Nicely said Mike. I just want to take issue with one (secondary) point.
Quote:
|
We can argue the finer points of whether or not a particular religion is historically accurate or not ad nauseum, but in the end it doesn't matter. The believer doesn't really care if he's right or not - he's going to believe anyway. He *needs* to believe. No amount of evidence is going to convince him that he is wrong. I don't think believers *should* be convinced that they are wrong. They need religion. It provides them with something tangible that they need in life. By the same token, the non-believer isn't going to be swayed or influenced by people quoting scripture, etc. because he has no need to believe. He has no void in his life that religion can fill. He doesn't *need* it (regardless of what the prosetlyizers think).
|
I think that it's a bit passive to say that believers never fall away, and that non-believers are never going to be "converted". I agree that assaulting people with scripture will not convert anyone, but making it available, and explaining it to non-believers who want to explore the subject can often set the stage or help someone whom is struggling with their beliefs or has a void. Both types of conversions happen all the time.
So this sort of thing is a natural "struggle" and will never be completely sorted out until the end of time. At least as Christians we're commanded to do it in a loving, non-violent manner. Alas, we do fall short of expectations some times.