The contemporary democratic ethos may look askance at evangelism and proselytizing in the public square because of past abuses. Changing the ethos with respect to evangelism may well require us to think of evangelism less in terms of defeating an enemy and more in terms of showing hospitality to the stranger—that is, showing respect in the face of our important differences. [A] distinctive Christian contribution to late modern democracies should be the introduction of mercy and compassion as unifying virtues, reflective of the gospel we profess.