The Christian Missionary and the Inuit Man

[Druidus]

The following is an old joke, but an illustrative one, IMO.

It seems a Christian missionary was visiting with remote Inuit (aka, Eskimo) people in the Arctic, and had explained to this particular man that if one believed in Jesus, one would would go to heaven, while those who didn't, would go to hell.

The Inuit asked, "What about all the people who have never heard of your Jesus? Are they all going to hell?'

The missionary explained, "No, of course not. God wants you to have a choice. God is a merciful God, he would never send anyone to hell who'd never heard of Jesus."

The Inuit replied, "So why did you tell me?"

It seems clear that the unspoken answer to the Inuit fellow's last question would have been "In order to utilize your fear and ignorance so that I could convert you." (or something to that effect)

I think it's an interesting way to look at things. Wouldn't it have been better had the Inuk (means "individual Inuit man/woman" - I grew up surrounded by Inuit) never been exposed to such beliefs, especially if Christianity's perspective was valid? Isn't spreading such ideas inherently coercive?

What do you think about this joke and its implications?

 

[Huey09]

The following is an old joke, but an illustrative one, IMO.



It seems clear that the unspoken answer to the Inuit fellow's last question would have been "In order to utilize your fear and ignorance so that I can convert you. (or something to that effect)

I think it's an interesting way to look at things. Wouldn't it have been better had the Inuk (means "individual Inuit man/woman" - I grew up surrounded by Inuit), especially if Christianity's perspective was valid?

What do you think about this joke and its implications?

I like to think its a well deserved at the "Spread the Good News" crowd. I think christians as a whole would do better to let their words and actions be the message or "Good News" Jesus left. People may ask what makes you such a good person you explain it and then let people be on their way. The self righteousness I have seen made me quit the faith, and I recently returned a changed person and an outcast of the mainstream ideologies But this just my opinion of course

 

[George-ananda]

What do you think about this joke and its implications?

Good one...

I think the Inuit had a pretty clever answer...


In defense of Christianity though I think you might be attacking what is kind of becoming a straw-man. Less and less Christians believe that you must believe in Jesus to go to heaven. Heck, even the Pope doesn't believe that anymore.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

I think that Jesus said something similar to what you're saying. I can't remember the exact verse but he basically said that if you hadn't heard him, you're sinless. But if you had, you're convicted of your sins.

Oh, here it is: John 15:22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.

So you make a good point. Why make people sinners by even telling them about Christ? Apparently the people who have never heard of Christianity were better off.

 

[Desert Snake]

Good one...

I think the Inuit had a pretty clever answer...


In defense of Christianity though I think you might be attacking what is kind of becoming a straw-man. Less and less Christians believe that you must believe in Jesus to go to heaven. Heck, even the Pope doesn't believe that anymore.

I can rarely get a straight answer, if any answer, to the who's going to hell' question, on the forums. When I do, it seems vague and includes non-Xians, but not all non-Xians etc., basically the conversation turns into nonsense imo.

 

[Mister Emu]

The missionary explained, "No, of course not. God wants you to have a choice. God is a merciful God, he would never send anyone to hell who'd never heard of Jesus."

I think it's an interesting way to look at things. Wouldn't it have been better had the Inuk (means "individual Inuit man/woman" - I grew up surrounded by Inuit) never been exposed to such beliefs, especially if Christianity's perspective was valid?

I think the "missionary" betrays a distinct lack of understanding of the Christian position, I put this at the feet of the author.

I can rarely get a straight answer, if any answer, to the who's going to hell' question, on the forums. When I do, it seems vague and includes non-Xians, but not all non-Xians etc., basically the conversation turns into nonsense imo.

That is because individual Christians are in no position to judge people, singly or in a group, as going to hell, and we tend to know it.

 

[Druidus]

I like to think its a well deserved at the "Spread the Good News" crowd. I think christians as a whole would do better to let their words and actions be the message or "Good News" Jesus left. People may ask what makes you such a good person you explain it and then let people be on their way. The self righteousness I have seen made me quit the faith, and I recently returned a changed person and an outcast of the mainstream ideologies But this just my opinion of course

Good for you, I agree with your views on "spreading the 'Good News'".

In defense of Christianity though I think you might be attacking what is kind of becoming a straw-man. Less and less Christians believe that you must believe in Jesus to go to heaven. Heck, even the Pope doesn't believe that anymore.

I agree, it's definitely not a definitive depiction of Christian views.

I think that Jesus said something similar to what you're saying. I can't remember the exact verse but he basically said that if you hadn't heard him, you're sinless. But if you had, you're convicted of your sins.

Oh, here it is: John 15:22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.

So you make a good point. Why make people sinners by even telling them about Christ? Apparently the people who have never heard of Christianity were better off.

Interesting, thanks for that. I wasn't aware of that particular verse.

 

[Druidus]

I think the "missionary" betrays a distinct lack of understanding of the Christian position, I put this at the feet of the author.

lol, Mister Emu, it is, essentially, just a joke, and is not meant to portray an entirely accurate description of Christianity. At the same time, though, it does accurately portray some Christians, whether it portrays the view of the majority or not.

I think the main point it illustrates is showing, IMO, the coercive nature of the idea of "hell", and the potential for using the Christian beliefs, as a whole, in a coercive manner for the purposes of proselytization. I'm not saying all Christians do this, but can you really deny that many have, in the past, at the very least, and, to a degree, even today?

