Disappointed and Disturbed

[Guest]

Those are my feelings right now towards my local church, or at least one man in particular who came to my door this afternoon, representing them.

He began by introducing himself and handing me a leaflet, trying to encourage me to allow my children to join the youth group there. I was polite and listened to what he had to say for a couple of minutes.

He then reached into his bag and pulled out a newsletter, this one aimed at adults. On the first page was a story about a Muslim man, who's been dropping food parcels to areas in need of aid. He then said to me, and I quote him here word for word, "See, Muslims don't only drop bombs."



It took all the willpower I could muster not to begin getting very angry with him and telling him to go away. I said to him, in a very measured tone, "You should be ashamed of yourself."

He didn't understand what I meant. I went on to explain to him that he was effectively stirring up religious hatred and that it was an insensitive and unwise thing to do at the best of times, let alone on a day when the vasy majority of the country had done their utmost to put on a display of solidarity.

I informed him that those suicide bombers were not in fact true Muslims, but extremists and terrorists. I also informed him that the Muslim faith believed in peace, love and the sanctity of life. I also reminded him of the fact that most Muslims are condemning the bombings, along with the rest of us, and probably even more emphatically so.

He then went on to say that Muslim countries should embrace Jesus, and he tried to tell me of the "awful way in which women are treated in thsoe countries". The guy was desperate for my soul.

I, still calm at this point, then attempted to educate him in the different societies in this world, and the fact that we should not try to enforce our beliefs and way of life on those of others; we should display love and understanding, not look down our noses at others and think ourselves better - that is exactly the way he was coming across.

He was a lost cause, but he did admit to me appearing very worldly. Yes, too right I am!

He told me that he knows he will be saved on judgement day. I have my doubts.

As he left my doorstep, I did tell him to be very careful about talking about "Muslims dropping bombs".

I then came indoors and gave the local church a quick call. I spoke to the verger, and he thanked me for taking the time to inform him. He assured me he'd "have a word".

It's so sad, that a white, christian man, in his seventies, can display such intollerance, and downright bigotry, in the name of christianity. I almost hate to say it, but it's little wonder that religious hatred does get stirred up, and it's right here, in our midst, on our actual doorsteps!

I was so shocked that a supposedly christian man could try to "cash in" on recent events, to increase the numbers at his church, because that is what he was effectively trying to get me to do. Sickening.

*deep breath*

Lou

 

[Virtual_Burlesque]

Everything is grist for someone’s mill, Lou.

Don’t let it get you down, and don't forget to disinfect your doorstep.

 

[College_geek]

It's things like this that really piss me off about certain religions/people in them. Granted I don't know a lot about the many religions of the world, but I always thought that there was that bit about "loving thy neighbor" or something. What ever happened to accepting, or at least tolerating, other people?

 

[Guest]

Everything is grist for someone’s mill, Lou.

Don’t let it get you down, and don't forget to disinfect your doorstep.

Very sad, but so true.

S'ok, my dog cocked his leg up there instead.

 

[Guest]

It's things like this that really piss me off about certain religions/people in them. Granted I don't know a lot about the many religions of the world, but I always thought that there was that bit about "loving thy neighbor" or something. What ever happened to accepting, or at least tolerating, other people?

Precisely! That is EXACTLY what I was trying to say to him.

I told him that I have no religion, and my beliefs are my own. We don't need to attach a religious lable to ourselves to live good, tolerent, understanding and loving lives.

 

[Virtual_Burlesque]

. . . S'ok, my dog cocked his leg up there instead.

After he LEFT?

You've got to teach your dog better timing.

 

[English Lady]

Lou, it is sad, the poor guy probably thought he was trying to help but erm, no.

Church type folks like to keep doing things the way they've always done'em. Door to door leafleting and preaching is really not the way to go in this day and age, but some people just keep stuff up because "it worked back then, it'll work now." mentality.

I'll pray for the guy, I hope he doesn't upset anyone else and gets the message about love and tolerance himself

 

[neonlyte]

Well done Lou!

If only more like minded people would speak out when these kind of glib slogans are trotted out in the guise of appeasement, people of his (and her) ilk might begin to comprehend the difference between faith and terrorists using a faith as their shield.

