|
I agree, kddani -- I think it's rude, and many times it succeeds in pushing people farther away from your religion instead of drawing them into it, especially when the methods get more agressive. Religion, at least to me, is pretty personal. It's not something I want to discuss with a stranger on a street corner. I understand that some people consider it an integral part of their religion, but I'm glad that my faith doesn't promote the idea of evangelism, and honestly, I'm not sure I could belong to a religion that does. I believe strongly in everybody being allowed to make the choice that feels right to them instead of being pressured one way or another.
(I also want to point out that I think "lifestyle evangelism" is great, and works wonders to improve people's view of your religion. But people pay attention to what you DO, not what you say. Kind of like how you can talk to girls for hours about how great sorority life is, but it's not until you drag them along with you to pomp for the Homecoming float and flirt with frat boys and stay up late talking that they really want to join.)
Also, I think that the religions/sects that are very into evangelism also tend to fall much faster into the "judging" people who they consider sinners (even though the Bible and other religious texts warn against it!). That may just be coincidence, but I think that evangelism places people in the delicate position of having to decide who needs "saving" and why, which is really (IMO) a matter better left to God.
A humorous story: In the dorms, there was this girl on our floor who did weekly Bible studies and was always trying to get everyone to come for them. Once she tricked my Jewish roommate into coming because she told her that they were going to "get Chinese food and talk" -- she just forgot to add the part about how all the talking was going to be about the Bible.
|