http://freethinker.co.uk/2008/06/06/converting-muslims-to-christianity-it%e2%80%99s-a-%e2%80%98no-go%e2%80%99-area-for-the-c-of-e/ The voice of atheism since 1881 Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:19:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 http://freethinker.co.uk/2008/06/06/converting-muslims-to-christianity-it%e2%80%99s-a-%e2%80%98no-go%e2%80%99-area-for-the-c-of-e/comment-page-1/#comment-5833 Stuart H. Sat, 07 Jun 2008 19:18:50 +0000 http://www.freethinker.co.uk/?p=827#comment-5833 In my humanist group we've noticed that the evangelists are getting more persistent in this area. Used to be that someone politely approached, you politely said you weren't interested - off you both went, all fairly amicable. But one mate with small kids in tow has twice in last month been pursued several hundred yards by folk who won't take 'no' for an answer - quite distressing for the kids and also happened to some elderly bods. Against my usual principles I've decided to ask the local police if this constitutes the 'aggressive begging' offence they used to use against tramps and will they keep an eye out for it - after all evangelists are effectively demanding money with menaces! In my humanist group we’ve noticed that the evangelists are getting more persistent in this area. Used to be that someone politely approached, you politely said you weren’t interested – off you both went, all fairly amicable. But one mate with small kids in tow has twice in last month been pursued several hundred yards by folk who won’t take ‘no’ for an answer – quite distressing for the kids and also happened to some elderly bods.
Against my usual principles I’ve decided to ask the local police if this constitutes the ‘aggressive begging’ offence they used to use against tramps and will they keep an eye out for it – after all evangelists are effectively demanding money with menaces!

]]> http://freethinker.co.uk/2008/06/06/converting-muslims-to-christianity-it%e2%80%99s-a-%e2%80%98no-go%e2%80%99-area-for-the-c-of-e/comment-page-1/#comment-5817 Valdemar Sat, 07 Jun 2008 07:29:01 +0000 http://www.freethinker.co.uk/?p=827#comment-5817 Either all religions should be banned from trying to convert people (which seems a bit dodgy re: free speech etc) or they should all have an equal right to preach. What's not acceptable is the assumption that 'their' religion is somehow part of 'their' racial/cultural identity. Islam is classed a world religion, like Christianity. It gets lots of lovely money from the rest of us - infidels all - in tax breaks, handouts etc. So if it is in and of the world, why should it not be subject to 'trial by ordeal' with other faiths, or indeed secularism? Either all religions should be banned from trying to convert people (which seems a bit dodgy re: free speech etc) or they should all have an equal right to preach. What’s not acceptable is the assumption that ‘their’ religion is somehow part of ‘their’ racial/cultural identity. Islam is classed a world religion, like Christianity. It gets lots of lovely money from the rest of us – infidels all – in tax breaks, handouts etc. So if it is in and of the world, why should it not be subject to ‘trial by ordeal’ with other faiths, or indeed secularism?

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