@TheCobbler,
Eva-angel-lion ( Evangalists, Evangelism ) is basically a combine of the old reference to god ( in terms of Roman Empire idea of gods, goddesses, ) to the new method of thinking ( One God, Jesus, and etc prophets ).
In General Evangelism is a combine of all religious structures so that they all could exist as one.
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However in reality it was a way to push the idea of one god on to everybody during the identity of Christianity while it was forming.
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In Japan for instance they were executing people for accepting Christianity from western invaders, traders, etc. People would have the "hidden Cross" worn around their necks so they would blend in with the eastern religious structures like Shinto or ____Buddhism.
Looking at the Roman Empire which eventually crucified Christ and the eastern methodology and thinking when it came to foreigners at various points of history. You could be jailed, put on public display, or even put to death.
Think of it like Kabbala for Judaism. Reality they call it ____ but it is really leaning towards Judaism. It is like somebody could say "religious freedom" but in reality your star-gazers, and paganism could actually just be cult, satanists.
Like the ole saying "Here try this apple it is okay I ate one".
However with Evangelism your actually preaching the word of the one god, while accepting the old method of belief.
..........
Christianity for example is not one root or one method as with Judaism or even Islam. It has many roots and methods of belief system, with a similar idea.
In Judiasm for example their is something called Chabad-movement. That is a branch of Judaism still active today started by somebody with the last name of Mendelson. The idea was to keep Jewery ( Jewish business, lives, economics, etc ) out of non-Jews ( gentiles = which is a discriminating term as well ) lives, minds, etc. Keep people who grew up in Jewish families or who are blood related from Jewish homes in the loop for further recruitment ( fresh blood ).
Think of Evangelism as with Chabad. Your recruiting people into Christianity without disturbing their other beliefs. Like saying "it is going to be okay" when in reality you know and I know what they really want. To get you to be inside the flock and start popping out babies, just to keep the whole thing going.
Again Evangelism was started while people in the Roman Empire was still respected the "gods" of the time.
"Spread the word of god"
"recruit more people for god"
Eventually with the slave filled Roman empire ( where you could not tell slave from non-slave ). back by the military you had a force to be recon with.
Then came imperialism via the missionaries backed by the Knights of Templar.
Colonization,
Westernization,
Americanization,
Globalization
Barriers
Point being people complain about Muhammad being a military force when in reality they do not talk about how he really had no choice at that point or even how the same could be said for Christianity via Evangelists, in the Roman Empire. That became the Catholic Roman Empire.