ansarthemystic

is anyone else aware of the things that missionary and christian charities leave out when speaking to the media. the one i have in mind is Christian Children's Fund that we see in the commercials.

Why don't they tell the public that whenever they help children they tell them Jesus did it and Jesus loves you! Talk about shameless indoctrination. These children aren't even emotionally and intellectual mature enough to analyze these types of phrases! What about the other millions of children who are still suffering?!Does jesus not love them!

Anyone else sick of prosleytizers and missionaries and their double-talk?!!!

Pitshade

I have decided to donate this thread to Misc. Religion.

bltl6

The Salvation Army does all kinds of good for others and don't usually mention God outside of their own churches (cores). They even hier non-Christians to help do the work.

I think that a Christian who has realy been touched by their belief in Jesus just wants someone eles to experiance what they have. Is that so wrong? If we have a positve experiance at a resturant we tell others about it. If we like a movie we let others know. If we have a good experiance with something or someone we want others to know to share in our joy.

Perchance

Yes, but when you recommend a movie, a restaurant, or a book to someone else, you don't necessarily get horrified if that other person winds up not liking it. You may not understand, but most of us are able to accept that people like different sorts of things.

Religion tends to be different. A person who believes that someone will go to Hell for not believing in Jesus is unlikely to take "no" for an answer without at least some persuading, pleading, or psychoanalyzing. And if the person the Christian is trying to convert is an atheist, agnostic, or of an entirely different, non-Christian religion, the pressure is likely to be worse. The Christian will assume that this person "just doesn't understand" and will intensify the efforts at conversion.

Sharing joy is one thing. Telling someone that what you experienced is the ultimate truth of the universe is quite another.

-Perchance.

P.S. Besides, some Christians get upset over what they perceive as "the gay agenda" or "the atheist agenda." Yet how is telling people that homosexuality is healthy and normal, or that atheists are not really all foaming-at-the-mouth demons, different than telling someone that Jesus is the source of goodness and light? They're beliefs, backed up with what the people on either side consider good arguments. Christians object at 'conversion' attempts on their own children, but believe they should be allowed to convert the children of others? I don't get it.

-Perchance.

ansarthemystic

I agree totally with what you have said, but I think you missed the point I was trying to make. I don't mind much when christians try to evangelize adults. If an adult chooses to accept the indoctrination, that's their fault. But when children, with immature minds are targeted, I think it is most shameful.Asking a child "Don't you want to go to heaven? and telling them Jesus loves you, all you have to do is accept him into your heart and you will be saved!", and then tell them that it is Jesus who is responsible for the aid that they are receiving is unconscionable, shameless brainwashing!

peace and blessings

[ August 02, 2002: Message edited by: ansarthemystic ]</p>

Perchance

Oh, all right. I suppose I didn't read closely enough. Since bltl6's reply seemed to concern adults as well as children, I didn't pick up on the special emphasis there.

I agree that it is shameful to target children specifically (especially since threats and intimidation, like Hell, work on them better than adults, and they don't have as much experience in logic and reason as adults do). But I think indoctrination of anyone is shameful. Adults may not always be able to resist it, especially if they're being told that this religion is "the truth" by an old and trusted friend or relation, or if they've just gone through a traumatic experience (like losing such a friend or relation). I don't think an adult giving in to such pressure is necesarily at fault; the people pressuring him or her are.

Why should threats be necessary if they really are spreading a joyful experience?

-Perchance.

MortalWombat

What about those that require the homeless to listen to a sermon before they are given a meal?

ansarthemystic

very true!

[ August 02, 2002: Message edited by: ansarthemystic ]</p>