Is proselytizing (recruiting converts to one's religion) ethical or unethical?

Question

Is asking someone to believe something without demonstrable evidence promoting self-delusion? Is it comparable to selling medicine that is ineffective?

TEBONE:
That is a truly intellectually dishonest answer.

BETA_FISH:
You reach a conclusion about my entire life stance based on reading one question on R&S? What conclusion should I draw from that leap of hubris?

Answer 1

I think it depends on the amount of effort put into it. There's nothing wrong with explaining your faith, or even asking someone if they're interested.

But to threaten people if they don't join your religion (and yes, that's what you're doing when you tell someone they're going to hell), or to be too insistent, or to judge other's actions by your religion and yours alone are NOT ok as far as I'm concerned.

I guess what I'm saying is, "Hi, I'm xxx religion and here's what I believe and why. Would you like to join us?" is fine.

"My religion is the only right one and you're going to suffer if you don't join! Don't eat that, don't do that, don't wear that, don't act like that, don't say that its against my religion and therefore wrong you need to JOIN US!" isn't ok.

Answer 2

To your first question, I didn't look at your profile as I believe in privacy. Suppose you are a husband who just got a big raise. Do you a) rush home to tell your loving wife or b) it is just another day. You will get home or not.? Of course with such good news you can't wait to tell her!!

Q#2--The moon is made of green cheese. If one believes anything without some evidence they are fools. Faith is based on prior performance in all things. The Bible prompts us to have faith because of the accuracy of what it says in the past. As in the people existed when and where mentioned. The principles it extols work well. Earlier promises have came true. It makes sense. Only then can we have faith in what it says for us now and in the future.

Answer 3

i personally believe it's unethical. a religion of worth will sell itself on its own merrit. If you or someone you know "pushes" religion, then maybe that belief system should be up for review.
I can't comment on the ethics of others. Everyone has their own code.
I think it CAN promote self delusion or not. Either way, it doesn't REALLY reinforce your beliefs. It's just a validation seeking behavior.
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Answer 4

Proselytizing is deeply problematic. It is based on an inherent contention that others' existing religious beliefs are wrong, false, deceitful, and unhelpful. Yet, free from dogma, we are compelled to recognize the reality that all the world's religions are equally valid, have equal potential to either help people become better people or justify atrocity and carnage. Yet proselytizing, which depends in part upon a vilification of the faith of others, tends to lead people into the negative side of religion, rather than the positive.

Answer 5

That's 3 questions... to your first- when talking about Christianity it is life saving. And to your 2nd- No its not, you and everyone else in the world walk in faith in everything that you do... I mean when you get in a cab you do so with faith that the cabbie wont have a wreck and kill you... same with a plane or a bus driver. When you eat at a restaurant you do so in faith that your food will be safe to eat and not poisoned or spoiled... if you believe in evolution you do so by faith because no one was there in the beginning to see it happen. I could go on and on but I think you get the point....
And finally for your 3rd- No, its actually comparable to throwing a life raft to a drowning victim... have a nice day!
~GOD BLESS YOU AND LEAD YOU INTO ALL TRUTH~

Answer 6

If you are a person of free will, you can always say no.

So is it unethical? No more unethical than an atheist arguing against the existence of God. Obviously you have rude people on both sides who care more about being argumentative, then respectful.

Answer 7

I'm not religious myself, but I like living in a country that cherishes religious freedom. As long as there is no coercion involved, I see nothing wrong with proselytizing. It is, and should be, protected speech.

From the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:

Article 18.
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

Article 19.
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html

Answer 8

In most cases most people who promote a particular religion do not present it without evidence. There is plenty of evidence for my faith. Proselytizing is not unethical. It does, however, become unethical when it is presented in a crude way or stifles peoples questions or trys to keep people for thinking for themselves.

Answer 9

Are you talking about the complete lack of evidence supporting the atheistic position? Yes, it would be highly unethical to recruit someone to that, given the eternal consequences of such a poor choice...

"Lack of demonstrable evidence..." For Christianity for instance, there is a massive amount of evidence for the truth of it, as has been written on by the apologists for that position for centuries... however, whether you choose to believe it is of course, your opinion, as are the consequences associated with the logical outworkings of that choice...

Answer 10

Wouldn't it be unethical if the person attempting to proselytize another knew their own religion was false? How could it be unethical if they believed it was true?

Answer 11

Its more like the irritating little shi tzu barking viciously right in front of your foot... you just want to kick him as hard as you can and deal with the concequences later.

I'd say more annoying than an ethical dilemma- and for those who decide to proselytize to me- I give them a nice taste of my own personal ethical system (in fact, bring up me needing Jesus in my presence and expect a harsh backlash- I tend to take that personally, and react accordingly).