Are some people more predisposed to becoming

[jedi]

Christians than others. I heard this most intriguing discussion on Family Radio this morning and I thought I would ask it here. The commentator posed the question:

Are some people more predisposed to becoming Christians either because of upbringing, genetics or environment? What do you guys think?

[Boricua_papi]

Re: Are some people more predisposed to becoming

Family Radio? Isn't that the radio network that airs the Harold Camping show? Isn't he the one that used biblical prophesy to announce that the rapture/second coming would occur in 1994? I'm still waiting! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

To address your question, there appears to be a link between the level of education and the fundamentalism of one's beliefs.

[Guest]

Re: Are some people more predisposed to becoming

Originally posted by Boricua_papi:
[qb] To address your question, there appears to be a link between the level of education and the fundamentalism of one's beliefs.

[/qb]

But the fact that even with post-graduate degrees people still become Christians or remain in the faith, then one could say that level of education influences ones belief system but is not a predisposing factor of whether one will or will not become a Christian.

[Fledgist]

Re: Are some people more predisposed to becoming

Originally posted by Jedi:
[qb] Christians than others. I heard this most intriguing discussion on Family Radio this morning and I thought I would ask it here. The commentator posed the question:

Are some people more predisposed to becoming Christians either because of upbringing, genetics or environment? What do you guys think? [/qb]

What about the old-fashioned methods such as enslavement and suppression of traditional beliefs. Those seem to have predisposed people to become Christians.

[Guest]

Re: Are some people more predisposed to becoming

Originally posted by Fledgist:
[qb]

Originally posted by Jedi:
[qb] Christians than others. I heard this most intriguing discussion on Family Radio this morning and I thought I would ask it here. The commentator posed the question:

Are some people more predisposed to becoming Christians either because of upbringing, genetics or environment? What do you guys think? [/qb]

What about the old-fashioned methods such as enslavement and suppression of traditional beliefs. Those seem to have predisposed people to become Christians. [/qb]

Being coerced is not the same as being predisposed is it? And granted if that is even so then how do you explain more recent tribal converts? In fact I have heard reports of many chiefs who have gone in search of missionaries after hearing of the good things that came from other tribes that were converted. In fact one of the good things that happened was that the people learned to read! So therefore the question still remains are some people more disposed to becoming Christians that others.

[RollinCalf]

Re: Are some people more predisposed to becoming

Many forms of mental illness are now known to be at least partially genetic in origin.

[Guest]

Re: Are some people more predisposed to becoming

Originally posted by RollinCalf:
[qb] Many forms of mental illness are now known to be at least partially genetic in origin. [/qb]

And your point

[RollinCalf]

Re: Are some people more predisposed to becoming

Ummm, lets see. Christians worship an invisible man that lives somewhere "in heaven". He will give you good stuff in return for 10 cents on the dollar or will get incredibly angry and wipe out the entire earth with a flood if everybody doesn't. Christians have also tried this (i.e. genocide) when they don't like people with different invisible men.

You do the math.

[Fledgist]

Re: Are some people more predisposed to becoming

Originally posted by Jedi l:
[qb]

Originally posted by Fledgist:
[qb]

Originally posted by Jedi:
[qb] Christians than others. I heard this most intriguing discussion on Family Radio this morning and I thought I would ask it here. The commentator posed the question:

Are some people more predisposed to becoming Christians either because of upbringing, genetics or environment? What do you guys think? [/qb]

What about the old-fashioned methods such as enslavement and suppression of traditional beliefs. Those seem to have predisposed people to become Christians. [/qb]

Being coerced is not the same as being predisposed is it? And


{Fledgist: If you are property, you are predisposed to become whatever your owner wants you to be.}

granted if that is even so then how do you explain more recent tribal converts? In fact I


{Fledgist: Perhaps opportunities for education are made only to converts. This would make conversion to Christianity a requirement for social mobility. 'Tribal', btw, is a racist term -- for some reason, only non-white peoples are organised in tribes.}

have heard reports of many chiefs who have gone in search of missionaries after hearing of the good things that came from other tribes that were converted. In fact one of the good things that happened was that the people learned to read! So therefore the question still remains are some people more disposed to becoming Christians that others. [/qb]

Apparently, either when they are forced to, or when conversion is the gateway to opportunity.

[Guest]

Re: Are some people more predisposed to becoming

Originally posted by RollinCalf:
[qb] Ummm, lets see. Christians worship an invisible man that lives somewhere "in heaven". He will give you good stuff in return for 10 cents on the dollar or will get incredibly angry and wipe out the entire earth with a flood if everybody doesn't. Christians have also tried this (i.e. genocide) when they don't like people with different invisible men.

You do the math. [/qb]

So being an agnostic does that make you only half crazy? [img]/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[Guest]

Re: Are some people more predisposed to becoming

]Fledgist: If you are property, you are predisposed to become whatever your owner wants you to be.

Okay let us accept that for the sake of argument, then how do you explain people becoming Christians of their own free will 2000 years later after slavery has been abolished?

Fledgist: Perhaps opportunities for education are made only to converts. This would make conversion to Christianity a requirement for social mobility. 'Tribal', btw, is a racist term -- for some reason, only non-white peoples are organised in tribes.

