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Odysseus - that's what I figured, you do everything but answer the question
You suggested that there were better and more mature ways to deal with these people. I asked you to name one that actually works.
Then you attempt to use the technological achievements of mankind as an analogy where it clearly does not work. Technological achievements are measurable and observable, an individual claiming to have found salvation is merely making an unverifyable claim.
posted by
gomedome
on August 27, 2006 at 9:52 AM
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Oh, you can make fun of their attire!
You can insist upon how stupid they are and how stupid they look! You can spend your energy ridiculing them, or you can simply state your case and move on. From reading you, I fear that at some point your motivations shift from simply dealing with an undesirable solicitor to deriving some grotesque amusement from belittling them.
And the fact that something has eluded mankind throughout the existence of humanity is little reason to doubt that it can ultimately be achieved. I’m sure that many human achievements, i.e. flight, electric lights, cloning, etc. were originally deemed unattainable by many.
posted by
telemachus
on August 27, 2006 at 12:29 AM
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Odysseus - as usual - you crack me up
This part here is classic: "There are more mature and effective ways to deal with such confrontations." ...........and worth responding to for the comedy of it.
Name one of the "more mature and effective ways" that actually works? When the biblicly gibbled are that far gone, there is nothing else that you can do. They are complete and utter sources of comedy for exemplifying mankind's folly to such a fervent degree. They have come to the conclusion that they have succeded in finding the one true path to heaven, a feat that has eluded all others of our spucies since the dawn of time. This is not humorous? .......It has to be.
posted by
gomedome
on August 26, 2006 at 8:07 PM
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I agree with taps that religion should not be forced
upon people; but, as you well know, I vehemently disagree with you that making fun of religious people is a proper way to respond. There are lots of people that bother us, but making fun of them solves nothing. If a beggar approaches you on the street asking for money, do you make fun of him? If a solicitor comes by trying to sell you something, do you make fun of them? There are more mature and effective ways to deal with such confrontations.
posted by
telemachus
on August 26, 2006 at 6:47 PM
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gomedome, I guess you know from comments that I have made in the past, that these incidents (and there have been many) do not in any way diminish my belief and faith in God or The Bible as His Word. But, humans are strange creatures that choose to exercise their faith in ways that are not always the best. I feel that it is not good to be pushy and forceful in spreading religion of any kind.
posted by
TAPS.
on August 26, 2006 at 11:59 AM
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bel_1965 - that is a good point - at what point does it become
interference with a minor?
There has been an upsurge in this type of canvassing activity in recent years, at least in my area. This is in conjunction with the overall decline in church attendance in most churches. It seems that every second day there is a flyer in my mail box or someone knocking on the door from one of the local churches. Some of them are from wacky little cults, others from breakaway Christian churches, every last one of them however has been a Christian based religion. I have never had a any other type of religion knock on my door.
posted by
gomedome
on August 26, 2006 at 11:54 AM
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TAPS- sorry about that - I picked up on the word "funny" and your closing
"LOL"
....and assumed that you were telling us of a pleasant memory.
Your last comment reminded me of an incident back when I owned a restaraunt/bar. During a very busy lunch hour a pair of religious dopes wearing the worst suits man ever invented walked into the dining area and began going table to table pestering people. When I threw them out, one of them said "you would stop the spreading of the word of Jesus?"....."No, I would stop two crazy persons who haven't spent a penny here from pestering those who are spending money here...now get lost" .....
posted by
gomedome
on August 26, 2006 at 11:47 AM
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gomedome, I have also been embarrassed as an adult by being with loved ones who have an obsession with this practice and carry tracts in convenient places in order to pass them out wherever they go. In a nice restaurant, this couple I was with for dinner was handing tracts to people at their tables as we passed them being escorted to our tables. She handed a nice-looking well dressed man a tract and said, "Here, read this." He was not pleased and responded, "You read it!" To everyones amazement and embarrassment, she did. She stood right there over him at his table and read the thing outloud. No one knew what to do. It was too startling. Then we had dinner. I piddled with my food not able to eat. Actually, I have not had contact with that couple since that time.
posted by
TAPS.
on August 26, 2006 at 11:25 AM
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This is one of my pet peeves
and last weekend it became even more so. I don't want someone peddling magazines to me and I sure as heck don't want someone peddling their beliefs to me either. When I had someone who refused to back off of my child last weekend I really had to wonder about the legality of people approaching children they do not know for any reason.
