I came home from work today to find my condo complex had been abundantly papered with busines type cards from “The Fallen Leaf Society,” an organization I have never before heard of and am unable to find through Google. The cards prominently display the Star of David, a symbol most commonly associated with Judaism, and have such catchy slogans as “Jesus has forgiven you. Repent and sin no more.”, “Jesus is lord above all. Accept him as he has accepted you.” “Know Christ, know love. No Christ, no love.”
I’m not Jewish but I am seriously offended by this. I can’t imagine how much more irate I would be if I were Jewish and was subjected to this drivel. I believe each person has a right to their own religious beliefs, but the targeting of Jewish people by this group, as evidenced by the Star of David emblazoned upon each card, is just so very wrong. To see religious intolerance exhibited so blatantly by an organization espousing the kindness of Christianity is so flipping hypocritical and it makes me sad. With all the horrors going on in the world today, a large part of them intricately linked to racial or religious intolerance, why not try to get along and use that “Christian compassion” they’re espousing to make someone’s day better, not worse?
I’ve always had a bit of a problem with Christian organizations(“Judeo-Christians”) using(abusing?) the Star of David. Maybe I’m just a bit thin-skinned…
Attempting to convert Jews to your religion of choice is no more intolerant than trying to convert anyone else. When you try to convert someone, you are telling them that the religious path they have chosen is wrong, and that you are right.
Singling out a particular group may, depending on circumstances, be discriminatory. If you’re saying “Catholics, protestants, you guys are OK. Jews, you’re GOING TO HELL!” you may well be considered intolerant. If this is just one tailored approach of a campaign that is trying to tell EVERYONE that they’re Hell-bound Heathens, then you’re an equal opportunity jerk.
What Alereon said. In addition, there is a certain… lack of consideration, perhaps, in what I’d call “cherry picking” people who already have a religion. It’s sort of like trying to teach a pig to whistle. Wastes your time and just annoys the pig. Still, they are more honest than Jews for Jesus, who try to stealth-convert people. (For more information, search previous threads, not going to hijack.) Witnesses, for example, go after everyone. On the other hand… Lubavitchers. That’s it. The Lubavitchers, who are still technically jewish, attempt to work within their religion, which is pretty much also cool. (Give 'em a century, they may not be jewish any more. Hard to say now.)
Out of curiosity, are there any religions that preach that it’s a shocking sin of arrogance and false sense of superiority to attempt to convert anyone to the faith?
I might sign up*.
*assuming there’s no tithing and you can set your own hours.
Many pagan religions believe that everyone has to find the path which works for them, and actively discourage recruiting. If someone asks a direct question, they will talk about their beliefs. Since we can’t know what lessons a person needs to learn, it’s considered not only inappropriate but possibly damaging to attempt to influence others in their spiritual quest.
There may be groups which require donations, but I am not familiar with any that don’t make accommodation for people without money. Donations are usually for large public affairs, to pay for food etc. In the US, many pagans are solitary - so setting your own hours in required
Is trying to convert people from another religion intolerant? Intolerant towards those people’s beliefs, yes, but not intolerant toward those people’s existence. And I would say that in general, there is nothing wrong with being intolerant of certain beliefs. Many, if not most, religions on earth believe themselves to be the One True Religion, and followers of other religions to be misguided or deluded. In such religions, it makes moral sense to try to convert people from other religions.
So no, it’s not intolerant per se. However, it is rude because it’s fucking annoying as hell. As I said, there’s nothing inherently wrong about intolerance towards beliefs. But what is rude and annoying is loudmouthed intolerance towards someone else’s privately held religious beliefs.
The real issue is, why don’t proselytizing troglodytes realize that the best way to win converts is not to tell people that they’re deluded or damned to hell, but to witness through their deeds?
