A Guide to Missionary Tactics
This guide is intended to improve awareness about the tactics used by
some groups and cults. The tactics of missionaries and missionary
groups may vary, but there are some basic guidelines to keep in mind
that will be helpful in dealing with them.
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HIDDEN AGENDA
Some missionaries attempt to develop a rapport with their
subject without divulging their own religious affiliation or
intention. As an example to make making them seem less
"Christian" missionaries are coached by their superiors to
avoid using words such as "Christ" or "savior" or "baptize".
If you are not sure about the religious identity of the
stranger who begins talking to you about religion, ask him
directly about his beliefs and agenda. Be suspicious of an
indirect answer. Remember these people aren't interested in
dialogue or trying to improve Anglo-Muslim links but are often
in SECURE PAID EMPLOYMENT to Sell Christianity.
CREATING DOUBT
When talking to a Muslim about religion, a missionary may
attempt to elicit as many "I don't know" responses as possible,
in order to establish his superiority in matters of religion.
Don't allow yourself to be intimidated!
Remember, the missionary has studied Islamic beliefs for the
sole purpose to sell Christianity to Muslims. There heart are
sealed and they are no longer interested in truth. Keep in mind
that he is not speaking to you in order to exchange ideas, but
rather to create as much doubt in your mind and lead you away
from your faith. If you want to learn more about the Quran, do
so from someone who doesn't have hidden motives. Therefore,
feel free to simply end the conversation and walk away.
Remember that many of these questions and associations they are
trying to sell have been debunked many times by more learned
Muslims. If they were interested in dialogue the would be
speaking to respected elders and community leaders exploring
common ground improving understanding and faith in the
community, but all one sees are the often the same question
again to unsuspecting victims. Ask yourself what do they hope
to gain ?
However, some of you may want to listen to their arguments and
then learn the Muslim response, in order to be better prepared
for future encounters. One must also remember that many
missionaries intentionally go into Muslim areas in Britain so
they train themselves and create the most seductive "Sales
Pitch" they can manage. Once they have finished there training
in salesmanship they will target unsuspecting Muslims (the
lonely, vulnerable and weak) lacking in knowledge.
The following pointers should give you a basic idea of what to
look for.
DECEPTION
The missionary may tell you that he (or a Christian friend or
acquaintance) was once an Muslim, or that he had a solid Muslim
education, a traditional Muslim family life, etc. This is
almost always a lie, so don't let him fool you. The hidden
message that he is attempting to convey is that he came to
accept Christianity after knowing and overcoming all of the
Muslim objections (Jesus being son of god, Bible being
corrupted by man etc.), and therefore, why should you bother to
check it out?
He may drop certain Islamic phrases or talk about the details
of his "traditional" Muslim upbringing, in order to lend more
credence to his story. In fact, his "memory" is often the
result of careful coaching.
The missionary might tell you that he knows the Islamic
objections to his arguments, and will then proceed to show how
such objectives are ill-founded. Don't expect to hear the real
Islamic response from such a source.
GOOD, BAD OR UGLY
Don't be taken in by the "good cop - bad cop" routine. This
routine involves a "bad cop" who threatens the subject, and a
"good cop" who protects him from the "bad cop". The subject is
so grateful to the "good cop", and so worried about losing the
good-will of his protector, that he invariably shows his
appreciation by telling the "good cop" what he wants to hear.
In similar fashion, the "good" Christian talks about how much
he loves and respects Muslims, while denouncing the "bad"
Christians who hate and have persecuted Muslims. The naive and
ones lacking in knowledge of Christian history and bigotry will
feel grateful to the "good cop", and may automatically judge
him to be a friend and reliable ally. Watch out for hidden
motives behind such "friendship".
WHO BELIEVES IN THE SON OF GOD?
At the outset, the missionary will talk about his belief that
Jesus is the messiah. Many Muslims don't find out until later,
often after they have joined a Christian friendship group, that
their fundamental belief is that Jesus is god. Any talk about
"the messiah" or "son of god" is merely a cover for that
belief, basic to Christianity . However, since such a concept
is repugnant in Islam, this most basic belief of Christianity
is glossed over as much as possible when missionaries talk to
Muslims.
PROOF or SPOOF?
Don't be impressed by the claim that Christians have 50, or
100, or 300 "proofs" that they are correct in their claims
about Jesus. As proof after proof is shown to be meaningless,
the missionary will hide behind his numbers, as if to say:
"Well, we have so many more proofs, what's the difference if
you can disprove some of them". He will attempt to "split the
difference" with you: "Well, even if half our proofs prove
nothing, we still have another 25 or 50, or 150". Remember, all
of their proofs can be shown to be untenable. Keep in mind that
a faulty point is not worth 50% of a good point, or 25%, or
10%. It is worthless. The simple mathematics are: 50 x 0 = 0,
100 x 0 = 0, 300 x 0 = 0.
