What is the difference between evangelism and proselytism?

[Marie_m]

When are we spreading the gospel and when are we proselytizing? I have trouble deciding if my attempts to bring people (especially family) closer to God end in turning them away from God because either I can’t answer their questions to their satisfaction (and they aren’t interested in checking it out elsewhere) or I’m such a weak earthen vessel that the goods don’t look that great.

 

[Michelle_Arnold]

Technically speaking, evangelism and proselytism can be considered synonyms for the missionary work involved in introducing others to one’s own belief. These days, for the sake of clarity in distinguishing between helpful and unhelpful forms of missionary work, the Church has begun to limit the use of the word proselytism to destructive forms of evangelism that do not respect the religious freedom and personal dignity of human beings:

The term proselytism originated in the context of Judaism, in which the term proselyte referred to someone who, coming from the gentiles, had passed into the chosen people. So too, in the Christian context, the term proselytism was often used as a synonym for missionary activity. More recently, however, the term has taken on a negative connotation, to mean the promotion of a religion by using means, and for motives, contrary to the spirit of the gospel; that is, which do not safeguard the freedom and dignity of the human person. It is in this sense that the term proselytism is understood in the context of the ecumenical movement (Some Aspects of Evangelization, note 49).

In looking at your account of your attempts at evangelism, one indicator that you may be engaging in proselytism is that those you are talking to are uninterested in following up on their own. If they are not interested enough in what you are saying to do their own research, then they are not interested right now in your message. That does not mean that you need to entirely avoid talking to them about religion; it only means that you need to respect evident disinterest. If you don’t have the answer to their question, and they are unwilling to research on their own, just let the matter drop (although it would be a good idea to find out the answer for your own edification and knowledge). If they later ask why you haven’t answered such-and-so question, you might say, “I’d be happy to look for information on that subject with you, if you are willing to join me in researching the matter and studying it together.”