*shudder* Telemarketers are bad enough. Anyone who knocks on my door expecting me to change my religion, political views, or brand of toothpaste had better come armor-plated against sarcastic invective.
Missionary work doesn't work here in Germany. I've talked to a Mormon who didn't make a single convert during his "tour of duty" here, and that seems to be pretty much the standard.
His favorite excuse was: "I'm Catholic! And I don't believe in God, anyway!"
I've also had contact with a Chinese exchange student who was much too polite to rebuff them directly, and just said the usual excuses that would be correctly interpreted in her culture as "I'm not interested, so go away and bother someone else!" Naturally, this backfired, as the missionary was delighted to have finally found someone to talk about religion, and the student was frightened of that member of what she heard was an "evil cult"...
Most Germans are not interested in religion at all, least of all new ones.
Oh, I don't think they're likely to succeed at getting my vote. But I think politics here would be healthier if people were talking to folks with opposing views. Having the like-minded talking to each other creates feedback loops of exaggeration until they can't tell the difference between run of the mill politicians and history's worst villains. At the very least they'd be trying to appeal to the undecided in the target's language.
I think the biggest benefits to the Mormons of missionary work is that it forces them to clearly think through their own faith, and also get a good understanding of what non-Mormons are really like. Much healthier than being isolated.
alhough I agree with the non-isolationist strategy, this article kinda made me chuckle a bit. Someone else on my friends list had posted it and I'll more or less tell you what I told them.
None of what this guy really offers makes any of america's situation any better. You see all he's doing is convincing people to accept his dogma, not to think for themselves. In essence you're not education americans or making them more politically savy, you're keeping them just as ignorant and gulible, the only difference is now they are swollowing YOUR line.
speaking as someone in my particular line of work, that's damn funny and fucking tragic at the same time.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2005-03-28 05:05 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-03-28 05:53 am (UTC)His favorite excuse was: "I'm Catholic! And I don't believe in God, anyway!"
I've also had contact with a Chinese exchange student who was much too polite to rebuff them directly, and just said the usual excuses that would be correctly interpreted in her culture as "I'm not interested, so go away and bother someone else!" Naturally, this backfired, as the missionary was delighted to have finally found someone to talk about religion, and the student was frightened of that member of what she heard was an "evil cult"...
Most Germans are not interested in religion at all, least of all new ones.
no subject
Date: 2005-03-28 06:08 am (UTC)I think the biggest benefits to the Mormons of missionary work is that it forces them to clearly think through their own faith, and also get a good understanding of what non-Mormons are really like. Much healthier than being isolated.
no subject
Date: 2005-03-28 06:05 pm (UTC)None of what this guy really offers makes any of america's situation any better. You see all he's doing is convincing people to accept his dogma, not to think for themselves. In essence you're not education americans or making them more politically savy, you're keeping them just as ignorant and gulible, the only difference is now they are swollowing YOUR line.
speaking as someone in my particular line of work, that's damn funny and fucking tragic at the same time.
-DS
no subject
Date: 2005-03-28 06:20 pm (UTC)But I don't think he's going to get his dogma through, no. I'm hoping it helps him evolve toward one that may get support.