Proselytizing

[chasm]

It seems to me from reading some of the threads here that many of you do not like it when Christians try to proselytize, particularly when it is you.

Here is a quote from Penn Jillette (from Penn and Teller), who is an atheist:

"If you believe that there's a heaven and hell and people could be going to hell--or not getting eternal life or whatever--and you think that, well, it's not really worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward...How much do you have to hate somebody not to proselytize? How much do you have to hate somebody to believe that everlasting life is possible and not tell them that?"

What are your thoughts on this quote? Do you agree? Disagree? Think it depends on the situtation?

I just have a gut feeling that Penn meant that sarcastically, and not seriously at all (as you are taking it).

I do have a problem when Christians try to proselytize, because they mostly will tell you "I'll pray for you" if you've proved them wrong, or you have a better argument, or they're outnumbered, and for a host of many other reasons. And they won't listen to you, when you try to tell them things. They refuse to listen. At least, that's how it always goes in my experiences. No matter how even-tempered and open-to-discussion this Christian might be, they always end up storming out on our conversation or saying the stupidest things and trying to change the subject before I can rebut. So yes, it gets just a little bit tiring, I would say.