Mission Trips Through An Ethical Lens
Mission trips through an ethical lens; Why do people go on missions and what are the impacts through deontological and virtue ethics perspectives?
Artist Statement: My findings are in a zine because I thought it was the most accessible way for people to get a concise answer to my question. Many of the resources I used to get photos and quotes for the zine were websites that are used to book mission trips and social media.
The main reasons people go on mission trips are to:
- preserve the dignity of the human person
- help the poor
Through a deontological lens, the consequences of these trips are not as important as following what the Bible teaches. These people preach and try to make disciples as the Bible suggests. Some help the poor because the Bible recommends that they do so. This often makes the focus of these trips the missionaries and their experience rather than the improvement of the people in the community. As long as the missionaries follow the teachings of the Bible and the church, it is a successful mission.
Through a virtue ethics lens, there is a trend toward volunteerism and less emphasis on converting people. The consequences of actions are important. This is a perspective based on morals influenced by the bible, but ultimately holding respect for those that they are helping and following their wishes. There is an emphasis on virtuous actions that are for the benefit of the people, even if they go against biblical morals. It boils down to being a virtuous person rather than pushing religious beliefs on others.
The results of missions seem to be mostly negative, but it depends on your ethical perspective.
Some critiques of missions:
- Instead of donating money to these communities in need and providing them with income or job opportunities, people spend thousands of dollars to visit a different community and do jobs they have no skills for.
- Imperialistic
- Savior complex or self-righteousness
Some praises of missions:
- Raises awareness of global issues
- Provides education
- Provides aid
Explanation of pages:
Title Page: Real flier used to promote a mission trip on the cover to show that these are real messages being spread. I am not trying to exaggerate language. Picture of Jesus to emphasize the religious aspect. ALso wanted the viewer to think about what Jesus would do or think about missions.
Second page: I included the main reasons that people claim they go on mission trips. These have come from academic journals I have read for this project. The most common reason throughout all of my research has been the protection and advocation of human rights because that is what is most important from the Bible. I included hands all around because I wanted to show this image of "healing hands" because missionaries tend to go with the goal of helping those less fortunate than themselves.
Third page: This page is kind of my critique because I find much of the representation of these trips on social media to be performative. People often emphasize their journey in finding closeness to God, but don't write about or show their positive impact on the communities they visit. They often seem like vacations rather than impactful events. And many of the photos seem posed and like the emphasis is on the person saving the child.
Fourth and fifth pages: I wanted to easily break down the difference between deontology and virtue ethics. Deontology is more focused on obedience and following what the Bible says its followers should do, but virtue ethics is more focused on the morals taught in the Bible and the execution of them. Consequences are more important through virtue ethics. I tried to surround the biblical verses with Christian imagery. The flowers are carnations because that is recognized as the flower of god. I had cherubs because they symbolize the positive intentions that most Christians have when they go on these trips.
Sixth page: this page shows the way that many see mission trips as more a vacation which is disrespectful to the communities they visit. That is their way of life not a place to visit and leave. Edge is a missionary group that helps send people on mission trips. This term of pioneer seen in their logo is problematic because it expresses the message that these places need to be introduced to christianity and need others to find and change them.
Seventh page: The first one is actually a very helpful and important mission trip. Ukraine needs aid right now. But the last one of the soccer team seems more like a vacation than a mission doing real work. And the children in the image to the right don't seem very happy.
Eighth page: Action question. I just want people to question and acknowledge their motives for doing something, especially when they claim they are doing something in the name of God.