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Well on a slightly more crazy level Jim Jones. I mean look at all those people that followed him so devotedly theyd do anything for him. Even follow him to their death. I mean they just got caught in the wrong cult.

Wasn't the number of dead somewhere around 920 when Jim Jones commanded them to take the Kool Aid?

Im all for koolaid but not with evil poison in it. And yeah it was somewhere around 1000.


Another harrassment: my stepfather was at a stoplight and a woman came up to him and said "I love you and god does to." He said something to the effect of "Id love you to if your breasts were a little bigger!" He was obviously joking but she got real offended and ran off

It cant be any worse then a full blooded Irish Redneck answering the door.... that got interesting and yet, i always wanted to get a black robe, one of the wicked looking knives and a fake goats head and answer the door better then my Brothers Girlfriend wanting to take potatos inject them with black paint, launch them out of a potato guy at mormon houses and take strips of paper and make tailismans that say "Satan loves you". My family can be very evil at times I love my family at times

As a practicing Hindu in a predominantly Christian country (the US), you cannot imagine how often I am talked to by these crazed idiots. I definetely agree with you. I am deeply offended that someone else would even dare to come to my home and question my religious beliefs. It is absolutely ridiculous. I do not get as offended by telemarketers and sales persons because they are different than people who want to convert others. Telemarketers are selling a product, while people who attempt to convert are selling a belief system. Honestly, to have someone come to my door, question my religious beliefs, and with that, my culture, heritage, and lifestyle, is so aggravating I cannot put it into words.

To understand how absolutely stupid this whole 'conversion' salesemen thing is, just imagine for a moment, that not just Christians, but other faiths attempted to convert you. How would the average American respond to my Hindu attempts to convert him to my Hindu belief system?

Not very well. It doesn't take a post-doctoral degree to figure it out.

So why then, should I be expected to take this kind of crap? Because I practice a minority religion in this country, I'm supposed to sit there while someone recites psalms from his holy book? Uggh.

The fact of the matter is: religion isn't something you can prove, like science. To go around touting religion as if it is something that can be proven is downright arrogant and close-minded.

I guess I'm just sick of all these fools who think their close-minded arguments are going to sway me. Oh, and I repeat, if you think you have it bad, imagine being a Hindu with a Hindu name listed in the phonebook. Now imagine how many times I get bothered about my religion by these churches. Now cry for me. Please.

"targetting vulnerable people such as children, poor peopole, ill people, interns in jail, people who abuse drugs etc. It's completely disgusting."

No kidding. Ever heard of the 'great' Mother Teresa? What do you think she did? She went to Calcutta, a city filled with poor, diseased, psychologically demoralized denizens and used this to her advantage, converting a number of them to Christianity as they lay in their deathbeds. Pssh. I might respect her work if she did it for the good of the people, and not for advancing her religion.

Peace.

Ive done most of the above, but they keep coming to my door. They must think of me as a right of passage. Send out the new recruits to meet the crazy unenlightened one.

Jehovas witnesses are making the rounds again.... so far two groups have some to my house... the second time my girlfriend and I just stood behind the door and said "I am god". then when they said she wasnt I yelled "heathens!" Poor guys, had no clue to what was going on.

I think my negative reactions came from living in a house of logic. When a group of witnesses then popped up at the doorstep we said no thanks, to which the man spit at our feet and said "dirty filth." that was right before my mom grabbed him by his little scrawny arms and kneed him in the groin. they hadnt been exactly pleasant before... saying that we should come over to the witnesses because our beliefs were flawed, and that we were brainwashed.

The second, I answered the door butt-naked.

@Aegis, I think we both know that they just get mesmorized by what they see up here in Canada.

Hello and welcome to the board @frdchkn (I wish you had choosen another username though). I will cry for you. I am very lucky you see, because I live in Sweden, a highly secularised country where Jehovas Witness quit knocking on peoples doors 15-20 years ago.

[quote="Fiberfar]
You mentioned that they could get a powerful hold on the socciety by spreading their ideas in an undercover way. Would the old cult in Guyana serve as such an example? (forgot the name) [/quote"]

I also forgot the name, I just remember the name of Jim Jones, but yes, that is one extreme example of how a destructive cult can work. Other examples include spreading propaganda or attacking other groups of people in a way so that it's not obvious it is related to a religious/ideological agenda.

