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I am conflicted on this. While I do realise that some if not most missionaries contribute positively to the world, I struggle with their motivation for doing good. If they are nice to people because they want to convert them, I find that inferior to being nice to people because it is a good thing to be a nice person. It's the same with the Salvation Army. They do an amazing job with the Soup and Soap, so why do they need to force Jesus down people's throats? If their audience is paying for the food by accepting to listen to a message they didn't really want, is it really charity?
In my book, people who do good because doing good is right are good people. People who do good primarily to influence or persuade others are not. And I believe missionaries exist in both categories.
(And adding to that complexity, if you really believe that everyone who is not following your religion is doomed, I guess it is a moral imperative to save them. But as a peaceful and fair global society is demonstrably impossible if people think like that, I believe the personal moral imperative has to take a back seat to values that are common for all mankind.)
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