Converting Atheists with Guilt

[Knight000]

Does anyone know of a person or even a story of a person who has been "guilt tripped" into any religion by a follower, and them sticking to that religion

It's a theory of mine that there are only two ways of someone legitimately joining a religion.

1: If they are born into the religion (grew up with both parents avidly believing/urging child to participate)

2: They are facing a difficult time in their life (e.g. an old man facing death, an abuse victim of any kind)

Furthermore, I believe that religion, before modern society was a kind of psychologist in that it helped people with a wide range of concerns.

This is why I want to know: has anyone ever legitimately joined a religion because of a threat?

[Exian]

If someone does join because of a threat, I wouldn't call it legitimate, but that shit use to be the main way...or else. I'm sure it still is in some parts of the world.

[Jenny A]

It's more that some people get guilt tripped into continuing to go through the motions of religion. I don't think you can convert anyone by guilt, or make them believe by guilt either.

[The Valkyrie]

I've had people try virtually any method you can imagine to convert me back (ex Catholic).

My mother DID try the guilt thing....

[TheRocketSurgeon]

I've heard of people being "guilt-tripped" into giving the appearance of religion, but never heard of it being something they take to heart.

An example would be the husband made to attend church by a wife who tells him if he does not go, it will be a bad example for the children, or a dying parent who asks an atheist to pray with them, etc.

Various "guilt-trips" are tried on us all the time, in myriad forms, but I can't imagine a way in which that's supposed to actually work as a strategy; rather, it just seems like emotional manipulation born of desperation in a Believer who thinks they must do something to get you to join their social herd (I mean True Faith™ flock) but have no idea how human psychology actually works.

[Cecelia]

Guilt is associated strongly with Christianity.

"You've displeased god. You must repent, and follow our rules if you want to get into heaven. You want to go to heaven, don't you?"

Of course nobody says what Heaven is like, and why there's all these rules. Eating crackers that are the body of Christ, getting your head dunked under water by a priest, and whatever you do all sex except for procreation is wrong. Thoughts about sex are impure. You have to turn toward god, or you will go to hell for your thoughts. (Apparently God is big on thought crime)

But guilt overall doesn't get conversions. No, it's fear. The idea of being stung by scorpions for years upon years, being in hell for all eternity. When you tie fear and force guilt for being human you get people afraid of god being real, so they serve someone they believe are real because they are told he is. They are told he is all loving and merciful, and they are shown how cruel and horrible he can be. But they fail to see the contradiction. They think god is above humanity, and thus his cruelty is just. As if Cruelty can ever be just. They think they deserve it, and that might just be the saddest thing of all.

Guilt won't convert someone who doesn't really believe, because the fear isn't there. A non-believer no more fears hell than they fear Cthulhu. But someone who is open to belief will be scared of the darkness they're told about. They will feel guilty for being human, and feel they must be fixed. And only one religion will cure that feeling. That guilt. The promise of being forgiven, and a chance to avoid your punishment. No matter the doubts, that fear will sustain the belief of many.

[TheRocketSurgeon]

Guilt is associated strongly with Christianity.

"You've displeased god.  You must repent, and follow our rules if you want to get into heaven.  You want to go to heaven, don't you?"

They are told he is all loving and merciful, and they are shown how cruel and horrible he can be.  But they fail to see the contradiction.

They think god is above humanity, and thus his cruelty is just.  As if Cruelty can ever be just.  They think they deserve it, and that might just be the saddest thing of all.

I wholeheartedly agree:

---

---

[Napoléon]

It's more that some people get guilt tripped into continuing to go through the motions of religion.  I don't think you can convert anyone by guilt, or make them believe by guilt either.

I disagree, I think a lot of 'born again' christians are a fine example of guilt tripped people, who suddenly feel like they have a lease to start over.

[abaris]

Does anyone know of a person or even a story of a person who has been "guilt tripped" into any religion by a follower, and them sticking to that religion

I guess it rather happens to make people stay. When I was a child, being brought up as a Catholic, the priests guilt tripped us on any given occasion. If you do this or that, you're going to hell. The most revolting instance I remember, was one of these guys telling us kids, god would take what's most dear to us, if we sin. So, kind of like a Mafia boss threatening the family, if you don't show proper respect.

I can't imagine an atheist being guilt tripped into religion. If you don't believe in possible consequences, you won't feel guilt.

[Little lunch]

Oh yes, it's a common deathbed thing that theists do.
I saw my atheist dad turn to religion hours before his death, spurred on by my born-again aunt, who, coincidentally is on her deathbed right now.
To be fair, he was doped to the eyeballs on morphine.
Shame, that in that state, he had to be scared to death.
Like Dawkins said, it takes religion to make a good person do a bad thing.