Religious Missionaries

[DharmaCatLamp]

Many religions, such as Christianity and Islam, have a long history of sending out missionaries to convert people to their faith. Others, such as Hinduism and Judaism, do not. But what is the most ethical / logical way? Should religions send out missionaries?

Part of the reason Orthodox Christinaity ( the kind that believe Jesus and God are one) has missionaries is their belief that they hold the one truth that will set you free. In their view all other religions are false and Jesus Christ is the only true salvation. Islam believes that Muhammad is the seal of the prophets and that they have the one true unaltered message from God. This is speaking in broad strokes of course but if you do believe something like that it only makes sense to send out missionaries. There is also the material reality for the church which allows large christian organizations to maintain more earthly power.

If you think that truth is multiple or that many paths still lead to one real end then there isn't much of a reason to send out missionaries is there? You might think your system is more correct than another system but that doesn't really hit with the same moral importance as having the only way to avoid hellfire.

Lets not forget that Hindus did have missionaries. We just don't talk about them in the same way. There are varieties of Hindus which send out missionaries to other schools of thought, to Buddhists or other people to argue and state what they think the truth is. Buddhists also have a long tradition of sending out missionaries and that is part of the reason Buddhism is so wide spread.
Could you argue for instance that swami vivekananda is a missionary? I might be willing to say he is considering his main goal was to share advita vedanta.

I think missionaries make sense at least.

 

[Fool]

I agree totally ... .but I have been talking about a relationship.

a religion isn't needed to have a relationship with anyone.

it's already here. ignoring it with/for a religion isn't a positive relationship.


1 John 4:21


one commandment because the first is like the second. god is NOW, omnipresent.

 

[Sand Dancer]

Many religions, such as Christianity and Islam, have a long history of sending out missionaries to convert people to their faith. Others, such as Hinduism and Judaism, do not. But what is the most ethical / logical way? Should religions send out missionaries?

Do Muslims have missionaries? I didn't know that.

I don't think missionaries are necessary, except in theocratic countries where people don't see those of different religions. Actions speak louder than words, so if people notice someone who is doing admirable things, they can ask where their motivation comes from. If religious conviction is their motivation, then they can tell the person about it. In the US, most everyone knows about different religions. Sadly, many people portray it as "it's my religion or hell," like many conservative Christians do. It's damaging.

 

[Sand Dancer]

Islamic missionary movements predominantly have been within the Islamic community. They try to bring muslim to participate in Islamic prayer and mosque environments. It is a recent phenomena that Muslims have these proselytisation movements trying to convert non-muslims.

Now I can get on board with that. Let the good people urge the hypocrites to do the right thing, and leave other people alone. Kind of like how Jesus rebuked the Pharisees. Christians need to rebuke the New Pharisees in the US. We sure need that kind of proselytizing here.

 

[syo]

Should religions send out missionaries?

It's advertising.

 

[firedragon]

Now I can get on board with that. Let the good people urge the hypocrites to do the right thing, and leave other people alone. Kind of like how Jesus rebuked the Pharisees. Christians need to rebuke the New Pharisees in the US. We sure need that kind of proselytizing here.

Great.

 

[PureX]

Many religions, such as Christianity and Islam, have a long history of sending out missionaries to convert people to their faith. Others, such as Hinduism and Judaism, do not. But what is the most ethical / logical way? Should religions send out missionaries?

I would assert the idea of 'attraction, not promotion'. If your theology and religious practice is really as true and positively effective as you believe it to be, then others will see this effect on your, and what what you have. I understand the religious motive of wanting ever greater participation, but the wanting it does not justify tryong to push it on others. They have to come to looking for it, for it to be an honest exchange.

 

[CharmingOwl]

I don't think there should be missionaries with the sole purpose of conversion and proselytization. For new religions I think they can advertise and be like "Hey, our beliefs are ____, our movement is called ____, and it's open for anyone to join." Anything beyond that seems unethical. I find evangelism and guilt-based proselytization extremely unethical and contrary to religious freedoms.

