quote:

Originally posted by Meagan87:
Most of the people we get banging on our doors (mostly for the somewhat obscure Christian religions) will go away after I tell them that I'm a practicing Catholic.

According to my mom, all they really care about is that you HAVE a religion...interesting...

you are wrong...as christians, God says it is our job, to spread His word, and save as many people as we can...as a catholic you are saved, and you will go to heaven....you should know that, since you are catholic...that is whythey left you alone...they believed you were saved....next time try telling them you are buddist, or islamic, i bet you they will stay, and tell you about christianity, or tehy will give you a bible, or something.

quote:

Originally posted by clarke959:
Ugh...I hate missionaries too. They could care less about helping to feed the hungry, or take care of the sick and injured. All they care about is forcing religion down peoples throats, which is usually Christianity.

Instead of giving a starving person food for nourishment, they give em a bible. Yeah, that is really going to help them

Instead of building a hospital with doctors for the sick and injured, they build a church. Again, that is so going to help these people

And dont start thinking that I am some kind of godless heathen. I am a Christian, but I dont believe that these people need a different religion, because wether you want to believe it our not, religion is not going to feed you, or help you when you are sick or injured. It just doesn't. I see that on a daily basis in my life, which is a horrible, horrible mess

ok, i am not a full-time missionary, but i do go on trips with my church, and just to inform you, it's not all about shoving the gospel down your throat....we dont even do that, some others might, but we do care about feding the people, and helping them, you may not think so, but it's true, i totally agree with ohmybex, if people ask, or bring it up, then we will talk about it...and tell them what we know....but we don't shove the bible in their faces.....so don't say what we do on missions trips, unless you have been on one, and know what you do.

can i say i had a friend that went on a missions trip, she didnt go there to tell people about god but to work at an aids orphanage

Disclaimer: I have mixed feelings on this subject, so instead of trying to explain them, I thought I'd give you some food for thought. I don't necessarily agree with them, but they're interesting perspectives:

First, a speech by Monsignor Ivan Illich made at the 1968 Conference on InterAmerican Student Projects about the dangers of paternalism inherent in any voluntary service activity, especially international service "missions".

Second, an article from an organization called Beyond Borders, "We See From Where We Stand," about short-term, mission-type trips and their implications.

Think about it and share your thoughts.

I am no full-time missionary, but I do occasionally go on misson tours with my church. And everytime I do go, it's food I'm feeding to the people that I meet, not the scripture. We make it clear that if people are interested, it is available, but no, it is never our primary focus. Not all missionaries are insane bible thumpers uninterested in helping people by other means than sharing the Word. We try to help people in every means possible.
Saying that that missionaries build churches and not hospitals and saying that they try and help in no other way other than forcing Bibles into their hands is an awful generalization. I am sure that yes, there are missionaries who have this mindframe, but most definitely not all. Not even the majority, based on my experiences.Making this kind of assumption is like saying that every non-believer is a devil-worshipper involved in some satanic cult where they ritually burn crosses and bibles as a rule. Some non-believers have that frame of mind, but I think that it is common knowledge that people within a certain belief are still independent inviduals with views of their own.

FINALLY! someone tells the truth for once. i don't hate religions, but i don't like them spreading their religions around like a bad cold. you may think it's nice, but it complicates their usually simple lives by making them think that the gods are angry at them for not being a good human.
It's not the 1600's anymore people

Where did this perception of missionaries come from? Does anyone even who claims these things even know someone who has done missionary work? Missionary work's prime focus is helping people who are less fortunate or those who have a need. Many times it is the churches that fund these trips and help raise the money to make a difference. Yes, in doing this they are also trying to spread the message of Christianity, or whatever religion they believe in. If people do not want to listen to this, they do not have to. Nobody has to take what people say to heart. But despite what others may think, the message of Christianity is love. It teaches others to help others, respect others, and reach out to others. Missionary work stems from this and I find it pretty shallow that people are want to put this down. I mean really, what have you done for humanity lately? Why should people who believe in something so strongly be criticized for wanting to help others, even if it is based on Christianity?

That still leaves out the bit about why these people even need Christianity...

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They could care less about helping to feed the hungry, or take care of the sick and injured. All they care about is forcing religion down peoples throats, which is usually Christianity.

That is so idiotic. Whatever you think about spreading the word of God to other countryies, those people do care about the natives.

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Instead of giving a starving person food for nourishment, they give em a bible. Yeah, that is really going to help them

Prove to me a single mission where they let the people starve and only give them Bible. That is a lie.

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Instead of building a hospital with doctors for the sick and injured, they build a church. Again, that is so going to help these people

Untrue again. Most missions build both and some build an extra wing off the church for a hopital.

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I am some kind of godless heathen.

You sure do a good job sounding like one, or lying, or not being informed.

Ugh...I hate missionaries too. They could care less about helping to feed the hungry, or take care of the sick and injured. All they care about is forcing religion down peoples throats, which is usually Christianity.

