What Kind of Cultural Behavior Would Make One of Your Beliefs Open to Listening?

[CRfan]

I was wondering about common cultural or behavioral blunders one should avoid in telling someone else about a relationship with Jesus, for instance? What would turn you off automatically to listening, and what would make you more accepting to listen about Christianity?
I know Muslims in some countries have a completely different culture than Americans.
Also, Bhuddhists and Jews and other people likely may have different ideas of politeness, especially if they are from outside the U.S. as well.

 

[Eudaimonist]

I was wondering about common cultural or behavioral blunders one should avoid in telling someone else about a relationship with Jesus, for instance? What would turn you off automatically to listening, and what would make you more accepting to listen about Christianity?

There are plenty of good tips I can give you:

- Don't tell me that you were "just like me" before you converted to Christianity. You don't know me, and you are probably not even close. I don't care if you think that you were an "atheist", that doesn't mean you have the first clue as to what I am like as an individual. Even if you were to know me personally, we are almost certainly different enough as individuals that it would be rude to say that you are just like me.

- Throw away your script! Forget rehearsed techniques. I will see through them very quickly. Talk with me, and respond thoughtfully to the feedback I give you.

These are just off of the top of my head.


eudaimonia,

Mark

 

[sidhe]

My #1 Pet Peeve: Don't talk to me as if you're the first person to present me with your point of view. Christianity is not something that is suppressed, and at almost 30 years old, you should figure that you're not the first to witness to me. Do not give answers that you found convincing as a member of the choir, don't quote C. S. Lewis, don't insult my intelligence. If I raise an objection, address my objection with your own thoughts, not with a canned response. I'm more impressed by someone showing creativity and thought than anything else.

 

[durangodawood]

Personal honesty impresses. The transparent sales pitch repells.
.

 

[awitch]

I was wondering about common cultural or behavioral blunders one should avoid in telling someone else about a relationship with Jesus, for instance? What would turn you off automatically to listening, and what would make you more accepting to listen about Christianity?

Turn offs include:

Arrogance: If you're going to start out telling me how lost or evil I am, then I'm not interested.

Patronization: Don't try to be my friend just with the intent of coverting me.

Not taking "no thanks" for an answer: If I'm not interested due to time/place/interest contraints, then go away and don't come back every other day.

Public spectacles: Street preachers are obnoxious, especially the ones who walk the legal line by preaching in places like the park, or college campuses.

Pamphlets/tracts: Stop littering.

Using scripts: If memorizing a script (that you didn't even write) is the best way you can come up with telling me about the creator of everything and how great he is, then chances are I'm not going to be impressed.

As far as what helps?
Practice what you preach.
Free food helps.

 

[ChavaK]

Don't tell me I'm going to hell if I don't accept Jesus.
Don't tell me I don't understand my own scriptures.
Please do leave me alone if I tell you I'm not interested in listening to you.

And lastly, please do not come into our synagogues or stand outside them,
preaching and yelling at us about accepting Jesus. Yes, this has happened
more than once.

 

[hikersong]

I was wondering about common cultural or behavioral blunders one should avoid in telling someone else about a relationship with Jesus, for instance?

I'd agree with a lot of the responses you've had.

To be honest, having been a fully commited christian, I'm not looking for a discussion about your faith at all. Sorry. You would have to trust me when I tell you that I have thoroughly tested out Christianity in my life, and, for me, it is not the answer. Could you do that?

That doesn't mean that I'm not potentially interested in friendship with you. I think it is very hard for an evangelical christian, more than any other type of person, to be a friend to someone with no strings attached though. A cause of sadness to me personally is that a faith that many christians say is about breaking down walls between people, actually has the opposite effect in practise. I personally can't see an answer to this divide, but perhaps I am carrying too much Christian shaped emotional baggage.

 

[Wicked Willow]

Religion isn't really marketable in Germany - unlike the US. No televangelist has ever managed to get a foothold here, religious spam is virtually nonexistant, street preachers are EXTREMELY rare, and the only doorstep proselytizers you'll ever encounter are probably Jehova's Witnesses, once every five years or so.

