How do Taoists, Hindus, Pagans and others feel about evangelical actions. Do you feel a positive responsibility to 'share the good news' the way of the abrahamic religions ?

In what ways do your prostelitizing techniques differ from each other ?

Umm..wonder why you clubbed the first two with the latter. Any particular reason?

And no, eastern religions do not "spread the word" like their western cousins. But the new age religions which draw inspiration from non-abrahmic religions, especially eastern religions surely must indugle in proselytizing. After all they are "new" and need followers.



[This message has been edited by phaedrus (edited June 01, 2001).]

AFAIK, There is no real proselytizing in the other religions...

I remember a great story about how the Hindus converted... they moved out into new areas, set up shrines, worshipped. and the locals said, hey, whatchadoing? And the hindus said... you get the point.

I know some people are more 'vocal' than others, but I also know there is more of an easygoing approach---

hell, if everyone will be reincarnated, everyone will 'find the way' on their own terms at their own time. No point to pushing it.

jess
ANSIMC

Anyone familiar with Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism?

I've heard that followers of this sect of Buddhism can be quite aggressive in their proselytizing. I've heard other Buddhists compare them to Christians in terms of their evangelistic zeal.

I'd never go about the way the theists do, but I'm certainly passionate about trying to encourage people to think about mysticism differently, both theists and atheists. I think difference there is no threat of hell or promise of heaven.

Right. Whereas, from the Christian point of view, there is a finite amount of time to persuade people to accept Jesus, or they will spend the rest of eternity burning in excruciating agony. Therefore, any action, no matter how drastic -- lying, cheating, even killing -- may be justified if it helps to save souls. This is the maddening catch-22 of Christianity, and the reason why Christians and non-Christians can finally have no common ground, can only scream at each other from opposite sides of an unbreachable wall until one or the other crosses over. It is also why

*********HELLMEME********* (tm)

is one of the most fiendishly horrific, psychologically powerful ideas ever to leap from one brain to another. The more I think of the ruthlessly evolved complex of ideas that make up Christianity, the more I view it with a kind of horrified awe, like a horrific beast that will snatch me in its slavering jaws if I circle too closely. As Ian Holm said about the Alien: "I admire its purity. A survivor."

In fact I am surprised that after seeing the awesome power of

*********HELLMEME******** (tm)

more religions didn't incorporate it into their own meme-complexes.

They believe that their form of Buddhism is the only Buddhism that's valid.

From pumping one fat buffoon for information on the topic after he swelled up to thrice his normal size when announcing himself as a Buddhist, it seems to me that they are extremely light on philosophy but well stocked with cheap platitudes.

They glibly say that Tantra is obsolete yet they know nothing at all about Tantra.

It's like a person in the outback of Australia claiming that what they can see is the totally of the world, and that there is no Melbourne, no Sydney, no America, no England etc.

I think that the term fundamentalist is the kindest, gentlest adjective I can possibly use to describe these people. There are many others I can think of however.

[This message has been edited by Waning Moon Conrad (edited June 11, 2001).]

I believe that absolute bastards can reincarnate in hell realms and suffer horribly. I don't believe that these hell realms are eternal, you can only be there until your negative karma is burnt up by your suffering.

Who am I saving and from what?

And besides, who am I to go telling people what they need to study and what practices to do and what to think and believe about the way things are?

No way will I proselytize!

As far as my experience has gone with witchcraft and Wicca – proselytizing is a big NO-NO! One major reason is the risking of “outing” oneself can hold some pretty heft consequences depending on what area of the U.S. one lives in. It can cause loss of employment, harassment, threats on ones life and even the loss of that person’s life. The women I met where through pretty normal social channels. After a few years of knowing one another and one another’s children we began having deeper discussions on philosophy, politics and religion. Eventually it was discovered that I am very open minded about these things and interested in exploration. Once they felt I was a person they could trust, I was let in on the secret and asked if I wanted to come and see a ritual. Initiation takes place after a year and a day. It is never forced upon a person and when was the last time anyone here encountered a Pagan/Wiccan/Witch group handing pamphlets out on a street corner and preaching to people that the only way is to accept the God and the Goddess? Secrecy is also a vow one takes, depending on the group. Permission must be granted from the other members before others are told. Prospective members must first be screened by the elders of the group and trust must be established before further exposure of the covens membership will be made. One of the ladies I know is very much “out of the broom closet”, while others do not want any one to be aware of their beliefs.

I certainly have not encountered the whole of the pagan movement, but what I have encountered despises the evangelical acts of Christianity and abhors that practice in pagan circles. The information is there for anyone to seek and they believe that if one desires this path, one will find his/her way to the path. I personally believe that ones path should only be determined by conscience, with no restrictions on what path to pursue or not to pursue. If there is a soul to be saved – it cannot be done through coercion, manipulation or other divisive means. What kind of god wants men and women to be brought to it’s door step bruised and battered, gun held to his/her head, pledging allegiance only to spare that his/her body from further physical and psychological torment? Certainly not any god I would want to pledge my allegiance to.

Brighid