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[Instigator]

In general or perhaps more particularly.

Are you neutral to it? For it? Involved knee deep in it? Against it? Simply annoyed by it?

Do you feel rival Christian groups trying to convert one another is silly? What about targeted evangilism where, for example, Jews felt particularly targeted by some Christian groups? What about when communism fell in Russia, a whole mess of missionaries flocked over there, probably not to the pleasure of many Russians? Or what about when missionaries deliberately go to hostile countries, such as the famous American group caught by the Taliban (before 9-11)?

Apart from some local groups trying to convert me while I was walking downtown, my only experience is with Jehovah's Witnesses. They're the only ones I've ever seen knock at my door. I may not be too crazy about their organization, but I was polite with them and made them understood I was not looking for God and I didn't agree with their spin of things when they brought up whatever subject.

I think I've seen Mormon missionaries twice (recognizable by what they wear), they were obviously not locals, and they were minding their own business so I have no experience with them. :lol

 

[Escape Goat]

I, um, feel its harmful to society. I also believe we should end women's suffrage.

*goes to look up proselytizing

 

[Loki]

Don't like it. I'm of the mind that we should only share our deeply held beliefs when a question is put to us or it is germane to the conversation at hand. I believe that people arrive at whatever they feel to be "the truth" in their own time and on their own terms. It's not my place to try to get others to believe what I believe. Earnest seekers can find whatever truth they desire to find.

 

[Dice]

I see the scriptural support for it, and of course there is the plain reason that you don't want to leave people with a midnet that leads them to hell. However, I don't like the way a lot of christians think it should be done. A summary of my thoughts:

In scripture..
1) Jesus said go and make disciples, disciples are willing learners.
2) We're told to have an answer for the hope to which we are called, not empirical evidence or an ontological argument. It can be a simple testimony of God's work in your life.
3) We are told to be witnesses of the gospel, to refute those who contradict, to warn others about God's judgment, these are all different from convincing others of what we speak.
4) We are specifically told to avoid arguments with stubborn people, which are fruitless and produce quarrels.

So basically, I'm going to freely share what I understand to be the truth, and if someone wants to talk about it, I will talk to them about it. But if someone doesn't want to talk about it, or only wants both of us to try and prove each other wrong, forget about it. Look what Jesus said when he sent out the 12:

Mark 6:11
And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave, as a testimony against them."

Then later see what Paul does when preaching the gospel:

Acts 19
8Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. 9But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus.

And this was with Jews who already believed in God, so it was more an issue concerning whether or not Jesus was the Messiah (something they would be interested in and worth discussing the various details of), but when they became stubborn he went on with those who were willing learners, this is a consistent pattern we see in scripture.

 

[Pimpwerx]

Outlaw religion. Problem solved. Mankind cures AIDS, builds the SETI project, wins the game. PEACE.

 

[madara]

I, um, feel its harmful to society. I also believe we should end women's suffrage.

*goes to look up proselytizing

Dont feel bad Hamburglar! Not all of us go around trying to inflate our egos with a pocket thesaurus. If I didnt hear this word in episode of Queer as Folk two weeks ago I would not have known what it was either.

 

[spliced]

I'm for it, but the ones doing it need to respect peoples right to disagree and say no.

 

[Loki]

In addition to the above, I also feel that, oftentimes, the best means of "conversion" (i.e., getting someone to be receptive to your beliefs/worldview) is by living your beliefs with integrity. In living your beliefs, you serve as a powerful example of the good that can come through adhering to those beliefs. This is often much more persuasive-- not to mention much less confrontational-- than aggressive proselytizing. (which is frequently counterproductive imo due to how defensive people get when their beliefs are questioned; that goes for everyone, religious and irreligious alike)

 

[karasu]

I'm against it. Nine times out of ten it turns someone away from the faith instead of bringing them into it. It isn't anyone's place to try and argue someone into believing in God. It just doesn't work. There's no argument compelling enough. Unless of course scare tactics are used, and that's even worse.

 

[Dan]

In terms of domestic issues, I can't fucking stand it. It's less offensive than annoying as hell. It just pisses me off that I'll have some Mormon jerkoffs trying to convert me while I walk to class. I don't need people telling me that I'll go to hell if I don't show up at their church the next Sunday. What pisses me off most is that the vast majority of these people I encounter (from all denominations) refuse to accept my polite dismissals. Instead they start throwing veiled insults and pressing me on their agenda. I find it infuriating that they can disrupt me and then act like I'm the bad guy for not jumping at whatever they're preaching to me. I didn't start the conversation, nor did I say anything rude.

