I saw them struggle and cry in front of the whole congregation from time to time but they always came back.

One of these fellows asked if he could come to my house to watch a “Jesus Of Nazareth” video I just bought. I said sure and we watched it. Later that evening we both cried and prayed for each other. It was a very beautiful experience I’ll never forget. Time went by and the church closed due to new zoning laws.

A few years later I was at Benny Hinns church and who do I see? Up walks Dave with a woman. He said hi **** I want you to meet my wife. I looked at Dave and he looked at me. We both had tears in our eyes. Funny thing is I was still struggling with my demons and he was the happiest man you would ever want to meet. He went on to become a Pastor in Kentucky.

skcin · #9 01-19-2005, 01:36 PM

Don't know if I changed this guy's mind totally (friend of a friend, middle-aged white male) but we were arguing over homosexuality. He insisted people have a choice whether to be gay or not & that we're all born heterosexual.

So I asked how old he was when God allowed him to decide. He just looked at me funny, so I said "if we're all born hetero, then we're all born the same. So we all get the choice, right? When did you choose to be straight?"

He actually said "wow, I never thought about that. You've given me something to think about." Haven't spoken to him in years since.

dissention · #10 01-19-2005, 01:44 PM

When it comes to poltics and religion, I have a very bad tendency to browbeat others. It doesn't accomplish much in the end and I've tried to stop being so forceful when it comes to my views, but I have the hardest time doing so. I don't know why, either. So, I don't think I've really changed anyone's mind and I do find that rather embarassing, to be honest.

As for my mind being changed, my views on religion have changed over the years. My family was Catholic and I even went to a Catholic school when I was younger. We didn't go to church very frequently, but my family would always tell me to believe in God or have faith, stuff like that. I just accepted everything they told me and didn't really ask questions, especially since I was getting the same kind of things taught to me in school.

I think about halfway through my first year there, I started to get really turned off by it all. We would go to services once a week during school hours as a class and I just remember being freaked out when we would get into the church. The giant crucifix of Jesus really started to scare me, as did the stained glass windows and the whole atmosphere it created. I think I just gradually lost interest in all things that had to do with religion. I went back to public school and never had anything to do with any of it for quite a long time.

When I went to middle school, I got interested in it for awhile all over again and eventually formed the view that religion wasn't for me, especially since I didn't believe in things such as God. It took me years to develop my feelings about those things and I think they still are developing, actually.

DrummerDeanna · #11 01-19-2005, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dissention

When it comes to poltics and religion, I have a very bad tendency to browbeat others.

What!?! I've never noticed this!

dissention · #12 01-19-2005, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrummerDeanna

What!?! I've never noticed this!

Yeah, I think I'm going to save myself from partaking in any more truly involved political threads. It might teach me how to be a bit more eloquent and reserved when replying.

SuzeQuze · #13 01-19-2005, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dissention

Yeah, I think I'm going to save myself from partaking in any more truly involved political threads. It might teach me how to be a bit more eloquent and reserved when replying.

Reserved? And monkeys might fly out of my butt!

DrummerDeanna · #14 01-19-2005, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GateandGarden

Well, that "demons" comment certainly implies negativity towards homosexuality, but I won't really address that, as I am all tuckered out from defending myself in the past couple of days.

However, I will say that I suspect this guy was a lot like me, just the opposite. He spent a good part of his life convinced that he was gay, just as I was convinced that I was straight. When he finally figured out that he had the wrong sexual orientation the whole time, he was felt very freed. I felt the exact same way. It's a difficult thing--lots of people have things happen to them that make them think they're straight, or make them think they're gay when that's not the case. When I realized the truth, I was beyond relieved. Before I was out in the open to be criticized, I felt like I was being myself for the first time, not hiding anything, and it was much easier to look in the mirror and go out the door with a smile. Anyway, off-topic, but that made me think of my own situation.

OR it was SO pounded into his head that he was wong and immoral because of the way he was born - so he decided to hide it and live a "straight" life...

This happened to someone in my church. The result? He's the biggest flaming asshole to his wife. He's pissed because he can't be who he is - and so he's taken it out on her and their kids...(of course this isn't the reason he cites as to why he's an ass...) but he's gayer than gay - but denying himself his true self - just to prove something to the church. It's sad...

DrummerDeanna · #15 01-19-2005, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dissention

Yeah, I think I'm going to save myself from partaking in any more truly involved political threads. It might teach me how to be a bit more eloquent and reserved when replying.

But you're so entertaining as is! Granted you took some getting used to - but we love you the way you are