In defence of proselytizing (On the moral, social and environmental benefits of Christian evangelism)

In "Ethics in the Sanctuary", Margaret Battin argues that traditional evang elism directed to promoting religious belief, practice, and affiliation, th at is proselytizing, is morally questionable to the extent that it involves unwarranted paternalism in the interests of securing other-worldly benefit s for potential converts. I argue that Christian evangelism is justified in order to make the this-worldly benefits of religious belief and practice a vailable to everyone, to bring about an increase in religious affiliation f or the purpose of providing a more supportive social environment for Christ ians, and to promote the survival of the institutional Church, which benefi ts Christians and nonChristians alike by maintaining church property, provi ding access to church buildings and doing liturgy visibly and publicly for the sake of all people.