[starbase]

Coversions through fradulent means may be a more "peaceable activity" compared to forced conversions but is by no means more acceptable.

I gave the example of giving uneducated, superstitious people Tylenol for a headache, then telling them Jesus made the headache go away.

Can you give any more examples of how conversion by fraud can occur?

[Gengis Khan]

"Can you give any more examples of how conversion by fraud can occur?"

Here is one:
http://in.news.yahoo.com/050116/139/2j1rp.html

What would you call it fraud, force, blackmail?

[Mrs. Don-o]

You wrote: "I gave the example of giving uneducated, superstitious people Tylenol for a headache, then telling them Jesus made the headache go away."

Do you have any evidence of this actually happening? Catholic Relief Services, which is one of the biggest and most effective relief and development agencies globally, specifically prohibits its staff and cooperating agencies from using humanitarian aid as a vehicle for recruitment to the Catholic faith.

It's fruitless and speculative to talk about how fraud "can" occur. If it does occur, it should be curtailed by law. Fraud and deception, bribery and the promise of material payoff, force and the threat of force: these are, and ought to be prohibited. Surely Pope Benedict would not disagree.

But deception, bribery and force are not part of normal, peaceable mission activities. Works of Mercy and educational outreach do not constitute bribery, as long as Hindus can benefit from it without first becoming Catholics.