As a Christian, I take my faith seriously and personally.Christianity gives me a paradigm to understand spirituality and God.It’s a way to think about and worship God, but it certainty isn’t theonly way. This puts me at odds with a common practice in my religion- aggressive evangelism. In theory, there is nothing wrongwith sharing an ideology with others, or with people from othercultures adopting that ideology. But too often evangelism disrespectsother cultures, dumbs down Christianity and destroys its spiritualbenefits.

It’s important to recognize the close ties evangelism has togreed. At its core, aggressive evangelism is expansionist, designedto accrue higher numbers, hence more power and influence. The SanDiego missions remind us of enslavement theology in the RomanCatholic Church’s past, and the gross injustices suffered by theindigenous population. Christianity was used as a way to rationalizeimperialism and exploitation; money’s corrupting influence caused areligious institution to egregiously violate God’s laws.

Pat Robertson is a modern-day evangelist who proves corruption andgreed live on in the American Christian world. Robertson has alaundry list of shady dealings, but the worst is his misuse ofcharity funds for refugees fleeing genocide in Rwanda. According toinvestigative reporter Bill Sizemore of The Virginia Pilot, Robertsonused planes that were supposed to be hauling medical supplies to haulequipment for his diamond mining company, African DevelopmentCorporation. Not only is this a betrayal of donators’ trust, but thediamond industry in Africa has fueled civil wars throughout thecontinent, leading to such atrocities as the enslavement of childrenand the rape and mutilation of women.

Historically – including contemporary history -evangelism has been a corrupting force on religious institutions.This isn’t to downplay incredible work done all around the world byChristian missionaries. However, the most effective Christian serviceorganizations do not focus on “saving the souls” of others, ratherthey seek to alleviate suffering worldwide out of genuinely Christianconcerns. Sharing values is inherent in the process, but it must bean exchange of values with respect for others cultures and beliefs.

Evangelism also has profoundly negative effects on Christianthought, making it less worthy of an ideology to share. By focusingon “saving souls” and insisting that Jesus is the only path tosalvation, it overemphasizes heaven, hell and the afterlife in thegospels. This detracts from the core messages of Jesus, including theanti-materialism which conflicts with the pursuit of power inherentin evangelism.

Personally, I enjoy intellectual sermons and a spirituality thatfocuses on intrinsic values. However, not everybody is moved by whatmoves me, and some prefer a more ritualized or less individualconnection to the holy. But obsessing on the external (an afterlife,the salvation of non-believers, etc.) takes away from individualgrowth and the personal benefits of faith.

Furthermore, a “literal” interpretation of the Bible not onlyeliminates important figurative messages, it’s just implausible.There are contradictions throughout the Bible, including several inthe first three chapters of Genesis. To accept a literalinterpretation is to accept something irrational. Some say that’swhere faith comes in, but religion isn’t irrational – it’ssupra-rational. It transcends us and our ability to reason. Sometimeswe cannot articulate God into laws and mere sentences. Parables,stories and myths are needed to express spirituality, and to beeffective they need to be viewed as figurative expressions ofsomething that cannot simply be transcribed.

Evangelism insists on simple, non-pluralistic and “concrete”beliefs because it is necessary to maintain the level of zealotryneeded to convert others and is easy to teach to potential converts.If a person already has a system of belief in place, he’d need areason other than spiritual growth (which he already has the toolsfor in his own culture) to convert — such as avoidingan eternity of pain upon death.

I am not a complete moral-relativist – I believe in naturallaw. There is something transcendent, and there are correct ways toreact to them. This grants validity to many different spiritualbackgrounds, but still provides a basis to evaluate religiouspractices. Teaching religion is necessary and awesome to those openand willing to listen. But evangelism goes too far, strippingChristianity to its bare bones and allowing it to be a tool ofimperialism, greed and exploitation. Religion is a way to defeatthese obstacles, not advance them.

– Joe Zarro is a philosophy and English senior and editor in chieffor The Daily Aztec.

– This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of TheDaily Aztec. Send e-mail to letters@thedailyaztec.com.Anonymous letters will not be printed – include your fullname, major and year in school.