missionaries.

I promise this wont be as outlandish as my last one...

but i find religion terrible because they set out missionary camps in Africa. Now helping them is one thing...but for the price of your beliefs? that's another.  Its sad to see some 12 year old girl being married to a 15 year old guy.. though maybe in love they also are under-aged...and need to be more mature about this. also one of the reasons AIDS spread so fast was the lack of condoms...makes me a little irritant 

Hang on a second are you saying that the missionaries encouraged underaged marriage and unprotected sex? (Actually I could imagine that the latter is very well true.)

The condom thing aside I think missionaries are great. They're helpng out people in dire need and even if they do have an ulterior motive it's still damned good of them.

The missionaries I've personally known to go to places like Africa do very much the opposite of what you speak of.  These missionaries have done amazing things for the people of Africa such as help the people medically (such as my cousin who is a nurse and my dentist who goes every year), liguists who translate the Bible into their native languages, some who promote responsibility regarding sex especially in countries like South Africa, a scientist/professor who went to help a nation's agriculture, etc. etc.

I've heard many many amazing stories by people I've met and know personally about what they have done for the continent of Africa.  Also, I know of about 50 college graduates who are spending 2 years seeking to spread the gospel message in the remotest parts of Africa in an effort to spread hope.  These people are living in huts and are living no different than the people they minister to.  Another person I've met's passion in life was to start an orphanage in Northeast Africa.  He actually grew up in West Africa as a missionary's child.

I'm well aware not all missionaries do great things, some even the opposite, but an extremely large number of missionaries are doing amazing things in the world, especially 3rd world countries.

Im not saying they should get out just because they are over there for there religion...its nice and it helps...butt yes My friend came from south afric and she traveld alot (her mom was a doctor) hence she saw alot of that load of stuff. Graeme95

The missionaries I've personally known to go to places like Africa do very much the opposite of what you speak of.  These missionaries have done amazing things for the people of Africa such as help the people medically (such as my cousin who is a nurse and my dentist who goes every year), liguists who translate the Bible into their native languages, some who promote responsibility regarding sex especially in countries like South Africa, a scientist/professor who went to help a nation's agriculture, etc. etc.

I've heard many many amazing stories by people I've met and know personally about what they have done for the continent of Africa.  Also, I know of about 50 college graduates who are spending 2 years seeking to spread the gospel message in the remotest parts of Africa in an effort to spread hope.  These people are living in huts and are living no different than the people they minister to.  Another person I've met's passion in life was to start an orphanage in Northeast Africa.  He actually grew up in West Africa as a missionary's child.

I'm well aware not all missionaries do great things, some even the opposite, but an extremely large number of missionaries are doing amazing things in the world, especially 3rd world countries.

mindstorm

How exactly is translating the bible into native languages an "amazing thing" for the people of that region? It's only a great thing if you're already Christian and thus believe that you're helping them by converting them. To everyone else it's an extremely trivial gesture.

I don't mean to cherry pick statements. Certainly giving medical care and aiding agriculture is a noble cause, it's just that I hate it when Christians talk as if merely converting people to Christianity is helping them. I understand why they think that, but it would be nice if they would see that things like food, water, shelter, medicine, and education are far more important than beliefs. If you travel to an impoverished area and help the people out in a meaningful way without asking anything in return then I don't care what your motives are. If, however, you travel to such an area and all you do is tell them to convert to your religion or if you only give out aid to those willing to do what you want, then I have a problem because at that point you're not really helping anyone.

[QUOTE="mindstorm"]

The missionaries I've personally known to go to places like Africa do very much the opposite of what you speak of.  These missionaries have done amazing things for the people of Africa such as help the people medically (such as my cousin who is a nurse and my dentist who goes every year), liguists who translate the Bible into their native languages, some who promote responsibility regarding sex especially in countries like South Africa, a scientist/professor who went to help a nation's agriculture, etc. etc.

I've heard many many amazing stories by people I've met and know personally about what they have done for the continent of Africa.  Also, I know of about 50 college graduates who are spending 2 years seeking to spread the gospel message in the remotest parts of Africa in an effort to spread hope.  These people are living in huts and are living no different than the people they minister to.  Another person I've met's passion in life was to start an orphanage in Northeast Africa.  He actually grew up in West Africa as a missionary's child.

I'm well aware not all missionaries do great things, some even the opposite, but an extremely large number of missionaries are doing amazing things in the world, especially 3rd world countries.

gameguy6700

How exactly is translating the bible into native languages an "amazing thing" for the people of that region? It's only a great thing if you're already Christian and thus believe that you're helping them by converting them. To everyone else it's an extremely trivial gesture.

I don't mean to cherry pick statements. Certainly giving medical care and aiding agriculture is a noble cause, it's just that I hate it when Christians talk as if merely converting people to Christianity is helping them. I understand why they think that, but it would be nice if they would see that things like food, water, shelter, medicine, and education are far more important than beliefs. If you travel to an impoverished area and help the people out in a meaningful way without asking anything in return then I don't care what your motives are. If, however, you travel to such an area and all you do is tell them to convert to your religion or if you only give out aid to those willing to do what you want, then I have a problem because at that point you're not really helping anyone.

I completely see your point.  Most of the missionaries I mention do a lot more than just convert people but completely rebuild their lives physically and spiritually.  They not only build houses but teach the people how to build houses.  They not only give these people clean water but they teach the people how to obtain fresh and clean water.  Spreading the Gospel message is a huge part of what they do, but helping them out in every way is their goal, spreading the love of Christ.

(Please don't ask me how they made condoms in the Middle Ages :x).Welkabonz