Mormon: Would you like to hear about the services and beliefs of our church?
Me: No, I'm sorry, I'm not interested.
Mormon: Well, I hope you like burning in hell.
*Mormon storms off to next victim*

I don't need that shit.

On international stuff, I get the feeling that it often results in an unfortunately negative view of the western world.

 

[FoneBone]

All I'll say is that the idea of a God who would punish someone eternally for believing the wrong thing, regardless of how that person has lived his/her life, strikes me as at best amoral. Actually, a lot worse.

 

[Sergenth]

Jehovah's Witnesses came by, and their brochures had pictures of rainbows and Pandas in heaven. This is what tipped me off to their ruse. Also, their structures that serve as meeting places/churchs have no windows. I think they are afraid of the outside world. So many heathens and all...

 

[SatelliteOfLove]

Outlaw religion. Problem solved. Mankind cures AIDS, builds the SETI project, wins the game. PEACE.

^^^ Bad proselytizing, folks. Take notes.

 

[Diablos]

1 entry found for proselytizing.
pros·e·ly·tize Audio pronunciation of "proselytizing" ( P ) Pronunciation Key (prs-l-tz)
v. pros·e·ly·tized, pros·e·ly·tiz·ing, pros·e·ly·tiz·es
v. intr.

1. To induce someone to convert to one's own religious faith.
2. To induce someone to join one's own political party or to espouse one's doctrine.


v. tr.

To convert (a person) from one belief, doctrine, cause, or faith to another.

Doesn't the evangelical church try to do that? :lol

 

[Tommie Hu$tle]

I'm for it, but the ones doing it need to respect peoples right to disagree and say no.

This is pretty much where I stand with it.

 

[krypt0nian]

Try this - next time someone comes to your door or in anyway tries to convert you, speak up, yay speak out of your great love for anal sex...

Works every time...

 

[Zaptruder]

Try this - next time someone comes to your door or in anyway tries to convert you, speak up, yay speak out of your great love for anal sex...

Works every time...

Might work for you, but for the most of rest of us, we couldn't say that without tarnishing our internal integrity.

 

[krypt0nian]

Might work for you, but for the most of rest of us, we couldn't say that without tarnishing our internal integrity.

Whatever. If they want to be rude enough to spout their voodoo unasked then they gets what they gets.

 

[evilromero]

Outlaw religion. Problem solved. Mankind cures AIDS, builds the SETI project, wins the game. PEACE.

Amen.

 

[GhaleonEB]

I'm annoyed by it. I have a hard time pushing my beliefs on others. Then again, it's the primary way my church grows (that and cranking out more babies than the general population). So I guess I'm annoyed when people do it to me, and I'd never do it, but I'm fine with people I don't know bugging some other people I don't know.

 

[Loki]

I have a friend who once got a call from a neighbor that some Jehovah's Witnesses were coming around. He took off his shirt, smeared his chest with ketchup, and covered a long kitchen knife with it. When the doorbell rang, he opened it, brandishing the knife, yelled, "don't interrupt the ritual!" and roared at them. They ran like hell.

:lol

 

[crisdecuba]

I think that the stereotypical view of proselytizing leaves a bad taste in your mouth. You could liken it to an annoying pop-up advertisement on the internet. It comes out of nowhere, it's in-your-face, it disturbs what you're doing, and you weren't looking for what it offers.

Further, the annoyance that we have with this form of advertising disturbs our opinion of the product being offered. If the product were presented in a different way, we might be more open to it.

That said, I think the most effective form of evangelism is the one-on-one kind that stems from a real friendship or relationship. Someone said it earlier when they mentioned that a large component is living out your beliefs "with integrity." Showing that sort of character tends to induce at least curiosity, which in turn opens the door for sharing about your faith. Most of my local friends don't believe in any specific religion, yet they aren't put off when I talk about Christ - they know me and they know I'd love it if they came to believe, but they also know I'm not judging them for *not* believing. Instead of being put off, they're curious and ask questions. The advertisement still happens, but it comes naturally and without a "I'm right, you're wrong" feeling to it.

I dislike the door-to-door missionaries myself, not because I disagree with them, but for the same reason I hate telemarketing calls. However, there is a place for such mission work - they might have annoyed me, but the guy at the next house might be about to commit suicide to end what he feels to be a hopeless and useless existence. That random missionary visit would be the only hope he has. It's an extreme example, I know, but the point is that we should perhaps think outside our own mindsets.

To answer the original post - I'm a Christian and have been involved in some minor missionary work (with the Navajo people). I dislike Christian denominations competing with each other. I dislike theological "competition" in general. I am completely FOR theological discussion and sharing, with the goal being to understand what the other person has come to believe. Never put others down - share with humility and open-mindedness.