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Evangelism and ethics are inseparable
Q: Is there a problem with proselytism overseas by U.S. religious groups? Isn't sharing one's faith part of religious freedom? When does it cross the line into manipulation and coercion?
Proselytism is a dirty word for both secularists and goodwill Christians. Many secularists oppose any expression of Christian witness--at home or abroad. They favor freedom from religion. Many goodwill Christians favor freedom of religion and oppose witnessing that is manipulative and coercive.
Two goodwill Christians, an evangelical and a Catholic, disavowed proselytism as they advocated witnessing to their faith last October at a conference on Christians and Muslims at Georgetown University.
David Robinson, senior advisor for World Vision International, said, "We have instituted policies that prohibit proselytism and we train our staff ... to respect those of other faiths and not engage in any type of religious manipulation."
Ken Hackett, president of Catholic Relief Services, said, "The employees of Catholic Relief Services do not proselytize--ever--period. We are organizationally inspired by our faith. But we let our actions do the talking."
In a way, both men--representing very different wings of Christianity--reflected the wisdom of St. Francis of Assisi, who reportedly said, "Preach the gospel at all times. Use words if necessary."
Christianity is a religion of evangelism. Christians have a divine imperative to share their faith in word and deed.
Christianity is also a religion of ethics. Christians have a divine imperative to share their faith with integrity and transparency.
Unfortunately, some Christians and Christian organizations follow the former and ignore the latter. They think that the ends of conversion justify any means--concealment or manipulation or taking advantage of folk during emergencies. They even think that they can trick government officials and local citizens in foreign countries into believing they are not really Christians or not really proselytizing. Such an American Christian mindset represents the worn-out colonial attitude that "the natives" aren't really smart enough to know what's going on. And that's plain wrong.
Truth beats deception every time. Walk trumps talk. Transparency trounces secrecy.
Christians must give witness to their faith with the highest ethical standards.
By
Robert Parham
|
March 2, 2010; 8:44 AM ET
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Posted by: haveaheart | March 3, 2010 4:04 PM
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Hello Mr. Parham,
One could easily make the argument that the actions of ANY individual or organization are inseparable from it's ethics. That does nothing, however, to define or qualify what "it's ethics" are.
One cannot easily, in reality, claim that the actions of Christianity is inseparable from ethics that are benevolent and in the better interests of others. Even without a brief exploration of history this is clear.
Christianity, like Islam or any other religion, is self-serving. It may believe that it is the most superior spiritual form, applicable to all, but this amounts to nothing more than elitist, assumptive arrogance. This exclusivity is at the core of it's beliefs, and so all that emanate from that core is biased from that assumption.
To believe that any religion, Christianity in the forefront, bestows noble and benevolent love to the actions of all it's adherents is blind naivete. Humans look for ways to exercise their darker natures, even and often through a quasi-spiritual mask. Christianity's assumption of exclusive claim to truth, along with a belief in a commandment to witness and convert others to it's flock, is a belief system fertile for abuse by the darker natures of humans.
Posted by: justillthennow | March 3, 2010 1:29 PM
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PROSELYTIZATION is a manifestation of the SUPREMACIST foundation of Christianity & Islam.
No one else has this serious flaw that Christians and Muslims have in their "religions" or spiritual systems. Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs, Zoroastrians, Jews, Wiccans, Animists, etc.. are all trying to make themselves better, not trying to undermine others.
Conversion has caused some of the biggest problems in third world countries.
The "charity" and "kind deeds" are insincere and deceptive actions, and therefore, are acts of evil.
Muslims & Christians don't seem to get the basics of goodness and spirituality. Pretending to be good while having and ulterior motive fools no one and is an act of evil. This can lead to crusades and suicide terrorism.
REMEMBER: Almost all religious conflicts in the world involve Muslims or Christians on one side or both.
Sneakiness, deception, conversion, undermining other cultures, etc... is offensive and nonspiritual.
You really feel the urge to do charity? Go to the inner city in America and help those in need. Look in your own family and help those who are depressed or drunk or angry.
Stop going to 3rd world countries and causing problems & hurting others.
Posted by: clearthinking1 | March 2, 2010 7:33 PM
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"Ken Hackett, president of Catholic Relief Services, said, 'The employees of Catholic Relief Services do not proselytize--ever--period. We are organizationally inspired by our faith. But we let our actions do the talking.'"
Ah, yes. Your actions spoke loud and clear this week in D.C. If denying health coverage to employees' families because a law was passed legalizing same-sex marriage isn't proselytizing, I don't know what is.