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TechnographCampus Crusade for Christ shares beliefs
By Marie Wilson
Posted: 4/11/08 Section: News
Blitz week is not meant to make people feel awkward or uncomfortable, Bushong said. Cru members often approach people and ask them questions from a "Worldview Survey" to help begin conversations, she added.
The survey is a list of questions about values and opinions relating to religion that has been in use for a few years. It can be used to start conversations, but Cru members do not necessarily follow it rigidly.
There is a distinction between evangelism and proselytizing, said the Rev. Greg Ketcham, chaplain and director at St. John's Catholic Newman Center.
Evangelizing, or sharing beliefs when people ask about them, is seen as a Catholic's duty, Ketcham said. However, he added that the late Pope John Paul II condemned proselytizing, or inducing someone to convert, as a sin.
"You don't want to take someone who's comfortable in how they relate with God and pull the carpet out from under them," Ketcham said.
Recognizing that people have different comfort levels when it comes to discussing religion is important to starting productive discussions, Bushong said.
Calvey also believes productive conversations about religion can take place as long as people respect each other and try to understand diverse viewpoints.
"Although I think their time might be better spent in other ways, I can understand the motivation," Calvey said. "If I was a Christian, I imagine I would be doing the same thing."
The survey is a list of questions about values and opinions relating to religion that has been in use for a few years. It can be used to start conversations, but Cru members do not necessarily follow it rigidly.
There is a distinction between evangelism and proselytizing, said the Rev. Greg Ketcham, chaplain and director at St. John's Catholic Newman Center.
Evangelizing, or sharing beliefs when people ask about them, is seen as a Catholic's duty, Ketcham said. However, he added that the late Pope John Paul II condemned proselytizing, or inducing someone to convert, as a sin.
"You don't want to take someone who's comfortable in how they relate with God and pull the carpet out from under them," Ketcham said.
Recognizing that people have different comfort levels when it comes to discussing religion is important to starting productive discussions, Bushong said.
Calvey also believes productive conversations about religion can take place as long as people respect each other and try to understand diverse viewpoints.
"Although I think their time might be better spent in other ways, I can understand the motivation," Calvey said. "If I was a Christian, I imagine I would be doing the same thing."
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