Just A Thought ~ NO COMPULSION

Although we may enforce compliance, we cannot force people to be our friends or believe us. Jesus told a rather strange parable that has sadly been used to force people to convert (Luke, 14: 16 - 24); it was about a rich man who sent out invitations to a feast he was preparing, but when the time came and the food was laid out, people made excuses for not coming. The man was not happy about this, and sent out his servants with the order to 'compel them to come in'. This parable hardly leaves room for any freedom; why should people attend if they don't want to? Compare this with the Buddha's invitation to "Come and See", and to "Test my teachings as a goldsmith would test gold." He didn’t want people to merely believe and follow him, but to understand what he was trying to teach; there is quite a difference here.