The Ethics of Proselytizing

[Katzpur]

I'm sure many are aware of proselytizing. There are countries that have or currently have laws against proselytizing certian religions.I believe on such example is china and christianity. Yet I'm sure many of us now people who, dispite the risks and the countries laws against it, have gone to spread their religion. I talked to a christian girl the other day who'd just gotten back from asia on a mission. She was forbidden to say which country she was in.

Does anyone else find this kind of action to be unethical? Is it okay to disrespect a countires laws for the sake of ones own personal religious beliefs? Thoughts?

Mormon missionaries will go into any country they are permitted to proselytize in. We never, ever go in the back door, though, or try to break the laws of the land to preach the gospel. If the government of a country forbids proselytizing, we simply wait until it's permitted. Sometimes we wait twenty or thirty years. Right now, we're still waiting on some places.

 

[Katzpur]

Yes. The sooner peopel realise that no one else gives a damn about anyones religion, because if they did, they'd have already joined them, the sooner i'll stop seeing people embarrass themselves on tv and the sooner missionaries will stop disturbing me minding my own business.

It doesn't work that way, though. If it did, people would not be converting to my Church at a rate of roughly 900 each day. It's simply not accurate to say that no one gives a damn about anyone's religion. Some people don't know about a given religion until approached by a missionary. Once they learn about it, they do convert. I'm not saying I believe anybody who is not interested should be hounded, but some people really are interested in learning about a new faith.

 

[Vile Atheist]

It doesn't work that way, though. If it did, people would not be converting to my Church at a rate of roughly 900 each day. It's simply not accurate to say that no one gives a damn about anyone's religion. Some people don't know about a given religion until approached by a missionary. Once they learn about it, they do convert. I'm not saying I believe anybody who is not interested should be hounded, but some people really are interested in learning about a new faith.

I understand that, but especially with today's technology and the readiness with one can acquire information on virtually any subject, don't you think anyone already interested would go to a Church or do their own research on the Internet or libraries? It renders missionary work largely pointless.

 

[Duck]

You've failed to address the OP. We're talking about people from your own country, violating the laws of another country, by prostylitizing in the few countries christiainity is illigal.

In this case (people from one country violating the laws of another country) I would have to say that visiting another country places one under the rule of law in that country. Else customs agents the world over would be out of jobs, foreign visitors and students could not be charged with espionage, and the arguments over illegal immigration would be moot.

I kind of view it sort of like neighborhood relations, if you visit your neighbor's house, you agree (at least implicitly) to abide by his rules regarding behavior, yes? If your neighbor does not smoke and you do, do you smoke inside his house? If your neighbor does not approve of pornography when you visit do you provide such to him or his family? By the same token, if you have no problem with pornography I do not expect that you would approve of your neighbor visiting your house and taking down your photos, paintings or destroying your magazines or videos.

Like it or not, when visiting a foreign country for whatever reason, one is subject to the laws and regulations of that country, NOT your country of origin, regardless of one's views of the ethics or morality of the laws and regulations of the country being visited.

 

[Vile Atheist]

Like it or not, when visiting a foreign country for whatever reason, one is subject to the laws and regulations of that country, NOT your country of origin, regardless of one's views of the ethics or morality of the laws and regulations of the country being visited.

Agree that we should obey the laws of foreign countries we visit. But disagree that we should obey the unethical laws. Following your neighbour's house analogy, what if you went over to your neighbours house and he commanded you to drop your pants? Would you obey him?

No, because you aren't a mindless drone following orders just because someone with a little more authority than you says so. Just as I wouldn't obey laws I consider unethical in my own country, I wouldn't regard them in other countries. My ethics decide my actions. Not the laws of my country.

 

[darkendless]

It doesn't work that way, though. If it did, people would not be converting to my Church at a rate of roughly 900 each day. It's simply not accurate to say that no one gives a damn about anyone's religion. Some people don't know about a given religion until approached by a missionary. Once they learn about it, they do convert. I'm not saying I believe anybody who is not interested should be hounded, but some people really are interested in learning about a new faith.