That is because individual Christians are in no position to judge people, singly or in a group, as going to hell, and we tend to know it.

That's interesting, because, in my experience, many Christians do make claims about the hell-ward trajectory of people they disagree with or those who act/behave in ways that they judge/assess to be unacceptable according to their interpretation of scripture/doctrine.

I make no claims against those who don't do this (such as you, according to your professed belief in the above quote), but many Christians do, and I don't see why you should have any more claim to the faith than they do. Even if you disagree with their version of Christianity, or the things they do that you (rightfully, I might add) don't agree with, they are still Christians.

 

[Jeremy Mason]

I think the "missionary" betrays a distinct lack of understanding of the Christian position, I put this at the feet of the author.


That is because individual Christians are in no position to judge people, singly or in a group, as going to hell, and we tend to know it.

Great post! Frubals and applause! :clap

 

[Desert Snake]

That is because individual Christians are in no position to judge people, singly or in a group, as going to hell, and we tend to know it.

Except..the question arises precisely in discussions where they are judging people..

 

[Druidus]

Except..the question arises precisely in discussions where they are judging people..

I find the same, in general. To be clear, it says nothing about those Christians who do not believe in judging non-Christians/others, or those who decide that such is against the "true spirit" of Christianity (such as, according to himself, Mister Emu) - if that's what you believe, more power to you! But the fact remains that many Christians, whether you personally agree with their interpretations of Christian scripture and/or doctrine or not, do judge others and/or declare that they are destined to (an eternity in) hell (whether for their beliefs, lack of beliefs, behaviour, or whatever).

 

[Jeremy Mason]

Except..the question arises precisely in discussions where they are judging people..

I don't understand the statement. :sorry1:

 

[Druidus]

I don't understand the question. :sorry1:

I think he means that he's asked the "'who's going to hell' question" in threads that are directly about (Christians) judging people (in whatever manner and within the scope of whichever subject), and received the replies he mentioned in his earlier post, which is (to some degree) counter to Emu's reply "[that] individual Christians are in no position to judge people, singly or in a group, as going to hell, and [they] tend to know it". That said, I don't claim to speak for Disciple, so don't go off my interpretation of his post.

(I mean, if they tend to know that they can't/shouldn't, then why the hell do so many do it? And don't say it's because they're not "real" Christians, because they have just as much claim to the title as any other. As well, don't say they don't do it, because there are many examples just on this forum, to say nothing of the myriad examples in real life. That said, still, props up to the Christians who don't. Regardless of those who don't, however, it doesn't negate the fact that a large number still do.)

 

[Desert Snake]

^ thanks. exactly

 

[Jeremy Mason]

I think he means that he's asked the "'who's going to hell' question" in threads that are directly about (Christians) judging people (in whatever manner and within the scope of whichever subject), and received the replies he mentioned in his earlier post, which is (to some degree) counter to Emu's reply "[that] individual Christians are in no position to judge people, singly or in a group, as going to hell, and [they] tend to know it". That said, I don't claim to speak for Disciple, so don't go off my interpretation of his post.

Ok...

(I mean, if they tend to know that they can't/shouldn't, then why the hell do so many do it?

I can only guess.

And don't say it's because they're not "real" Christians, because they have just as much claim to the title as any other.

Only God knows.

As well, don't say they don't do it, because there are many examples just on this forum, to say nothing of the myriad examples in real life.)

I won't.

 

[Flankerl]

When i saw the thread name in the overview the first thing on my mind was "oh that poor Inuit".

 

[viole]

I think the "missionary" betrays a distinct lack of understanding of the Christian position, I put this at the feet of the author.


That is because individual Christians are in no position to judge people, singly or in a group, as going to hell, and we tend to know it.

Well, then they should stop saying that you must accept Jesus as your master and savior in order to enter the Kingdom. Because this is obviously wrong, unless all people who never heard of Jesus or little children go all to Hell.

I actually think the joke has a good point. Knowing about Jesus and the requirements for salvation that apply after acquiring this knowledge, is actually bad news.

And if this requirement is not really relevant, why do missionaries exist?

What is their purpose? To ease salvation, or to make it more difficult to achieve? No matter what the answer is, the purpose of their mission is self defeating or totally irrelevant.

Ciao

- viole

 

[AmbiguousGuy]

If we extend this notion out, doesn't it mean that Christians should support the killing of all fetuses?

Each one aborted is another soul which will certainly escape hell.

Theology -- what a mind-tangler.

 

[nazz]

The following is an old joke, but an illustrative one, IMO.



It seems clear that the unspoken answer to the Inuit fellow's last question would have been "In order to utilize your fear and ignorance so that I could convert you." (or something to that effect)

I think it's an interesting way to look at things. Wouldn't it have been better had the Inuk (means "individual Inuit man/woman" - I grew up surrounded by Inuit) never been exposed to such beliefs, especially if Christianity's perspective was valid? Isn't spreading such ideas inherently coercive?

What do you think about this joke and its implications?

I think it's a great way to expose a contradiction in the faith and practice of many Christians

 

[George-ananda]

Once again in this thread I am seeing the anti-Christians bringing out the straw-man Christianity for its ritual pummeling.