Simon Cox

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  Simon commented on the article | over 2 years ago

  Evangelizing to the Homeless

  I see your point, but I don't think your analogy to left-handedness is convincing.  For many religious people, belief isn't a world view that's right for some people and not for others - it's a matter more important than life and death.

  
  

  There are clearly situations where attempts to convert become coercive - there's a difference between encouraging someone to attend a service and refusing them food unless they attend (the latter probably isn't a very effective evangelizing technique either).  But to expect people not to act on the major tenents of their faith is unreasonable. 

  
  

  That said, the state can reasonably prohibit organizations it supports from actively proselytizing.  Of course, where that line is drawn is a hard decision - I don't think someone wearing a cross or head-scarf while working with the homeless enfringes on anyone's dignity or rights.

  
  

  As an aside, where's the picture from?  Jews don't do much proselytizing, so I'm not sure it's the best choice to illustrate the post.  It also wouldn't be possible for a religious Jew to remove his kipa and tzitzis like your bishop did.