Something I can't stand
... is "Religious PR". What I mean is the kind of verbal bumper sticker people will think is convenient to bring about a change of heart in someone. Not only does it not work, but it is highly insulting. I understand that one would try to convey the motives for one's lifestyle - share something that you deeply value and that shapes how you see yourself and the world. If you make it into policy though, if you switch your thinking from a natural outpouring of your soul to a business-like approach of packaging your convictions in neat one-liners that can be used in a variety of situations independently of your listener, if you do that, not only are you being dishonest, but it will also cause the opposite effect.
I don't understand how as christians we think sometimes it's ok to use a phrase as a general "comeback" to something that questions our belief in hopes of making the other person embrace our faith, while at the same time we get furious when we feel any sort of proselytizing attempt from someone else. "Because THEY are wrong!" - is not an argument. Feeling like someone is trying to convert you sucks, no matter what that person is actually saying. There is no excuse for "spreading the word" if there is no genuine personal relationship. And no, you cannot be pursuing a "genuine" personal relationship in order to later be able to spread the word, because then it is not really genuine, is it.
Being Catholic myself I have encountered that so many times, where other Catholics tried to be "my friend" so they could "keep me on the better path" or "help me" or whatever it was they were trying to do. Oh and if I did not prove to be docile enough they'd drop me like a hot potato (not that I cried myself to sleep after that). No matter how well-meaning they were, I didn't care, I just wanted them off my back and developed a strong dislike for them and their spiritual goods or whatever they were trying to get me hooked on.
Anyway, count me out of the handy comeback, the quantative approach to testimony, the paternalizing and demeaning "I-know-what-would-be-good-for-you"-friendship. All it does is make you look dishonest and manipulative (which you are at that moment) and make everyone run as fast as they can from you and your apostolic flag. And no, that is not a sign that they obviously must have acknowledged it as truth and just can't handle it. It's a sign that you don't know what you're talking about.
Posted at 10:05 AM on June 09, 2004