I have my beliefs and having someone approach me on the street or at my front door is not going to change them. If anything they are bound to push me farther away.
posted by
bel_1965
on August 26, 2006 at 11:17 AM
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gomedome, actually, I did not say "pleasant" memories. I was embarrassed by what we were told to do. It seemed ludicrous even though I was very young. I admit, I did laugh at my brother's antics, but never the less, I was embarrassed.
posted by
TAPS.
on August 26, 2006 at 11:07 AM
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TAPS- it is obvious that your pleasant memories of this are derived from
the fact that it was a family outing.
But what of the activity itself, throwing small paper scrolls out of a car window? I read your comment and all I can say is "wow".
posted by
gomedome
on August 26, 2006 at 11:01 AM
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RckyMtnActivist - prior to witnessing being invented by the protestants,
The old standbyes of original sin and indoctrination by one's community were the main recruitment ploys for the churches. However, once competition for "souls" increased with the growth and diversity of the protestant religions, all out sales drives became necessary. It really is a brilliant tactic when you think about it. Go over the morbid details of Christ's crucifixion, then toughen up your salesforce by telling them that any abuse they received from those they witness to, pales in comparison to Christ's suffering. Now you have a salesforce, that has had the reality of what they are doing in invading the personal space of others, removed from their minds. They aren't annoying people with their dribbly gibbly goop, they are "witnessing" in the name of Jesus.
posted by
gomedome
on August 26, 2006 at 10:49 AM
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Gome...have I told you lately I love your blog? LOL
These christian fundies take their "witnessing" pretty serious. A couple of years ago I was at Barnes and Nobles bookstore browsing in their metaphysical section. Well in the same isle but on the opposite side was the beginning of the christian book section. As I was browsing through an Edgar Cayce book a christian took it upon themselves to try to "show me the way." The woman proceeded with her script and after a few minutes I diplomatically told her to basically leave me alone and F**K Off. Since this was the second time this happened to me at this store I finally complained to the manager and suggested they no longer keep these two sections close to one another. The next time I visited, the christian book section was a few rows away! These people are relentless! This post was excellent, funny and sad because it is true!
posted by
RckyMtnActivist
on August 26, 2006 at 7:56 AM
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Gomedome, you bring back lots of memories, some of them pretty funny. You see, I cut my teeth on passing out tracts and going door to door passing out fliers about upcoming revivals. Once we were going on a trip and my Dad got some red celophane paper and had us roll tracts in them like water-proof red cigarettes. In those days, there were no littering laws and no Interstate freeways. It was highway 66 or nothing. My dad had us toss these red bullets out to people that we passed. He even had us put some in bottles with corks and toss them into rivers as we passed over on the bridges. We had a blast. My brother (without my dad knowing) even started a contest to see who could hit someone in the head with one. He, of course, won that one and provoked fist waving and cursing from the target. I don't think we learned anything positive from the situation and I'm sure there were some Talion's and gomedomes that we irritated. Sorry. LOL
posted by
TAPS.
on August 26, 2006 at 7:41 AM
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Gomedome.....that's really funny.....the image of them having a map marked with multiple locations where you can be saved......that's really funny. MoonSpirit 
posted by
syzygy
on August 25, 2006 at 3:36 PM
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There doesn't seem to be a prejudice against green money.
posted by
SuccessWarrior
on August 25, 2006 at 12:45 PM
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Talion - I tend to forget about those sort of things still existing
But I would bet that he wouldn't have turned down a donation from you.
posted by
gomedome
on August 25, 2006 at 12:34 PM
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gomedome
Somehow, I doubt this guy really wanted me to join his church. He was white. Churches in Memphis are one of the last bastions of segregation. People here will live in the same neighborhoods, work together, play together, but for the most part, pray seperately.
posted by
Talion
on August 25, 2006 at 12:14 PM
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