These people would have eventually found out in the end. My point is that it is unfair to **** everyone else off to get these 900 converts. The internet is out there. Christianity in your face is unavoidable these days so doorknockers are nothing but overkill.

Missionaries and door knockers should be banned for the simple reason that its rude to push religion on people. If they didn't want to push religion on anyone they wouldn't be knocking on people's doors.

 

[Caladan]

It doesn't work that way, though. If it did, people would not be converting to my Church at a rate of roughly 900 each day. It's simply not accurate to say that no one gives a damn about anyone's religion. Some people don't know about a given religion until approached by a missionary. Once they learn about it, they do convert. I'm not saying I believe anybody who is not interested should be hounded, but some people really are interested in learning about a new faith.

I think the issue in this thread (as so many members seem to evade) is not missionary work in a nation which already has a Christian majority. I would find it highly offensive if Christians would do missionary work in Israel. Israel is a (non religious) Jewish state, and this should be respected. just as Jews do not try to convert Christians in the US to Judaism.

 

[Katzpur]

I think the issue in this thread (as so many members seem to evade) is not missionary work in a nation which already has a Christian majority. I would find it highly offensive if Christians would do missionary work in Israel. Israel is a (non religious) Jewish state, and this should be respected. just as Jews do not try to convert Christians in the US to Judaism.

I know that the LDS Church does have a presence in Israel -- The Jerusalem Center. We are forbidden to proselytize in Jerusalem, and we honor the agreement we made when we were permitted to establish it. If anybody wants to visit the center and hear what we believe, they are welcome to do so. Otherwise, we keep our mouths shut. We have a very good relationship with the Jewish people in that part of the world.

 

[Katzpur]

These people would have eventually found out in the end. My point is that it is unfair to **** everyone else off to get these 900 converts. The internet is out there. Christianity in your face is unavoidable these days so doorknockers are nothing but overkill.

Missionaries and door knockers should be banned for the simple reason that its rude to push religion on people. If they didn't want to push religion on anyone they wouldn't be knocking on people's doors.

I think your response is unnecessarily exaggerated. I don't like it a whole lot when a door-to-door salesman comes to my house to try to sell me something I'm not interested in buying. But, hey, it takes maybe a minute or two of my time to listen and politely say, "Thanks, but I'm not interested." And it's not as if it happens every day. And once in a great while, my answer will be, "Oh yeah. I think I saw something about that on TV. Sure, come in and tell me more about it."

I agree with you that it's rude to push religion on people. Where we seem to differ is in what it means to push it.

 

[Vile Atheist]

I think your response is unnecessarily exaggerated. I don't like it a whole lot when a door-to-door salesman comes to my house to try to sell me something I'm not interested in buying. But, hey, it takes maybe a minute or two of my time to listen and politely say, "Thanks, but I'm not interested." And it's not as if it happens every day. And once in a great while, my answer will be, "Oh yeah. I think I saw something about that on TV. Sure, some in and tell me more about it."

I agree with you that it's rude to push religion on people. Where we seem to differ is in what it means to push it.

You're too freaking nice, Katzpur!

Story time. We had two Jehovahs come to the door once when my father was alive. There was a huge blizzard the night before and the driveway was covered in several feet of snow (Jesus, I love living in Canada ). He was about to go outside to shovel when they came to the door.

Jehovahs: "Do you need help in your life?"
My father: "Yeah, come on in."

He leads them to the back door, hands them each a shovel and says "If you want to help me so bad, start shovelling ". Their eagerness to help quickly disappeared hahaha.

 

[darkendless]

I think your response is unnecessarily exaggerated. I don't like it a whole lot when a door-to-door salesman comes to my house to try to sell me something I'm not interested in buying. But, hey, it takes maybe a minute or two of my time to listen and politely say, "Thanks, but I'm not interested." And it's not as if it happens every day. And once in a great while, my answer will be, "Oh yeah. I think I saw something about that on TV. Sure, some in and tell me more about it."

I agree with you that it's rude to push religion on people. Where we seem to differ is in what it means to push it.

I'm not rude to these people but that doesn't change my opinion that they shouldn't be advertising/pushing their relgion onto me within my own home. I don't find anything wrong with them setting up in public areas so people who are interested can stop and chat to them.
I find people comming to my home somewhat invading no matter what they're doing.

