Ways NOT to evangelize!

[Tom Earp]

AlphaSigOU


Knew We had a Relationship in some Form!

We are Anglican Catholics, They are Roman Catholics!

We spoke English first, let our Priest Marry, ETC!

SO Evangiolism like gism is wearing snakes and chanting at the trees or what the F Ever?

At the Age of 3, decided to leave the SBC, did not fit! Didnt fit with HST, A LXA and President who came to My Church with Bess!

All I can say, is if some religious Zealot carrys on and rants and raves, get the :F: away from them!

My beleif is My Beleif not some physco telling I need A God In His Way!

Actually, God came from Mars or another Solar System and was just some Dude in a Rocket Ship that was farther advanced than We all were!

[dzandiloo]

Originally posted by carnation
Finally, he asked if I'd be trying the Unitarians and he said, "You'd like them, that's the church of the devil."

What a moron! My mother took us to a Unitarian Universalist Fellowship for several years after my grandfather (an Episcopal priest) died. Although I don't recall there being any Satanists in the congregation, it was quite an eye opening experience, seeing Christians, Jews, Hindus, Wiccans & Agnostics gathering together to discuss & celebrate spirituality & faith-in an very spiritual and tolerant environment.

I learned alot about all of these religions & more, and made my own decision as an adult to return to the Episcopal church. I like their idea that the universe is just too large for any one dogma to be completely correct.

[sugar and spice]

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.

[Wine&SilverBlue]

"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."

That happened to me!!!!! This girl on my floor came over and invited me and my suitemate to a "chocolate fondue party!" to get to know us better. Sooo.. we came over and talked to her and some other people we didnt know.. and then 10 minutes later she goes: "are we ready to start?" and takes out her notebook and a bible. I was like..

Well, turns out she was having a bible study! AND SHE DID NOT TELL US AAAAT ALL! (and yes, I'm Jewish). I guess she could tell I was uncomfortable and she said if I really wanted I didn't HAVE to stay. So I left. Quickly. My Catholic suitemate left about 5 minutes after me. VERY AWKWARD!!!!!!

I've also had a good friend of mine tell me with a straight face that I was going to go to hell unless I accepted Jesus as my savior.

I used to be very tolerant of all religions but I've gotten sick of "some religions" trying to impose their beliefs on others through legislation and evangelism. I believe in the separation of church and state and I believe that I should be free to practice whatever religion I choose without people telling me I'm going to hell.

/endrant

[CutiePie2000]

Originally posted by KillarneyRose
She was LOUD! (

I hate noisy people, and I don't care if she was evangelizing or reciting the contents of a recipe...

[norcalchick]

I'm not religious. I was raised Catholic, was baptised, but never studied the Bible and only went to Church once in awhile. Part of my dislike for the church, or at leat my sister and brother in law's church, is the way those people act. They started going because my b-i-l had affairs and finally got caught when he was out of town for work and got arrested for picking up a prostitute who was an under cover police officer! I forget how long it was after that that he started the whole church stuff. So all they do now is go to church. He wants to become a Deacon. They go to these retreats. But, they are always fighting. My nephew ran away for 3 weeks! and they didn't call the police. He's only 15! All they said was "I'll leave it up to God and pray." And my sister told my oldest brother once that she didn't love my nephew anymore. Another time, my sister was having trouble breathing and her chest was hurting, so she was in the hospital. When my mom and sister-in-law got there, there was already one of thier church friends there. And everytime my mom and s-i-l talked, that friend would cover my sister's ears and make like a shushing noise. My b-i-l then told my mom and sister to leave but the friend was staying. He told my mom something like "don't be ignorant". It' just that a lot of religious people that I have met are hypocrites and very judgemental.

[KSUViolet06]

As a Christian, I find the guys that stand on the corner with the microphones with signs saying "THE END IS NEAR!" and shouting " You're all going to hell" very sad. That's the FASTEST way to make others NOT want to hear you. I pray for those people, because they only push people further away from knowing God. They make people think "Gee if all this God guy is going to do is yell and condemn me, no way".

[James]

Well I dunno Jen, that sounds a lot like dating strategy also.

We, men, lie about our true intentions all the time. Example, " We should go out and get to know each other better," really means, "let me into your pants."

In fact most of what guys say really mean that

Originally posted by ariesrising

And don't get me started commenting on the stories people have shared about people starting "friendly" random conversations or inviting them to events and COMPLETELY LYING (omission = lying) about what their true intention is. Seeing you lie and weasel your way into a religious conversation isn't going to make me like your religion anymore...it's going to make me want to avoid your denomination/religion.

Golden rule - Unless you are asked about it, shut up about your religion.

