What exactly do religious street preachers hope to accomplish?
It’s not like shouting out pre-selected biblical passages in people’s faces in a town square is going to automatically change a person’s position on faith.
From what I’ve seen even Muslims know better than that. A group of Muslims have an Islam information stand set up in Dublin (outside the GPO). They sit there silently waiting on people to approach them with questions. Then when you turn around the corner, from time to time you will see a very loud Christian man screaming through mic and amp. It’s actually damaging to the ears.
At least the Muslims are trying to at least give the impression of peace and respect in my experience. I don’t share their faith obviously, but I do have to agree their approach more favorable.
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They just want to go to heaven by converting everyone.
They just want to go to heaven by converting everyone.
That’s my thought, too. They see what is (to them) the obvious most important lesson on Earth, and they are surrounded by people who don’t get understand. So they feel the urgent need to teach people the “truth”.
They want to save your soul.
Their beliefs are right. Everyone else is wrong. It is their job to try and save us.
It’s actually frightening how completely they believe that.
They get “credit” for “planting seeds”. Even if you only subconsciously hear their message, it goes to their credit in Jesus land. It’s then God’s responsibility and yours to make that seed grow. If you don’t, of course, that’s your own problem, they’ve already done their bit.
Attention. Isn’t there some bible passage about preaching in public v. alone?
@tinyfaery I think that is praying in public versus private.
What a street preacher is doing is evangelizing. There are different ways of carrying out he Gospel directive to “go forth and preach the good news.” Some people feel that means one must go out on the street and yell it to the point of annoyance.
Proselytization is a requirement of nearly every religion. If you have the one true path to redemption, it’s your duty to share.
Everyone interprets that differently. Some people will lead by example. Most people put a few dollars into the collection plate to support the church’s ministry. People that tend to take things literally, and to extremes, will preach on a streetcorner.
I think the ‘lone wolf’ preachers are mostly exorcising inner demons.
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