Proselytization

[flitzerbiest]

Topic for debate: proselytization

Opening statement: I believe that proselytization amounts to cultural genocide, and is inherently immoral.

[nygreenguy]

Topic for debate: proselytization

Opening statement: I believe that proselytization amounts to cultural genocide, and is inherently immoral.

you also should give evidence.

Isnt proselytization also an account of a culture trying to survive?

[JoeyKnothead]

From the OP:

Opening statement: I believe that proselytization amounts to cultural genocide, and is inherently immoral.

I request the OPer present a definition for proselytize (ing/zation) for this discussion.

As it stands, my understanding of proselytizing doesn't immediately consider it genocide or such - while realizing that some 'genociding' may occur regarding the enforcement of religious beliefs onto those who would reject such.

[McCulloch]

I believe that proselytization amounts to cultural genocide, and is inherently immoral.

I would agree with this if by proselytization you mean what the conquistadors did, or the crusades, or rather obviously imperialist missionary efforts in Hawaii and the South Pacific, North America and sub-Sahara Africa.

When the missionaries came to Africa they had the Bible and we had the land. They said, 'Let us pray.' We closed our eyes. When we opened them we had the Bible and they had the land.

[Baz]

Can.t delete Oops

[Baz]

Isn’t human nature funny when you think about the way most people are driven towards converting others to follow their theories, beliefs, customs, then most of them want to be individuals.

[cnorman18]

Yeah, I think we need a bit more defining of terms. If I advocate reading A. S. Byatt's Possession: A Romance because it's an absolutely the most intellectually engaging and emotionally moving work of fiction I have ever read, am I "proselytizing"? How about if I'm teaching eighth graders about the joy of reading and education in general? Those are both matters of sharing what I believe to be true and trying to convince others to agree with me. Isn't that kinda what intelligent, rational humans are supposed to do?

If that excluded metaphysical and religious beliefs -- well, why would it? I'd agree that proselytizing as we've seen it presented here on the forum, specifically "street apologetics," religion as strategic boardgame via buttonholing strangers, is damned RUDE and ARROGANT -- but "genocide"?

I think that's akin to equating telling a woman a dirty joke that she doesn't want to hear with sexual assault. It may be sexual harassment, which is offensive and wrong, but it ISN'T tantamount to rape. That trivializes real rape and demeans real victims of rape.

There IS such a thing as genocide, no quotes. I think it's a word we should hesitate to use as a metaphor for something that we just find annoying.

[Baz]

Is it not that cultures are born of proselytization?

[East of Eden]

Topic for debate: proselytization

Opening statement: I believe that proselytization amounts to cultural genocide, and is inherently immoral.

You're proselytizing.

[flitzerbiest]

Topic for debate: proselytization

Opening statement: I believe that proselytization amounts to cultural genocide, and is inherently immoral.

You're proselytizing.

To what faith am I trying to convert you.

For the sake of argument, consider proselytization to be the act of attempting to lure a member of one religions to another.