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Missionaries more interested in making converts or just plain helping?

posted 13 years ago by seroteamavi2001
21 replies | jump to latest

That is what I find very bothersome about some mission groups. Tehy are more interested in getting people in thinking like them then really helping them. For instance, would they try to help if the people wanted to stay Buddhist or something not like they were? I'm not just talking about this movie but in real life.
Many Christian groups(especially Evangelicals) seem to only want to turn people into ones that think just like them. Its not about the person but more about thought.

[–] 13 years ago

[deleted]

[–] JSpades 13 years ago

I think in their own my minds they believe they ARE helping these people by getting them to adopt their faith. You know, the whole "Jesus Saves" thing.

[–] jh099 13 years ago

I think in their own my minds they believe they ARE helping these people by getting them to adopt their faith. You know, the whole "Jesus Saves" thing.

Yeah, that's a big part of it. I grew up in the church and they're very big on the idea that regardless of how terrible life can be, what really matters is where you go after you die since that's eternity vs 80-85 years on Earth if you get lucky. So for them, converting to Christianity is actually more important than making sure you have enough food or water to survive, or a roof over your head, or whatever.

Having the outside perspective I do on it now it seems really dumb of course, but at the time it made perfect sense to me.

[–] HetaAnma 13 years ago

That can actually be a distortion. There may be some groups like that, but there are many Christian groups that help people whether they believe like then or not. I can think of Samaritan's Purse, World Vision, and Operation Rescue just to name a few. Yes, they may tell people
about Jesus too, but they don't cutoff aid even if someone doesn't agree with them believe what they do.

[–] FeceMcGee 13 years ago

I read somewhere that Christian organizations, as a demographic group, are the most charitable. I'll have to find the source (or hopefully an infograph so we dont have to read as many words). But the people I know who have gone on missions trips go to places that need water, supplies, medical care, etc... and yes part of it is to share the Bible. And while they do ask for donations of supplies and funding for the costs of transportation, they're putting themselves on the front lines and charitable work with no monetary profit to themselves or their organizations.

I don't know anyone who was sent into hostile territory like they did in this movie though.

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] jetlag31 13 years ago

<<Converts, even worse, many of the missionaries are just looking for a vacation.>>

A vacation in a war-zone?

Is that what you're accusing them of seeking?

[–] reisender 12 years ago

I couldn't cheer for any of the "good guys" in the movie.
Since when are christian missionaries the good guys?
I wanted them all to die.

http://www.fpcn-global.org/en/content/Missionaries_Conversion_IS_Violence

[–] debabrata4747 12 years ago

They think they are saving the people by converting them to christianity, and for that they give them food and medicine after which the native people willingly convert due to the freebies, its manipulative in a way .... their way of thinking is really narrow and hypocritical, they believe that the 70% of the world population who are not christians are doomed and will always remain in darkness unless they convert to christianity and whats really irritating is that they think that christianity is the best and only true religion in the world and all the 70% of the world who are not christians are pagans and uncivilised

[–] piratecannon 12 years ago

Just as an FYI, not every Christian feels that way or thinks like that. I'm a Christian, and I certainly don't. If I'm in a position to help someone, I certainly feel compelled to do that because of what Jesus did for the poor during his own time, but I don't shove my faith down other people's throats. If it comes up in conversation, I'm happy to talk about it and discuss different perspectives, but I think true Christians show who they are by what they do when others aren't looking (again, helping people without making a big deal out of it and simply taking joy in the opportunity to provide for someone who's less fortunate).

This might blow your mind, too: I'm a Democrat, and I like universal health care (though I do think the plan that's about to be implemented isn't perfect). Go figure.

Check out my thoughts on the most recent movies: www.flowersflix.com

[–] SwanKong 11 years ago

I just love the "spit on the Christians helping people" sentiment in this thread. Where's the Buddhists, Muslims or Hindus?...how come those benevolent religions don't have missionaries going in there?
_________________________________________________
"That's a hell of a Caucasian Jackie..." -The Dude

[–] brifitz1980 10 years ago

Muslim
http://islam.about.com/od/activism/tp/charities.htm

Buddhist
http://www.guidestar.org/nonprofit-directory/religion/buddhist/1.aspx

Hindu
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&ei=PWGdU5 OtJuy0sATOgoCQBQ&url=http://www.hinducharitiesforamerica.org/&; cd=1&ved=0CCsQFjAA&usg=AFQjCNEgc9ZvGe7oJkyzsv4tbJaxsgb-3Q& sig2=Io2Rq_Eaiod4laFpreZR5Q

[–] strahd9 8 years ago

You would have to ask the writers of the film that. Since Buddhism makes nearly 90% of the population, I would assume that there are monks & nuns helping out across this failed state.

drew

I'm a person just like you
But I've got better things to do
- Minor Threat

[–] jimelek 12 years ago

In the movie, the news reports in the beginning identify the villagers as Christian. So, in that case, they are helping oppressed Christians.

"Good night, and grease for peace."

http://youtu.be/TBAuO1McLxg

[–] tallard 11 years ago

Indeed, just like the primary purpose of any capitalistic corporation is to create profit (not good will or health or happiness as some deluded people believe), so the primary purpose of missionary work is to grow the ranks of the religion. All religions do it, even Budhists. There are little Buddha monks travelling all the countries of the world converting dumb disenfranchised religious westerners to Buddhism, just like pompous western religions try to proselytise to poorer countries. Any charity (physical or medical) is but a means to accomplish the main mission, conversion-growth.

I actually found myself rooting for the nasty ones in this movie I found the missionaries so revolting.

***So I've seen 4 movies/wk in theatre for a 1/4 century, call me crazy?**

[–] FirstBlood1982 10 years ago

So they risked their lives bringing food and medical care to people in quite possibly the single most opressed place on the planet, at great personal risk to themselves, when they easily could've just tried converting poor people in their own country in much safer conditions, all because they're heartless and revolting people acting only for their own benefit.

I know how bad radical anti-theism can get, but that may be a new low.

+++by His wounds we are healed. - Isaiah 53:5+++