On Tue, 23 Jun 2009 08:41:56 -0400, Jim24242
wrote:

Don White wrote:
"HK" wrote in message
m...
Tim wrote:
On Jun 23, 5:17 am, HK wrote:
That's not the point, tim. The fact remains that in many underdeveloped
countries, especially in central and south america, evangelical
christians use the "help" they offer impoverished native peoples as a
hook to "convert" them to the protestant form of christianity de jour.
I have a couple of relatives by marriage who support these efforts with
contributions and trips to these countries to "help," and I have
listened to their tales and seen their newsletters. Well, I used
to...they stopped telling me about these conversion efforts after I told
them many times I thought the practice was disgusting on many levels.
It's weird, too, because several times it was obvious that Roman
Catholics were being converted to protestantism...apparently the simpie
evangelicals, many of them, try to promote the idea that the Catholics
are *not* christians.

To me, evangelical christians seem very insecure in their relgious
beliefs. Those who remain unconverted seem a threat to the born-agains.
Reminds me of the Borg Collective from the old Star Trek shows.
"Assimilate...resistance is futile..."

Well, screw that.
harry, I have a brother and sister-in-law who have done the same in
Panama for years. sister-in-law is a dentist/LPN who has worked very
extensively with Guaymi indians for years. My brother builds clinics
and church's (Oops". I meant to say "COMPOUNDS!") their kids come up
here and finish high school then go back. My family members have no
insecurity in their faith. Of course they're not really living in a
hostile part of the world. Harry, for those who feel threatened by
Christianity. I feel sorry for.


If people like like my family members don't do anything to help who
they do. Then who will? the government?

Gee, tim...i dunno. My dentist is gone in july and august (his partners
handle emergencies) every year. He goes to underserved asian countries
(he's korean) to fix the teeth of kids who have no way to pay for such
services. He sure as hell isn't serving up religion with his dentistry.

Sorry, tim, but I am no fan of evangelizing, *especially* among
unsophisticated native populations.

I am sure the Ngäbe appreciate the dental work, and they'd probably
appreciate it more without the efforts of evangelicals to sell them jesus
and in the process destroy their culture.

It does give the impression of bribing or blackmailing. The poor people
need the health care and will sell their souls to the highest bidder for
that care.



Sometimes the promise of hope and change is enough to sway them.

Why does that sound so familiar?
--

John H