Using Tsunami Disaster
 

There is report that many evangelical churches have use the tsunami disaster to proselytizing Christianity. These churches have been condemn by other Christian based relief organization such as Luthern Aid and others as unethical organizations. What do you think?

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I think that this contrasts how organized religion can easily be either an agent of great good, or of unethical behavior that sometimes is clearly evil.

Those behaving in a way that is unethical, or worse, don't think that they are in the wrong. They think that they are doing good. It reminds me of the old saying that "the path to hell is paved with good intentions." I believe that those organizing in the name of God should always take a deep breath, and act with great humility.

I was talking to my campus minister about this just Thursday afternoon. We've had many discussions before about high pressure religious groups and proselytizing, just on our campus and the local area. We both feel that it is important to respect the differences of others (religion, background, language, culture, etc) of others, but also that not everyone is meant to be a Christian or a Lutheran.

The money we donate through the church, for any disaster, is not used for conversion. Other relief work we do overseas, and even Mission work is done with those that are already converted. We have churches in many of these areas, and money is sent to them for assistance as well, but if they were high pressure converters, they wouldn't be allowed to exist.

It is the kind of actions of forcing ones faith, and especially to those that are vulnerable, that really makes it hard for many others.