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Tonyzonit - on the contrary - I'm a super easy mark
I have sympathy for anyone who would have to do such a thing to make a few bucks. But if they are selling something completely useless or detrimental to society such as religion, that's quite a different story. There must be a God if he would deliver bible thumpers to my door to be wound up . . . entertainment on the hoof.
posted by
gomedome
on May 29, 2007 at 1:35 PM
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It would be difficult selling you anything door to door, one feels...!
posted by
Antonionioni
on May 29, 2007 at 12:02 PM
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Troosha - or it's indicative of needing a life?
posted by
gomedome
on May 29, 2007 at 10:15 AM
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You're bad.....
posted by
Troosha
on May 29, 2007 at 10:12 AM
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Troosha - absolutely, part of the sheer pleasure derived from winding up
bible thumpers comes from watching them rabbidly froth at the mouth.
It's even better when they instantly stop being "good Christians" to hurl a few insults and/or manufacture character assassinations towards those who aren't buying what they're selling. I especially get a kick out of the bare faced liars. I can't be the only one that finds entertainment value in watching someone's attempts to spread a message of love for all humanity degenerate into name calling and lies.
posted by
gomedome
on May 29, 2007 at 10:10 AM
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PS
Oh… and as I’ve said before I think you kind of thrive on the attempts at public humiliation and I rather doubt you’re ever humiliated at all. 
posted by
Troosha
on May 29, 2007 at 9:19 AM
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gomedome
Hate when people site bible passages. Wassup with that? Are we supposed to stop in our tracks and go “Oh yeah – now it all makes sense”. I’m a spiritual woman with strong beliefs about a guiding higher power but my belief system is based more on reality, nature, yin and yang, or the infinite capacity of humanity itself. When I see an excerpt from the bible I wonder if the person fully grasps the “religion” they hold so dear or do they simply grasp it because it’s easier than asking some difficult questions which may not have an quick-fix answer.
posted by
Troosha
on May 29, 2007 at 9:16 AM
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Whysper - I've gone the other way at this stage of my life
My bullshit threshold has been collectively exceeded by those who have attempted to impose their religious perspectives upon me over the years.
posted by
gomedome
on May 29, 2007 at 9:01 AM
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Troosha - that's a good point and very true but appreciate that as the
target of many of these emotional outbursts I can tell the difference.
An overly emotional rebuttal is one thing but pursuit and harrassment is quite another. Most of the attempts to convert me have come in two forms. Emails sent with bible passages or some other type of supposed artillery comprising the majority of the content coupled with lame pleas to either dumb it down or accept their God before it is too late. The other tact some have taken is an attempt at public humiliation or to discredit me to demonstrate the errors of my ways, which so far has invariably backfired upon the perpetrators.
posted by
gomedome
on May 29, 2007 at 8:56 AM
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Since joining Al-anon
I'm much more tolerant of the bible thumpers than I used to be. I just tell them that I'm beyond hope, ask them to pray for me and move on.
posted by
Whysper
on May 29, 2007 at 8:52 AM
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Whysper - I agree, conversion primarly happens in only two scenarios
Marriage into a religion is one, an individual feeling they have a void, need or deficiency in their lives being the other. The latter unfortunately becomes grounds for some to make determinations of need or deficiency about others. I wish I had a nickel for every time some bible thumper told me how deficient I am.
posted by
gomedome
on May 29, 2007 at 8:45 AM
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Talion - "no kidding" - I wish I could add the appropriate tone to the
words "no kidding" in reference to this part of your comment.
"However, usually the "profound message" is only lip service . . . " No kidding, we sure have seen some insufferable religious numbnuts on this blogging site. I can handle the semi crazed bible thumpers if they make some attempt to practice what they preach, I even have friends amongst them. But the lying, cheating, backstabbing, disengenuous types intent on spreading a message that they don't come close to adhering to themselves are simply foolish little minded people that shouldn't be telling anyone how to live.
posted by
gomedome
on May 29, 2007 at 8:39 AM
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gomedome
Some people shoot from the hip in here. I’m not so sure they truly believe or think they’ll make a difference but rather they simply want to voice their objection to your dismissal of God. You’re entitled to your position and, I suppose, their entitled to their sometimes clumsy, poorly grounded, or overly passionate rebuttal.
posted by
Troosha
on May 29, 2007 at 8:32 AM
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Pat_B - then she joined Blogit and told us all how the local college was
discriminating against Christians.
The story you relate in your comment underlines a slow paced change taking place in our societies today. Where there was obviously no malicious intent on the part of the woman placing the ad, you can bet that she took some offense to being told that she could not place an ad with such wording. But replace one word in her ad; change "Christian" to "Muslim" or "Hindu" or whatever, as in: "Wanted Good Muslim Girls" . . . and you can bet that she would be the first to complain.
posted by
gomedome
on May 29, 2007 at 8:31 AM
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It's the safety valve religion
Most religions are ones that people are born into, converting is difficult somtimes impossible, which is why you don't see people from other religions proselitizing(sp).
With the big C, you can admit your sins, beg for forgiveness and accept Junior as you saviour and you're in like Flint. That's why I call it the safety valve religion, I am quite tolerant of it, but like all organized religions I don't trust them.
posted by
Whysper
on May 29, 2007 at 8:27 AM
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gomedome
What I find amazing is that so many simply can't fathom others coming to a completely different conclusion concerning God and religion. This goes back to the
I was lost, but now I'm found aspect of conversion, the basic point you've reiterated on numerous occasions that nonbelievers are viewed as seriously misguided, blind, morally bankrupt, etc. And even if (and that's a big if) those things were true, it's going to take a lot more than a pamphlet to change someone. However, usually the "profound message" is only lip service, rudimentary more in-depth than
have a nice day.
posted by
Talion
on May 29, 2007 at 8:26 AM
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I once worked in the housing office at the college. Part of my job
was to work with off-campus landlords who rent to students. One lady sent in her ad copy for posting to the bulletin board, but I had to refuse it. She wanted to rent to "good Christian girls." She was stunned when I explained we couldn't post her ad -- it was blatant discrimination. I explained that many students came from across the water and were Buddhists or Moslem or not religious. She said she hadn't meant they had to be Christian, they just had to be serious students and non-drinkers, she didn't want them bringing guys home... Eventually she decided to put her ad in the local paper instead.
posted by
Pat_B
on May 29, 2007 at 8:11 AM
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