# What is your opinion regarding public evangelism? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 18, 2024, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-regarding-public-evangelism/996283 "2024-01-18T18:23:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2024, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-regarding-public-evangelism/996283/101 "2024-04-19T00:27:54Z")
But it isn’t the kind of public proselytizing most of us object to. If someone wants to try to persuade me on this board I can engage with it or not. If someone is screaming in my ear about Jesus at a volume that would give a grindcore band a run for their money, I’ve got no choice to avoid them, other than to leave the cafe I’m enjoying. ---
**Author:** ![Midtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@Midtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Midtown)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2024, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-regarding-public-evangelism/996283/102 "2024-04-19T01:55:04Z")
Could you please describe the instance a Christian proselytizer verbally assaulted you in a cafe. I am a devout atheist. I’ve had Mormons, and other Christian denominations knock on my door throughout life. Although it’s only been a handful of times. And I tell them to fuck off. If some nut job was in the cafe yelling at customers, the management would tell them to leave. I’ve also been proselytized by people asking for signatures for anything from left wing petitions to right wing petitions as I walked into a supermarket. Never signed any of them. I guess my problem is that people only have an issue with proselytizing about things they disagree with. Proselytizing about an issue you agree with is perfectly acceptable. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2024, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-regarding-public-evangelism/996283/103 "2024-04-19T02:01:21Z")
I haven’t had anybody shout at me about petitions. I would object to that as well. I did once see an ACLU representative in 30th street station. She was quiet and I approached her to ask what help they needed. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2024, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-regarding-public-evangelism/996283/104 "2024-04-19T02:19:02Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > they don’t understand human psychology very well. You assume a motivation that may not be operative. I do not think they have a goal or expectation of winning any hearts or minds. Their target audience is their lord who they believe has commanded them to preach, who they hope to impress, and any reaction by a public at large, any heathen hostility, any attention, is a reinforcer. The more slings and arrows they must endure preaching the lord’s word the better. Yeah noise pollution regulations apply. There is a line where hate speech may apply too but mostly these folk stay on this side of it. ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2024, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-regarding-public-evangelism/996283/105 "2024-04-19T03:47:41Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > _sang_ > > #preaching\_the\_gospel\_of\_using\_the\_proper\_verb Past tense. He no longer sings. He used to sing, so sung is correct. It is the past participle. Possibly US useage if different to British English. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2024, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-regarding-public-evangelism/996283/106 "2024-04-19T04:17:51Z")
When he _did_ sing, he SANG. (In your usage, when is “sang” correct?) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2024, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-regarding-public-evangelism/996283/107 "2024-04-19T04:32:38Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > I haven’t personally encountered much, if any, public evangelism of the sort the OP talks about. I suspect that most of it is counterproductive, just annoying people and, if anything, turning off anyone who isn’t already a convert. Right, I concur. They have the same right as people with political beliefs. When Unions go on strike, they often use bullhorns, noisemakers. chanting, and drums. Would you block their right to strike? or how about the BLM protestors? > **[Some Protests Against Police Brutality Take a More Confrontational Approach...](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/21/us/black-lives-matter-protests-tactics.html)** > > The protests are moving into white residential neighborhoods, where activists demand that people choose a side. > **[Protesters march down Peachtree Street holding signs and using bullhorns to...](https://dlg.usg.edu/record/gsu_atlanta_2187?canvas=0&x=3237&y=2174&w=9569)** > > A protester marches uses a bullhorn while marching along with other protesters as they march down Peachtree Street to address the crowd standing on the sidewalk to bring attention to the protest of police violence following several high-profile... I could give dozens and dozens of cites of BLM protestors using bullhorns and making excessive noise. > [@running\_coach](#): > > I don’t know how often it happens but it’s well known that Christians will go to a diner/restaurant, make a obvious show of praying before the meal and leaving what appears to be a folded 20/50/100 dollar bill for a tip only for it to be a religious tract Cite? Is this about Public evangelism or is it just picking on Christians here? Australians are also known to be cheap tippers. Really rich people are also cheap tippers often. > [@Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](#): > > I am an American. I support freedom of speech and of religion Right. Or is it just Christians that annoy people here? How about pro-palestinian protestors? > **[Protesters Play 'Free Palestine' Chant on Bullhorn Outside Spirit Awards](https://www.thewrap.com/protesters-play-free-palestine-chant-on-bullhorn-outside-spirit-awards-video/)** > > The muffled sounds of a recorded chant could be heard at the Indie Spirit Awards' livestream I can give many more. **This whole thread is more or less anti-Christian bigotry.