Should We Really Try to Change Others? (page 2)

Satanus

The book 'the true believer' by eric hoffer goes into the details of this - http://www.amazon.com/True-Believer-Thoughts-Nature-Movements/dp/0060916125

S

Gopher

Why do atheists try to change believers? Why do believers try to convert atheists? Neither really KNOWS anything for certain?

The last question is really a statement, and a true one in terms of life's origins.

As an atheist, I prefer to go with reason and science -- because there ARE things we do know as a result of thousands of years of human inquiry, research and testing. And there will be many more things we learn about.

Few atheists claim to know for certain that "there is no God". It is their very admission of uncertainty that drew me into their camp.

Some belevers do claim to know for certain that there is a God, and others aren't sure and still believe anyhow. For those who are dogmatic in their claims, I cannot listen to such. I was preached to for four decades while an active JW, and preached to others. I'm done trying to change people individually.

However if anyone asks my opinion, I'm more than happy to share it!

rebel8

Captain Picard was willing to violate the prime directive when he refused to let the doctor's son be put to death for breaking a window on one of the planets they visited.

He said something like, "No law is just when it is absolute."

I don't try to change others when they are not harming themselves or others.

I do try to limit cultists' harm to others by environmental strategies, such as encouraging display of "no trespassing" signs, getting the Holocaust Museum to tell both sides of the story instead of the twisted revisionist version of history from the wts, and complaining to businesses/colleges when I learn they are allowing jws on their property to recruit innocents.

oompa

Why do we feel compelled to evangelize, proselyltize, convert, and change others politically, religiously, culturally, etc.?

Because OUR way is so much better for others. We care for them. If it weren't for our JW way, they would be lost atoms floating around Uranus. They are so much happier knowing the truth, it would be selfish for us not to tell them, and it could make our atoms float.

met Gene Roddenberry at a show at least 20 years ago.....oompa

journey-on

"No law is just when it is absolute."

Not only is Captain Picard sexy (I dig bald men), but the wisdom just rolls out of his ~~script~~ mouth.

So, what I get out of this, Rebel8, is let everybody continue along their own evolutionary path be it

politically, morally, spiritually, culturally, etc. but there will be times you must judge a situation or

condition and decide whether to intervene or not. Most of us have difficulty knowing when to step in

and when to just let it evolve.

rebel8

Yes, that's exactly what I mean. My personal yardstick is whether or not there is harm or a reasonable expectation of harm.

writetoknow

We preach what we need people that try to change others are really wanting to change themselves, but they are not mature enough to realize it. They are fooled by what they account as imperfection in others, blinding them to their own need for change.

The so called imperfection must be changed to keep their personal insecurity from showing. Morover, if they had no one to preach at or try to change they would not have anything to believe in. People that are secure in their position don't preach the engage a discussion. Much like a child putting their hands over their ears not to hear is the person trying to change someone.

free2beme

Because people fill in there own doubts on life, by getting more people to agree with them and make them feel better about their choice.

Maddie

Whether we should try to change others depends on the reason why we want to change them. As a parent, if we know our child is on a harmful or destructive course then of course it is the right and natural thing to do. We need to look at our own motives to see if they are self-seeking or altruistic in lots of cases.

In AA part of recovery is acceptance that ultimately we are responsible for changing ourselves and not trying to change other people to make them do what we want them to. We all have our own journey in life and that should be respected.

Maddie

frankiespeakin

I think it natural to try and change all humanity starting with the person we can change namely ourselves, to be free from religious and governmental propaganda indoctrination and if we suceed to what ever extent we are able to that extent we have helped our speices, because we are all part of the collective, and so the more we(or ourself more precisely) break free of harmfull types of indoctrination to that degree we have helped all humanity.

Should We Really Try to Change Others?

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