death to all fanatics
Aug. 23rd, 2008 04:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kengrAfter running into yet another example of extreme intolerance on the web the other day (of the "we must stop these people from living their evil lifestyle" sort) I found myself wondering about the thought processes of such folks.
Remembering a long discussion I'd had with some young ladies at Saturday Market many years back, plus some other things, I came to the conclusion that there's a quite simple way of determining whether or not it's possible to reach someone like this.
Just one question:
"Ok, what would it take to convince you that God *didn't* want you going after these people?"
"And I don't mean 'what arguments could *I* make. I mean 'tell me what sort of event would cause you to rethink things'"
Based on my experience with the young ladies, I'm certain that there are some folks who wouldn't believe God's voice speaking to them. They'd think it was a trick of Satan. Such folks are unreachable.
Others may require "important (to them) religious authority" telling them that they are wrong. Their minister, well known televangelist, the pope, whatever. They *might* be reachable.
Remembering a long discussion I'd had with some young ladies at Saturday Market many years back, plus some other things, I came to the conclusion that there's a quite simple way of determining whether or not it's possible to reach someone like this.
Just one question:
"Ok, what would it take to convince you that God *didn't* want you going after these people?"
"And I don't mean 'what arguments could *I* make. I mean 'tell me what sort of event would cause you to rethink things'"
Based on my experience with the young ladies, I'm certain that there are some folks who wouldn't believe God's voice speaking to them. They'd think it was a trick of Satan. Such folks are unreachable.
Others may require "important (to them) religious authority" telling them that they are wrong. Their minister, well known televangelist, the pope, whatever. They *might* be reachable.
