Is Spreading Your Religion Ethical? (By Jack McGuane)

As a Catholic, this is a central question to our faith. We Catholics believe that we are the servants of God, and it is our duty to spread His word and the Gospel. After the religious priorities of living an honest Catholic life in accordance with the Ten Commandments and the Bible, spreading Catholicism is the next most important part of the faith. So, from a Catholic perspective, it is certainly just (indeed, encouraged) to spread Catholicism. However, from a generalized perspective, determining whether it is just and ethical is challenging. The answer to such a question teeters on the fine line between ethical and unethical, or rather between being accepted in society and not being so.

I am not a fan of those who try to persuade. I never have been, and I doubt I ever will be. I value having my own opinions, my own actions, and my own rights to do and say as I please. I am not one to fall victim to peer pressure or pesky telemarketer salesmen; I try to be firm and unwavering when it comes to my independence. Therefore, I shouldn’t be a fan of spreading one’s religion, right? But I do approve of it, so how is this possible? I don’t frequently witness religions besides Catholicism trying to spread their faith, so perhaps my opinions on the matter are fueled by hypocrisy and bias. Everyone always thinks that they are in the right, don’t they? I’m not entirely sure why I feel so open to spreading religion. I keep asking myself questions like, “Could it hurt people’s feelings?” I suppose so, but it also can help heal hurt people. “Could it make others uncomfortable?” Yes, but discomfort never seriously harmed anyone. “Is it blasphemous to hear what other religions have to say?” I don’t believe so. In fact, I see it as blasphemous to one’s own religion not to spread it to others.

From a Catholic perspective, it is a sin to be apprehensive about praying in public. It is a sin not to demonstrate your love for God and your faith for everyone to see. Thus, I believe that it is okay to spread your religion, not just out of my own biases, but from a general, worldwide perspective. Everyone should be proud of their religious faith (or faith in atheism or agnosticism), and everyone else should admire the courage it takes for others to be open about such a vulnerable part of their identity and existence. As long as one is not too forcefully persuasive (or, of course, threatening), I believe that we, as a society, are mature enough to respect each other and handle such interactions with a goal of growing the widespread religious diaspora. So, I believe that under certain guidelines, spreading your religion is indeed ethical.