[cashmoney]

Originally posted by norcalchick
I'm not religious. I was raised Catholic, was baptised, but never studied the Bible and only went to Church once in awhile. Part of my dislike for the church, or at leat my sister and brother in law's church, is the way those people act. They started going because my b-i-l had affairs and finally got caught when he was out of town for work and got arrested for picking up a prostitute who was an under cover police officer! I forget how long it was after that that he started the whole church stuff. So all they do now is go to church. He wants to become a Deacon. They go to these retreats. But, they are always fighting. My nephew ran away for 3 weeks! and they didn't call the police. He's only 15! All they said was "I'll leave it up to God and pray." And my sister told my oldest brother once that she didn't love my nephew anymore. Another time, my sister was having trouble breathing and her chest was hurting, so she was in the hospital. When my mom and sister-in-law got there, there was already one of thier church friends there. And everytime my mom and s-i-l talked, that friend would cover my sister's ears and make like a shushing noise. My b-i-l then told my mom and sister to leave but the friend was staying. He told my mom something like "don't be ignorant". It' just that a lot of religious people that I have met are hypocrites and very judgemental.

Damn, that sounds like something on Jerry Springer.

[GeekyPenguin]

Evangelizing scares me. A lot of my friends belong to evangelizing religions and they know to not even try with me. Apparently the WELS people canvass a lot in our subdivision but we've long since been crossed off their lists.

My parents raised me to believe that my religion/faith/chakra is between me and God, and nobody else. I've stuck with that. I'm a practicing Catholic and if somebody wants to know, I'll tell them, but otherwise, whatever.

[Wine&SilverBlue]

just curious... as a Jew I'm not really clear on this but.. why do Christians tell Catholics that they are going to hell? I mean, aren't Catholics Christians too? You both believe in Jesus and celebrate the same things and use the same bible.. why is there such animosity between the 2?


ETA: When my suitemate told me that I was going to hell unless I accepted Jesus as my savior and converted to Catholicism, I asked her with a straight face if I could go to Hades instead. (I'm in a greek mythology class right now) she got REALLY pissed off.

[GeekyPenguin]

Originally posted by Wine&SilverBlue
just curious... as a Jew I'm not really clear on this but.. why do Christians tell Catholics that they are going to hell? I mean, aren't Catholics Christians too? You both believe in Jesus and celebrate the same things and use the same bible.. why is there such animosity between the 2?

Because we...

*worship false idols
*worship the Pope (who some churches think is the antichrist)
*are a cult



Actually "legitimate" reason: Protestants (all non-Catholic Christians, essentially) believe that faith alone, or belief in God and Jesus alone, is sufficient for getting to Heaven. In Catholicism, we believe that in addition to faith, good works must also be performed. However, these works should not be performed for the purpose of going to Heaven, but because those who are truly faithful have the desire to help others through religion.

I'm sure some Protestant GCers will disagree with what I say, but that's what I see the differences as. I find it kind of ironic that the majority of Catholics have no problem with Protestants, and don't think they're going to Hell, but so many Protestant factions despise Catholicism.

[norcalchick]

See, there are too many groups to figure out. I'm so confused!

[moe.ron]

I had the pleasure of having one of thoes door to door type in my house during my undergrad days. Me and my housemate saw them comming miles away and we decided to be one of those paranoid conspiracy theory type. They knock on the door and said "Have you been saved." My housemate answered, "Yes, by the way, did you see the black unmarked car near here?" Meanwhile, I kept on looking at the sky and kept and everytime either a plane or a helicopter flew pass, "They are watching us, get them inside before they get kidnapped by the man." We freaked them out and they moved on.

[BlondeGurl]

Originally posted by PhoenixAzul
My school is United Methodist affiliated. So people are constantly talking about bible study or OCF (fellow ship group) and word of god and the like. Well, I made a choice to become Catholic when I was 17. So whenever I tell people that I'm Catholic they always ask me things like, "why do you worship statues" or "why don't you talk directly to God?" or the kicker, "Have you ever been raped by a priest?". Things that are backhanded like that are very very annoying. And whenever I try to explain the reasoning/theology behind it, they always yell and scream "God isn't enough for you? you have to have saints!? or "Your church harbors child molestors because it isn't in God's plan". Seriously, I'd like to just bite their heads off. Don't ask a question if you don't want to let me answer. My soul is FINE, thank you, how's yours?

I never went to a religious school, but I completely understand where you are coming from. Being Catholic myself I think throughout my life I have always been told I am GOING TO HELL, because of whatever reason, but no one ever wants to listen to an explanation of why we do what we do. Have they ever attended mass? no. Do they ask any questions about the prayers we say or the ritual we do? no. They mostly get second hand information from people who don't know what they are talking about. I dated this guy once who's besdt friend swore up and down I was going to hell because I was Catholic and named like 10 reasons why. I sat him down and told him why his reasons were bunk and refuted EVERY one of his arguments. I think he really questioned what he was told after that. I think it is rude to tell anyone they are not worshiping the correct way. I was always taught in in Sunday school that GOD was the only one allowd to judge others!