You're probably right ... I'm just grabbing for some ideas where it might be beneficial to show I have some balance ... hard to find those though.
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Does proselytizing, over all, help, or hurt the receiver of the message, whether it be an individual
- Thread starter Vinayaka
- Start date
You're probably right ... I'm just grabbing for some ideas where it might be beneficial to show I have some balance ... hard to find those though.
I'm sure there are cases where people have, say, recovered from addiction through religious self-help programs that are heavy on proselytizing. It would have been better if they had secular options available, but maybe the proselytizing got them to the best outcome available to them in that moment.
Nyingjé Tso
Tänpa Yungdrung zhab pä tän gyur jig
Hence the "...." Around hindus everytime I speak of them.
If you wish for my opinion then I personally don't consider them as a part of hinduism, because they are closer if not the same of abrahamic mindset, and this mindset is far from any eastern religion's mindset. They act not as part of a greater community nor they respect any other community other than their.
I put still "hindus" out with those quotation marks out of respect for some other hindus that consider them as part of hinduism even if they don't approve of their actions.
I'm not a spokeperson of my religion nor do I seek any trouble about this here.
Prosélytism is a terrible thing that shouldn't exist, that's it for my thought of the question.
formy religion, hinduism goes by the Védas, and thé Rig Veda says "Truth is one, but the wise men knows it by many names"
Meaning that whatever anyone believes or not believes in, to each his own path and respect the other person's path.
I mean, we've got atheists hindus and everyone is absolutely fine with it. That's telling a lot -shrug-
Aum Namah Shivaya
You've been inconsistent on using quotation marks.
It's fairly common for members of a religion to dismiss members of other denominations as not really belonging to that religion.. especially if they're talking about fringe denominations.
I once worked with an Evangelical Christian who would tell me that Carholics aren't Christians.
My point is that I wouldn't automatically agree that a group isn't Hindu just because a Hindu of a different denomination says they aren't Hindu.
I also disagree with proselytizing. I just don't think that this necessarily makes it not a genuine part of some religion. It seems like a minority practice in Hinduism and something that many Hindus disagree with, but I have no reason to conclude that it's not "authentically" Hindu.
[QuoteP
formy religion, hinduism goes by the Védas, and thé Rig Veda says "Truth is one, but the wise men knows it by many names"
Meaning that whatever anyone believes or not believes in, to each his own path and respect the other person's path.[/quote]
... unless they're Hare Krishna, right? You don't seem to have much respect for that path.
Indeed. Putting up with atheists is a heavy burden.
You've been inconsistent on using quotation marks.
It's fairly common for members of a religion to dismiss members of other denominations as not really belonging to that religion.. especially if they're talking about fringe denominations.
I once worked with an Evangelical Christian who would tell me that Carholics aren't Christians.
My point is that I wouldn't automatically agree that a group isn't Hindu just because a Hindu of a different denomination says they aren't Hindu.
I also disagree with proselytizing. I just don't think that this necessarily makes it not a genuine part of some religion. It seems like a minority practice in Hinduism and something that many Hindus disagree with, but I have no reason to conclude that it's not "authentically" Hindu.
... unless they're Hare Krishna, right? You don't seem to have much respect for that path.
Indeed. Putting up with atheists is a heavy burden.
ISKCON communities vary. The newer ones are worse on the proselytising, because they're mostly converts. They bring the proselytizing mindset of the previous religion with them, (and are under heavy pressure by that community) and it shows badly in all that they do. But after they get established for awhile, and if they draw immigrant Hindus to their community, it can get more mellow. But even then, if you go to one of their sponsored 'festival of India' events, it's the converts who are running around talking to anybody new, and not the born Hindus. Many of the born Hindus are just there because it's the closest thing in the west to a Gaudiya Vaishnava temple from back home, and they're not members of ISKCON at all, just talking advantage of the fact a temple is there.
I have been to the local ISKCON temple in my city on off times (few or no others there), but in other cities I avoid it because I don't like the proselytising. Because I'm white, they either figure I'm one of them, or some old white guy struggling through a mid-life crisis, and I get hit hard. Weird when some 18 year old kid hits with BG as it is to a guy 3 times his age and 20 times his experience. The whole thing is sad because that aspect shows poorly on Hinduism. They are Hinduism's version of Baha'i pioneers.
Nyingjé Tso
Tänpa Yungdrung zhab pä tän gyur jig
I was taking the context of what I was saying into considération but must have missed some then, my mistake
I respect them enough for letting them do their thing and not interfering with whatever they do or believe. Same goes with any other religion.
I just don't respect people that do not reciprociate respect. Yeah, I don't respect that Hare Krshna dude that proselytised in BharataNatyam class, I also don't respect those two JW guys who still came every week despite the whole neighbourhood telling them no... Respect is about individuals, not entire paths, it is two way and can be earned or lost. But that is only my personal view, so ... -shrug-
Indeed. Putting up with atheists is a heavy burden.
My parents and 99% of my friends are atheists... Tbh I prefer their company over very religious people
I mean really, more honest, less tiringAum Namah Shivaya
In my experience, it does not hurt the receiver. It hurts the transmitter.
I actually love it when people proselytize to me.
Ciao
- viole
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Zoroastrians and Jews too I met here and so I have benefitted a lot. Everyone here I have found has some truth to share.
I am most grateful for this wonderful forum.
From Buddhists I found some awesome quotes from their scriptures which actually unlock some meanings of the Bible and was absolutely thrilled and greatly appreciate what the Buddhists here have shared about their religion.
I’ve had a lot of very friendly discussions with Muslims and Christians which has caused me to learn more about their beliefs.
Zoroastrians and Jews too I met here and so I have benefitted a lot. Everyone here I have found has some truth to share.
I am most grateful for this wonderful forum.
IndigoChild5559
Loving God and my neighbor as myself.
It all depends on what you mean by proselytizing.
Some forms of proselytizing are harmful. I'd say that going to native peoples and telling them that if they don't convert to your religion (along with your culture) you will burn in hell is very damaging.
But the world is getting smaller, and we aren't going to stop the natural talk of people with each other. People will work together, go to school together, help one another in times of crisis, etc. They will become neighbors. They will form friendships. Religion will come up. Why? because people are curious.
And honestly, people SHOULD learn about each others' religions, so that there will not be misunderstandings (which usually are what lead to bigotry and violence).
Religious tolerance HAS to be TAUGHT because the natural state of mankind is to divide into us and them, with all the problems that comes from that.
Basically the sort of proselytizing that simply shares and says, "if you'd ever like to try us out, you're welcome here," is fine. The sort of proselytizing that says, "everyone not in our group is the spawn of satan" is not.
Some forms of proselytizing are harmful. I'd say that going to native peoples and telling them that if they don't convert to your religion (along with your culture) you will burn in hell is very damaging.
But the world is getting smaller, and we aren't going to stop the natural talk of people with each other. People will work together, go to school together, help one another in times of crisis, etc. They will become neighbors. They will form friendships. Religion will come up. Why? because people are curious.
And honestly, people SHOULD learn about each others' religions, so that there will not be misunderstandings (which usually are what lead to bigotry and violence).
Religious tolerance HAS to be TAUGHT because the natural state of mankind is to divide into us and them, with all the problems that comes from that.
Basically the sort of proselytizing that simply shares and says, "if you'd ever like to try us out, you're welcome here," is fine. The sort of proselytizing that says, "everyone not in our group is the spawn of satan" is not.