Charity organizations associated with religions are fine imo as long as it's not a religious requirement to adopt their beliefs in exchange for aid. Also it should not be like Scientology's "Charity work" that just hands out books about their ideology and do nothing else to help anyone. That is so manipulative.

 

[firedragon]

Only Hare-Krishnas and some new cults among the Hindus are in to proselytization. People, only a few, come to Hinduism on their own. That is OK with us.
I would like quality rather than quantity,

what is this "us" and "we" groups going around? HIndus who migrated to some western country like yesterday are calling themselves "we westerners" against "you easterners", and atheists who like to call themselves "we" get with it crew with all the other Hindu's when they need the cavalry?

What in the world is going on? I see more tribalism and "we" mentalities and bigotries with atheists more than any other religious group on the internet. It's seriously crazy.

You proselytise more than any other group in the entire history of mankind.

 

[Aupmanyav]

You proselytise more than any other group in the entire history of mankind.

I do not think many people will agree to that.
Generally Hindus do not care about who joins them or who leaves them. More like an internet forum.
Welcome to those who come, fare well to those who leave.

 

[Kenny]

a religion isn't needed to have a relationship with anyone.

it's already here. ignoring it with/for a religion isn't a positive relationship.


1 John 4:21


one commandment because the first is like the second. god is NOW, omnipresent.

I don't call it a religion. Never said it was a religion.

And, yes, God is now!

 

[Kelly of the Phoenix]

Many religions, such as Christianity and Islam, have a long history of sending out missionaries to convert people to their faith. Others, such as Hinduism and Judaism, do not. But what is the most ethical / logical way? Should religions send out missionaries?

No they should not. Their actions should be the only advertising needed, and that is ALL evangelism is.

 

[firedragon]

I do not think many people will agree to that.

So you are calling for cavalry? Do you need your "we" group behind you? It's pathetic Aup.

Generally Hindus do not care about who joins them or who leaves them.

I said the same thing. So you see mate, you agree with me. Try not to pin things on people.

Welcome to those who come, fare well to those who leave.

That's you evangelising. Heavily.

 

[Fool]

I don't call it a religion. Never said it was a religion.

And, yes, God is now!

this thread is about religious missionaries. i'm addressing the thread and those who promote the idea of a religion over the realization of the divine, the holy. religion does not equal god, even the christian religion.


more often than not the religion gets in the way of discovering the obvious.

 

[Kenny]

this thread is about religious missionaries. i'm addressing the thread and those who promote the idea of a religion over the realization of the divine, the holy. religion does not equal god, even the christian religion.


more often than not the religion gets in the way of discovering the obvious.

Thanks for the update on what you were trying to address. It was a communication disparity

 

[Fool]

Thanks for the update on what you were trying to address. It was a communication disparity

revelation literally means to uncover.

going to peal back all those layers covering up the center of all being

 

[metis]

I do believe in free speech, but sometimes, especially in the past, many missionaries went way too far and were quite condescending and sometimes oppressive.

 

[Evangelicalhumanist]

I think they should... but with love. Some people are searching for answers and if one doesn't share our answers, how can they make a decision for what they are searching?

This assumes, of course, and without any justification whatsoever, that your answers are better or somehow more true than theirs. As you know, I doubt it very much.

 

[Vinayaka]

I do believe in free speech, but sometimes, especially in the past, many missionaries went way too far and were quite condescending and sometimes oppressive.

Oppressive? In some cases that's an understatement.

 

[Kenny]

This assumes, of course, and without any justification whatsoever, that your answers are better or somehow more true than theirs. As you know, I doubt it very much.

Yes, Jesus encountered the same issue and some even questioned him. Everyone has to sort it out in their own mind.

Of course, my viewpoint is found in my signature.

We see it as seasons where we start with a hard heart, move to stoney hearts, work with weedy hearts and then get fruit.

Sometimes it is just fertile soil.

But, regardless, Jesus loves the world