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Is'nt this a matter of free speech ?

How could I condemn any man for airing his beliefs, peacefully, in a country that is actively repressing those freedoms that I believe are inherent to each and every human being ?

As a secularist I would regard any such man a martyr, regardless of what relgious/irreligious beliefs he is preaching.

Actually its not a matter of Freedom of Speech because ITS NOT AMERICA. America has Freedom of Speech while China doesn't its just the law. I won't call the man/woman a Martyr because they go knowing they'll probably die or be forcefully kicked out of the country. Don't go to a country that has banned what you go there to do and expect a warm welcome. If you wanna convert people to your religion go to a place where they won't mind you preaching about your religion.

Yeah it certainly is a freedom of speech issue but is the missionary going there to fight that injustice (and possibly others along side of it) or is (s)he breaking the rules just to spread their beliefs because they think they are doing right by God?

I dont think anyone would be expecting a warm welcome. I will ask you though, are the souls of the Chinese peoiple less worthy of salvation than their American counterparts ?

When people come here from other countries should the follow our laws or not? As immigrants and or tourists they are to follow the laws. That is expected of them as guests. It is rude and dishonorable for someone not to follow these rules and or laws. It's called etiquette. neutral Learn it.

That said the laws in other countries aren't "bad". They shouldn't be broken either. Their laws have very strict punishment backed behind them if they are "bad". Many countries allow whipping using a bamboo stick.

If you wish to stay in that country and not end up in jail, beaten or worse, then it's best to follow the rules. Remember, you are a guest in a foreign country. If you misbehave not only are you dishonoring your country, but also whatever deity you worship, and your ancestors, and the people of your home country.

In democratic countries we take things like religious freedom for granted and try to impose our religion on other's because we feel it's right. When in reality, it is wrong, immoral, and in most cases....taboo.

History has shown us that "witnessing", preaching, etc can change the ideas and the morals of people and cause them to rebel against their governments. Which is why countries like Iraq, China and Russia have strict laws against religious missions. It's to keep people from rebelling and to keep dissenters out. Historical examples can include but aren't limited to the Boxer Rebellion, Hideyoshi Toyotomi, rebellions of India.

Also need I remind you that there are such missions that have ended in bloodshed and turmoil. Need I remind you how the Manifest Destiny in America became a failure?

Going to help out another country is one thing, but if they have strict laws and even stricter punishment for proselyting, then either leave your pious beliefs at home, or don't go to that country. Just don't preach to them. I don't think preaching about Jesus and trying to convert others is worth getting beaten with a bamboo stick or having them pull of your fingernails with a weird machine or even with a bamboo stick. Do you?

Yes, Early Christians were persecuted and murdered and what not. But Early Christians did the same things to the pagans, muslims, Native Americans, so forth and so on. But the question is why? The answer to this is simple, because in the areas the Christians lived in where the majority were pagan, it was because the Roman Pagans feared the Christians. They saw them as a threat. The same can be said about the Christians in Mideval Europe during the Inquisitions, Witch Trials and even the Crusades.

In short be respectful to the host countries, follow their rules and that even means don't preach to others. Help out with the countries needs but for your own safety, remember that every life is precious even your own. Throwing that away will make your beliefs worthless. Throwing your life away because of a belief in a savior will become worthless. However helping those in need is more important than a belief, helping others shows that you are a good person, versus saying you're a good person.

A more passionate argument against freedom of speech I have never seen. Who among you could balance a human beings right to air his political/religious views without fear of violence or incarceration, against some percieved duty to be courteuos and find free speech wanting ?

With regards to foreigners following the law in my own country I can think of several occasions where i would in fact appolaud them for breaking our own laws. For example, when the Westboro Baptist Church wanted to send a party to protest at the funeral of a gay man held here in Britain, I condemned in equal measure the wickedness of the WBC for proposing such a thing and the totalitarian behaviour of the British government in forbidding it. It was not only the WBC's right to picket the funeral that was infringed but also my right to wait at the airport for them and throw every last ounce of venom and abuse I could at such disgusting bigots.

And who said anything about imposing beliefs on anybody ? Were talking about the right to air your beliefs and try to convince others in liberal debate, no one least of all me suggested anybody had the right to force people to believe anything. I also dont understand why your supporting Chinas right to suppress freedom of speech on account of it being a great method of suppresing rebeliion confused

Lastly youre incorrect to say that no laws are wrong. Morality is subjective, whilst a group of Wahabi Muslims in Saudi Arabia would preach Sharia law and the righteousness of hanging homosexuals and stoning to death adulterors, I myself and I suspect you would see this as being very wrong indeed.

You also haven't addressed my argument that its perfectly accetable to ignore temporal laws, in pursuit of spreading the gospel.

And you seem to neglect that not every country has freedom of speech written in their constitution nor do they even have one. neutral

China is not America. Do not assume that everyone should have the same rights and freedoms as America. neutral