Regarding the witnesses, while I lived in the city there was a large comunity nearby. I wanted to date those girls, but their moms were no go, cause I was not even christian (they'd put the hand in front of the mouth and look awed as if I was danger) and listened to punk rock (at this point they'd rip hair from her heads) even though I was patient enough to hear them (till I reach the age of 18 and started ignoring them and their pathetic daughters).

Anyhoo, here in the farm everyone is VERY catholic. There's an rather orthodox catholic comunity here, who go to the big church that is 5 km from our house, and every weekend people go there to see and be seen. Its an interesting parade, I've been there after the cult a few times riding my bike or with the car (which was the right time of the day to be seen as an automobile owner. That's important on poor coutries kids, never forget). People organizes prayers, some nine day prayer on each comunity member house (my mom always is a host of those prayer sessions). I'm not looked harshly upon because I dont appear on those, I'm just... let me say... less seen and less heard of. It doesnt matter to me really. The worst part is my family (Mom is fanatic, dad is not, and grandmother almost goes nuts every time someone speaks ill of church/bible/priest/god/mary) since sometimes I need to put a mask and play "hide".

I had a very hard time trying to find a religion of my own (cause seeing everyone happy I felt kinda lost) and I found it. I'm ok. Dont rub bibles on my face. Its all I ask now

I don't feel offended by religious propaganda.

CE, I can best liken it to being harrangued by someone attempting to convince me that all blacks should "go back to Africa," or all women should be fired from their jobs. All that while they're thrusting propaganda literature at me of the crudest, most insulting type--insulting, because it relies upon fear and hatred triggers, an ignorance of facts, and a willingness to accept answers without thinking. It is as if I'm being told that I'm as much of a blind fool as they are, and can accept the most appalling nonsense as fact: that unbaptized babies who die will go straight to some appalling place where they'll stay conscious but without comfort for eternity, for example.

That's why I'm offended.

Yup, that's good way to ensure they won't come back. My friend once let them in, let them speak about 2 hours (yes, he hadn't anything better to do ) and after that said something like this: "I'll consider you religion if you consider my religion" and gave some buddha-leaflets to them. Of course, my friend isn't buddhish, he just got those leaflets somewhere. After that, witnessess never bothered to visit him.

I find that amusing, but hard to believe. In my experience, any concrete evidence that you have a religion differing strongly from theirs will cause these door-to-door missionaries to place you on a special list for regular visitations by their people. You are marked in red for "salvation."

Not to mention, your friend just lost two hours of his or her life listening to drivel. Oh, well, I suppose it's no worth than a Brittany Spears video, though you don't get the t&a.

fable wrote:I don't feel offended by religious propaganda.

CE, I can best liken it to being harrangued by someone attempting to convince me that all blacks should "go back to Africa," or all women should be fired from their jobs. All that while they're thrusting propaganda literature at me of the crudest, most insulting type--insulting, because it relies upon fear and hatred triggers, an ignorance of facts, and a willingness to accept answers without thinking. It is as if I'm being told that I'm as much of a blind fool as they are, and can accept the most appalling nonsense as fact: that unbaptized babies who die will go straight to some appalling place where they'll stay conscious but without comfort for eternity, for example.

That's why I'm offended.

*nods* I'm not some naive idiot, and I hold to my beliefs just as firmly as those people. Why should I convert, and what good does it do for their religions image to make people they are trying to convert feel offended, harrassed and angry?

Not to mention, your friend just lost two hours of his or her life listening to drivel. Oh, well, I suppose it's no worth than a Brittany Spears video, though you don't get the t&a.

Well, if it was a young nun...

I think I agree a bit with Magrus on the one sense: I don't like being bombarded by other people's religious views. I mentioned in the thread that degenerated into whether sex was a human right that some person or persons unknown hire a skywriter here and write "Jesus Loves You" in the sky. I don't want or need to see that, but at least it doesn't say "Love Jesus or Burn in Hell."

[QUOTE=C Elegans]Hello and welcome to the board @frdchkn (I wish you had choosen another username though). [/QUOTE]

Thanks for the welcome. I've been lurking about the forums for awhile, but decided to join recently so I could post. Is there something wrong with my username (violates rules of the forum, someone else has a name similar, etc.)?

