That depends. I respect missionaries that actually help (educate, feed etc) people in 3rd world countries, but don’t respect those who only spew propaganda.
Nah…a lot of missionaries that help people do so to proselytize. It’s a really toxic situation.
“Here is a water well that we installed. For free. For no particular reason. It was super expensive and we did it because God loves you. Have I told you about God? I know you’re about to die from thirst but it’s really important to hear about God.”
We had missionaries come when I was a third world kid, post war. They bring all this food and clothing but only for the people who would agree to hear their sermon or whatever. And yeah that doesn’t seem like a big ask, but for some reason that rubbed me the wrong way and set up a dislike for missionaries that carries to this day.
Even now i tell my kids when it comes to helping a person on the street or giving them money, people sometimes say “they’ll just waste it on ___”
My take is, if you can help someone, help them, unconditionally. If they’re taking advantage of your help or lying or whatever, that’s on them. All you can do is the right thing and help without expecting anything out of it
Reminds me of a comic I saw where a college kid was passing a panhandler on the street, both with the same thought bubble: ‘If I gave him money he’d just spend it on booze’
That depends. I respect missionaries that actually help (educate, feed etc) people in 3rd world countries, but don’t respect those who only spew propaganda.
Nah…a lot of missionaries that help people do so to proselytize. It’s a really toxic situation.
“Here is a water well that we installed. For free. For no particular reason. It was super expensive and we did it because God loves you. Have I told you about God? I know you’re about to die from thirst but it’s really important to hear about God.”
Fixed it for you. If you’re not proselytizing, you’re not a missionary.
Then you’re something worthwhile like an aid worker who’s independent and/or working on behalf of secular organizations.
We had missionaries come when I was a third world kid, post war. They bring all this food and clothing but only for the people who would agree to hear their sermon or whatever. And yeah that doesn’t seem like a big ask, but for some reason that rubbed me the wrong way and set up a dislike for missionaries that carries to this day. Even now i tell my kids when it comes to helping a person on the street or giving them money, people sometimes say “they’ll just waste it on ___” My take is, if you can help someone, help them, unconditionally. If they’re taking advantage of your help or lying or whatever, that’s on them. All you can do is the right thing and help without expecting anything out of it
A gift is only a gift if you expect nothing in return
Reminds me of a comic I saw where a college kid was passing a panhandler on the street, both with the same thought bubble: ‘If I gave him money he’d just spend it on booze’
I have a neighbour that did missionary work in Tibet. I casually pointed out that he helped the Chinese Communist Party commit (cultural) genocide.
Did you feel euphoric in that moment?
I haven’t seen such concentrated smugness in a while.
Yeah… because we should just ignore any bad consequences of any actions that anyone did believing they’re doing a good thing?
Dude, that’s what we do with kids art, not with adults discussing global politics.
No. I felt quite bad actually, it was a casual comment and he’s a friend of mine, I wish I’d considered my words more carefully. Thanks for asking.
Why not just help without the indoctrination? Just to help? It’s gross to exploit people’s needs to build your church’s following.