I hope I'd have done the same. I have, only under different circumstances.

 

[Guest]

After he LEFT?

You've got to teach your dog better timing.

I know, I need to brush up on the training manual for "Peeing on demand on umwlecome visitors." Damn dog.

 

[Dar~]

Although I am sure he was trying to portray a positive message, it was religiously slandering it instead. I get so sick of the religious intolerance. I actually spoke to someone (on Lit, I believe) who thought the US of A should go back to making camps for different racial and religious groups like it did to the Japanese during world war II. He said that we should put the Arabic americans in camps so they couldn't cause any harm. I tried to explain to him that doing so would just give the Jihad types exactly the ammunition they wanted for more upheaval.

It is sad that this obviously pious man couldn't see that the bible preaches love and not condemnation for those different than us. It's sad how many religious leaders preach intolerance when Jesus taught love for those who are different and for those who are our enemies.

It's also sad that he chose the timing he did, when in reality the muslim community in London had nothing to do with the recent bombings.

Radical Jihad types aren't even practicing true Islam.

 

[Guest]

Lou, it is sad, the poor guy probably thought he was trying to help but erm, no.

Church type folks like to keep doing things the way they've always done'em. Door to door leafleting and preaching is really not the way to go in this day and age, but some people just keep stuff up because "it worked back then, it'll work now." mentality.

I'll pray for the guy, I hope he doesn't upset anyone else and gets the message about love and tolerance himself

It is indeed very sad.

You are so right, they do do it all the time. I often have different people coming to my door, and I always give them a little time, but politely tell them I'm not interested.

I also agree in what you said about him thinking he was helping. I'm sure he thought he was, but sadly he went about it in such a wrong way, that he was in fact doing quite the opposite.

Thanks, EL.

 

[Guest]

Well done Lou!

If only more like minded people would speak out when these kind of glib slogans are trotted out in the guise of appeasement, people of his (and her) ilk might begin to comprehend the difference between faith and terrorists using a faith as their shield.

I hope I'd have done the same. I have, only under different circumstances.

Thanks, Neon.

Exactly so! I like to think that most people would, and I know for sure that a lot of people here would.

 

[College_geek]

Precisely! That is EXACTLY what I was trying to say to him.

I told him that I have no religion, and my beliefs are my own. We don't need to attach a religious lable to ourselves to live good, tolerent, understanding and loving lives.

Not only that, but if one does choose to follow/believe in a faith, then represent it with acts of kindness and generosity, not playing on the racial prejudices of the time. -.- Not all people who follow a religion are like that man, of course, but it seems that there are way too many of them.

 

[Guest]

Although I am sure he was trying to portray a positive message, it was religiously slandering it instead. I get so sick of the religious intolerance. I actually spoke to someone (on Lit, I believe) who thought the US of A should go back to making camps for different racial and religious groups like it did to the Japanese during world war II. He said that we should put the Arabic americans in camps so they couldn't cause any harm. I tried to explain to him that doing so would just give the Jihad types exactly the ammunition they wanted for more upheaval.

It is sad that this obviously pious man couldn't see that the bible preaches love and not condemnation for those different than us. It's sad how many religious leaders preach intolerance when Jesus taught love for those who are different and for those who are our enemies.

It's also sad that he chose the timing he did, when in reality the muslim community in London had nothing to do with the recent bombings.

Radical Jihad types aren't even practicing true Islam.

Yes!

Do you know, he also started talking about the Japanese and Pearl Harbour. WTF?!

He said that one of the bombers involved in that turned to God, and Christianity, so his soul was saved. Oh deary me!!! I informed him that a lot of Japanese people are christian, as is my mother-in-law (she's Japanese, and a christian, but a good christian, as most are, I hasten to add!).

That's it, it was the timing that made it so very sad.

 

[English Lady]

It is indeed very sad.

You are so right, they do do it all the time. I often have different people coming to my door, and I always give them a little time, but politely tell them I'm not interested.

I also agree in what you said about him thinking he was helping. I'm sure he thought he was, but sadly he went about it in such a wrong way, that he was in fact doing quite the opposite.

Thanks, EL.

