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Politics : Sharks in the Septic Tank -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Lane3 who wrote (12224)	4/23/2001 5:26:21 PM
From: TimF	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 82486

I'm not sure the distinction between force and persuasion is as clear as that. When there's a huge difference in power and sophistication, I'm not sure you can call it persuasion. The idea is the same as in our culture where a child cannot legally consent to sex. That's a very interesting point Karen. I don't think I really agree with it but its an interesting argument that I had not heard before in this context. I'd have to say that I don't think the people of the third world are equivalent to children in this case. Also while a 15 year old can not legally consent to sex in most of the states in the US I would draw a distinction between an adult seducing a 15 year old and raping one. I'm not saying that the first is a good thing. Maybe it should result in a legal punishment of some sort (I'm open to arguments for either side if anyone wants to make one), but I don't think that having sex with a willing underage partner is automatically the same thing as rape. To bring this back to the the missionaries, there is a distinction between taking advantage of someone less sophisticated then you, and actually using force. Even if it is outright fraud then it might be as bad as force but it is not the same thing, and I think a distinction between the two is useful. Tim

To: Lane3 who wrote (12224)	4/23/2001 6:42:04 PM
From: The Philosopher	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 82486

lots of missionaries do a lot of social work for the community, not just religious teaching. As I've said before, I think it's not unreasonable to expect someone getting a meal at a soup kitchen to sit through a sermon in exchange. My grandfather was a medical missionary (a doctor) in China. He let his life speak for him; he was just such a wonderful person that people wanted to know what his beliefs were that brought him with such cheer to the privations of living in near squalor and treating people nobody else was willing to treat. He shared his faith when asked, but never imposed on anybody. But when somebody is so obviously joyful in their life, people want to know why. The most effective form of missionary work, IMO.