Why is 'Evangelical' an insult in the UK?

[Flangelica]

I've lived abroad for a few years now, but from what I've seen online, 'Evangelical' seems to be a very loaded word, which i only see used as an insult or in a negative way

Can anyone tell me why?

Especially keen to hear from people who belong to this type of church, their feelings about this.

(in the UK, I mean. Abroad it's not a negative word, in my experience.)

I go to an evangelical church (C of E if that’s not an oxymoron). I’m not sure it is viewed as an insult?

Being evangelical about something implies that you're on what you consider to be a sacred mission to convert as many people as possible, and generally you're not all that concerned about whether or not people are interested in being converted. It's not just a religious concept, but it does imply a certain degree of boundary stomping, ramming things down people's throats (metaphorically hopefully) and generally just going on and on and on to a very boring degree.

Evangelical vegans are the worst. Stop telling me how much better your hemp and tofu sandwich is for the planet/your soul/your health and just let me enjoy my bacon butty in peace.

Evangelical Christians also very annoying - I do not wish to welcome Jesus into my heart, I'm in the middle of doing my shopping, I don't need your leaflet.

English is a funny language. The exact same word can have many multiple meanings depending on the context in which it is used.

See also 'pontificate'.

It's because of the very overbearing behaviour of a type of Evangelical in the USA. And because people don't like being preached about beliefs, see also vegan.

I think it's because generally or traditionally in Britain we don't throw religion in your face, i.e we attend a sedate Church of England service on a Sunday morning and that's about it. Evangelical Christians are generally seen as a lot more "in your face" and are more likely to try and convert you etc which makes us prim and proper Brits a bit uncomfortable? It's a cultural thing I guess.

I think it’s the association with the TV preachers in the US that use it to get money from people, and claim that they can heal etc. Similar to a con artist or scam.

The other connotations are the ones others have described, very OTT display of their views and complete obliviousness to whether the audience subjected to their pontificating are happy to be on the receiving end of this. And historically that was what the missionaries did to other cultures (combined with other awful colonial actions).

The general feeling is that they think they are superior and cleverer than the rest of us, and whilst they project an image of being holier than thou, are covertly involved in behaviour that is inconsistent with their “preaching” and/or slightly narcissistic potentially.

Evangelism is about conversion. Whether it's religion or healthy eating. And conversion is essentially forceful and insulting. It's saying you're wrong on some fundamental level.

Have I heard the good news? Yes I have and I don't want any thanks.

Not helped by seeing these white savior Christians in Africa. Go back to your own country and work amongst the poor.

Because I get cheesed off with people who are not happy with leaving me alone to live my life the way I want to when I am harming no-one.

In churches, "Evangelical" started to be used in mid 1800s to describe believers who relied only on the Bible as understood by believers themselves (as opposed to churches where doctrines are imposed by priests etc).
In those days that was an important distinction.

These days most "evangelical" churches of all denominations are well intentioned and fairly middle of the road, but the word can have connotations of fundamentalism or taking the Bible very literally. This can throw up heated debates on matters of sexuality, role of women etc, but not all "evangelical" churches are hardline on these matters by any means.

It's not quite the same as "evangelism" which is the process of sharing faith and trying to win converts. But evangelical does get loosely used in that sense too. And clearly trying to convert people is seen as insulting by people who don't want to be on the receiving end.

Depends on context, I mean.

It's a small, densely populated island and pushing people to change how they live, well, it risks stirring up conflict, so that's why people are not super keen on it.

They're considered religious nutters.We had neighbours with 3 kids same age as ours and they were not allowed out to play. The girls wore little hankies on their heads,never cut their hair. What is that all about?

I think because it's associated with the pushy, judgy homophobic types, especially in the US. Here in the UK it makes me think of the horrible Evangelical Alliance.

Makes me think of happy clappy praise the lord type worship which some find a bit cringeworthy.

Because they try to convert you even when you've made it plain you're not interested. Just leave me alone.

Because here, the style of evangelism is very often taken from high pressure sales tactics. And those not vulnerable enough to recognise that really don't like the notion of being sold God like a secondhand stannah stairlift.

People seem to be confusing "evangelism" with Evangelicalism. They aren't quite the same thing. Evangelism is the act of sharing the gospel message. Evangelicalism is a form of protestant Christianity that affirms the importance of being "born again" (ie becoming a Christian through personal repentance and submitting to Jesus as Lord, rather than through sacraments/traditions/attending church etc); recognising the authority of scripture, and yes also the spreading of the Good News of salvation.

Often neither are particular welcome.

Because it's considered offensive to foist your belief system on someone who doesn't share it?

Yep. The Bible itself makes that very clear.

"“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." (Words of Jesus)

'No one likes us, no one like us, no one likes us, we don't care'

(Words of Millwall)

Because it implies that you are trying to force your views on others. It does in fact mean good news, but has acquired this negative connotation because of the implication that you will insist on spreading that "good news."

"“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you."

Good grief - jolly stuff Christianity! My doctrine is kindness ... end of.

1. Christians are as much "of the world" as everyone else. They are products of a very well-understood physiological process common to most mammals, and the ideas that define them as Christians came from men.

2. "the world" (ie the portion of humanity that doesn't share your not-terribly-original, entirely-Earth-acquired beliefs) would "hate" you a lot less if you didn't attempt to force your ideology on others, or treat us as though our spiritual life consists of a big hole where your faith ought to be

3. there is no evidence whatsoever that the words you quoted were ever spoken by somebody called Jesus. The written evidence for Jesus' life is patchy and contradictory, all of it dating from years after his death, and none of it coming from eyewitnesses. The archeological evidence for Jesus is non-existent - unless you count an ossuary attributed to his older brother James, which would rather spoil the Virgin Birth bit of the story.