Have you ever ''converted'' anyone?

I can't say I've ever "converted" (or led someone astray) from their religion, but I bet some of you have.  I just don't feel right prying into their lives and tearing what they know/believe into scraps for them to pick up.

More importantly, I'm not a very good debator.

So how about you all?  And for the believers here, have you ever converted anyone to your belief?

the term is "deconvert".

No I haven't converted anyone to my religion thus far. But I'm fairly confident that I started something

I don't actively evangelize so if I have then it's not been on purpose.domatron23

Pretty much this response really.

I make it a point for myself to not evangelise under any situation. I never do it in a crowd or in front of people whose religious stand point I know nothing about. This god topic only ever comes up through other discussions and I continue it only if the person is somewhat agnostic, at least. I never start talking about it just out of nowhere.

So I guess I'm not much of an evangelist and also don't remember converting anyone...

'I've' never converted anyone, and I don't intend too either. :)Lansdowne5

For some reason I think you are playing a word game here.  ;)

[QUOTE="Lansdowne5"]'I've' never converted anyone, and I don't intend too either. :)Sitri_

For some reason I think you are playing a word game here.  ;)

[QUOTE="Sitri_"]

[QUOTE="Lansdowne5"]'I've' never converted anyone, and I don't intend too either. :)Funky_Llama

For some reason I think you are playing a word game here.  ;)

Is it? 

[QUOTE="Funky_Llama"][QUOTE="Sitri_"]

[QUOTE="Lansdowne5"]'I've' never converted anyone, and I don't intend too either. :)Lansdowne5

For some reason I think you are playing a word game here.  ;)

Is it? 

Isn't it?

[QUOTE="Lansdowne5"][QUOTE="Funky_Llama"][QUOTE="Sitri_"]

[QUOTE="Lansdowne5"]'I've' never converted anyone, and I don't intend too either. :)7guns

For some reason I think you are playing a word game here.  ;)

Is it? 

Isn't it?

The Holy Spirit doesn't "convert" people, that implies that the Holy Spirit is the one making the decision. The 'person' coverts themself, a better way of putting it would be that the person converted their beliefs. All that an evangelist does is spread the Truth, and the Good News. They're giving a person the option, not trying to 'convert' them.

God Bless :) 

[QUOTE="7guns"][QUOTE="Lansdowne5"][QUOTE="Funky_Llama"][QUOTE="Sitri_"]

[QUOTE="Lansdowne5"]'I've' never converted anyone, and I don't intend too either. :)Lansdowne5

For some reason I think you are playing a word game here.  ;)

Is it? 

Isn't it?

The Holy Spirit doesn't "convert" people, that implies that the Holy Spirit is the one making the decision. The 'person' coverts themself, a better way of putting it would be that the person converted their beliefs. All that an evangelist does is spread the Truth, and the Good News. They're giving a person the option, not trying to 'convert' them.

God Bless :) 

[QUOTE="7guns"][QUOTE="Lansdowne5"][QUOTE="Funky_Llama"][QUOTE="Sitri_"]

[QUOTE="Lansdowne5"]'I've' never converted anyone, and I don't intend too either. :)Lansdowne5

For some reason I think you are playing a word game here.  ;)

Is it? 

Isn't it?

The Holy Spirit doesn't "convert" people, that implies that the Holy Spirit is the one making the decision. The 'person' coverts themself, a better way of putting it would be that the person converted their beliefs. All that an evangelist does is spread the Truth, and the Good News. They're giving a person the option, not trying to 'convert' them.

God Bless :) 

That's right! holy spirit doesn't convert people and Sitri was right...

[QUOTE="Lansdowne5"][QUOTE="7guns"][QUOTE="Lansdowne5"][QUOTE="Funky_Llama"][QUOTE="Sitri_"]

[QUOTE="Lansdowne5"]'I've' never converted anyone, and I don't intend too either. :)7guns

For some reason I think you are playing a word game here.  ;)

Is it? 

Isn't it?

The Holy Spirit doesn't "convert" people, that implies that the Holy Spirit is the one making the decision. The 'person' coverts themself, a better way of putting it would be that the person converted their beliefs. All that an evangelist does is spread the Truth, and the Good News. They're giving a person the option, not trying to 'convert' them.

God Bless :) 

That's right! holy spirit doesn't convert people and Sitri was right...

