As you know by now, I like to take a look at all those groups, events, or parties out there that seem to possess a rather intolerant or parochial view of the world. It being the week after Easter, I'm a little late on this one, but I think it's important to look at anyway.
PrayforFrance.org is a Web site that promoted a worldwide event from the first of March to the 21st, encouraging people around the world to, obviously, pray for France. Why? Because apparently France needs saving.
The event revolves around evangelicalism and the fact that 30 percent of the country is atheist. The conclusion Evangelicals draw is promoted widely on the site: France is poised for revival. Because the country is less religious (according to the site, 80 percent of French citizens have never seen or owned a Bible, a statistic that I would like to see explained), the group has attempted to attract a worldwide effort to re-evangelize France.
One of the more interesting points is the focus on the Muslim population of France. Apparently these Evangelicals believe that the Muslim population is a bit too high, and Christianity should be promoted across the country. Quite frankly, the way the site sounds, it seems more like Christianity should be forced upon the country.
Personally, I believe religion is a personal choice. People find and choose their own spiritual pursuits. When groups start preaching and attempting to coax people into religion, it's no longer a real spiritual choice. People start believing because they are told to believe. If one is Muslim, there is no reason they should be converted. It is their own prerogative to choose what they believe in.
The event was part of a coalition of five organizations from three English-speaking countries formed for the purpose of uniting English speakers to support Christianity in France, or to mobilize prayer.
I know this is not the only organization whose purpose is to try to convert others, but this is the most timely. As I already said, it seems to me to be unfair that people try to convince others to believe strictly what they believe, rather than leaving people to their own religious devices. Not only that, but the French themselves obviously do not find this to be such a travesty. Does it seem fair that, even though they seem to have no problem with their religious situation, other countries are coming in to change things? It is a modern-day crusade, and we all know how that region of the world responded to attempted conversion.
Apparently, France needs prayer. The Atheism rate is apparently unacceptable. Is not religious freedom one of America's own tenets? Funny that a partially American coalition would forego its own supposedly followed ideal.
Perhaps the most disturbing evidence on the site is the fact that the coalition claims that the best way to start praying for France is to purchase their prayer guide. Seems like a scam to me, just another televangelist, only this one on the Internet, winning supporters and sucking them dry of their money.
I feel like this is just another scam, disguised under an unethical attempt to change people, despite what they already believe, Muslim, atheist, or otherwise. And around this time of year, such a following can easily be garnered as the easily persuaded feel a need to enlighten the masses of a country other than their own in the shadow of their coming, and now past, holiday.
Alex Menrisky is a freshman studying journalism. Send him an e-mail at am532707@ohiou.edu.
4 Opinion
Alex Menrisky