** “Christians are cheap tippers!”- If i said that about Jewish people I would get a Warning. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2024, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-regarding-public-evangelism/996283/108 "2024-04-19T04:40:50Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > > [@running\_coach](#): > > > > I don’t know how often it happens but it’s well known that Christians will go to a diner/restaurant, make a obvious show of praying before the meal and leaving what appears to be a folded 20/50/100 dollar bill for a tip only for it to be a religious tract > > Cite? > > Is this about Public evangelism or is it just picking on Christians here? > > Australians are also known to be cheap tippers. Really rich people are also cheap tippers often. > **[Evangelistic Tipping orGiving Goapel Gratuities | Stone The Preacher](https://stonethepreacher.com/evangelistic-tipping-or-giving-gospel-gratuities/)** > > Never give a gospel tract instead of tip to your server. Here's why. > **[Money Tracts Archives](https://swansoninc.com/product-category/outreach-product-collections/money-tracts/)** > > Explore Money Tracts with insightful messages on faith and stewardship. Share to inspire financial wisdom. Start sharing today! > **[Fake Money Gospel Tracts](https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justin-taylor/fake-money-gospel-tracts/)** > > Jared Wilson: One waitress \[in Louisville at T4G\] told us that one party she waited on left her a $7 tip on an $80 bill but also left one of those fake million-dollar-bill gospel tracts. Another got “Way of the Master”ed while she served a table. She... > **[Eternal Disappointment: Money Tracts](https://scottlinkblog.wordpress.com/2011/11/06/eternal-disappointment-money-tracts/)** > > On Halloween I took my kids trick or treating. This post isn’t about that. Save it for next year. It’s about the house that was handing out religious tracts. I was going to write about … [https://www.amazon.com/Franklin-Million-Dollar-Gospel-Tract/dp/B084KTKP9R](https://www.amazon.com/Franklin-Million-Dollar-Gospel-Tract/dp/B084KTKP9R) [https://livingwaters.com/collections/money/](https://livingwaters.com/collections/money/) > **[50x New Million Dollar Bill Note fake American US USA Bill Gospel Tract...](https://www.amazon.com/Million-Dollar-American-Christian-Comfort/dp/B08X3HQWZ2)** > > 50x New Million Dollar Bill Note fake American US USA Bill Gospel Tract Christian Ray Comfort USA Ray Comfort Ray Comfort \[Ray Comfort\] on Amazon.com. \*FREE\* shipping on qualifying offers. 50x New Million Dollar Bill Note fake American US USA Bill... > **[Money Tracts](https://www.tractplanet.com/Money-Tracts_c_7.html)** > > Money Tracts - --, --, HERE'S HOW IT WORKS: Simply select ANY money tracts below (you can mix and match)! When the total number of packs is EXACTLY on [https://www.makeitclearnow.org/dollartract.html](https://www.makeitclearnow.org/dollartract.html) ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2024, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-regarding-public-evangelism/996283/109 "2024-04-19T04:46:46Z")
Sure. Last Sunday, the 14th. Sitting outside on a lovely day, talking to an old friend while eating a sandwich and drinking some coffee. This dude set up a speaker on a corner and started screaming, literally screaming, about Jesus. We had to go inside, but could still hear him. Again, I’m going to see Dying Fetus next Friday and this dude hurt my eardrums. I’d have called the cops if I thought it would do any good. This is not the first time. Not the hundredth time. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2024, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-regarding-public-evangelism/996283/110 "2024-04-19T04:50:22Z")
Lets see the first one says not to do it. The next is an ad for the tracks- and a tract along with a tip is not wrong. The next one says- again- dont do it. The next one is about trick or treating, not tipping. etc etc etc. None actually recount a certified tale about Christians giving tracts instead of tips. But again\*-Is this about Public evangelism or is it just picking on Chr\*istians here? I understand how someone being very noisy can be annoying- that’s what this thread purports to be about. But it’s really not. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2024, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-regarding-public-evangelism/996283/111 "2024-04-19T04:57:04Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Lets see the first one says not to do it. > > The next is an ad for the tracks- and a tract along with a tip is not wrong. > > The next one says- again- dont do it. > > The next one is about trick or treating, not tipping. > > etc etc etc. > > None actually recount a certified tale about Christians giving tracts instead of tips. > > But again\*-Is this about Public evangelism or is it just picking on Chr\*istians here? > > I understand how someone being very noisy can be annoying- that’s what this thread purports to be about. But it’s really not. - Wink, wink, nudge nudge. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b77776/32.png) [@Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_was_in_Saudi)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2024, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-regarding-public-evangelism/996283/112 "2024-04-19T09:01:43Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > **This whole thread is more or less anti-Christian bigotry.