I actually met some Christian missionaries from the US. They were kinda creepy (they wore weird clothes, and sang weird religious songs). One of them was nice though.

I've never haled anyone less fortunate, quite frankly I've been too apathetic regarding this. I hope I'll eventually get off my ass and do something.

And regarding these Christian missions, I'd have nothing against these activities if they weren't proselytism masked as charity. Why can't you just help people, without using it as an ocassion to promote your religion? Isn't helping people the purpose, or am I right and it's all a ploy?

Yes, helping people is the purpose. However, for those that dedicate their lives to helping the less fortunate, it becomes rather difficult to not tie your belief set into what you do. For example, my former church would have a day that they gathered all

If the Christians you met were creepy and wore odd clothing, I am 90% certain they weren't the type of missionaries I am talking about. Likely, you met a creepy subsect called Mormons which are usually considered outside of Christian orthodoxy.

It's possbile they were liek that. The creepiest thing about them was their clothes (they were a little older than me, but were dressed like 30 year olds).

I still think they should not use charity as a platform for spreading their religion. There;'s websites for that sort of stuff. Some countries have already started banning missionaries because of the proselythising.

But if God does not exist, then what is the harm in telling them about something that is not real? What countries are banning said missionairies? Generally, the ones that do are active in banning missionaries because they are worried that Christians will promote Democracy and human rights.

Your argument of stating 'there are websites for charity' shows that you may not fully understand the situations in some countries. Chances are, if you really want to help someone in a specific country get access to water, health care, or education, you can't do it simply by giving money to an organization. It always or almost invariably ends up in a general fund which may not be used for what you feel is effective use of your money. Comparatively, there are missionaries you can help that have specific goals in said countries.

In general, though, the aid organizations that are reported to have a very effective span of helping those get out of poverty are the *gasp* Christian organizations. Even if you dislike what they do with spreading their religion, the fact is that they typically get far more done per dollar than secular organizations. A good one would be World Vision.

I am almost halfway throught the Japanese program at my schoo. I only have one more year before the exit level course. After that I can go to Japan.

@mrstickball:

But if God does not exist, then what is the harm in telling them about something that is not real?

Actually, lying to people that something is real when it's not is terrible. Why can't you just help people without using it as an occasion for religious propaganda?

What countries are banning said missionairies? Generally, the ones that do are active in banning missionaries because they are worried that Christians will promote Democracy and human rights.

I don't exactly remember which country, but I do remember it was near India. The reason of the bas was that Chruistian missionaries were using their charity as a conversion ploy, and they didn't wantoutsiders preying on the poor people living in their country. Also, most fundementalist Christians I know love the ideea of a theocracy, so I don't see how they could be spreading the ideaa of democracy or human rights.

Your argument of stating 'there are websites for charity' shows that you may not fully understand the situations in some countries. Chances are, if you really want to help someone in a specific country get access to water, health care, or education, you can't do it simply by giving money to an organization. It always or almost invariably ends up in a general fund which may not be used for what you feel is effective use of your money. Comparatively, there are missionaries you can help that have specific goals in said countries.

I did not say "there are websites for charity", I said "there are websites for this sort of thing" (as in you can use websites for proselythising, using charities for this just discredits the charity and is very low).

In general, though, the aid organizations that are reported to have a very effective span of helping those get out of poverty are the *gasp* Christian organizations. Even if you dislike what they do with spreading their religion, the fact is that they typically get far more done per dollar than secular organizations. A good one would be World Vision.

I doubt that charity in it's current form (handouts) really gets anyone out of poverty. And the fact that they get things done doesn't change the fact that their main goal is proselythising, rather than helping others, which makes them immoral organisations.

http://www.christianaggression.org/tactics_charity.php

Look. If you put Church before your dreams, you should reassess your priorities.

I don't think he'll listen to that.

I think MrStickball nailed what we are doing on the head.

Now their even if God did not exist we wouldn't be lying in saying we believe he does. A faith in God can help people lead better and more productive lives. Even if when I died I found out my faith was wrong, I would still have no regrets. Loving your neighbour and helping those less fortunate , where is the downside even if my faith was wrong? Even Buddhism and other religion's leaders have come out and said Jesus was a great man, his teachings help billions of people.

