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I'm not really inclined, or probably even all that capable, of proselytizing. Or comfortable with others doing it to me. The main proselytizing I see is likely Baptist or Pentecostal. However considering the people I hang with online, and in academia, atheist-proselytizing (attempts to convert or persuade being proselytism) is probably pretty close in my life. Both can be a tad obnoxious. As I'm Catholic we also get the "I was a Catholic, but then" proselytizing. Like
"I was a Catholic, but then I realized it is not logically justified and found the freedom of atheism/agnosticism/deism."
"I was a Catholic, but then I realized it is not Biblically justified and found the joy of Fundamentalism/Evangelicalism/Pentecostalism."
Third would likely be Muslim, but I've only dealt with Muslim proselytizing online. In life I've met few Muslims and the ones I met seemed more concerned with getting an education or making a living than converting people. Don't misunderstand that, some of them struck me as intensely religious just not proselytizing.
As "evangelizing" can just mean "spreading the news of the faith" than I suppose I evangelize a little. In so much as I say I'm Catholic, discuss what I think that means, and fairly often answer questions on it when asked. If that's evangelizing than I don't have a problem with people doing that to me or doing it to others. If someone even wants to tell me how the aliens in the core of Venus changed their life, as long as they're not expecting or demanding that I buy it, I guess that can be okay.
Though no one has more faith than I do, I do tire of others' Proselytizing.
The true journey of the soul is best shared by simply being an example. Working to draft believers to one's way of belief is so lame.
Jesus was a fisher of men, and He had that Spirit that drew folks to Him.
If sincere believers will just live it, and be sincere, honest, etc....they, too will influence folks and not even know it, often.
Not unlike the continued existence of reality tv and its denizens, proselytization is just one of those obnoxious side effects of getting to live in a free society. It's a small price to pay in the grand scheme of things, but boy it sure can be annoying.
Not unlike the continued existence of reality tv and its denizens, proselytization is just one of those obnoxious side effects of getting to live in a free society. It's a small price to pay in the grand scheme of things, but boy it sure can be annoying.
Small price to pay?
It's a big price.
When I lived overseas in a military community, although I had this posted on my door in 8.5 x 11" paper, I still got god-botherers.
I kept a pitcher of water at my door and threw it on them because they had absolutely no respect for the privacy of others. It didn't serve as a deterrent.
I'd do it again.
Good posts. Made me think a bit. For one thing about how to spell it.
pros·e·ly·tize (prs-l-tz)v.pros·e·ly·tized, pros·e·ly·tiz·ing, pros·e·ly·tiz·es v.intr.1. To induce someone to convert to one's own religious faith. 2. To induce someone to join one's own political party or to espouse one's doctrine.
v.tr. To convert (a person) from one belief, doctrine, cause, or faith to another.
Like a lot of these terms, it can cover a range of meaning.
There is nothing wrong in putting forward ideas, especially is one considers them true and (or) beneficial and people need to hear about it. It isn't wrong or evil since politicians and advertisers do it all the time. Yeah...well. Ok
Interference in another's culture is considered evil, but we do that all the time, especially if we feel a country's people are not getting a fair deal.
It's a question of how we do it. With respect would be good. It's a question of what we are doing. The persuasion ought to be to sign up to something that isn't whacky or a con - trick. Caveat emptor.
I used to live in Harlem and still frequent the area. I hear every conspiracy theory known to man and often confronted by all types preaching their slush, notably the Nation of Islam characters. I can't stop them from offering their nonsense, however, if I say "no thanks" and/or do not acknowledge your gestures and you still try to bother me, then we have a BIG problem.
That's good. We are moving up the board into the issues of the faithful. They belong with the rude as well; right? Ignorance is for the right consideration; the example of authority is and was so often absolved for failing the country in it's paths of liberty because the struggle was shared in the fear being expressed in local judgments by the civil suits. Now we are needing to assume responsibility for the less able to take care of themselves, OR better O.K. the less educated but accomplishing whatever they want (right?), eh Tea partiers.
There is a huge difference between the lack of education and willful stupidity.
There are many intelligent people that never had the opportunity to avail themselves of higher education.......... and there are many willful idiots with a wall full of diplomas.
I have no issue with it. Provided They stick only to what they believe and not a sermon as to why I am damned. I have no fault with those who want to tell the beauty of what they believe, but I do have a problem if all they can do is tell how wrong other beliefs or non-beliefs are.
Proselytizing to one who has no desire to hear is not only intrusive, obnoxious, non-productive and time wasting; it is outright stupid. I place Evangelism as being the best argument , to justify Atheism.
Everybody who knows me, knows I am Muslim and will answer any question to the best of my ability. But I am not going to knock on anybody's door to tell them my beliefs.
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