I was asked awhile back by a neighbor about religion. He asked what religion I was I told him I didn't believe in it. Well he didn't seem too impressed with me. He didn't speak to me for quite some time. I am curious as to whether any of you have had similar incidents? ****************************************************** 02-09-04, 08:09 AM Elexina Oh, sure. Back when I was an atheist and a bunch of us were sitting at the Gay & Lesbian Alliance table and a Christian came up and handed us pamphlets about why we were all sinners. The first girl refused, saying she was Jewish. That was acceptable. The second refused, she was a pagan. The guy hesitated, but moved on to me. I refused the pamphlet, as I was an atheist, and oh lordie did he explode. He went on and on and on about why I should believe in his god. Interesting that my pagan friend didn't suffer his wrath. I guess it doesn't matter what god you worship as long as you're worshipping something..?
02-09-04, 08:14 AM shelster From a christian standpoint Elexina, I think his reaction makes sense. I think we just are more comfortable with the fact that someone is worshipping something, but not worshipping anything is a more foreign concept.
02-09-04, 08:22 AM juanruiz I can understand Christians wishing to share their message. What I don't understand is the negative and sometimes wrathful reaction when turned down.
02-09-04, 08:36 AM shelster Honestly, I hope I don't get that way. I can't say I never have, but I try not to.
Part of my reaction is out of concern for the person I am talking to. I wouldn't be christian if I didn't believe in heaven and hell.
Part of my reaction is my own baggage. I am one who needs approval and when my message is turned down, I take it very personally...I feel like I am being rejected, or like I didn't do a good enough job.
My way of not having that feeling, is that I don't just go up to people and preach. My way of spreading my message is through the way I live my life. Then, if someone wants to know why I am the way I am, I can talk about my beliefs.
02-09-04, 08:47 AM juanruiz I have a hunch some Christians do feel they are personally being rejected when one passes on hearing their testimony. Perhaps a worse reaction is had when rejection is not involved, but debate. I never will forget the look of incomprehension that turned to anger when I said "What about....?" I guess the guy thought it was going to be all monolog directed at me.
02-09-04, 08:51 AM shelster I don't have a problem with debate (obviously). I like hearing others points of view. I get frustrated when I can admit I understand where they are coming from, even if I don't agree, and they can't. Does that make sense?
I don't agree with many of the view points in here, but I can understand why others do. But, when someone of a different belief system doesn't try to understand mine, or bashes mine..I do get frustrated.
But pointing out something I believe that might be wrong, is a good test of my faith. It causes me to study harder and research.
02-09-04, 11:33 AM Mike121 Ha ha, Newnick! I saw an interview on CNN this morning and my first thought was, "This will hit the discussion boards before noon." Big Grin CNN
02-09-04, 09:28 PM babthrower The airline's explanation was "[the pilot's action] falls along the lines of a personal level of sharing that may not be appropriate for one of our employees to do while on the job."
I had an experience with that 'personal level of sharing' with my own brother who joined a religion -- he won't tell me which one, so I take it that it is one that I have fulminated against, probably LDS or Scientology or something. He came to my house one evening. I was ironing clothes, and having a beer. (He doesn't drink.) He began a fairly intensive, obviously rehearsed, pitch, to which I listened politely, though almost comatose from boredom after the first half hour.
Then, just to make conversation, I said, "Did you know that my daughters both are religious? One is a Western Buddhist, the other a Christian."
He considered this for a moment. Then he said, "Well, you realize of course that they are both going to hell."
At this point my politeness vanished. I happen to know a thing or two about my brother's unsavory past. I'm glad he's found religion and reformed his behavior, but still. And he knows I know.
From between clenched teeth I said, "If your god would put J. and E. in hell, and let YOU into heaven, then your god is a monster! Now get the hell out of here!"
As he turned to go, he shook his head sadly. "I should have known better than to talk to you about something as important as religion when you're drinking."
I had had one beer.
Roll Eyes
P.S. Thanks , KK, for fixing my edit function.
[This message was edited by babthrower on 02-09-04 at 09:37 PM.]
02-09-04, 10:43 PM juanruiz I think your brother is the stereotypical Christian for whom even other Christians would roll their eyes.
02-10-04, 01:58 AM babthrower Gosh, yes, JR. I'm glad that I have met so many other decent and moral Christians in my life and so I don't think they're all like him. His is a case of someone who uses proselytizing as a way of making amends for leading a self-gratifying lifestyle for years. Then he 'found Jesus' and suddenly he's holier-than-thou.
