Do Missionaries, regardless of their religion (although I notice they tend to be Christians) do good work or bad? Is it forcing religion down people's throats, or is it helping along society?
2006-11-02 01:24:16 · 21 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Can people try to leave the preachy out of it (no offense intended). I'm just talking should they be able to go into a culture and introduce a new religion?
2006-11-02 01:27:15 · update #1
Trying to get to the root of it all... can we leave aside the issues of food and medical help, I'm talking purely religion
2006-11-02 01:42:28 · update #2
I have asked myself this at least million times. Years ago I was working on it to go to missionary and would still love to do that. But. There's a catch. I love the idea of help, but to me as a Christian help should be unconditional, not for the exchange of religion, beliefs, way of living, whatever. So in this terms I do not see them as positive. Simple as that - I help you, you help me, I teach you, but let me teach from you as well and not I feed you, if you take my religion, if not, starve and die. I don't hink Jesus was teaching this.
2006-11-02 01:53:23 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
I'm of mixed feelings. Coming from an area of study heavily influenced by anthropology, it almost makes me wince--it compromises the heritage of a culture. On the other hand, some amazing cultural heritages have sprung from a new religion adopted into the mix--look at Catholicism in Latin American countries for a great example.
I think my biggest problem is the motivation. To serve God is fine, but there's a difference between showing up and preaching and actually getting to know the people you're dealing with--which many missionaries do, actually.
2006-11-02 01:30:03 · answer #2 · answered by angk 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
christian missionaries (for example) to africa have done emphatically well.where intrumental to abolishing of many evil cultural practices such as killing of twins.else where like china-asia they have help with food and welfare.they have never been known to "force religion down peoples throat" even though they cant do without pasuading non believers to consider their gospel because they believe it is the right way.marketers of various goods and services do that all over the wolrd so why loss the cool when missionaries do that so long as force is not involved.?
2006-11-02 01:37:37 · answer #3 · answered by flourish green 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Missionaries, at least in the early years of missionary work, would barge in to a culture, unannounced and uninvited, and proceed to tell these people that everything they have believed in for centuries is wrong and that they must give their lives over to the missionaries' brand of religion or else the missionaries were going to send their boogey man named Satan to steal their souls away. It's no wonder many of these people were killed or never heard from again.
Missionaries destroy cultures and needlessly scare people out of their minds. The very concept of missionaries is intolerant and rude. They should stay in their own parts of the world and keep their noses out of other people's business. I'm sure there are more worthwhile things they could be doing.
2006-11-02 01:32:32 · answer #4 · answered by E D 4 · 2⤊ 3⤋
You sound a bit "Preachy", but ..........
Missionaries are spreading The Good News of Jesus to a Lost, and Dieing World. They are not pushing anything down any ones throats, they are giving their Lives to better the Lives of all those they touch !
2006-11-02 01:39:10 · answer #5 · answered by Minister 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
I am glad God calls missionaries to go into countries where most would not go. Most missionaries who go into these countries their lives are at risk. Some even have to hide what they do. No they are not forcing religion down their throats. They are telling them about Jesus and they can make their own minds up.
2006-11-02 01:36:25 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
The work they do for community which is good but they ultimately are trying to convert people to their religion.
The major bad thing I'd like to point out is that while they are allowed to issue medical supplies, they aren't allowed to give out condoms because of the Vatican's decision. They could do a helluva lot more good for countries like Africa where HIV is a bit of an epidemic if they could give out the most basic component of safe sex, rather than promoting abstenance...
2006-11-02 01:47:34 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Missionaries do not force their religion down anyone's throat. So, they are alright in my book
2006-11-02 01:36:08 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I think they do good. My cousins were missionaries (though we are of different branches in our religion) and I was so proud of them. I think it's a good thing, no matter your religion, to go out and help others.
2006-11-02 01:35:46 · answer #9 · answered by sister steph 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Missionaries are just wrong. They go into places they no nothin about and tell them how to live and stuff. They tell people they are believing the wrong gods even tho they dont no wat theyre talkin about. And then they hold out on things like food and medicine and stuff. Its so like that South Park episode with Starvin Marvin!
2006-11-02 02:35:00 · answer #10 · answered by sure_whatever 1 · 2⤊ 1⤋