That said, US-sponsored Evangelicals *have* gained a certain foothold in some parts of the country during the last two decades, but only among one specific demographical group: I'm talking about the so-called "Russian Germans", who returned to their ancestors' homeland after the end of the Cold War. They seem to be pretty open to the lure of fundamentalism, whereas the rest of the country has gained a remarkable resistance to Bull over the last 50 years. (Which shouldn't be THAT surprising, in the light of what an earlier exposure to demagogy and propaganda led to.)

 

[hikersong]

Religion isn't really marketable in Germany - unlike the US. No televangelist has ever managed to get a foothold here....

Have you come across Reinhard Bonnke? He's a German tele-evangelist who preaches mainly in Africa. He is the epitomy of cultural sensitivity. He came to my old bible college once...quite a force of nature. He shouldn't be let anywhere near emotionally vulnerable people imo.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMTCr4tedX0&feature=related

 

[calmone]

I am not really open to listening to missionary attempts, if this is what the OP means.
That said I agree it is very insulting when Christians-especially Messiancs-tells us we do not know or understand our own bible. And this lack of understanding is why we do not accept Jesus. This is a sure way toturn someone off to your message.

Also telling us our religion is man made is another insulting phrase that is better left unsaid.

 

[SithDoughnut]

Quite simply put: If you have the intention of converting me, don't bother.

If you want to explain your faith to me because you think I don't understand something, then tell me what you believe, not what some 2000 year old book tells you what to believe. I'm not interested in religious mythology, but I'm interested in opinions.

 

[durangodawood]

Turn ons include:
intelligence
lightning storms
candlelight
fine wine

 

[hikersong]

Turn ons include:
intelligence
lightning storms
candlelight
fine wine

Um, durangodawood (have you got an abbreviation for that?).

I think you've posted your reply to the dating agency in the wrong place.

 

[Wicked Willow]

Have you come across Reinhard Bonnke? He's a German tele-evangelist who preaches mainly in Africa. He is the epitomy of cultural sensitivity. He came to my old bible college once...quite a force of nature. He shouldn't be let anywhere near emotionally vulnerable people imo.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMTCr4tedX0&feature=related

Never heard of the man. He may be quite a celebrity in certain parts of Africa, but around here, he's a nobody. (And UGH, that video is obnoxious!)

 

[durangodawood]

Um, durangodawood (have you got an abbreviation for that?).

I think you've posted your reply to the dating agency in the wrong place.

You can call me ddw if you want.
.

 

[b&wpac4]

You can call me ddw if you want.
.

Awwww, I was hoping you'd let us call you DW and then I could be reminded of Darkwing Duck, which I used to watch as a kid.

 

[b&wpac4]

I was wondering about common cultural or behavioral blunders one should avoid in telling someone else about a relationship with Jesus, for instance? What would turn you off automatically to listening, and what would make you more accepting to listen about Christianity?

Never assume that people haven't made the same exact search you have made, with the exact same resources, and come to a different conclusion. Don't tell me that I just haven't looked hard enough, or haven't opened my heart or my mind enough, and never insult my intelligence by claiming what is plainly on the page is not what is plainly on the page.

 

[hikersong]

Never heard of the man. He may be quite a celebrity in certain parts of Africa, but around here, he's a nobody. (And UGH, that video is obnoxious!)

Yeah, sorry about that. Many people would see thousands of people shouting Hallelujah when the person at the front tells them to as a demonstration of God's presence and power. It is scary when I look back but if you're part of it, it comes to seem normal.

 

[durangodawood]

Awwww, I was hoping you'd let us call you DW and then I could be reminded of Darkwing Duck, which I used to watch as a kid.

You can totally call me DW, which is also the brand of drum kit I play.
.

 

[PassionFruit]

For starters, it would be helpful to not treat the person you're talking to like they've never heard of Jesus Christ or Christianity. I've noticed this in real life and on CF. There seems to be an assumption non-Christians have never been exposed to Christianity. Believe it or not, alot of us non-Christians were Christians at some point in our lives. And even for people who have never been Christian, would have some knowledge about your religion.