[QUOTE=frdchkn]Thanks for the welcome. I've been lurking about the forums for awhile, but decided to join recently so I could post. Is there something wrong with my username (violates rules of the forum, someone else has a name similar, etc.)?[/QUOTE]

Hard to remember or type I would think.... Welcome to the forum by the way

[QUOTE=frdchkn]Thanks for the welcome. I've been lurking about the forums for awhile, but decided to join recently so I could post. Is there something wrong with my username (violates rules of the forum, someone else has a name similar, etc.)?[/QUOTE]

By no means. "Fried chicken," which is what it seems to be (though I read it as "Fred Checkin," despite having never met one), is fine. Of course, tandoori is much healthier and tastier.

Back to subject. If you (anybody) wish to change my views, gain my respect. But of course, these people have no concern for respect, and they're not interested in really making you think. They want to invoke fear or any other emotion that will get you to become just as they are. Unfortunately, there are many people like these in the US, quite a lot in the Netherlands, and increasing numbers in France, Germany, the MidEast, the Scandinavian countries, and in Eastern Europe, too.

[QUOTE=fable] But of course, these people have no concern for respect, and they're not interested in really making you think. They want to invoke fear or any other emotion that will get you to become just as they are. [/QUOTE]

Well, but that has similar behaviors in the politics, in schools, in families. I understand it is a bad thing to argue over fear/emotions but that's being used by human beings so long that they dont seem to care. It makes the whole situation even more critical - it is an old practice, a very bad habit that has become almost default into our species interactions.

I find that amusing, but hard to believe. In my experience, any concrete evidence that you have a religion differing strongly from theirs will cause these door-to-door missionaries to place you on a special list for regular visitations by their people. You are marked in red for "salvation."

*nods*

Geologist friend of my fathers gave them all our names, and where we currently reside. they also got the names of our roommates. They tried my brother, but I think he starts confusing them with philosophy. Poor couls.

Who else here has had their names referred? Half the people in our subdivision have been. Major pain.

Thanks for the welcome. I've been lurking about the forums for awhile, but decided to join recently so I could post. Is there something wrong with my username (violates rules of the forum, someone else has a name similar, etc.)?

Fiberfar is right... it wont be too long until someone gives you a nickname.

*nods* I'm not some naive idiot, and I hold to my beliefs just as firmly as those people. Why should I convert, and what good does it do for their religions image to make people they are trying to convert feel offended, harrassed and angry?

I agree. I try to make their lives has hellish as possible. Its a gift.

Well, if it was a young nun...

I envy you, Magrus, your gutters must be leafless.

I agree with all of you who have so far mentioned their experiences with these people involving their faith. Faith is another word meaning close mindedness and a willingness to accept whatever is told to them in the name of god. If you do not agree with them, then you must be wrong, as they have faith that they are right.

[QUOTE=fable]CE, I can best liken it to being harrangued by someone attempting to convince me that all blacks should "go back to Africa," or all women should be fired from their jobs. All that while they're thrusting propaganda literature at me of the crudest, most insulting type--insulting, because it relies upon fear and hatred triggers, an ignorance of facts, and a willingness to accept answers without thinking.[/quote]

Yes, I also feel the same about all those ideas that aim to elicit hate from ignorance, fear, insecurity and unhappiness, it's just that the feeling it induce in me is not that of offence, it's just plain and pure anger.

[quote="frdchkn]
Is there something wrong with my username (violates rules of the forum"]

No, no, nothing of the sort, it's just that because it is not a pronouncable word but a set of consonants, it's more difficult to remember and type. correctly.

[quote="Fable]
They want to invoke fear or any other emotion that will get you to become just as they are. Unfortunately"]

You find them all over the world. The exact content of their message differ, but the principles are the same. In Sweden where I live, religious groups are not so active (although the scientologists have started stirring now, maybe in line with the American scientologists). Instead, we have very aggressive feminist and animal rights-groups in Sweden. The feminist groups typically use a highly defensive style aimed at eliciting feelings of guilt and feelings of being an inferior being if you are not with them. According to their rethorics, you are a chauvinist swine if you're a man and not a feminist, and a stupid looser and "evil" (because you're on "their" side) if you're a woman and not a feminst. The animal rights-groups appeal primarily to young people, and for every 1 or 2 serious groups, there are 20 groups who actually do things that harm the environment. They spread a lot of incorrect information and claim it is facts, and use ad hominem techniques such as claiming everybody who is not a vegan are "nazi" or "murderers". Then of course you have the commercial new-age groups that only look for money, that's a different thing. They sell a product to earn money, the vegans and feminists sell a life-style and value-packet to increase their power and often, to strenghten their own self-image and identity.

