The Problems With Evangelism
Some people can't stop talking about their faith because they are honestly excited about it and want to share it with others. Other people follow religions which specifically cite evangelism as a tenet of the faith. The problem is this: most of us don't want to hear it.
There's certainly a time and a place for speaking out about one's faith, most often when a listener has expressed actual interest in hearing about it.
So rumors that Tom Cruise is stepping back from his Scientology evangelism encourage me that maybe he's growing up, although I'm interested to see what the Church of Scientology's opinion of the move will be, since it cultivates celebrity followers specifically so the religion has a more public face.
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Comments
We can only hope that proselytizing is abandoned in favor of open-minded acceptance.
In the case of Xianity, I’m not overly hopeful…
Proselytizing is a major tenet of most Xian sects, except for the Amish, Mennonite and Quakers who prefer to keep to themselves. I don’t mind a little proselytizing, but I am definitely not in favor of the rabid type that Cruise and cults like Scientology (and some Judeo-Xian sects are more cults than sects) practice. I would imagine Cruise’s move is motivated by box office returns more than anything else.
There is also a movement in Xianity which is called “Lifestyle Evangelism”, whereby your manner of living is such that, in theory, it speaks for your faith. I’ve found it interesting to ask the more rabid overt evangelizers why they think that their method is better. Asked one man if his life would stand up to such an examination…sort of ended the discussion.