We touched on it briefly today in class, but I think the idea of missions and conversions as being an 'element of religion' needs to be further explored. I'm not saying it's not an element of religion (that would be a pointless argument), but doesn't it seem a bit strange that certain religions push their beliefs much more than others? It's as if it were a competition to win the most followers! I just find it interesting that some people feel the need to convert others to their beliefs. I'm all for freedom of expression and being able to believe in whatever you want, but the idea of 'spreading the word' to people who don't want it seems more like an oppressive cult than a religion. Of course, some would say they are just 'enlightening' others with the 'truth', but that's just an opinion. Who's to say that a certain religion is the right one? Honestly, I could care less what someone believes, as long as it doesn't hurt me or society.
Perhaps I sound a little bitter, but that's probably because I had a first-hand experience with missionaries while I lived in Germany. I befriended some Mormon missionaries (from the U.S.) living in Frankfurt. They were on a two year long mission to convert as many people as they could to the Mormon religion. They were very devout and I was quite impressed with their drive to spread the word of Joseph Smith...I've never met anyone with such strong beliefs! The problem was that the entire time I was with them, they were constantly trying to convert me. At first they were very upfront, but when I told them I wasn't interested, instead of accepting that and moving on, they just changed their tactics. Aside from this, they were some of the nicest and greatest people I've ever met. But I don't think they ever fully accepted me because I wasn't a Mormon. To this day it seems strange that they viewed me first as a challenge rather than a person.
Of course, that's the extreme end of the religion. They chose to be missionaries, so of course they had to be very strong in their convictions. But nevertheless, the idea that "my religion is the true one, therefore I must convert you to believe what I believe" still doesn't work for me. Even more interesting is that the missionaries were no older than 24 years old, and yet they felt they knew everything about the afterlife and what needed to be done now in order to go to heaven. Their beliefs gave them a false sense of certainty about the unknown.
But back to religions in general. Missions and conversions are prevalent everywhere, and this is not an isolated case. It makes you wonder who the first people were to decide that their beliefs were the right ones...and then to go off and start telling others that they were wrong all along. Is it so hard to just let people have the beliefs they have as long as they don't hurt others?
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I agree with your comments on missions and how it seems like certain religions put more energy into trying to convert people to their own religion. Growing up in Chicago, I have not had a lot of first hand experience with many missionaries, however I have heard stories about their persistence when trying to "convert" people. It is kind of sad to me how these people are not able to accept other religions and other faiths. It almost seems like they have a wall blocking any passage of acceptance into their brains and/or hearts.
ReplyDeleteI agree! I have had this happen to me numerous times, from many different sects. One of the pillars on which this country was built was freedom of religion. Why are they trying to make everyone the same?
ReplyDeleteI think they must have gotten that video idea from one on the growth of Wal Mart:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GI7R37rp8xY
I liked the story of the Mormon missionaries in Germany. I had a similar experience when I was younger in South America.. where I met some Jehovah's Witness missionaries, and was surprised that they just wanted to have pizza and talk to an American.
Were they men? If so perhaps they were trying to convert you so that they could marry you Elise :)
ReplyDeleteBut seriously, the issue of missionaries and conversian is one that weighs on my mind alot when I think about religion. On the one hand, I believe the any religion should be accepted as valid, and the attempts of missionaries to convert people are often insulting (often they say "you are going to hell if you don't convert"). But on the other hand, if I believe that any religion should be accepted as valid...Don't I have to accept their actions? Sigh, it is a very difficult question because I too have friends who are constantly bombarded with conversion attempts and these sometimes happen when I am present and are usually rude, insulting and sad. But again, if conversion is part of someones religion, and I profess that any religion is fine, don't I have to accept their actions as fine? What a wonderfully confusing thought.