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In defence of proselytizing

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 October 2000

H. E. BABER
Affiliation:
Department of Philosophy, University of San Diego, 5998 Alcalá Park, San Diego, CA 92110–2492

Abstract

In Ethics in the Sanctuary, Margaret Battin argues that traditional evangelism, directed to promoting religious belief, practice, and affiliation, that is proselytizing, is morally questionable to the extent that it involves unwarranted paternalism in the interests of securing other-worldly benefits for potential converts. I argue that Christian evangelism is justified in order to make the this-worldly benefits of religious belief and practice available to everyone, to bring about an increase in religious affiliation for the purpose of providing a more supportive social environment for Christians, and to promote the survival of the institutional Church, which benefits Christians and nonChristians alike by maintaining church property, providing access to church buildings and doing liturgy visibly and publicly for the sake of all people.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 2000 Cambridge University Press

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