** “Christians are cheap tippers!”- If i said that about Jewish people I would get a Warning. Yeah, but some British guy wrote a book saying it is OK to be upset with Christians. Muslims and Jews are cool. Just part of the SDMB hive-mind. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2024, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-regarding-public-evangelism/996283/113 "2024-04-19T10:06:50Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > None actually recount a certified tale about Christians giving tracts instead of tips. The obvious point is that they wouldn’t have to tell people not to do it if they weren’t already doing it. I’ve heard of it from people I trust wouldn’t lie to me. I’ve also been involved in those who make a big deal about praying before a meal. But I don’t see this as correlated with the above. Probably more of a coincidence if they overlap. And it wouldn’t matter what religion it was: those tracts are obnoxious. Even if you leave other money with them, you still trick the person into thinking they got more money than they did. Or you leave them on the ground where people think they found money they didn’t. I do not consider them a good witnessing tool. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2024, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-regarding-public-evangelism/996283/114 "2024-04-19T11:49:43Z")
Moderating: > [@DrDeth](#): > > I understand how someone being very noisy can be annoying- that’s what this thread purports to be about. But it’s really not. This is moving into thread-shit territory. Public evangelism is a thing. At least in the US, it’s usually Christians. It’s also a tiny tiny fraction of Christians. This is not a thread about “Christianity is bad”, it’s a thread about one fringe behavior that the OP finds annoying. If you don’t want to discuss that, please move on to some other thread. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2024, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-regarding-public-evangelism/996283/115 "2024-04-19T14:06:43Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Is this about Public evangelism or is it just picking on Christians here? Political demonstrators rarely threaten me with literal hellfire for not immediately adopting their exact position. As far as noise goes, ‘other people make noise too’ doesn’t strike me as much of an argument. Especially since various people in the thread – me included, see my post #51 – have said, in one wording or another, ‘as long as they’re not making too much noise and aren’t personally persistent they’re within their rights’. ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2024, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-regarding-public-evangelism/996283/116 "2024-04-19T17:55:42Z")
> [@Dr.Strangelove](#): > > Explain Scientology, then. (please don’t, actually) Does scientology actually get religious tax breaks? I don’t know. Maybe they have enough lobbyists or blackmail material to swing it? Seems to be pretty sleazy, but so do a lot of the fundementalist megachurches… It doesn’t seem to be much of a force here in the UK. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2024, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-regarding-public-evangelism/996283/117 "2024-04-19T17:57:54Z")
Yes they do get tax breaks. There is a persistent urban legend that Hubbard changed Dianetics into a church specifically for the tax breaks. ETA Mostly the government is not interested in debating whether a ‘religion’ or ‘church’ is valid or not. I like it that way. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2024, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-regarding-public-evangelism/996283/118 "2024-04-19T18:05:27Z")
> [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > Does scientology actually get religious tax breaks? > **[Tax status of Scientology in the United States](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_status_of_Scientology_in_the_United_States)** > > The tax status of the Church of Scientology in the United States has been the subject of decades of controversy and litigation. Although the Church of Scientology was initially partially exempted by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from paying federal income tax, its two principal entities in the United States lost this exemption in 1957 and 1968. This action was taken because of concerns that church funds were being used for the private gain of its founder L. Ron Hubbard (according to the IR... ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b77776/32.png) [@Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_was_in_Saudi)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-regarding-public-evangelism/996283/119 "2024-04-21T12:05:38Z")
> [@Paul\_was\_in\_Saudi](#): > > Yeah, but some British guy wrote a book saying it is OK to be upset with Christians. Muslims and Jews are cool. Just part of the SDMB hive-mind. I wish to retract much of this statement. In fact, in the modern era for many people it is not OK to of any religion. I admit I have not seen any anti-Shinto activities, but then again I have not really looked. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-regarding-public-evangelism/996283/120 "2024-04-21T13:55:04Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > **This whole thread is more or less anti-Christian bigotry.** “Christians are cheap tippers!”- If i said that about Jewish people I would get a Warning. Christianity is a choice. Most Jews are born that way. What a brain dead analogy. Leave us out of this. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-regarding-public-evangelism/996283.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-your-opinion-regarding-public-evangelism/996283.md?page=7)