Unfortunately their weakness does not end when they lose an addiction. They want to 'make up' by preaching rather than by good works.
Preaching is easy. Good works are hard, and require self-sacrifice. Self-sacrifice means delaying self-gratification. But inability to delay self-gratification is what got them in trouble in the first place. So it is just a bit more than the newly-recovered addict can afford.
Common sense should tell us that there is an intermediate step between a life of selfish dissolution and the profession of preacher-teacher. The middle step is to simply lead a good life for a while, exercising impulse control.
I am reminded of the stories one hears of women who make prison 'pen pals'. These men write charming letters to the poor deluded women who write to them. The letters are full of pious sayings, about how the prisoner wishes to turn his life around. The pathetic women, who have turned to the population sub-set of imprisoned men in order to find a lover, apparently believe in their conversion. Later, their decaying bodies are found, and the lover is long gone.
In at least two cases, when these men got out of prison (in both cases because the woman pen-pal spoke at their parole hearing) the men killed the woman after cleaning out her bank account.
(I gotta stop watching A&E true crime shows. It's ruining my faith in human nature. Which wasn't so great to begin with.)
[This message was edited by babthrower on 02-10-04 at 02:16 AM.]
02-10-04, 09:27 PM Nadca2 Wow that is crazy.. I would have been freaked if I was on that flight. My mom was cool when she found out what I thought about religion. My dad was mad.. He was Mennonite and mom was raise catholic. Mom told him that no one could do anything about it, I believe what I believe and that there is nothing wrong with it. I was only maybe 11 or 12 at the time.
02-22-04, 01:22 AM stampeding turtles quote: "Well he didn't seem too impressed with me. He didn't speak to me for quite some time."
Well, for one thing I wouldn't be too impressed by someone who wouldn't speak to me for a reason like that. It works both ways you know.
And second, consider yourself lucky maybe? Maybe that is a good way to distance yourself from these types?
Maybe by being honest with them up front- that you think for yourself and you don't let other people do your thinking for you- is why some will leave skid marks getting away from you.
Independent thinking is just another word for heresy for many. And that is blasphemous heresy to many..... that you actually think for yourself in matters like this. Many people rely on other's authority or tradition in these matters, and don't give the matter much thought themselves. I have know many people personally down through the years that have never given many of things they believe much thought at all, and just take the whole thing on someones else's say so.
02-24-04, 11:45 PM tsaeb Since I have sometimes gone around selling my prophecy book, approaching all types out there at random, I can testify from the point of view of the one trying to get others to test where they are at spiritually by reading privately my book. Well, my most amusing victims are those who return to me--one over a year later--absolutely desirous of purchasing a copy. Whether the Holy Spirit or life or both, some combination of someone(s) and/or something(s) seems to make some folks spiritually hungry/thirsty. Those wishing to share (not proselytize, heaven forbid) must realize that they can reach no one at all: it is the Holy Spirit in step with one's admitted lack of knowledge about one's life's path which readies folks for a closer walk. It has simply not been true that wisdom or common sense or the like cause the thought that one needs to examine (improve, sheesh) one's level of spirituality. Anyway, patience is a virtue when dealing with others, especially when selling others on God or on tools to use to help one reach God. I am happy when I come across believers of any variety: at least, they are on the path to spiritual development on which they can, if they are so chosen, fine tune a relationship with a sovereign God. Or, they can continue to be their own sovereign gods with religions comprised of tools alone without God (although they then profess a different god). All right, so I supply input from the standpoint of a Christian, but I would be happier if more people were led more quickly to God instead of to idols, one idol being their own selves. I can do only what God allows me to do.
[This message was edited by tsaeb on 02-24-04 at 11:58 PM.]
03-03-06, 05:47 PM HOSS I am a Christian. If you are a nonbeliever I don't agree with you. just as you don't agree with me. The way I look at it, as long as I can do my thing, then you can do your thing.
It is not my place to judge, or push what I believe on anyone. and I have no right looking down on a person because they don't believe. and I would never do so.
Don't get me wrong I love to share what I have learned. and learn all I can in the word of God. but without force.
I know I am not better then any person. I do all I can to live the best life I can.in my case it involves God. we all have to choose for ourselves.
Thanks Hoss
06-04-06, 11:32 AM juanruiz
quote: The way I look at it, as long as I can do my thing, then you can do your thing.
That would be fine if it weren't for the fact that some Christians don't believe that their religious fist should stop at my atheist nose. And thus they seek to inject their mysticism into public school science classes, block theater entrances, and insist that the US is a "Christian" nation.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: DorianGreyed,