Funny story, my mother broke a Jehovah's Witnesses foot because he tried to stop her closing the door on him

 

[The Middle]

I'm sure many are aware of proselytizing. There are countries that have or currently have laws against proselytizing certian religions.I believe on such example is china and christianity. Yet I'm sure many of us now people who, dispite the risks and the countries laws against it, have gone to spread their religion. I talked to a christian girl the other day who'd just gotten back from asia on a mission. She was forbidden to say which country she was in.

Does anyone else find this kind of action to be unethical? Is it okay to disrespect a countires laws for the sake of ones own personal religious beliefs? Thoughts?

I do believe in respecting the laws of other countries. However, a law against my talking about and sharing my religion with other people is a law that is so wrong that I would violate it even if it were in my own country.

 

[Katzpur]

You're too freaking nice, Katzpur!

Sorry, I'll have to work on that.

Story time. We had two Jehovahs come to the door once when my father was alive. There was a huge blizzard the night before and the driveway was covered in several feet of snow (Jesus, I love living in Canada ). He was about to go outside to shovel when they came to the door.

Jehovahs: "Do you need help in your life?"
My father: "Yeah, come on in."

He leads them to the back door, hands them each a shovel and says "If you want to help me so bad, start shovelling ". Their eagerness to help quickly disappeared hahaha.

You know what? This is the truth, I swear it: If that had been the Mormon missionaries, they'd have each taken a shovel and cleaned his walks. Afterwards, if he didn't want to hear their message, they'd have wished him a good day and left.

 

[Vile Atheist]

You know what? This is the truth, I swear it: If that had been the Mormon missionaries, they'd have each taken a shovel and cleaned his walks. Afterwards, if he didn't want to hear their message, they'd have wished him a good day and left.

Though I disagree with the theology, all the Mormons I've ever talked to have actually been very, very nice people.

 

[SHANMAC]

Obviously, but what I mean to get at is what evidence made you arrive at your belief that "God cast the world and heavens into existence"?

My evidence comes from the Bible in Genesis 1 and John 1. If you're wondering whether I have schematic and architectual drawings showing how the heavens and earth were cast into existence, I'd have to say I do not.

 

[hindupridemn]

Hindus are forbidden from prosletyzing. Doesn't that make you want to become one? . In India there have been problems with medical missionaries. In order to receive treatment for a disease they required conversion and if they reverted to their original religion afterward they were required to pay with interest. I follow most of the laws of the United States because I see no reason not to. But the law of God is higher than the laws of man. Sometimes it is immoral to follow the laws of man.

 

[Duck]

Hindus are forbidden from prosletyzing. Doesn't that make you want to become one? . In India there have been problems with medical missionaries. In order to receive treatment for a disease they required conversion and if they reverted to their original religion afterward they were required to pay with interest. I follow most of the laws of the United States because I see no reason not to. But the law of God is higher than the laws of man. Sometimes it is immoral to follow the laws of man.

Behavior of this nature is the source of much of the strong dislike I have for missionary work.

 

[Vile Atheist]

My evidence comes from the Bible in Genesis 1 and John 1. If you're wondering whether I have schematic and architectual drawings showing how the heavens and earth were cast into existence, I'd have to say I do not.

And what makes the Bible a credible source to you?

 

[Katzpur]

Hindus are forbidden from prosletyzing. Doesn't that make you want to become one? . In India there have been problems with medical missionaries. In order to receive treatment for a disease they required conversion and if they reverted to their original religion afterward they were required to pay with interest. I follow most of the laws of the United States because I see no reason not to. But the law of God is higher than the laws of man. Sometimes it is immoral to follow the laws of man.

That's an interesting religion, you've described yourself as, hinupridemn. I'm glad you included LDS. :yes:

 

[Humanistheart]

Jesus said to "Pay back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar" in answering a question about paying taxes. He added "but God's things to God." (Mark 12:17) When man's law violates God's law, Christians have the duty to obey God. (Acts 5:27-29)

This is probably one of the reasons christianity was banned in china. What country wants it's people thinking their above the law because of a belief in a mythical god?