Proselytizing vs. Evangelism (gospel, preach, proselytize, evangelize, faith)

[Rex]

Where do you draw the line?

[Sunstone]

A great deal depends on whether the person who is proselytizing has a decent respect for the views of the person he is proselytizing to. There is a world of difference between telling someone your "Good News" and belittling his views.

[Engyo]

I always find it helps in these sorts of discussions to have a working definition of each term; what are yours?

From Merriam-Webster:

Main Entry: evan·ge·lize
Pronunciation: i-'van-j&-"lIz
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): -lized; -liz·ing
transitive senses
1 : to preach the gospel to
2 : to convert to Christianity
intransitive senses : to preach the gospel
- evan·ge·li·za·tion /-"van-j&-l&-'zA-sh&n/ noun

Main Entry: pros·e·ly·tize
Pronunciation: 'prä-s(&-)l&-"tIz
Function: verb
Inflected Form(s): -tized; -tiz·ing
intransitive senses
1 : to induce someone to convert to one's faith
2 : to recruit someone to join one's party, institution, or cause
transitive senses : to recruit or convert especially to a new faith, institution, or cause
- pros·e·ly·ti·za·tion /"prä-s(&-)l&-t&-'zA-sh&n, "prä-s&-"lI-t&-/ noun
- pros·e·ly·tiz·er /'prä-s(&-)l&-"tI-z&r/ noun

So both have relatively the same meaning, but evangelize is directly related to Christianity, whereas proselytize is more general.

Were you intending different usages of either of these words?

[Scott1]

In my opinion, when I hear the two words, this comes to mind:

Proselytizing ........ Trying to convert someone at all costs... the recipients free will is cast aside.

Evangelism ........Speaking to someone for the purpose of education, and the hope that the person will decide to join your faith based on the information provided.

Scott

[Feathers in Hair]

I'd never had heard of the word 'proselytizing' before coming to this forum, and I never draw the line at learning a new word! As for the act itself, Scotts' view is pretty much spot on, in my opinion. Evangelism carries the connatation of actually bringing good news. The other seems to be simply trying to inform another person that they're wrong.