My piece of advice to those in Algeria who think it is necessary to try and convert Muslims to Christianity…don’t. Why is it necessary to do so? Their religion is no better or worse than yours. It isn’t the USA…where we are allowed to believe whatever we want or not to believe.

This is a struggle we face when helping villagers in Africa and Indonesia many are oppressed by violent Muslim sects and when they find the Christian way much more productive, gentler, and kinder so they have church in their homes and live better lives. People shouldn’t have to live under the threat of violence. In this case the fine was a lot better than they might get elsewhere in the Muslim world.

They had the enviable opportunity of being martyrs for their religion without getting hurt much.
If they can get to the US they can make fortunes going from church to church telling their stories.

nnmns if you think that is what these people are about then you obviously haven’t met many people who suffer these types of living situations.

This is just another example of Christian arrognace. I beleive there is a time and plave fopr proseltyzing – and that is when a person’s life is in such turmoil that some order and discipline would be of benefit. But assuming that people of another religon would benefit from YOUR particular take on religion is simply foolish and a misuse of the call to care for God’s people. It is in many ways a product of the win/loss attitude of some Christians. “Winning souls for Jesus” also implies losing souls for Jesus. The “scoreboard” (metaphorical or real) becomes it own idol. I know this is not a view held by many Christians, but then I am not a salesman, and do find those personalities attractive or anyone whose opinion I trust.

It is sad that in 2008 there are still some groups that use force an coersion to subdue people. I respect all respect all religions. However prostylizing is a part of Christianity and Islam. It shows fear and lack of faith to forbid one from promoting itself to the other. If what you have to sell is so good then it should be able to with stand challenge. However, this case isn’t about promotion of Christianity. This is religious bigotry. There is no evidence that these men were actively promoting Christianity. There crime was possession of the Christian scriptures WHICH Islam does have regard to. There is a majority that is afraid of the minority increasing in power, and they use the power of the religion and state to surpress the minority.

“There is a majority that is afraid of the minority increasing in power, and they use the power of the religion and state to surpress the minority”.
You have that right abbysenia, this holds for every country and whatever majority or minority you want to talk about.

jest;
it is only arrogant to those who oppose Christianity and would like to stifle it, not to those who love Christ and want to share the blessing of knowing Him to others. Now if you want folk to follow your rules of sharing the Gospel you may be disappointed, some people love Him enough to risk their lives to share Him with others that might not know Him. I know many people who are glad that missionaries visited their villages and shared the Gospel. We have hundreds of thousands home churches in Africa along not to mention all of the other countries we’re in. Although it might not be your cup of tea following whatever religion you follow, it is as important as breathing to others.

It never ceases to amaze me that some Christians feel it is their mission in life to tell someone of a different religion that Christianity is the best, and the only “true” religion. It is just what jestrfyl mentioned…arrogant. And in some countries, just plain illegal. It is probably easy in some countries to get “converts” if one is passing out food and clothing. Doing that is a good thing, but can be done without pushing Christianity. Christianity isn’t superior to any other religions of the world.

Christian ministries are feeding more, clothing more, sheltering more, healing more and sometimes educating more, not only more than other religions but more than some governments. Superior may be just an opinion to some, but the list above is facts, just the facts.

The fact, in your opinion, cknuck, that Christian ministries feed more, cloth more etc., is certainly positive and certainly noteworthy, and who could have a problem with that? However I have a problem with the claim by those who are so sure that they have THE religion and feel it their job to let everyone know it by telling non-Christians they don’t have a legitimate religion, that Christianity trumps all. I feel if a person wants to change religions, they will seek information about different ones and either accept or reject it. Being proselytized doesn’t help.

Thank God for Christians that aren’t swayed by people who feel they don’t have a right to share their belief and resources because if the poor had to depend on those people with the negative opinions they would die.

So those Christians only do it to share their beliefs? Where’s the charity in that? But for those who share their resources without pushing their beliefs, good for them.

Where is the charity in those who do nothing? Sharing our belief is not pushing it, we are not dictators or monsters, nor do we deny anyone we serve atheist, Muslims, and even liberals, the main thing is that we serve those whom others have forgotten. Enjoy your B.B.Q,’s you’d be surprise at who I’m sharing mine with this Independents Day.

“Enjoy your B.BQ/s you’d be surprised at who I’m sharing mine with this Independence Day.” cknuck
Not really.

“nor do we deny anyone we serve atheist, Muslims, and even liberals,”…
even liberals????
GASP!!!
that’s so -
so -
well, Christian of you!!

“Christian ministries are feeding more, clothing more, sheltering more, healing more and sometimes educating more, not only more than other religions but more than some governments. “, so wrote ck
I would challenge that statement. In Islam it is one of the four great principles that they be chartiable. Also I would expect the msjority group to do the greatest amoun of charitable work. Again, statistics are slippery and making generlaizations based on them proves no point. To quote a Direct TV commercial “90 percent of all statistics can be made to say anything fifty percent of the time”.
And I am glad to know you even invite liberals (I am a great fan of bar-b-que – do you serve wet or dry, sweet or hot?). But how about – uh, uh – VEGETARIANS? Do you invite vegetarians to your Bar B Ques? Well, I supose it would be tricky. We all need to be as open as long as they understand thre may be a salespitch that goes with the meal. (My concern is that it diminishes the whole message by reducing it to the same thing as a time-share sales pitch).

Anonymous you challenge my statement with a Muslim ideal and T.V. commercial?

“Anonymous you challenge my statement with a Muslim ideal and T.V. commercial?” cknuck
Why shouldn’t he/she do so?

Sorry folks, the contribution on July 6, 12:24 was mine. Pain med’s and the late hour were contributing factors to this omission. However, I stick with my comments. Why not use the Muslim ideal – folks are quick to point out the Christian ideals. Your own example is in keeping with mine. I am simply explaining that the ideals are not far from each other – in fact, they overlap a lot. The commercial reference is simply to show how slippery and questionable the statistical shotgun approach can be.
I cannot imagine that many neighborhoods here would embrace any Muslim missionaries who come to tell us about the joys of faith in Allah and all the answers in the Qur’an.