At the University of Nevada, Reno lately, there have been a lot of signs going up/people wearing t-shirts with just the words “I agree with Wes” printed on them. If/when people wondered what was meant by this, they were then subjected to someone trying to convert them to the belief in the absolute truth of the Bible, and going to church, and all those things. (Wes Watkins apparently wrote an article in the student paper explaining why he was Christian.)
Now, I think that this is absolute bull, and, besides that, does nothing besides alienate people who might have otherwise heard these guys out by tricking them into thinking they were about to hear something interesting. I guess it’s been done at colleges around America for a few years now, and I can’t see it being anything but hurtful to their cause.
Seriously, there has to be a better idea out there than, “Let’s trick them into this corner and not let them leave.” Though, now that I think about it, maybe that’s been there plan for a while now…
Aren’t people supposed to come to Christ in their own time and in their own way?
What do you guys think?
(Maybe I should have put this into IMHO, but I figured with God in the title it might end up here anyways)
Aren’t people supposed to come to Christ in their own time and in their own way?**
What the evangelical Christians seem to miss is that for us non-Christians, we often have very good reasons for being NON-Christian. We’ve given lots of thought to our beliefs and why we believe the way we do.
Unfortunately, they seem to think that we simply haven’t heard “The Good News.” Well, we have, and we’ve rejected it for various reasons. Yet, they don’t what to believe this.
Preach it! I’m constantly amazed at the numer of fundamentalists who think that non-Christians are going around saying “Bible? What’s that?”
Hardly any evangelicals are prepared to answer even the most minor of objections to Christianity. (Since the SDMB tends to draw a higher quality of individuals, let me state here that if you’re an exception to this generalization, consider yourself duly noted.)
I suppose this would be an interesting research question to toss around. My hunch is that religions draw people in based upon emotional and aesthetic appeal, not evidentiary claims. (Certainly so in the early days of Christianity.)
I mean, how many people start their conversion pitch with something warm and fuzzy like “How would you like to make a friend in Jesus?” or “What do you think will happen to you when you die?” or even “Are you looking for some direction and meaning in your life?” vs. “Would you like to enter into a close scholarly analysis of the Biblical text and the history of ancient Israel and the early Christian church to determine whether the Bible is the word of God and Christianity is the one true faith?”
Apologetics are used to shore up belief among those who’ve already converted (or always belonged to that religion), but who may have some lingering doubts, not non-believers. Since few people care to put serious time into actual study, all the pastor needs to do is hold up a 700 page book by Josh McDowell which the potential apostate then examines briefly, decides it’s all a little too complicated for him, but the book looks scholarly and technical with lots of small type and footnotes, so it must be right, and then goes home satisfied that his “faith” is indeed backed by evidence. He is reassured, but is in no position to preach the gospel to knowledgeable non-believers.
Wow, we had the same exact thing last spring, at my school, Ohio State. “I agree with Jared” was all over, on t-shirts, sidewalk chalk, man, everywhere. A couple days later, “Jared” wrote an article in the paper spouting some pseudo-fudie garbage. It would be reeeeaaaaly interesting if it was the same article. Unfortunately, it was printed as a paid advertisement, so I can’t find it. However, for some interesting reading, go to http://www.thelantern.com and type “jared” into the search box, and see how many results you get. Also, could you provide a link if possible, I’d like to see if it was in fact the same article.
I swear, if anyone ever tries to evangelize to me, “Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your savior?”, I’m going to be like, “Who?” “Jesus who?” “As my WHAT now?”
And then, when they start telling me the Bible and about the resurrection and stuff, I’m gonna act like it’s a joke.
“No way! Get outta here-you don’t believe that, do you? Am I on Candid Camera?” “Whoa…you’re kidding! That’s neat. But I mean, I think if this Jesus guy WERE all you say he is, I’d have heard of him.”
Just to mess with their minds.
As Palmyra points out here, this is part of a nationwide campaign of Campus Crusade for Christ. Here at Rutgers, we had “Do You Agree With Mike?” all over the place just as you described. Here, Mike had a meeting where I’m told he talked about the same stuff Wes and Jared wrote about. Since one of my roommates is affiliated with these people, and I think is trying to get me to join too, I have been made aware of the DYAWM? website.
It was all part of “Jesus Awareness Week” here, and like Opus1 said, I asked my roommate why anyone would think that it was possible to live in our society and not be aware of Jesus. He didn’t really have an answer for that.
Well, we obviously haven’t heard of him, or else we’d have already given our lives and souls to his rulership. Everyone knows that a Christian’s testimony is irresistable to those who aren’t directly coerced by Satan.
jayjay (who sooo much more admires those who witness-by-example, than those who witness-by-spending-advertising-money)
Actually, you do believe in God. Everyone does. Sure, you may say you don’t, and act like you don’t, and even think you don’t, but you’re just denying it to yourselves.
He believes this. Seriously. He told me this in another conversation we had, about him going to the airport to witness and me thinking that wasn’t such a good idea. That kinda killed the conversation for me. (What’s the proper response for something like that?) I think I’m making some progress on the evolution front though, so there may be hope yet.
It’s about time somebody out there recognized my genius. Languishing for years in “I Told You So” purgatory, having philistines attempt to trash by beautifly constructed arguments, thinking I’m some sort of opiniated loud-mouthed moron.
Everybody should own that shirt. Everybody must be humbled to the knowledge that, whatever the argument, that I am right.
