What’s the Problem with Proselytizing?

I still remember when, in the early days of our relationship, Emily was telling me all about what Bahá’ís believed. This religion she belonged to taught the essential oneness of humanity nationally, ethnically, and spiritually. They were also against proselytizing. They wanted adherents to talk about their faith, of course, but only in ways that don’t make hearers feel as though they’re being encouraged to convert.

Instead, the thinking went, people would see the value of the principle of o...