Originally posted by twhitehead
Though I am sure you realize it, it is nothing more than a marketing campaign, little different from many other adverts that rely on weaknesses in human psychology. Essentially they are capitalizing on the fact that many people have problems or questions that they do not have solutions/answers too, and the advert is vague enough about what question it is ...[text shortened]... ).
How many people follow astrology but don't really believe it? or do really believe it?
You raise good points that are concerned primarily with 1) ignorance and the associated desire for answers, however vague and ersatz the so-called answers may actually be and 2) the Pascal Wagering mindset.
There's another aspect of witnessing that I find particularly ugly (not all witnessing: I'll restrict attention to certain strands of evangelicalism and similar scourges upon the earth). It's the way some evangelicals use fear and guilt as motivators, coupled with the debasement of human nature. Here's a good example from Ray Comfort:
http://www.wayofthemaster.com/watch/witness_sealbeachkid_high.html
Basically:
First off, you're inherently evil and petty by your very nature. For two, there exists some all-knowing invisible being who aims to toss you in a lake of fire for your deficient nature (oh, but he's all-loving, compassionate, and perfectly just at the same time). For three, Jesus is just somehow the answer because blah blah blah.
We all know the general story, and it doesn't make a lick of sense. So one thing I am interested in is how this sort of witnessing could ever be effective (under what conditions). I'm still trying to piece together my thoughts on that, along with what it really means for the witnessing to be effective.