Saturday, August 21, 2010

Open discussions

about Christianity, not feeling like I'm in a forced situation, being able to just come and investigate and ask my questions about Christianity and left to myself to think about it. Not having the feeling that I must convert and not being asked at every meeting on whether I believe and making sure I do believe. Just hanging out, figuring it out. It's lacking somehow, as some non-Christian friends of mine feel. There seems to be a forced feeling. Is it the result of how outreach is done by mega churches? Is that really true? Or is it all down to the person and combination of persons itself? Can't it be like some financial seminars or makeup sessions where you just come to check out what it's about and then decide if you subscribe to it and if it's really true, then go off to find out more after the seminar/session?

Why is it that in western countries, people can come and investigate Christianity without any feelings of obligation or mystic where once you step into church, you're doomed to being christian ?(and there's no such thing btw) Why does that only exist in asian countries? Why can't asians just come and investigate and check out what Christianity is about and have a grasp of why Christians believe what they believe? There isn't anything magical in stepping into church or going to a home for bible study. Maybe person feels like they know it all already? But how can anyone know everything completely? How to be objective and not have bias-ness? Or maybe that's not possible?

Maybe for socials, it's less threatening? But, it's the same, right? Only difference is that in a social, you're concentrating on 1 activity.

Why so much resistance? When asians say they wish for open discussions about religion/beliefs, but don't want to investigate or are resistant to open discussions, what does that mean? Why is there somehow more openness in western countries compared to asian countries? Are asian countries more dogmatic in nature, as seen in some governments and especially family structures? I wonder.

Funny how people think people convert people. That's not possible, since a person is not able to change hearts of people. Even if one says loving people will change hearts, but how long can that last? Ultimately, it's God's work in changing hearts and opening minds, not ours since we're only creatures. Such a relief it's not our provocative since we have such messed up lives.

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