Damn, I want a whole box of those shirts.
(Now I wish I went to the U. of Nevada)
If you didn’t already know, them other Weses (Someone pluralize ‘Wes’ for me) have a website site up at http://www.IAgreeWithWes.com . Man, it would have been sweet if I had beaten them to registering that domain!
Darnit, why aren’t there any evangelical atheists? Just because they can’t be exempt from taxation as a religious organization shouldn’t stop them. What are they waiting for?
Now I’m starting to wonder if this is some sorta copycat game. Here in Hawaii we had “I agree with Audrey.” Pretty much same thing,except for the main premise of this was that she wrote a paper about de-bunking evolution at her school. So queston is,who did it really start with? Much like how the Athiest out there say about religions.
As far as your comment Tourbot, I thought about it for a while. Basically because Athiest don’t have anything to offer except getting to stay home on Sundays The reason they (we) evangelize (if I ever do at all)is because there may be soemthing there that I beleive may be albe to help them. In fact that’s why I never street preach or street evangelize, because I know the feeling it’s like a high pressured sale. Nor do I use those “tactics” when I discuss religioun. I just keep in plain and simple.
But as for why no Evangelical Athiest, well what do they have to offer? “Yea! you can smoke,drink and do whatever you want as much as you want,because theres nobody or any god that cares!” Kinda depressing actullay.
Well, I’m pretty Athi, although I probably don’t have a claim to being the AthiEST, but I’ll agree with you on this one.
Atheism doesn’t really have anything to offer. It just is. There’s no god, great, now I go on with my life. Christianity has a reason to evangelize. I, as an atheist don’t really care if someone else is Christian, Jewish, or Miscellaneous. In my eyes, the worst that they’re doing is wasting thier time, barring any crazy conservative shit like Pat Robertson and his kind.
My point exactly. Christianity offers “good News” exactly. I.E You can be free from sin (or guilt to those who don’t beleive in sin) you can have a new family (espically if you don’t have one or your exising one sucks) and you get to live in Heaven after you die,so no more wondering “what will happen to me” (note I’m stating the beleifs,although they are my beleifs as well) and then like I said most people (although I dislike “Prothelyzing” to the extreme,I.E shoving tracts in peoples hands anad telling them “your hell bent!”) generally vare for you.
But an Athiest? Now I’m not saying Athiest are devid of any human feeling,in fact they may be as morally upright and as nice a guy as anyone (Though from EXPERIENCE this has not proven true to ME) but an Athiest has no reason to “Care” anything for anyone. Wehat would be the point to converting someone to Athiesm? Some say “You think freely” Well heck,I’m a Christian and I think freely as it is. so theres no “reward” for having God debunked. aNd of course there’s the usual Christian comeback (my fave) “Well,if God isint real why are you wasting your time trying to prove to me he isint if he dosent exist?”
Plus like you just said,majority of the atheist don’t hate “god” nor other religons they just don’t care for them.
",in fact they may be as morally upright and as nice a guy as anyone (Though from EXPERIENCE this has not proven true to ME) but an Athiest has no reason to “Care” anything for anyone. aNd of course there’s the usual Christian comeback (my fave) “Well,if God isint real why are you wasting your time trying to prove to me he isint if he dosent exist?”
"? “Yea! you can smoke,drink and do whatever you want as much as you want,because theres nobody or any god that cares!” Kinda depressing actullay. "
Why does every one think we atheist spend our lifes constantly worried about “what will I get out of this.” as if every possible moment of our time ought to be spent in drunken orgies and cynical barbary. I honestly don’t. How would arguing be wasting my time? Yes I agree arguing too much about anything can be a waste of time. But do you honestly think I am afraid I am losing valuable sex drugs and rock and roll time everytime i open my mouth about something bigger than my own wants and desires. I’m very worried about the christians who say that if one does not beleive in god they ought to live violent and hedonistic lives. This is scary. If the only thing stoping you from raping and pillaging is your beleif in god , by all means beleive, beleive. If your whole life is based on a punishment/reward token economy how does that make you more caring and moral than me, a person who choses to be decent and caring because they like being alive and like mankind? Maybe you don’t like atheists because they only time you ever meet an atheist is when you are downing their way of life. I can honestly say that I have seen no difference between atheists and theists in the overall decency of the person.
Sagasumono, I think Flymaster was trying to gently point out that it’s spelled atheist, like podiatrIST or existentialIST, or isolationIST. . .
There are some atheist “evangelists”, and if you ask me, they’re as big a pain in the neck as Xtian evangelists. If someone wants to talk to me about atheism, I’m happy to oblige, and you better believe I’ll defend myself when attacked. But trying to convince someone to give up their deeply held beliefs, unless you really care about the person and think their religion is causing them harm, is pretty jerky.
Well my fellow brethren and sistren…don’t know if thats a word…if you’re sick of this evangelical propaganda, then follow shag. Its hard to tell what the hell I’m going to agree with but just follow shag!!
Buy the “I agree with shag” shirt on amazon.com for only $14.95!!!
I just want to let you know that the ministries of Shag will let you come to Shag on your own terms…
The reason they (we) evangelize (if I ever do at all)is because there may be soemthing there that I beleive may be albe to help them. In fact that’s why I never street preach or street evangelize, because I know the feeling it’s like a high pressured sale. Nor do I use those “tactics” when I discuss religioun. I just keep in plain and simple.