How am I playing with words??? I'm simply stating that I'm not the one who converts anyone. If I was, the person who ultimately converted wouldn't be the one making the decision, it would be me. 

How am I playing with words??? I'm simply stating that I'm not the one who converts anyone. If I was, the person who ultimately converted wouldn't be the one making the decision, it would be me. 

Lansdowne5

I get it. For someone to become christian one has to take an oath, touching the bible, before witnesses. Correct?:roll: .  But he probably didn't come all this way just by himself. Once you have already convinced someone of the exixtence of god, there may not be much use of freewill.

FYI, we've been down this road in the past : LINK

[QUOTE="Lansdowne5"]

How am I playing with words??? I'm simply stating that I'm not the one who converts anyone. If I was, the person who ultimately converted wouldn't be the one making the decision, it would be me. 

7guns

I get it. For someone to become christian one has to take an oath, touching the bible, before witnesses. Correct?:roll: .  But he probably didn't come all this way just by himself. Once you have already convinced someone of the exixtence of god, there may not be much use of freewill.

FYI, we've been down this road in the past : LINK

Enough with the eyes. :shock:

For someone to become a Christian, that is a personal decision. Regardless of whether someone actually helps them to see the Truth of God, at the end of the day the person themself is wholly in control of what they do, or don't believe. To accept that God exists is exercising free will, to dismiss his existence is also using free will. 

[QUOTE="7guns"][QUOTE="Lansdowne5"]

How am I playing with words??? I'm simply stating that I'm not the one who converts anyone. If I was, the person who ultimately converted wouldn't be the one making the decision, it would be me. 

Lansdowne5

I get it. For someone to become christian one has to take an oath, touching the bible, before witnesses. Correct?:roll: .  But he probably didn't come all this way just by himself. Once you have already convinced someone of the exixtence of god, there may not be much use of freewill.

FYI, we've been down this road in the past : LINK

Enough with the eyes. :shock:

For someone to become a Christian, that is a personal decision. Regardless of whether someone actually helps them to see the Truth of God, at the end of the day the person themself is wholly in control of what they do, or don't believe. To accept that God exists is exercising free will, to dismiss his existence is also using free will. 

Once you throw an apple on someone's nose and make him eat it and then if he says apple doesn't exist and that he doesn't know what an apple is, would you you accept his answer? Or even better, will he ever say that in the first place?

But when you say that he can chose to not believe in god even after you show him to god, are you not acknowledging that god is not as real as an apple?

[QUOTE="Lansdowne5"][QUOTE="7guns"][QUOTE="Lansdowne5"]

How am I playing with words??? I'm simply stating that I'm not the one who converts anyone. If I was, the person who ultimately converted wouldn't be the one making the decision, it would be me. 

7guns

I get it. For someone to become christian one has to take an oath, touching the bible, before witnesses. Correct?:roll: .  But he probably didn't come all this way just by himself. Once you have already convinced someone of the exixtence of god, there may not be much use of freewill.

FYI, we've been down this road in the past : LINK

Enough with the eyes. :shock:

For someone to become a Christian, that is a personal decision. Regardless of whether someone actually helps them to see the Truth of God, at the end of the day the person themself is wholly in control of what they do, or don't believe. To accept that God exists is exercising free will, to dismiss his existence is also using free will. 

Once you throw an apple on someone's nose and make him eat it and then if he says apple doesn't exist and that he doesn't know what an apple is, would you you accept his answer? Or even better, will he ever say that in the first place?

But when you say that he can chose to not believe in god even after you show him to god, are you not acknowledging that god is not as real as an apple?

That's a very bizzare example. But anyway, where do you suppose we draw the line?

You could say something to someone, which might make them seriously consider their belief, even to the extent of them changing it. But is that 'you' converting them? What someone decides to follow is their choice. When they change what they follow, you can't pin that decision on anyone but the person. Regardless of what someone else has said to them, the ultimate decision is theirs. 

That's a very bizzare example. But anyway, where do you suppose we draw the line?

You could say something to someone, which might make them seriously consider their belief, even to the extent of them changing it. But is that 'you' converting them? What someone decides to follow is their choice. When they change what they follow, you can't pin that decision on anyone but the person. Regardless of what someone else has said to them, the ultimate decision is theirs. 

