dawny0826 said:
I guess technically, many of us in a weak form, proselytize when we debate. When we debate, are we not trying in a way to convert others to our opinion?
Not necessarily. Someone might enter a debate as a "devil's advocate" or for the mental challenge, or to clarify their own views on a topic.
The topic of "what is proselytizing" comes up a fair bit in Baha'i circles, just because we have a religious commandment not to proselytize.
The thing is, what is considered proselytizing changes from one place and culture to the next. We do some door-to-door teaching in the U.S. in some places, but if someone expresses a non-interest in hearing anything, we just thank them and move on (and make a note on the address list NOT to bother them again, because it's really quite annoying to do so). In other places, door-to-door anything is the very definition of proselyting. In many places in the world, people think going door -to-door is just a normal thing people do, and they like visitors. And in some places, just answering questions is either unlawful or might even get you killed or imprisoned.
So, you have to be aware of where you live and what the community standards are.
My own cultural standards are these: No discussion of my religion to any "captive audience" or any place it would be considered unprofessional or interrupt the purpose for some meeting I was attending.
Otherwise, in public people converse randomly all the time. Grocery lines, waiting at the post office, whatever. If I strike up a conversation with someone and the topic of religion happens to come up, I don't think I'm proselytizing to mention my beliefs -- unless the other person in some way (verbally or otherwise) indicates they don't want to hear it, in which case shutting up or changing the subject would really be good manners anyway.
On a place like RF, I work under the assumption that people sign on here having some idea that they might actually hear someone else's religious views
so I feel freer to bring up the subject where it's relevant, and would not think it proselytizing on someone else's part to explain their views, post apologetics, or, in debate areas, argue strongly for their beliefs.
Proselytizing I think of as an attempt to convert someone, especially if they've already said, "Thanks, but no thanks."
I don't think expressing one's religious views in the spirit of offering the other person something to consider is proselytizing.
And for the record, Dawny, that's what you do. :hug: