Should Christians Force Their Religion On Others?

You’re in a conversation and someone says, “I'm a Christian, but I don't want to force my religion on others.”

What would you say?

We live in a pluralistic world, and we all have the tendency to believe that our subjective opinions, what’s often called “our truth,” is the truth. So, it’s not surprising that so many – even Christians – fear imposing their religious views and personal opinions on others, including what we think about God.

So, the next time someone says, “I'm a Christian, but I don't want to force my religion on others,” here are three things to remember:

First: The Christian faith cannot, by definition, be forced.
Second: Christianity is a cure, not a cookie.
Third: Everyone has the right to share their passion.

Comment Policy: We encourage civil discussions. Please keep bad language, personal attacks, off-topic comments, and general bad behavior off our site.

Sources and Recommended Reading:

“Person of Interest: Why Jesus Still Matters in a World that Rejects the Bible,” by J. Warner Wallace

For additional resources related to this topic, see the following articles:
 
 

[meli-melies]

This video: Christianity has never been forced
Forced Christianity: Nobody expects the Spanish inquisition

If you're sentence to death for not believing in Christianity, then it's forced

[shoob]

Wrong, Christianity can in fact be forced. History of Christianity proves that and today if you believe that “Lgbt agenda” can be forced, or other ideologies can be forced, then so can Christianity. It’s not hard to admit.

[Rd_]

I want to know how you can convince anyone to believe in Christianity without a shred of proof.

[birdwang]

The part about christianity never being forced in the past passed me off cause either you converted or you were slaughtered

[jordanjtbraun]

"Christianity is spread by persuasive evangelism." Yeah. Convert or die is quite a persuasive evangelism. Forcing aboriginal children to go to residential schools was totally not to convert them to civilized modern society, including Christianity. Yeah. I am going to push back hard on that faulty and non-historical perspective. You can argue that those who did that and what they converted to was not "Christianity" as Jesus taught it and did not hold to true to Christian doctrine, but it was still "Christianity" non-the-less.

[XGoliath]

Cool seeing J. Warner Wallace on this channel!

[zenxi]

heres the problem saying "believe in my god or die" is what the crusades did and what many did to native americans.

[nikoappsmuggred]

me being lgbt and minding my own buisness with an lgbt colored watch gets told i should stop forcing my beliefs on others.. yet Christians actually force their beliefs and get a free pass

[blacktoypoodle]

Really well-done video! Thank you, Jim! Also, your books have all been very valuable to me and my family. Looking forward to your next one!

[saram]

Yeah, don’t force your religion on others. And if you want to mince words, let’s just call it “let’s not talk about or try to convince others of our religion if they don’t provide explicit consent.” It can be forced, it is forced by coercion, entire countries are forced to live under laws derived from Christianity. I grew up in a Christian home, I am very accepting of all religions including this one. But to say that it can’t be forced down someone’s throat is wrong, and you shouldn’t attempt to persuade those who don’t want to hear it of your religion. I’m an empiricist, a Kantian, sometime who believes in epistemic responsibility...you don’t see me constantly shoving this down other peoples throats if they don’t want to hear my opinion.

[caio]

Man... You guys force it, saying that "by definition" it is impossible doesn't change anything

[Ben_Diaz]

Christians ALWAY'S force their beliefs on others no matter what. But as for me I use Christianity doctrine/ gospel to support my own beliefs or Ill switch everything around that fits my beliefs. Instead of me forcing my church beliefs on others I ALWAY'S tell the people what I do using the word of God for my own purpose only & they appreciate those idea's that their gonna pass it on to other's as well. Now when me and these people go to church neither do those church members/ pastor's know the real reason why we really go. And we do it in secret making them think we're true Christians.

[charlesgriffith]

I've no problem with what others believe or do not believe..if you're a "christian", that's fine. Apply it to YOUR life, live by it, etc. But there's alot of you Christians that do alot of uninvited preaching at others. If you believe in heaven, and believe that's where you're going, hey I hope it works out for you. But don't come at me with this, do this so I too can get to heaven, or don't do that or I'm going to hell. Let me worry about whatever (if anything) is on the other side. You worry for yourself what's there and whether or not you will get there

[thebottomline]

This video has so many mistakes...
1) The first being "If" Christianity is true as the speaker said. If you want to convert me don't start with "If" because then you are definitely imposing your beliefs that you aren't even certain of.
2) Sharing your excitement about a belief would only be the same as sharing your excitement about a movie if you are willing to watch and discuss other movies. Are Christians willing to hear about the excitement people have about their faith and way of life?
3) The quote by C.S. Lewis is very dangerous, as you said if Christianity is the cure then it will be welcomed but if its not then it would be the equivalent of sick people investing in something that never worked or worse did harm.

[josephprovost]

Fuck Christianity, keep getting suggestions about it from YouTube in Billings, Montana

[toma]

Don’t force, just tell them the good news.

[Jvadu]

I believe in god but I don’t think it’s right for christians or any religion to force their beliefs on people

[Фиолетовыйкаравай]

Christian and other religious *beleifs* cannot be forced*, but Christian and other religious *practices* can, especially when said individual is a child, or cannot make decisions freely. Forcing someone who is not Christian to go to church, pray, or act like they are Christian (possibly for their safety) is a thing that happens, and can go against their religion if they have one. Beliefs can also be somewhat forced. Young children can be persuaded to believe in just about anything, if you can trick them into believing in the Tooth Fairy, then you can persuade them into believing in a religion, when if they were exposed to it at an older age, will make a better decision. Imagine this: a young child (age 3-6) is told that the water coming from the taps in their home has been cursed by a witch. An older child (age 10-14) is told the same thing. The first child will probably avoid their tap water, and the second child will probably recognize it as baloney.

[rachelberrythegleequeen.]

I’m probably going to be on my own here but I think we should talk about it no matter who were talking to and where we are because people need to be saved everyone needs to come to God.

[Hannibu]

You are joking, don't you. No, the Christian faith was never forced. I guess torturing was a hobby back in the days.