Lansdowne5

Well.....what you just described is a bit of a mind-game. I agree it's not you who converts others. People convert themselves, but only in the sense that they make the final declaration.

Also I would like to point out that I don't think all who converts only do it with the help of someone like yourself. It's also possible for people to convert with much less encouragement.

But with someone as relentless like yourself to hold their hand every step of the way, I would hardly give any credit to to person who converted...

____________________________________

Thanks Teenage for the clarification...

[QUOTE="Lansdowne5"]

That's a very bizzare example. But anyway, where do you suppose we draw the line?

You could say something to someone, which might make them seriously consider their belief, even to the extent of them changing it. But is that 'you' converting them? What someone decides to follow is their choice. When they change what they follow, you can't pin that decision on anyone but the person. Regardless of what someone else has said to them, the ultimate decision is theirs. 

7guns

Well.....what you just described is a bit of a mind-game. I agree it's not you who converts others. People convert themselves, but only in the sense that they make the final declaration.

Also I would like to point out that I don't think all who converts only do it with the help of someone like yourself. It's also possible for people to convert with much less encouragement.

But with someone as relentless like yourself to hold their hand every step of the way, I would hardly give any credit to to person who converted...

____________________________________

Thanks Teenage for the clarification...

I don't agree with your opinion on this, but anyway, I will say just one more thing on the subject. :)

For someone to truly convert their belief, all on their own, they would need to be completely cut off from all sources of information. That's the only way they could change their belief, according to your standards, without the input of someone else to "sway" their opinion.

[QUOTE="7guns"][QUOTE="Lansdowne5"]

That's a very bizzare example. But anyway, where do you suppose we draw the line?

You could say something to someone, which might make them seriously consider their belief, even to the extent of them changing it. But is that 'you' converting them? What someone decides to follow is their choice. When they change what they follow, you can't pin that decision on anyone but the person. Regardless of what someone else has said to them, the ultimate decision is theirs. 

Lansdowne5

Well.....what you just described is a bit of a mind-game. I agree it's not you who converts others. People convert themselves, but only in the sense that they make the final declaration.

Also I would like to point out that I don't think all who converts only do it with the help of someone like yourself. It's also possible for people to convert with much less encouragement.

But with someone as relentless like yourself to hold their hand every step of the way, I would hardly give any credit to to person who converted...

____________________________________

Thanks Teenage for the clarification...

I don't agree with your opinion on this, but anyway, I will say just one more thing on the subject. :)

For someone to truly convert their belief, all on their own, they would need to be completely cut off from all sources of information. That's the only way they could change their belief, according to your standards, without the input of someone else to "sway" their opinion.

When I said "much less encouragement" I didn't exactly mean "no encouragement"... 

I'm actually proud to say that I have. A good friend of mine was Roman Catholic. We argued every so often about religion, and eventually we reached an agreement. I would read a book about religion's benefits (Gift of Faith or something), and he would read Atheist Univese.

The book I read didn't affect my atheistic beliefs as it was just short story after shorty story concerning the Catholic god's "miracles". But my friend finished Atheist Universe as well, an atheist. He told me the book dismantled his beliefs, and had confessed his faith was based on the way he was raised (strict Catholic parents).

[QUOTE="Lansdowne5"][QUOTE="7guns"][QUOTE="Lansdowne5"]

That's a very bizzare example. But anyway, where do you suppose we draw the line?

You could say something to someone, which might make them seriously consider their belief, even to the extent of them changing it. But is that 'you' converting them? What someone decides to follow is their choice. When they change what they follow, you can't pin that decision on anyone but the person. Regardless of what someone else has said to them, the ultimate decision is theirs. 

7guns

Well.....what you just described is a bit of a mind-game. I agree it's not you who converts others. People convert themselves, but only in the sense that they make the final declaration.

Also I would like to point out that I don't think all who converts only do it with the help of someone like yourself. It's also possible for people to convert with much less encouragement.

But with someone as relentless like yourself to hold their hand every step of the way, I would hardly give any credit to to person who converted...

____________________________________

Thanks Teenage for the clarification...

I don't agree with your opinion on this, but anyway, I will say just one more thing on the subject. :)

For someone to truly convert their belief, all on their own, they would need to be completely cut off from all sources of information. That's the only way they could change their belief, according to your standards, without the input of someone else to "sway" their opinion.

When I said "much less encouragement" I didn't exactly mean "no encouragement"... 

