What are appropriate ways to effectively correct those who force their religious beliefs on others?

Answer 1

Very simple. Just ask them to give you proofs (not hypothesis) on whatever promises they claimed to entice you. Guaranteed you won't see any of them again.

Answer Well, you shouldn't attempt to "correct" someone -- ever. Whether its about religion or not. That won't get you anywhere. It will just cause additional conflict. No one can force you to accept religion. You may not be ready or you simply may not want to. If they start by asking if you go to church or ask other questions, explain that that is personal and you don't discuss such matters. People who are trying to "force their religion" on you aren't doing it to be mean or to be annoying. They honestly believe that they are doing something to help you. It takes a lot of guts to start talking about religion with a total stranger. Lots of people are saved every day. And they wouldn't have been had it not been for people preaching to them. They have had success in helping others and that's why its so hard for them to take no as an answer. Thank them but say that you are not interested. If they persist, thank them again and repeat in a slightly louder and firmer tone that you are not interested. ~ T

Answer Correcting someone who has made a decision to invade your space is appropriate.

Answer Two things most of us shouldn't be discussing is religion and politics unless one can agree to disagree. I have no problem with someone discussing their religion unless they try to force me constantly into their belief system. I enjoy listening and sometimes we can learn something (either to draw us closer to our own faith or to be simply intrigued by another's faith.) I have had a friend (of another faith) who has tried to sway me from my Christian beliefs and I'm stern, but never rude and usually smile, give a laugh and say, "Hey, time to change the subject! Two things people can't agree on are religion and politics." If this doesn't work, then I become stern and tell the person like it is. I try to have respect for each individuals beliefs no matter what I believe in.

Answer I rest of the fact that anyone can say or think whatever they choose about me and I can't keep them from doing that. I can keep them from being correct. This is not usually a problem as long as my attention is on my own learning.

Answer It's not a matter of correcting them. I try to follow Buddhist Philosophy and I am surrounded by Christians. My response to people who try to force their religion on me is, for one, to show respect to what they believe. They know I am not a Christian, but once they have gotton to know me, they don't push their beliefs on me. They know that I love them, I don't judge them, they can trust me 100 % and they see how I treat others. I am free to open my heart to those around me, when they see my intentions are pure, they seem to see that my beliefs work for me. Love, compassion, trust, speak louder than words. It's been years since anyone has tried to force their religion on me, and the best part of it, no one has ever been offended by words.

Answer It is impossible to correct anyone who is so full of themselves that they think they've solved all of their problems and has taken on (voluntarily) your's. So recognize a no win situation and don't bother to present your arguments. First a physical instruction, take nothing from them (pamphlet, tract, etc.) just stand there and look at the "gift" until they put it away. Then, revert to the the beginner's mind (the same as you do in Causal Analysis) and simply ask "Why?" to every statement in a non-offensive manner. Your honest purpose is to find the heart of their concern which will be evident because no "Why?" can be aimed at it. This also works for telemarketers - but then, they're trying to sell you their agenda for their own purposes as well. What the "converter" finds is that he/she doesn't have answers beyond the first few layers down and has to fall back on statements like "Well everybody want's that!" (on the positive side) or "I can't believe you are so stupid!" (on the negative side). Continue your "Whys?"

Answer 2

An ethical person would ask permission to discuss religion and cease to do so if you say you do not want to learn about the person's religious beliefs. Unfortunately, many people who feel the compulsion to force their beliefs onto others are far from ethical, and it becomes necessary to take a step further.

What often works with those pushing a particular Christian belief is simply to say that you are not a Christian. This stops them dead in their tracks since they have only been trained to argue with people who believe in God or who believe that 'Jesus saves'.

Another good way, if you have a little more time, is to ask for proof of whatever they assert. Do not accept anything not in The Bible and do not accept any interpretation of what is in the Bible. Unless a Bible you trust as a good translation of the original Hebrew and Greek says exactly what the person asserts, refuse to accept it. They soon get frustrated and leave, crossing you off their list of people to visit.

I've tried both of the above methods, and they both work.