When you're not religious

buttercup · Post by **buttercup** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 1:54 pm

When you see a post from a religious person asking for advice do you find it difficult to respond to them?

buttercup · Post by **buttercup** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 1:57 pm

No not really Jim, just when a question comes up & they ask for help (but state quite clearly their belief in god) Does that affect how you answer them or if in fact you do answer them.

Is that as clear as mud? :wah:

Omni_Skittles · Post by **Omni_Skittles** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 1:57 pm

Religion can sometimes be a crutch.

buttercup · Post by **buttercup** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 2:00 pm

Thanks for that Omni & it really helps with my question. I dont believe in god & so if i see a post from someone who does (& they are in trouble) I always assume they would prefer an answer from another believer, am i wrong to think that?

Omni_Skittles · Post by **Omni_Skittles** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 2:01 pm

buttercup;1007290 wrote: Thanks for that Omni & it really helps with my question. I dont believe in god & so if i see a post from someone who does (& they are in trouble) I always assume they would prefer an answer from another believer, am i wrong to think that?Ummm advice is just advice.... people tend to filter what advice they take even though i'm taught to take only a Christian perspective i like to hear different opinions...

along-for-the-ride · Post by **along-for-the-ride** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 2:03 pm

What exactly is a "religious" person?

There are people who go to a a church or synagoge regularly.

There are people who live their daily lives as kind, caring, good people.

Chezzie · Post by **Chezzie** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 2:03 pm

buttercup;1007290 wrote: Thanks for that Omni & it really helps with my question. I dont believe in god & so if i see a post from someone who does (& they are in trouble) I always assume they would prefer an answer from another believer, am i wrong to think that?

I can relate to that BC, I just believe in myself and wonder sometimes if I dare give advice incase the religious peeps think...How Very Dare You!....I jest but you get my drift, its a good question and I look forward to hearing the replies.

shelbell · Post by **shelbell** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 2:03 pm

buttercup;1007290 wrote: Thanks for that Omni & it really helps with my question. I dont believe in god & so if i see a post from someone who does (& they are in trouble) I always assume they would prefer an answer from another believer, am i wrong to think that?

Hi BC, I'm a Christian and can answer that question for myself only. Even tho you may not be able to answer like you think you should because of your non belief, it is still always helpful to get a kind words and encouragement.

:-6

buttercup · Post by **buttercup** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 2:07 pm

jimbo;1007292 wrote: god only knows

:wah:

along-for-the-ride;1007297 wrote: What exactly is a "religious" person?

imo its someone who believes in god, i cannot speak for others.

shelbell;1007299 wrote: Hi BC, I'm a Christian and can answer that question for myself only. Even tho you may not be able to answer like you think you should because of your non belief, it is still always helpful to get a kind words and encouragement.

:-6

What if its not encouragement, what if you want to say something that goes against everything they believe in, is that right?

Omni_Skittles · Post by **Omni_Skittles** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 2:09 pm

buttercup;1007300 wrote:

What if its not encouragement, what if you want to say something that goes against everything they believe in, is that right?Say it. The worst you can do is make them question there religion... what's the harm in that?

buttercup · Post by **buttercup** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 2:14 pm

Omni_Skittles;1007302 wrote: Say it. The worst you can do is make them question there religion... what's the harm in that?

Its the responsibilty i guess of putting someone in a position to question their religion. If they have no religion its different.

shelbell · Post by **shelbell** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 2:17 pm

buttercup;1007300 wrote: :wah:

imo its someone who believes in god, i cannot speak for others.

What if its not encouragement, what if you want to say something that goes against everything they believe in, is that right?

I think there are 2 answers to this. If it's a generalized conversation then you have every right to put your beliefs or non beliefs in as your own free opinion. If someone of faith is really struggling with an issue and you can't come up with encouragement then I would say to just not reply. Same goes the other way around...I know non believers when they are struggling with issues they do not want someone to come in and preach to them and the believers should just leave it alone unless they can communicate a response that will actually help or encourage but is neutral. It's a judgement call...but whether a believer or not, I think everyone can come up with something encouraging when someone is struggling.

Omni_Skittles · Post by **Omni_Skittles** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 2:18 pm

buttercup;1007309 wrote: Its the responsibilty i guess of putting someone in a position to question their religion. If they have no religion its different.I say the person should be aware of all responses and choose for themselves what to filter or not...

Lon · Post by **Lon** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 2:19 pm

buttercup;1007269 wrote: When you see a post from a religious person asking for advice do you find it difficult to respond to them?

