Choosing to Preach Discussion
#26 - Persuasion or Manipulation
Posted by Kent Anderson on August 26, 2006 19:26
Is persuasion different from manipulation? When does our honest attempt to convince someone cross the line into a blatant exercise of power? How do we avoid unduly influencing others in our appropriate desire to convince people of the truth?
(from page 246)
Replies
re: #26 - Persuasion or Manipulation
Posted by HeeJin Kim on Feb. 21, 2007 at 22:43
As the end does not necessarily justify the means, the result does not always secure the process. When you want to persuade others, you may easily use means like manipulation in order to convince them. Nevertheless, manipulation is a way of using people for our own needs rather than one of touching them and moving them to make a decision. If we avoid conscientiously trying to manipulate or to influence people, and instead pass on to others what moved and changed you, then I believe that you naturally persuade them to different opinions or decisions.
re: #26 - Persuasion or Manipulation
Posted by Brad Olsen on Jan. 30, 2007 at 23:20
I think that persuasion is different from manipulation in that it seeks to influence others through facts and personal conviction. Also, persuasion seems to be concerned with the welfare and good of the person who is the object of the persuasion. On the other hand, manipulation tends to bend or twist the facts. Also, manipulation is not focused on the welfare and good of the person who is the object of the persuasion, but on the benefits of the one doing the manipulating. I think a key in avoiding unduly infuencing others in our desire to convince people of the truth is to remember that the work of convincing people of the truth of the Gospel is finally the work of the Holy Spirit. We need to trust the Spirit to do his work.