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I was evangelized in the parking lot!

RoJoHen

RoJoHen

Awesome
Admiral
Is it the END OF DAYS?! :eek:


Well, the friendly religious guy who stalked me in my apartment's parking lot sure seemed to think so. He was waiting in his car, and as soon as he saw me leave the building, he pulled up behind me and started talking to me about the Bible. He had a pamphlet (these guys always have pamphlets!) that was titled "Are You Prepared for the Final Days?"

I mean, what if I'm not prepared? What if the Final Days come and I didn't read my pamphlet?!

What I really want to know is: How many people do these door-to-door religious folks actually convert by harassing their neighbors? If I wanted to go to church, I'd go to church. I'm well aware that they exist. It's not like they're giving me any new information.

"Hey, do you know about the Bible?"
"The Bible? What's that? I've never heard of it before!" :p
 
I would have assumed the guy in the car was trying to rob me and that the pamphlet was just an excuse to get me close.
 
I'm sure to a point there is success in doing it.

As someone who has had to volunteer for various things that involved approaching people, I'm not opposed to it if the people are polite and respectful.

Given conversations I've had about religion with people of many different faiths, I'd say there is a lot people don't know about many aspects- like everything from culture to science. Society grows by diversity and requires discussions of all kinds, and that requires freedom. And if some people feel they require public areas to speak-- as long as those are peaceful, and they allow people to say no thanks, I don't mind.
 
Oh, I hate these people.

I used to have a decent friend who was a bit of a religious nut. We used to joke around about our conflicting views sometimes, although sometimes he would get serious and ask "How could an intelligent and charming person like you remain a Atheist?" :rolleyes:

Finally, he came to my house one day under the pretense of watching some films and hanging out, but instead brought.....Yes, pamphlets!

After telling him that I was offended by his behavior and telling him I refused to convert, he left and never spoke to me again. what an ass.

I don't mind people on the street handing out religious or political materials, but the ones that practically assault you are annoying.
 
I think the first time I was told I was going to hell was in an elementary school lunchroom. There were a lot of evangelists on my college campus, but when living in the city I grew accustomed to just nodding, smiling, and quickly walking past anyone who spoke to me, at all.
 
One thing I don't miss about being on my college campus (well, there are a lot of things, actually, but this is definitely one of them) is how many of that kind of people tended to turn up to try and reel in the students. Really, really annoying, it was.
 
One of them once asked me if I knew what the main problem was in the world today.

I replied "too much religion".
 
I wish more of these people remembered what it says in 2 Timothy 2:23-26:

23Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. 24And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
Click to expand...

In other words, a Christian is to be kind and gentle in speaking to people about the faith--being quarrelsome or rude "in the name of the Lord" simply is not Christian in spirit or practice. Just because a Christian might not agree with others' beliefs does not provide an excuse to be a jerk.
 
Nerys Ghemor said:
I wish more of these people remembered what it says in 2 Timothy 2:23-26:

23Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. 24And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
Click to expand...
In other words, a Christian is to be kind and gentle in speaking to people about the faith--being quarrelsome or rude "in the name of the Lord" simply is not Christian in spirit or practice. Just because a Christian might not agree with others' beliefs does not provide an excuse to be a jerk.
Click to expand...


Word to that. Being obnoxious doesn't appeal to anyone, no matter what the subject. Everything is better when approached with kindess, tact and respect-- and the knowledge that people have the choice to decline.
 
Nerys Ghemor said:
Exactly--and no choice is valid when it is coerced, anyway.
Click to expand...

Also true. IMHO-- God gives people freedom of choice- to believe or not, to serve God the way they want, or the way He wants, so what right does any person have to take that away? None.
 
I was cornered by one guy talking about religion at my bother-in-law's funeral. I was polite to him and luckily people I was getting a ride with were leaving before he could get too pushy.

I later said to my sister (not the widow, my other sister) that if he had asked me if I went to church I would have said "No, I am an atheist". My sister said that would have been a rude thing for me to do because saying I don't believe in God is insulting his beliefs.
 
Last edited:
Goji said:
One thing I don't miss about being on my college campus (well, there are a lot of things, actually, but this is definitely one of them) is how many of that kind of people tended to turn up to try and reel in the students. Really, really annoying, it was.
Click to expand...

I don't understand what the guys carrying large signs who are screaming and yelling at everyone on college campuses hope to accomplish. That's like using vinegar instead of honey to draw flies.
 
RoJoHen said:
Mr. Laser Beam said:
RoJoHen said:
Maybe if you said, "I'm an Atheist, and you're an idiot because you believe in God."
Click to expand...

Why would you want to say that? The latter part, I mean? :(
Click to expand...

Um...I wouldn't. I'm just saying that "I'm an Atheist" by itself is in no way insulting to the other person's beliefs.
Click to expand...

I tried to say that to my sister. I said it would be no more insulting to him than if I said "I am a Buddhist" or "I am a Hindu".
 
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