I think it is noteworthy that it's not the religious part that is the same in all cults, it's other mechanisms. A destructive christian cult has much more in common with a destructive vegan "cult" than it has in common with mainstream christianity.

[QUOTE=Aegis]It used to bother me when people would hand me religious documents, but as I came to learn, and study religions, as well as politics, it stopped bothering me. The reason it doesn't bother me, is because it is still up to me whether I listen, or even convert. how much the persist is up to them. It's their own time they're wasting.

Besides, I used to have fun with the Jehova Witness's that came to my house (they no longer come). One time, when they asked if I had found Jesus, I said no, and then asked them if they had found Allah. The second, I answered the door butt-naked.[/QUOTE]

I agree with you on that. Its up to you whether or not you decide to convert, or even listen to what they have to say. As far as persistance if they weren't then they would not show that they really care. I mean you see anyother group knocking at your door every so often. Its not so easy waking up to people who you know are going to slam the door on your face. I know because Im a Witnesse(dont eat me alive).Although,they shouldnt be trying to convert you(if so sorry, but no one is perfect ) or anyone else, but giving a message. Its up to you what you do with that message.

As far as coming out butt naked....cant believe I missed it
probably would of fell on the floor laughing...good times
keep them coming!

As far as getting them to stop coming....um...
its not looking to good for you guys.
you could try to tell them to write it down on their papers that you
wish not to be visited again. It might work for a while.

As far as people getting spit on or yelled at for being heathens I apologize
their not suppose to do that(they get censored/kickout for doing that), were not radicals, at least not where Im at.

I was brought up in a semi-religious household. I was chritened(sp), I went to my First communion and my first confession (How in whatever god it out there's name does a 6 year-old have sins) and then I just gave up. My parents never realy tried to foster any religious fervor in me, and I am immensely glad. Me and my friends joke about being satan-worshiping D&D players ("Oh damn, Charlie, did you remember to wash the virgin blood off your carpet?") but we, naturally don't mean it. I am, as I like to but it, A devout agnostic. I reckon there is something out there, but I don't think I have to follow a whole bunch of dogma (That I maintain was written by man, not god) to lead a good life. I have no problem with good-Christians, who follow the bible, lead good lives and have god morals. What really irks me, is the aformentioned convertionists. Everyone is entitled to their own beliefs and ways of life. If someone worships teh great purple bunny in the sky and it helps them to lead a good life, that is fine by me, and it should be by anyone with any tolerance. Most Christians are good peopl (St. Vincent de Paul Society for one example) but the few that give them a bad name can quite literally make me quiver with rage.

I have seen the "light" and I have seen the "darkness" and personally, I love feeling my way around in the darkness, much more fun; I love suprises.

I look forward to the day when Muslims, or Jews, or Buddhists can have a communal religious gathering in a sports stadium with the same amount of hype as a Christian, though I fear I will not leve to see this day...

Again, Kythras' two copper pieces

[QUOTE=Kythras]I have seen the "light" and I have seen the "darkness" and personally, I love feeling my way around in the darkness, much more fun; I love suprises.

I look forward to the day when Muslims, or Jews, or Buddhists can have a communal religious gathering in a sports stadium with the same amount of hype as a Christian, though I fear I will not leve to see this day...[/QUOTE]

Welcome to SYM.

I like the comment "I love feeling my way around in the darkness, much more fun". It's a bit of my philosophy, although there are a few ways to take that.

I highly doubt that will be happening in this country. It's Christian, no doubt about it, regardless of it's "religious freedom" crap that's spouted by everyone. I'm curious when Muslims, Jews and Christians will stop bickering and treat other as they should. It IS the same deity they all worship after all. The idiocy involved with arguing about who's the better worshipping astounds me sometimes. If I were a god, and my worshipper's were killing each other over who had the best way to worship me, I'd see to it all of them got a harsh, nasty lesson in manners. Then again, I think I'll be seeing quite a lot of that in my lifetime.