Is 'Tribal' really a racist term? How come people still regard themselves as belonging to this tribe and that one on these various programs and such dealing particularly with Africa?(asking for info. only not wanting to offend anyone)

In response to your other comment - In order to know what God says you have to be able to read the Bible! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Apparently, either when they are forced to, or when conversion is the gateway to opportunity

I tend to agree with the latter part of your statement, but still isn't opportunity a good thing?

[Fledgist]

Re: Are some people more predisposed to becoming

Originally posted by Jedi l:
[qb]

]Fledgist: If you are property, you are predisposed to become whatever your owner wants you to be.

Okay let us accept that for the sake of argument, then how do you explain people becoming Christians of their own free will 2000 years later after slavery has been abolished?

{Fledgist: Since slavery was abolished in the British Empire only in 1834, and in other places even later, I suggest that you revise that statement. And note my other comments.}

Fledgist: Perhaps opportunities for education are made only to converts. This would make conversion to Christianity a requirement for social mobility. 'Tribal', btw, is a racist term -- for some reason, only non-white peoples are organised in tribes.

Is 'Tribal' really a racist term? How come people still regard themselves as belonging to this tribe and that one on these various programs and such dealing particularly with Africa?(asking for info. only not wanting to offend anyone)

{Fledgist: In 1976, a Ghanaian advised me to use 'ethnic group' instead of 'tribe' because the latter was pejorative. I've done so ever since. Until such time as I see the Scots, or Irish, or Greeks, or Italians, and so on referred to as 'tribes', its an offensive term.}

In response to your other comment - In order to know what God says you have to be able to read the Bible! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

{Fledgist: Like that interesting commandment to slaves to obey their masters?}

Apparently, either when they are forced to, or when conversion is the gateway to opportunity

I tend to agree with the latter part of your statement, but still isn't opportunity a good thing? [/qb]

When it comes with a genocidal religion attached?

[Guest]

Re: Are some people more predisposed to becoming

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Fledgist:
[QB] [QUOTE]Originally posted by Jedi l:
[qb] .

Fledgist: Since slavery was abolished in the British Empire only in 1834, and in other places even later, I suggest that you revise that statement. And note my other comments.

Oops my mistake, I meant 200yrs. Still the question stand, given all that we know now and our technological advances how come people including black people still become Christians?

Fledgist: In 1976, a Ghanaian advised me to use 'ethnic group' instead of 'tribe' because the latter was pejorative. I've done so ever since. Until such time as I see the Scots, or Irish, or Greeks, or Italians, and so on referred to as 'tribes', its an offensive term.

Thanks for the correction [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Jedi: In response to your other comment - In order to know what God says you have to be able to read the Bible! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Fledgist: Like that interesting commandment to slaves to obey their masters?

Jedi: Let's not even start that again. But surely you can see the advantage of learning to read can't you?

When it comes with a genocidal religion attached?

Are religions genocidal or are people genocidal? Two people read the same exact thing. One sets out to save the world and the other one set out to destroy it. I don't think that has so much to do with what they have read but how they have interpreted it and chosen to apply it. The opportunity still stands regardless. And speaking of reading and slavery remember that slave owners didnot want their slaves to learn to read, what was the phrase -"and educated slave is a useless slave" or something to that effect...you probably know.

[Fledgist]

Re: Are some people more predisposed to becoming

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Jedi l:
[qb] [QUOTE]Originally posted by Fledgist:
[QB]

Originally posted by Jedi l:
[qb] .

Fledgist: Since slavery was abolished in the British Empire only in 1834, and in other places even later, I suggest that you revise that statement. And note my other comments.

Oops my mistake, I meant 200yrs. Still the question stand, given all that we know now and our technological advances how come people including black people still become Christians?

Fledgist: In 1976, a Ghanaian advised me to use 'ethnic group' instead of 'tribe' because the latter was pejorative. I've done so ever since. Until such time as I see the Scots, or Irish, or Greeks, or Italians, and so on referred to as 'tribes', its an offensive term.

Thanks for the correction [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Jedi: In response to your other comment - In order to know what God says you have to be able to read the Bible! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

Fledgist: Like that interesting commandment to slaves to obey their masters?

Jedi: Let's not even start that again. But surely you can see the advantage of learning to read can't you?

{Fledgist: Especially when what you read is propaganda for slavery?}

When it comes with a genocidal religion attached?

Are religions genocidal or are people genocidal? Two people read the same exact thing. One sets out to save the world and the other one set out to destroy it. I don't think


{Fledgist: Why don't you ask a Tasmanian aborigine?}

that has so much to do with what they have read but how they have interpreted it and chosen to apply it. The opportunity still stands regardless. And speaking of reading and slavery remember that slave owners didnot want their slaves to learn to read, what was the phrase -"and educated slave is a useless slave" or something to that effect...you probably know. [/qb]

They did want their slaves to learn the Bible, though. Especially those parts about slaves obeying their masters.

[Guest]

Re: Are some people more predisposed to becoming

Look (((Fledgist))) I can see where you are heading with this one, and I believe we have had umpteen discussions on the subject. Futhermore I think you are being disingenuous as far as slave owners wanting their slaves to know the bible. Reading the bible or anything at all was cause for a slave to be hung and I am sure you are only too aware of that. I noticed however that you avoided my first question which is why do people even now almost 200years after slavery has been abolished, and given all that history has taught them still convert to Christianity? Are certain people predisposed to becoming Christians? If you can't answer just say so.