Charity is the method which they use to gain people's trust and indoctrinate them. I know they don't deny anyone, it would be bad for their image, and would make people lose trust in them.

Okay, to summarize:

Christ is an integral part of a Christian's life, especially one who is going to travel half the world to help others. Say you're a man of science. Would you not teach poor villagers about plumbing and technology? Of course you would. IT IS THE SAME THING FOR CHRISTIANS. To them, Christ is in their life every day and is the basis for much of what they do (misguided or not). The same way you'd teach them how to filter water through science, Christians will bring the peace that Jesus gives them to the people around them. It's who they are, whether you agree with them or not.

And that is not necessarily a bad thing if the Christians do not require conversion to receive their aid.

It's in the Bible, and you said the Bible is all about love and compassion and all that. I still don't see where the love and compassion is in "do all the irrational opressive things I tell you to do, opr else you'll burn in hell".

See my above post for the first few paragraphs.

So essentially you're saying that no one should help these people because their countries are a mess? Okay, I think that officially means I've won this argument. I'm out of here.

Are you actually sayin that things like plumbing and technology are comaparable with religion? Really???

I was just poitnign out the limits of charity, but that's not important because as I said, it's conversion, not charity which is the main purpose of such organisations. Charity is just a tool.

To a Christian, they can be. THAT'S the point. Remember, people have different perspectives on life. Stop acting as if your perspective is the only one that is correct. You're coming off just as arrogant and condescending as the religious right nutjobs I so heartily despise.

1. Protestant churches aren't dubious or dangerous. It shows ignorance on your part for not going to or learning about these types of churches. Generally, protestant churches have a far more 'active' base of attendees than Catholic or orthodox churches do. What I mean by that is that a decent number of people at these churches are actively participating in the church, read their Bible daily, pray daily, ect. I suggest you try one some time. I had an exchange student from Switzerland that was Catholic come to the Methodist church I was youth pastoring at. She was shocked as to how different and better our services were, as they weren't boring, more informative, and more enjoyable than her masses.

2. Yes, doing something will change your assessment. Rocketpig said the same thing, and he is (please correct me if I'm wrong) an Agnostic. When you help someone through giving them aid, your goal is usually to not *just* give them temporary help through something like a day's worth of food, but help them better their lives so they can live sustainably. In a Christians' case, we believe that by teaching them about Jesus Christ, and how he wants us to live, they can live more sustainably and escape the poverty they are experiencing. As Rocketpig said, your worldview effects what you present, and that is why Christians do it - we are implored to help others through our faith, and in general, we are motivated to share why we are there. Put it this way: If you were a medical doctor and saw people drinking dirty, unpurified water with feces in it, you would do everything you could to explain to them that drinking polluted water makes you sick, and how to recitfy it. A Christian does the same thing by sharing the love of Jesus Christ (this is something you said you know nothing about, as you got to Leviticus. I heartily suggest you read Acts through Hebrews in the New Testament to gain a better understanding of Christian praxis, as Genesis through Leviticus has very little application or sway in a current Christians' life).

3. Somehow, I doubt you wouldn't tell people your an atheist. Given the fact you spend a lot of time on VGC bashing others' viewpoints, I really can't believe that. If anything, it shows you are just as guilty of attempting to sway people as much as Christians are.

4. That is why Christians build schools (look at Indonesia - education levels among Christians far exceeds that of Muslims due to the schools built my missionaries), hospitals, water wells, and do what they can to improve their lives. Generally, Christian aid organizations do not just give handouts, but attempt to improve their lives. That is also why countries have banned missionaries - they know that Christianity will bring human rights and potentially dictator-deposing Democracy with it. Go look at the correlation of democracy with Christian nations.

Isn't this thread way off topic?

@mrstickbal:

She was shocked as to how different and better our services were, as they weren't boring, more informative, and more enjoyable than her masses.

This statement if very risque, especially the "better" part.

In a Christians' case, we believe that by teaching them about Jesus Christ, and how he wants us to live, they can live more sustainably and escape the poverty they are experiencing.

Wasn't Jesus preaching ascentism? How would that help people escape poverty? Wouldn't that do the opposite?

As Rocketpig said, your worldview effects what you present, and that is why Christians do it - we are implored to help others through our faith, and in general, we are motivated to share why we are there.

So you admit you're only there to help them because your religion says so, and not because you find the act worth doing in itself?

Put it this way: If you were a medical doctor and saw people drinking dirty, unpurified water with feces in it, you would do everything you could to explain to them that drinking polluted water makes you sick, and how to recitfy it. A Christian does the same thing by sharing the love of Jesus Christ

That's a ridiculous comparison, as dirty water can be scientifically proven to be unhealthy. "The love of Jesus Christ" doesn't fall in the same category. Only one of these is proselytizing.

(this is something you said you know nothing about, as you got to Leviticus. I heartily suggest you read Acts through Hebrews in the New Testament to gain a better understanding of Christian praxis, as Genesis through Leviticus has very little application or sway in a current Christians' life).

I never found the Bible to have anything worth reading when I read some of it in the past. And sicne I'm not a Christian don't see why I should read it.

Somehow, I doubt you wouldn't tell people your an atheist. Given the fact you spend a lot of time on VGC bashing others' viewpoints, I really can't believe that. If anything, it shows you are just as guilty of attempting to sway people as much as Christians are.

I'm generally reactionary in my posts, and I don't think I've ever tried to sway anyone. I don't care if other people are Christians or whatever. As long as they don't try to affect my freedom from religion I have no problem with it. I do dislike religious conflicts though, because since I think all religions are made-up I find them pointless, and I find people who attack others' religious beleifs, try to convert them etc. to be despicable. And I genuenly wouldn't talk to the poor people about my religion.

That is why Christians build schools

Does indoctrination go on there?

Go look at the correlation of democracy with Christian nations.

I'm sure there's a pretty big correlation between democracy and countries who don't consider themselves "Christian nations". The very democratic countries are secular, and religion isn't a big deal over there. Christian fundementalists are just as bad as any fundementalist, and I'm pretty sure that the ones that go on these mission things are probably very fundementalist, so they can't possibly bring any human rights and democracy to those countries.