@22 You think they're telling the truth? I don't. If they wanted to serve without proseletyzing they could join the Peace Corps or work for any number of secular NGOs.

That they choose to work for religious organizations instead as "missionaries" suggests that their help comes with strings attached.

@starbreaker Yes, but, well, they can't as easily embody their gods' love if they join secular organizations, can they?

The example of Martin Luther King, Jr. is the existence proof of working through a religious establishment to embody agape, the love of universal brotherhood. His example ("I would rather die than hate you") is a high bar for anyone to meet, and alas seems conspicuously absent from religious folk today (in my experience). But it should be possible and I do look for it.

@22 True, but MLK wasn't trying to sell his religion, but acting on his understanding of what his faith demands.

I'd be a hell of a lot more impressed with Christianity if Christian leaders had enough faith in their Christ and his gospel to remonstrate with the rich and powerful and condemn their lack of noblesse oblige, rather than acting as sycophants to the princes of this world and taking the easy way out by pushing the prosperity gospel.

@starbreaker Same.