No, nor have I ever tried to.  As far as I'm concerned, I've got no right trying to change people. 

Oh, yeah, definitely. I remember this one guy who always had to pretend he wasn't pitching a tent when he saw me, so I--

Wait, you mean religious conversions?

Oh.

Nevermind, then.

Oh, yeah, definitely. I remember this one guy who always had to pretend he wasn't pitching a tent when he saw me, so I--

Wait, you mean religious conversions?

Oh.

Nevermind, then.

Theokhoth

Oh, yeah, definitely. I remember this one guy who always had to pretend he wasn't pitching a tent when he saw me, so I--

Wait, you mean religious conversions?

Oh.

Nevermind, then.

Theokhoth

I wanna hear how this line goes on "...he saw me, so I...." ?

[QUOTE="Theokhoth"]

Oh, yeah, definitely. I remember this one guy who always had to pretend he wasn't pitching a tent when he saw me, so I--

Wait, you mean religious conversions?

Oh.

Nevermind, then.

Teenaged

I wanna hear how this line goes on "...he saw me, so I...." ?

Oh, yeah, definitely. I remember this one guy who always had to pretend he wasn't pitching a tent when he saw me, so I--

Wait, you mean religious conversions?

Oh.

Nevermind, then.

Theokhoth

:lol:  Pitching a tent?  I'm so going to use that.  

[QUOTE="Teenaged"]

[QUOTE="Theokhoth"]

Oh, yeah, definitely. I remember this one guy who always had to pretend he wasn't pitching a tent when he saw me, so I--

Wait, you mean religious conversions?

Oh.

Nevermind, then.

Funky_Llama

I wanna hear how this line goes on "...he saw me, so I...." ?

Yeah, don't leave us hanging. :x

[QUOTE="Theokhoth"]

Oh, yeah, definitely. I remember this one guy who always had to pretend he wasn't pitching a tent when he saw me, so I--

Wait, you mean religious conversions?

Oh.

Nevermind, then.

Dark_Knight6

:lol:  Pitching a tent?  I'm so going to use that.  

[QUOTE="Funky_Llama"][QUOTE="Teenaged"]

[QUOTE="Theokhoth"]

Oh, yeah, definitely. I remember this one guy who always had to pretend he wasn't pitching a tent when he saw me, so I--

Wait, you mean religious conversions?

Oh.

Nevermind, then.

Forerunner-117

I wanna hear how this line goes on "...he saw me, so I...." ?

Yeah, don't leave us hanging. :x

Religious conversion > wang-related euphemisms = best derailment ever. >_>Funky_Llama

Definitely.  :P  Kudos, Theokhoth.  :P

[QUOTE="Funky_Llama"]Religious conversion > wang-related euphemisms = best derailment ever. >_>Dark_Knight6

Definitely.  :P  Kudos, Theokhoth.  :P

[QUOTE="Dark_Knight6"][QUOTE="Theokhoth"]

Oh, yeah, definitely. I remember this one guy who always had to pretend he wasn't pitching a tent when he saw me, so I--

Wait, you mean religious conversions?

Oh.

Nevermind, then.

Funky_Llama

:lol:  Pitching a tent?  I'm so going to use that.  

Now, when you say "wang," do you mean it in that butchered British sense that you used before or do you mean it in the real use of the word? >_>

[QUOTE="Funky_Llama"][QUOTE="Dark_Knight6"][QUOTE="Theokhoth"]

Oh, yeah, definitely. I remember this one guy who always had to pretend he wasn't pitching a tent when he saw me, so I--

Wait, you mean religious conversions?

Oh.

Nevermind, then.

Theokhoth

:lol:  Pitching a tent?  I'm so going to use that.  

Now, when you say "wang," do you mean it in that butchered British sense that you used before or do you mean it in the real use of the word? >_>

[QUOTE="Forerunner-117"][QUOTE="Funky_Llama"][QUOTE="Teenaged"]

[QUOTE="Theokhoth"]

Oh, yeah, definitely. I remember this one guy who always had to pretend he wasn't pitching a tent when he saw me, so I--

Wait, you mean religious conversions?

Oh.

Nevermind, then.

Funky_Llama

I wanna hear how this line goes on "...he saw me, so I...." ?

Yeah, don't leave us hanging. :x

:lol: Very perceptive!