Since I just did respond to another post from a religious person I would have to say no, I don't find it difficult.

dubs · Post by **dubs** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 2:24 pm

I avoid them like the plague! Because...

a) I'm not religious at all.

b) Some religious threads are the nastiest I've ever seen.

c) They degenerate into scriptural copy and paste fests, consisting of ambiguity smoke and mirrors.

d) The debaters are generally entrenched in their beliefs right from the begining, making the thread a pointless excercise.

So to answer BCs question.....No!

Lon · Post by **Lon** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 2:26 pm

If someone states that they are religious and puts forth a question in a public forum, asking for advice or help with a personal problem, there could be any number of helpful responses from atheists to the most devout, that simply involve logic or common sense and do not center around religion at all.

Omni_Skittles · Post by **Omni_Skittles** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 2:27 pm

I don't think religion should define your opinions... that's kind of biased to me, on the religious persons part....

shelbell · Post by **shelbell** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 2:30 pm

Omni_Skittles;1007302 wrote: Say it. The worst you can do is make them question there religion... what's the harm in that?

buttercup;1007309 wrote: Its the responsibilty i guess of putting someone in a position to question their religion. If they have no religion its different.

But how is it anyones responsibility to try to get someone to question their own faith? If it's a debate over belief or no belief, then by all means go to it. But if it's someone that is struggling, how will this help them?...it won't.

Lon · Post by **Lon** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 2:32 pm

Omni_Skittles;1007335 wrote: I don't think religion should define your opinions... that's kind of biased to me, on the religious persons part....

I think you should rethink what you just posted. You stated in one of your posts that you believe in God and go to a Christian College. How could this not affect your opinions. Example: do you believe in abortion?

shelbell · Post by **shelbell** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 2:34 pm

Lon;1007343 wrote: I think you should rethink what you just posted. You stated in one of your posts that you believe in God and go to a Christian College. How could this not affect your opinions. Example: do you believe in abortion?

Lon, you must have read my mind, I was just going to use the abortion factor as an example of belief shaping ones opinions.

Omni_Skittles · Post by **Omni_Skittles** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 2:36 pm

Lon;1007343 wrote: I think you should rethink what you just posted. You stated in one of your posts that you believe in God and go to a Christian College. How could this not affect your opinions. Example: do you believe in abortion?this is where theology is coming in right? ugh okay... Do i believe in abortion lol if i answer that then there's the why question and when i answer that it will ultimately lead to me saying because God... blank... okay.... i get what your saying....

Lon · Post by **Lon** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 2:47 pm

Omni_Skittles;1007350 wrote: this is where theology is coming in right? ugh okay... Do i believe in abortion lol if i answer that then there's the why question and when i answer that it will ultimately lead to me saying because God... blank... okay.... i get what your saying....

Nothing to think about really. You believe in God and go to a Assemblies of God College which to my recollection is adamant in their position on abortion, homosexual marriages, pre marital sex, smoking drinking etc. If you do not have the same belief system as your church, confusion, conflict, quilt and indecision will come about.

flopstock · Post by **flopstock** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 3:12 pm

buttercup;1007269 wrote: When you see a post from a religious person asking for advice do you find it difficult to respond to them?

Not if they don't ask for advice just from religious folks. I assume they know we are a varied lot, both here and in real life. All I have to do is be honest, not hard at all.

OpenMind · Post by **OpenMind** » Sat Oct 04, 2008 7:19 am

I actually find it difficult to respond to this. I'm more agnostic than anything else. I believe that there is a force that influences our lives. I tend to have reached this opinion on scientific grounds with a bit of presupposition thrown in. Unproven theories and observations. I won't give examples now, too long-winded for here. But for the sake of convenience, I refer to this force as God or the Spirit.

There is no religion I know of that comes close to what I believe.

If a religious person asked me for advice, I would want to know why they were asking me in the first place and if they were aware of my position where their god was concerned.

Other than that, I would answer them if I can.

Lon · Post by **Lon** » Sat Oct 04, 2008 8:21 am

If advice is asked for and it's of a non religious nature, what difference would it make if you were religious or not? Would you exclude a democrat, republican, vegetarian or a midget from offering advice?

Richard Bell · Post by **Richard Bell** » Sat Oct 04, 2008 12:22 pm

Lon;1008108 wrote: Would you exclude... a midget from offering advice?

No, just as long as he/she kept it short.