Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

MineralMan

(146,333 posts)
Fri Mar 8, 2019, 01:24 PM Mar 2019

Western Abrahamic Religions Tend to Proselytize

Eastern religions never seem to do that. I've never had someone try to convert me to Taoism, Buddhism, or Hinduism. Have you?

It seems to be a matter of seeking control, somehow. Rope you in and gain control. Maybe that's why cultures that have one of those Eastern religions are so skeptical of the Western religions. You think?

It's interesting, I think.

12 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Western Abrahamic Religions Tend to Proselytize (Original Post) MineralMan Mar 2019 OP
Primarily Christianity TexasBushwhacker Mar 2019 #1
There's not much by Jews, except within various divisions of Judaism. The Velveteen Ocelot Mar 2019 #2
Eastern religions do it, too. Act_of_Reparation Mar 2019 #3
Jews don't. Gore1FL Mar 2019 #4
And why is that? Act_of_Reparation Mar 2019 #10
I do not understand the tradition in it's entirety. Gore1FL Mar 2019 #12
I would say just the opposite - that most Western Religions view other religions as walkingman Mar 2019 #5
Hmmm...interesting observation. Karadeniz Mar 2019 #6
Why are you singling out Western Abrahamic religions? murielm99 Mar 2019 #7
I consider Islam as much a Western religion as MineralMan Mar 2019 #8
That might be a recent feature. Igel Mar 2019 #9
Judaism is no longer a major relgion, in terms of people MineralMan Mar 2019 #11

TexasBushwhacker

(20,219 posts)
1. Primarily Christianity
Fri Mar 8, 2019, 01:32 PM
Mar 2019

I've never known a Jew to proselytize, although there are Jews who will date non-Jews but would never marry them unless they converted.

The Velveteen Ocelot

(115,869 posts)
2. There's not much by Jews, except within various divisions of Judaism.
Fri Mar 8, 2019, 01:39 PM
Mar 2019

You aren't likely to see Jews out trying to convert Christians or members of other faiths; their proselytization is usually confined to trying to get non-observant Jews to become observant. I do recall that the Hare Krishnas, who are Hindu, more or less, were pretty aggressive proselytizers but I don't know whether they are still around. They used to be pests in places like airports and shopping malls.

Act_of_Reparation

(9,116 posts)
3. Eastern religions do it, too.
Fri Mar 8, 2019, 01:43 PM
Mar 2019

Entrepreneurial Hindus have been marketing their particular sects to wealthy westerners for a long time. Krishnas and Rajneesh, for example.

Gore1FL

(21,152 posts)
12. I do not understand the tradition in it's entirety.
Fri Mar 8, 2019, 03:41 PM
Mar 2019

A friend of mine who is Jewish and I discussed it on a couple of occasions. His wife was raised Catholic, and though he didn't ask her to, she decided to become Jewish herself. She had to ask three times before she was allowed. She had to have legitimate long-term reasoning to back her request.


walkingman

(7,669 posts)
5. I would say just the opposite - that most Western Religions view other religions as
Fri Mar 8, 2019, 01:44 PM
Mar 2019

not serious or real or else why one would not want to share their religion. In reality these religions operate very differently than Christianity. In most cultures everyone will have the same fate or afterlife. What would be the purpose? Many also believe there is more than one path to spiritual awareness and often encouraged to follow their own path. I also think it might be more helpful when people ask for spiritual guidance versus urging them to follow a particular path. I personally find proselytizing a big turnoff. I view religion as personal and no need to broadcast your beliefs - no one really cares or maybe they simply should not care. None of their business.

Karadeniz

(22,574 posts)
6. Hmmm...interesting observation.
Fri Mar 8, 2019, 01:45 PM
Mar 2019

Ancient Christianity was far more particular about its converts' jobs, knowledge, life styles. Then it became the state religion, members got tax benefits, etc. I guess that's when things got so shallow, culminating in today's belief that faith and a few rituals equal membership/salvation. I guess it was made easier for mass marketing. Origen's school lasted at least 3 years, I think.

Igel

(35,359 posts)
9. That might be a recent feature.
Fri Mar 8, 2019, 02:41 PM
Mar 2019

Buddhism spread rather widely. At some point, somebody did the spreading.

Later, it mostly retreated from some areas it had spread to. Something moved in.

Now, some faiths are linked to blood and ethnicity. Judaism, for instance, which tends for the most part to have a kind of fence not just around the Torah but around the ethnicity. Hinduism may (v. supra) be spread to wealthy Westerners, but a lot of the spread is due to huckersterism and a demand perceived on the basis of demonstrated interest (as opposed to "nobody's spread the gospel in this area, so there's obviously a demand!&quot .

Even a lot of Islam spread not so much by saying, "Come with us and you'll be saved" but "come with us and your word will count as much as ours in court, you won't be taken into slavery, and you can hold a job in the government, be educated, and even own land!" It's the kind of proselytizing that the Catholic Church did as it gained power and wanted to oppress the heathen for their own good.

MineralMan

(146,333 posts)
11. Judaism is no longer a major relgion, in terms of people
Fri Mar 8, 2019, 03:09 PM
Mar 2019

who identify as Jews. People who so identify are only about 0,2% of the global population. In the sense that it is the mother religion of Christianity, it still has influence, but as a separate religion, it is smaller than almost all other recognized religions. Even folk religions make up almost 6% of the global population.

But then, again, less than a third of the world's population is Christian. There is no majority religion.

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Religion»Western Abrahamic Religio...