Rice Christians

**royfang** · November 07, 2009, 01:35 AM

Just a question to Christians here:
Do you know who are rice Christians?
If yes, And what are your opinions on them?
Are they the product of Christian missionaries in "poor" countries and only in "poor" countries?
Would you consider them Christians too?

And what do you think of the practice of some missionaries who give aid only if the people convert or to Christians only?

**Thalassocrat** · November 07, 2009, 01:47 AM

are you asking about the morality of those who convert to gain benefits? Or the practice of missionaries giving aid to converts?

**royfang** · November 07, 2009, 01:54 AM

Originally Posted by Thalassocrat

are you asking about the morality of those who convert to gain benefits? Or the practice of missionaries giving aid to converts?

I actually mean the morality of those who convert to gain benefits when I first wrote that.
But I will include the second point in my original post as well.

**blackwatersix** · November 07, 2009, 01:50 AM

Well, no. they're products of poverty wherever poverty may be, not only in developing nations.

I consider them Christians if they truly believe in the faith. For example, I went to a Salesian elementary school and we often had seminarians and lay brothers as well as priests who came from poverty in Indochina and India. So yeah I consider them christians.

I think rice christians are unavoidable in the course of mission work. In time though, I pray and hope that they'll feel and practice their christian faith as more than just a way of getting dole-outs.

**~~Exarch~~** · November 07, 2009, 02:23 AM

this is what i'm talking about
there's an unfair and obscene abuse of power here and it's on the part of wealthy missionaries who can afford to come to another country and offer their own perverse ideology in association with 'aid'.
so naturally it's no more a genuine acceptance of christinaity than a whore claiming she loves you only for your personality.

it'd be like rich muslim sheikhs coming in mass droves to minnesota, texas, georgia or wisconsin and offering food and money to starving families only if they' accept the koran.

**ChaosReigns** · November 07, 2009, 02:37 AM

Insult the people who are part of the Church(es) if you must Exarch, but to call Christian ideology perverse is something of an exaggeration, no? Assuming, of course, that I'm reading your comment correctly.

Now, on the matter of Christian missionaries doling out aid only for those who convert, well...suffice it to say that I don't think Jesus would be very impressed ("I desire mercy, not sacrifice"). Religion is supposed to be something you accept of your own volition, not something you are forced into, and this is no different. That practice sounds corrupt in the extreme, although I cannot claim to have a great abundance of knowledge relating to the topic. I would say let your kind deeds show them what your religion stands for, let them convert because they feel that it is a noble cause and not for the sake of survival.

As for people in very poor countries becoming "rice Christians", it is understandable given the circumstances (assuming that the given missionaries are, in fact, aiding only Christians). Hopefully though, they will learn to be sincere in any case despite the iniquities of those that are supposedly aiding them out of good will (again, assuming the above variables are in fact applicable to the given case).

**~~Exarch~~** · November 07, 2009, 02:48 AM

Originally Posted by ChaosReigns

Insult the people who are part of the Church(es) if you must Exarch, but to call Christian ideology perverse is something of an exaggeration, no? Assuming, of course, that I'm reading your comment correctly.

Now, on the matter of Christian missionaries doling out aid only for those who convert, well...suffice it to say that I don't think Jesus would be very impressed ("I desire mercy, not sacrifice"). Religion is supposed to be something you accept of your own volition, not something you are forced into, and this is no different. That practice sounds corrupt in the extreme, although I cannot claim to have a great abundance of knowledge relating to the topic. I would say let your kind deeds show them what your religion stands for, let them convert because they feel that it is a noble cause and not for the sake of survival.

As for people in very poor countries becoming "rice Christians", it is understandable given the circumstances (assuming that the given missionaries are, in fact, aiding only Christians). Hopefully though, they will learn to be sincere in any case despite the iniquities of those that are supposedly aiding them out of good will (again, assuming the above variables are in fact applicable to the given case).

it is unfortunate the several missioanries act this way, now i'm big enoguh to know that not all christians act in this manner.
the problem, in my opinion, lies in the bible itself. in the very nature of christianity-christians are duty bound to convert all peoples.
if that amnongst other things were to change, then so too would my animosity towards christianity

**Thalassocrat** · November 07, 2009, 03:10 AM

Guys consider the other side, is it wrong for one to favour your coreligionist when dispensing limited aid?

If one has more than sufficient resources to satisfy EVERYONE, then yes insisting on conversion is immoral. But if aid is being rationed, shouldn't one have a moral obligation to aid one's followers first?

Charity starts at home...

**ChaosReigns** · November 07, 2009, 03:07 AM

If you'll excuse my saying so sir, I think that feeling blanket animosity towards any reasonable sect, be it a moderate religion, a race, a particular nationality and so forth, is somewhat ignorant (note I am certainly not saying that you are ignorant, nor am I trying to be confrontational, just that that particular attitude is disagreeable and would be if it was directed at any group). While it is true that Christians are supposed to make "disciples of all nations" and so forth, God never said "Okay guys, you've been slacking off, I wanna see 2000 more converted by next Tuesday. Chop-chop Benedict, time's a wasting!". Furthermore it is never said that people should be forced to become Christians. The general impression I get is that God wants people to accept Christianity out of love for their neighbor, a desire to do good, a conviction that this religion "fights" for a noble cause. Forcing people to convert is a ludicrous practice in any case because you get a situation alike to these "rice Christians", that is, people who are apparently only signing up for corporal benefits, or out of fear, and that goes very much against the doctrines of Christianity (or at least, the version that I know).

You also neglect to mention that Christians are honour bound to serve enemies and friends alike, pray for those who wrong them, assist the poor and downtrodden and so forth. Do all Christians do it? Hell no, there are plenty of ass-hole Christians out there, but that isn't limited to only Christians. Whenever you have a group of people together you will inevitably get different stages of moral development. This isn't to justify the actions of corrupt Christians, who are, in fact, more culpable (I should think) in the eyes of God because they (should) know better. I'm just trying to present the flip-side of the coin.

**~~Exarch~~** · November 07, 2009, 03:20 AM

thing is, if i'm giving out aid or help i wont be asking "what is your religion" or "do yuh buh-lieve in jaysus meson?" etc
nor would i be propagating my own views to such people because i consider it irrelevant in such a situation.

for that reason i have more respect for secular charities and subsequently i prefer to give my dough to them rather than to christian/islamic/jewish "charities"

**Thalassocrat** · November 07, 2009, 03:29 AM

Are we talking about missions which offer aid to congregation members, their primary mandate still being preaching, or those who have a mandate to aid everyone?

In the earlier post I referred to the former. If you refer to the latter...well....

They don't ask you to fill out a form before dispensing aid

Look at the Missionaries of Charity, the LaSallian Brothers, only two example I know, they offer aid to all, of course while accepting that aid one gets exposed to their teachings.