Well a country near India, sounds like a Muslim theorocracy to me. Take Afghanistan for example, they banned missionaries. Why did they ban them because the state wants the whole country to be Muslim, they don't want women rights they don't want freedom of religion. Other countries in that region are similiar they are theorocracies and anything challenging their belief system is seen as a threat. China, Burma and North Korea are great examples of Athiest dictatorship's they know if Christianity were to spread inside their countries that it would challenge their rule of law. Countries that ban religious organisation's regardless of faith are suspect. Unless the group is promoting terrorism it should be allowed to render aid to the people of the country.

Why should people hide their faith while helping others? God is such a big part of my life why should I hide that when I help other people? What happened to freedom of speech and expression? Sometimes I get the feeling that your a commie Sapphi, you don't seem to believe people have the right to believe what they want. Censoring everything when we go out to help others is purely assanine. Now our missions teams don't go out for the soul purpose of converting people. We go to help the people and yes we share our love of God with them but its not because were trying to force feed them our beliefs. We do so because we geniunly love God.

P.S- Christian organisation's like the organisation I am going with help everyone regardless of which religion they are from...etc...etc... Skin colour, race, religion , belief system we don't care we just want to help people. Telling people about God just goes hand in hand with it. Why should we pretend to be something we are not when we are helping people?

Also Sapphi about those missionaries clothing. Different cultures have different styles of clothes and cultural norms. What you think is appropriate for a 30 year old may not be appropriate in their country. Now I know I myself am buying clothes to fit in with Thai culture but even after all that I am pretty sure I won't look exactly like a Thai person is dressed.

As for Galaki's remark, I choose God over anything, but does that mean I will never again go to Japan? No I may go as a tourist in a few years or as a missionary. Either way I do intend to eventually go to Japan. Its just disheartening to be so close yet I won't be able to do or see any of the country I want to visit so badly.

@Joelcool7:

I think MrStickball nailed what we are doing on the head.

Yeah, taking advantage of poeple.

Now their even if God did not exist we wouldn't be lying in saying we believe he does. A faith in God can help people lead better and more productive lives. Even if when I died I found out my faith was wrong, I would still have no regrets. Loving your neighbour and helping those less fortunate , where is the downside even if my faith was wrong? Even Buddhism and other religion's leaders have come out and said Jesus was a great man, his teachings help billions of people.

When you'll die it's most probable you won't realsie anything, as you'll no longer have any consciousness. And you can love your neighbour and help others less fortunate without being religious. I don't see the need for your religion. And your religion isn't just about that, it's about other not so pretty things, which leads to controlling every aspect of people's lives.

Well a country near India, sounds like a Muslim theorocracy to me. Take Afghanistan for example, they banned missionaries. Why did they ban them because the state wants the whole country to be Muslim, they don't want women rights they don't want freedom of religion. Other countries in that region are similiar they are theorocracies and anything challenging their belief system is seen as a threat. China, Burma and North Korea are great examples of Athiest dictatorship's they know if Christianity were to spread inside their countries that it would challenge their rule of law. Countries that ban religious organisation's regardless of faith are suspect. Unless the group is promoting terrorism it should be allowed to render aid to the people of the country.

The reason of teh ban was that the charities were running a conversion ploy, and most countries don't liuke seeign their cultures destroyed by outsiders who prey on the weak.

Why should people hide their faith while helping others? God is such a big part of my life why should I hide that when I help other people? What happened to freedom of speech and expression?

What happened to not taking advatage poor weak, ignorant people? And if you like helping others so much, why can't you jsut leave your religion out of it? Admit it, you care more about converting people then you do about helping them.

Sometimes I get the feeling that your a commie Sapphi, you don't seem to believe people have the right to believe what they want.

I have no problem with people beleiving what they want. I have a problem with people manipulating others, and forcing their beleifs on others.

Now our missions teams don't go out for the soul purpose of converting people.

So you admit that convertin people is a purpose. Good.

Christian organisation's like the organisation I am going with help everyone regardless of which religion they are from...etc...etc... Skin colour, race, religion , belief system we don't care we just want to help people. Telling people about God just goes hand in hand with it. Why should we pretend to be something we are not when we are helping people?

Not using your helping people as an occassion for proselytizing is not pretending to be someone you're not. It's called being respectful.

I know I myself am buying clothes to fit in with Thai culture but even after all that I am pretty sure I won't look exactly like a Thai person is dressed.

I don't think thge clothes will be the only thing giving you away.

I choose God over anything

If God told you to kill your parents would you do it?