CIRCULAR REASONING
Very often, the reasoning used by Christian missionaries is
circular. That is, the "proof" only points to something is if
you believe it in the first place, and therefore is no proof at
all.
MISTRANSLATION
Be aware of the problem of mistranslating. A person who is not
familiar with Arabic can be lead to accept a mistranslating
which puts a Christian "twist" on a verse that never had such a
meaning in the original. If you can't check it out yourself,
talk to a reliable person who can. Remember, it is no
coincidence that the Muslims of past generations, who were much
better versed in the Arabic, never had any serious problems
refuting Christian missionary arguments.
In addition beware of Christian Translations of the Quran, many
date from sixteenth to the eighteenth century with the sole
intention of to discredit Islam.
Please keep in mind ANY translation (interpretation) of the
Quran will most definitely contain errors In its natural
language (Arabic), the Quran is the direct Word of Allah (God)
to mankind through the prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him).
Any translation of the Quran no longer retains that 'official'
and perfect status, however it can be tremendously helpful to
beginning students wanting to learn more about Islam.
We would strongly encourage those want to learn about Islam to
purchase a copy of the Quran but with the following conditions:
+ get one with commentary (tafseer)
+ make sure the tafseer is scholarly (e.g. references to
reasons behind a verse, references to hadith and sunnah,
etc.)
An excellent English translation and commentary of the Quran
is Maududi's recently published work "The Meaning of the
Quran".
QUOTING OUT OF CONTEXT
Often a verse will be quoted to you that has been taken
entirely out of context. When the entire chapter that contains
that verse is read, it becomes clear that it does not
corroborate the Missionary.
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Conclusion : Selling Timeshare or Christshare?
You may recognize many of the tactics used by some Missionaries in
selling there faith as they have similarities to disreputable
Timeshare and Double glazing salesman, and this raises some
interesting points:
Why would one propagate faith in such a deceitful and underhanded way,
is it because:
God will not aid ones seeking the true path?
A bad product is difficult to sell unless you dupe someone?
If you are genuinely interested in faith
Why don't you go ask someone with a sound knowledge and
understanding of Islam, instead of targeting the naive,
vulnerable and the weak.
Why do you seek out the naive and week and then intentionally
ask Mischievous questions, when they have been answered
many times by learned scholars and by people that you
have approached over the years? Surely this does not add
to knowledge or understanding.
Why do you target Muslims
Considering the moral depravity often in your own family and
neighbourhood and within so called Christians.
Is it because Muslims are wealthy in faith?
Is it because you have so much hatred for us and you are
unable, incapable or tired of other methods:
RIDICULE There is a very large number of publications by
Muslims explaining Islam in plain and simple
English. Look in any public library for books on
Islam, a large proportion of them will be by
orientalists and Christian missionaries, what do
you think motivates someone to write a book on a
subject one does not believe in and an area that
has been already covered by numerous other books?
Remember Christian "Translations" of the Quran
whose sole intention was to discredit Islam.
CRUSADES Butchered everyone including defenseless women
and children or any one else that got in there way.
Although it has taken many hundreds of years
Crusaders have improved they now only kill some
women and RAPE THE REST. The twentieth centuary has
seen "Ethnic Cleansing" replace the word Crusade,
in 1996 one of the youngest recorded victim of rape
in Bosnia was a baby of 4 Months old. Many women
and children had two of there fingers severed by
the Serbs so that the three remaining fingers would
remind them of the Trinity.
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A WAY FORWARD
While we as Muslims believe that the entire Quran is the word
of God and we would like every one to accept it as such, God
Himself has given the freedom of religion which we respect.
With that in mind, all we hope is that non-Muslims will at
least enlighten themselves with an open heart and mind by
knowing what Islam is. We hope that Muslims, Christians and
Jews will find ways to work together to bring peace on earth by
eradicating immorality, fear, hate, disease, poverty and
injustice.
Muslims welcome the chance improve dialogue and understanding
with all faiths. In addition we do not object to other groups
explaining there ideas and faith to whomever expresses an
interest, but we do think it is unacceptable that missionaries
demean other faiths, use deceitful methods and harass
communities with what can be described highly trained and
focused door to door salesman.
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USE THE PROPER RESOURCES! Most Muslims spend their time studying Islam
trying to find a path to true enligtenment, and therefore may not be
familiar with the "curve-ball" approach of missionaries. If you need
advice concerning a problem of this sort, get in touch with people who
are familiar with the tactics being used and who know how to deal with
them.
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