Proselytizing (Jesus, gospel, beliefs, Jehovah, mission)

[Green Gaia]

Proselytizing. Good thing or bad thing?

Why do some religions proselytize and require their members to do so?

Are those who proselytize willing to commit civil disobedience in order to get their message out?

Is proselytizing effective? Or do most just tune it out?

Does your religion proselytize? Why or why not?

[Rex]

Proselytizing is bad in my opinion. If someone wants to learn more they will rather than being pushed.

[Corban]

Originally Posted by Rex_Admin

Proselytizing is bad in my opinion. If someone wants to learn more they will rather than being pushed.

How is it bad. Proselytizing when done correctly does not push, it informs. Ask this as those who proselytize do, If you have truth wouldn't you want others to know it? Look at the Bible, what is the Bible if not a history of people who proseltyized, God was proseltyzing when He talked to the prophets, when He told them to go tell others what He said. If you have something of value of course you would want to share it with others.

I you knew a terrible storm was coming that threatened lives and your neighbors didn't would you use this same logic. I won't tell my neighbors because if they wanted to find out about the storm they would do it themselves, I don't want to push them. As people who know truth that Jesus is coming and people need to be prepared i would certainly hope that those who know that would want others to know it too. I am happy when i see any church proselytize and i lose respect for people who aren't willing to share their beliefs, it says to me that 1. they don't really believe themselves, or 2. they are selfish people who don't care about the welfare of others. So any church that shares your beliefs i applaud you for wanting to share what you have with others. Any man that hath been warned should warn his neighbors

[Lightkeeper]

I think the Churches that do this want to increase their population. They may tell you that itis to spread the word, but most likely the bottom line is more adherents.


I think we only learn what we are ready to learn. Proselytizing doesn't work for the long term. You may temporarily hook someone. When we want to know something we will ask. I automatically close off to people at the door. When someone tries to tell me how to think I close off.

[standing_on_one_foot]

Originally Posted by Lightkeeper

Proselytizing doesn't work for the long term. You may temporarily hook someone. When we want to know something we will ask. I automatically close off to people at the door. When someone tries to tell me how to think I close off.

I rather think it does work in the long run. Why do you think Christianity is much larger than, say, Judaism? Because it's big on proselytizing. Perhaps the door to door stuff doesn't work so well, but other forms seem to. I mean, the idea that people *need* to believe what you do and that it's your sacred duty to convince them, well, it just appears to work...

Personally, I think proselytizing isn't a good thing. For one thing, the idea behind it leads to problems...I mean, heck, you look at European history, half the wars are fought because people thought other people needed to follow their way of life. The trying to convince isn't necessarily the problem, it's more the consequences of the thinking behind it, if you see what I mean.

But then, I come from a background that doesn't proselytize but has been the subjected to a good deal of it, so I'm rather biased against it. And, while I do believe in my religion, I don't believe others need to...I don't believe that there's consequences for them not following my way of life, you know? As long as people try to lead good lives, I say let them do it as they see fit. So I imagine I see things rather differently than someone who believes there are consequences.

[dan]

Originally Posted by Lightkeeper

I think the Churches that do this want to increase their population. They may tell you that itis to spread the word, but most likely the bottom line is more adherents.


I think we only learn what we are ready to learn. Proselytizing doesn't work for the long term. You may temporarily hook someone. When we want to know something we will ask. I automatically close off to people at the door. When someone tries to tell me how to think I close off.

I didn't ask for help in finding God, but it was given to me, and I'll never be able to express in words the gratitude I feel for those that shared their most sacred feelings with me. I have spent years proselytizing and I believe it adheres to the command that we alert every kindred, tongue and people of the Gospel.

I have seen people cry in anger because someone has kept so important a message to themselves, and I have felt the sting of remorse for not having shared it before time ran out. There can be no message more important, and I will share it with whomever will listen.

[dan]

Originally Posted by standing_on_one_foot

I rather think it does work in the long run. Why do you think Christianity is much larger than, say, Judaism? Because it's big on proselytizing. Perhaps the door to door stuff doesn't work so well, but other forms seem to. I mean, the idea that people *need* to believe what you do and that it's your sacred duty to convince them, well, it just appears to work...

Personally, I think proselytizing isn't a good thing. For one thing, the idea behind it leads to problems...I mean, heck, you look at European history, half the wars are fought because people thought other people needed to follow their way of life. The trying to convince isn't necessarily the problem, it's more the consequences of the thinking behind it, if you see what I mean.

But then, I come from a background that doesn't proselytize but has been the subjected to a good deal of it, so I'm rather biased against it. And, while I do believe in my religion, I don't believe others need to...I don't believe that there's consequences for them not following my way of life, you know? As long as people try to lead good lives, I say let them do it as they see fit. So I imagine I see things rather differently than someone who believes there are consequences.

The Crusades was not a proselytizing movement, it was conquest.

If you tell a missionary or a Jehovah's Witness that you're comfortable with the religion you have and feel no need to lead them on to believing they're going to convert you, they'll say thank you and leave. If you feel your self-righteous indignation boiling up in your throat maybe you need to simmer down and not take yourself so seriously. It's just a few minutes. Don't get ****** because someone was trying to make you a little happier and you missed five minutes of the Family Guy.

[standing_on_one_foot]

No, the Crusaders were not proselytizing (for the record, I was more referring to the various Catholic vs. Protestant wars). That was conquest. I did not mean to imply that it was anything but. I simply meant that the idea behind proselytizing (essentially, I'm right and you're wrong and God is on *my* side and wants me to bring you around, when you get down to it) can lead to a lot of trouble. Apologies for not making this clear enough, I thought I did.

Nor did I intend to imply that the door to door people are rude, violent, or in any way Crusader-like. They're always rather nice people. I enjoy talking to them. (heck, every time we get Mormon ones at my house we end up having long conversations trying to see if we're related, as one side of my family was Mormon a few generations back). I'm just saying that the idea that leads to it being necessary in a religion is problematic.

[standing_on_one_foot]

PS: Apologies for any self-righteous indignation that shows up in my posts. What can I say? I'm an arrogant, opinionated person with too much of a tendency to believe they're always right. I'm trying to work on that because, as I've mentioned, it's really not a good thing. Nor is being a hypocrite, a part I find myself acting far to often for my self-righteous indignation's comfort...it's far too difficult to be self-righteous when you know you're really not...and there I go again. I'm going to regret this post, aren't I? Well, what fun would life be if your conscience let you sleep at night?

[Lightkeeper]

Originally Posted by standing_on_one_foot

PS: Apologies for any self-righteous indignation that shows up in my posts. What can I say? I'm an arrogant, opinionated person with too much of a tendency to believe they're always right. I'm trying to work on that because, as I've mentioned, it's really not a good thing. Nor is being a hypocrite, a part I find myself acting far to often for my self-righteous indignation's comfort...it's far too difficult to be self-righteous when you know you're really not...and there I go again. I'm going to regret this post, aren't I? Well, what fun would life be if your conscience let you sleep at night?

Actually, I gave you frubals for your honesty and humility.