A co-worker is happy his son is off in Asia, teaching christianity.

[Deja Q]

Make that xianity.

I am a Christian, but I do not pre-emptively 'help' people by telling them that my way is best.

If someone attacks me, I defend myself.

If someone asks for help, I give it freely, asking nothing in return.

If someone asks me advice, I give it to them. Unfettered.

If someone asks me of my religion, I tell them. Unfettered.

I'm sorry some people feel they have to start telling others. Especially when the relatives of those people find out their relative had been mutilated or killed. But then, I don't think I'm that arrogant of a person. And how many arrogant people are bound to make friends; long-term or otherwise?

[melnjones]

1. I'm gonna go out on a limb here...

This isn't meant to start a flame...it's just something to think about. Is it really that bad of a thing, in and of itself, to teach Christianity? I'm not talking about shoving it down someone's throat, being rude, etc. But if someone's religious beliefs state that they are to spread the gospel, and they're not doing it in a harmful way, is it really all that bad? An example...Jehovah's Witness. I don't agree with them. To me, their beliefs are kinda weird. It's a little annoying when they come to my front door. At the same time, they leave immediately when I ask them to, they are not rude, they do me no harm, and they are following their religious beliefs (which, by our constitution, they have every right to believe). I don't agree with them, but I respect their right to follow their beliefs in a way that doesn't harm me or really anyone else. I don't know anything about your co-worker's son and how he goes about teaching Christianity, so please know that I'm aware that this specific situation might be different. I'm just wondering at what point do we draw the line between "evangelism" and religion which is harmful(especially when it gains political power) and people simply following their beliefs in ways that might not make sense to us, but isn't harming us either? This is sincerely meant for discussion and is not meant to be a flame or anything of the sort.

[Deja Q]

2. And how many religions say not to 'spread the word'?

They all say 'spread the word'!

They all also say 'do (something nasty) to unbelievers or those who choose to sin'.

No problem re: flame. It isn't.

I will give some real cred to the Jehovah's Witnesses folk. Far more than I would ever give Falwell, to say the least.

And the US Constitution says we're allowed freedom of religion. In our own country only. It does not say "Go forth and beholdeth from ye to thy rest of the thou worldeth and preacheth it to themeth." The US is not the world. (well, yet anyway...)

Sorry, if they're going overseas to throw their weight around, they'd better be VERY careful. There's a lot of nutcases out there. And a lot more since March 2003 thanks to one particular man who calls himself "Christian" in the White House.

As I said before, the world is watching. And the sheep are being turned into lambchops because the shepherd is little more than a camouflaged wolf. :-( Of course, if they willfully walk onto the BBQ spit...

It's a matter of perception... and perspective. We still go over there to say how much better we are, not realizing that they might be happy with their way of life, even though the propaganda we get that encourages us to send our own over there states that they are not happy with their communistic lifestyle. :eyes:

It's all one big-ass joke.

[The Backlash Cometh]

3. Why isn't he fighting in Iraq?

[NewJeffCT]

4. I'm an atheist, but

But, I have no problem with a person teaching his or her religion to others as long as they are not exploiting people doing it.

[Cuban_Liberal]

5. Did you miss that part of the New Testament about preaching and teaching?

It's rather clearly stated several times...