Instead of giving a starving person food for nourishment, they give em a bible. Yeah, that is really going to help them

Instead of building a hospital with doctors for the sick and injured, they build a church. Again, that is so going to help these people

And dont start thinking that I am some kind of godless heathen. I am a Christian, but I dont believe that these people need a different religion, because wether you want to believe it our not, religion is not going to feed you, or help you when you are sick or injured. It just doesn't. I see that on a daily basis in my life, which is a horrible, horrible mess

It's not about forcing their religion on people

its about giving people an opportunity if they have questions or need someone to turn to. Most missionaries now dont force anything on anyone. They go and help teach or help build houses and such and lead by example. If people ask them about it then they share what they know.And missionaries work all over the world, in every city. Not just in "poor africa."

My best friend Josh was a missionary for 4 years, until he came upon a revelation while in Peru. A bus got caught in a large mud puddle and overturned, destroying the bus and a large amount of fellow missionaries. Clothes, books, and everything ruined while wading out of the mud, the bus sank and they spent the rest of the next couple days contacting relatives, praying, and trying to clean up the mess.

They genuinely believed it was Satan's doing, trying to stop them from 'spreading the word.' They called out for God to help them, to bring them back to town safely, and fight the forces of evil. After they got back to Lima, the town they were staying in, they found out from a police patrol that there was another mud puddle up the road, that if they hit, would have propelled them off of a cliff, surely to kill everyone in the bus.

Instantly the bus crash was no longer Satan's fault, but God's will. A blessing that saved their lives. It reminded him exactly of 1984, where history would change on a whim. First the work of Satan, and then God, and the missionaries just believed whatever they were told like mindless sheep. It was a flash of insight that caused him to doubt the faith.

That caused him to quit being a missionary, and for the next year when he got home, pore over all the religious texts he owned trying to regain the faith he once had. It never came.

Now he is an atheist.

I really don't like missionaries, for the most part. There are some exceptions, of course.

quote:

Originally posted by toughshorty:
I hate missionaries. I don't think they are orientated at helping the sick and such, I think they are colonialist and all they really want to do is destroy cultures that have existed long before christianity in the name of "helping the poor africans who can't help themselves" I think that it's great to help other nations. But you should go there to aid them to become independent on their own terms. Not exactly like the west.

Stop the "Church Trips"!!!

discuss...

Missionaries try to help everyone who doesn't know about God's word. But if someone doesn't want any thing to do with christianity nobody is forcing them to join or to accept their help
mandy231

The many peoples of Polynesia prior to the arrival of the Europeans in the 18th century: the Maori, the Hawaiians, the Tongans, the natives of Fiji, the Chathams, the Societies...all these cultures developed on their own quite well for 3,200 years without European religions. In fact, it's quite clear that those cultures are no longer as powerful as they once were. The Tongans and Hawaiians ruled over empires composed of their respective archipelagos. Now I doubt the average person knows where Tonga is or that Hawaii was once known for more than flowered shirts and shave ice.

quote:

Originally posted by Wolfie:
i'm talking about random tribes on scattered islands that are independent as in they have their own basic needs met and are generally happy with their culture.

do you know of any? please do tell. I am curious. And I am not being sarcastic.

i'm talking about random tribes on scattered islands that are independent as in they have their own basic needs met and are generally happy with their culture.

quote:

they've been independent for how many hundreds of years? why would they need help (aka relgious preaching) now?

Which countries have been "independent for how many hundreds of years"?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Africa

Look under "Colonialism and the "scramble for Africa""
Ironically, the only two that were independent (since 19th century) were Black American colony, and Orthodox Christian Abyssinia

to me tribes in africa or pacific islands don't really need as much help as most believe. think about it... they've been independent for how many hundreds of years? why would they need help (aka relgious preaching) now?

quote:

Originally posted by toughshorty:
I hate missionaries. I don't think they are orientated at helping the sick and such, I think they are colonialist and all they really want to do is destroy cultures that have existed long before christianity in the name of "helping the poor africans who can't help themselves" I think that it's great to help other nations. But you should go there to aid them to become independent on their own terms. Not exactly like the west.

Stop the "Church Trips"!!!

discuss...

how can it destroy the whole culture?

if you had done some more research in this...yes, there were cases where people were forced into a new religion (how did the Islam faith got so many believers in just a few years after the Prophet Mohammed [p.b.u.h] got his relevation?) ...but there has been cases where people included the religion with their past beliefs...just look at Eastern Europe...you still hear rumours of "Baba Yaga" existing (an old witch who eats children) in spite that it was part of the pagan religion...

would u like to be part of a culture who sacrificed people? Any culture is fine as long as it doesn't harm anyone/anything.

Most of the people we get banging on our doors (mostly for the somewhat obscure Christian religions) will go away after I tell them that I'm a practicing Catholic.

According to my mom, all they really care about is that you HAVE a religion...interesting...