At the end of the day, he's an old guy who's probably been door knocking all his life. Hopefullythe verger you spoke to will be able to explain to him why what he was saying could be seen as inciteful and that the gentleman can carry on doing something he probably feels is worthwile, but in a more thoughtful way.

You did right in explaining to him what upset you and then talking to the verger. This way (hopefully) it will be resolved before the poor old guy gets punched in the nose for offending someone or actually incites racist behaviour in people.

Door knocking is totally outdated, people are instinctively wary of folks turning up on the door step with all the doorstep sellers going about. Pissing someone off by trying to sell them your religion on the doorstep is not going to get you many more bums on pews of a Sunday morning *L*

 

[cloudy]

Unfortunately, you can go to just about any church here in the southern states, and hear preaching against other religions (name it, and it's been harangued against in a pulpit somewhere).

That's exactly what turned me away from organized religion years and years ago, and brought me back to the old ways of my grandmother's people.

True christianity is a wonderful thing to see, but it's almost as rare as unicorns, I'm afraid.

Good for you, Loulou

 

[Dar~]

He said that one of the bombers involved in that turned to God, and Christianity, so his soul was saved. Oh deary me!!! I informed him that a lot of Japanese people are christian, as is my mother-in-law (she's Japanese, and a christian, but a good christian, as most are, I hasten to add!).

You said he was older? A lot of people who grew up during war times were raised under the propaganda against the Japanese/germans. About how they are all heretics threatening the christian way of life and such.
It saddens me when people can't rise above how they lived as children.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

You shouldn't let it bother you Lou.

People are people and those devoted to a cause have a way of warping events to fit it. He probably sees the terrible events as an opportunity provided by god to get the word out to those who don't know him yet.

I know in many churches, the prostelitizing fever seems to rise when there is a natural disaster. People need to see meaning in events, and for the devoutly religious evangelical, anything that makes people question is an opportunity to spread the word. It also engenders a strike while the iron is hot mentality that seems to overrule decoroum and allowing people time to deal with disaster and to heal.

People overcome with this missionary zeal, tend not to see the damage they can do, both to themselves and to the religion they are so devoted to.

In 1979 a flood wiped out entier neighborhoods in my town. oUrs among them. I have never seen so many religious people, from jehova's witness, to mormons, to just the good folks from your church up the street. Att hat point in time, going through our possessions, throwing out things that had deep sentimental value, and facing the prospect of a home gutted down to the bare studs, the last thing any of us wanted was a sermon. I'll be forever grateful to the Salvation Army. they sent trucks around with hot food, pased out clothing, blankets, canned water, and cokes. Never once, during the entire time we were rebuilding did any of those people ask me about my god. They just helped. And in that help, I saw more of what christianity is supposed to be than in all the lecturers combined.

Some people just don't get it and never will. Thankfully, they are the minority, in both christianity and islam and judaism and every other religion.

*HUGS*

 

[oggbashan]

One word

My response to him would have been one word:

Srebenica

Thousands of Muslims under UN protection slaughtered by 'Christian' soldiers.

Og

 

[TheEarl]

I like to pretend I'm pagan and try and discuss the idea of polytheism vs monotheism. It's incredible how many of the doorknockers have no clue about anything but their own very small little niche of religion.

The Earl

 

[Guest]

My response to him would have been one word:

Srebenica

Thousands of Muslims under UN protection slaughtered by 'Christian' soldiers.

Og

Quite.

 

[ozymandiask]

Tatelou

Tatelou, You are a good woman, a very good woman .

 

[Guest]

Tatelou, You are a good woman, a very good woman .

Thank you.

But I'm damned, apparently.

 

[Dar~]

Well, wherever you go, I want to go too.

 

[oggbashan]

We're all doomed, I tell you, doomed!

Most religions (not all) would cast as out as unrepentent sinners for frequenting Literotica.

We can't be truly repentent because we keep coming back, like dogs returning to their vomit, or murderers who must revisit the scene of the crime.

So, we would be greeted, not with a welcome, but with imprecations as miserable sinners in love with their sin.

I think wherever Lou goes is likely to be a suitable place for all of us.

Og

PS. I expect that, wherever that place is, virgins will be in short supply except for reconstituted ones who are as like the real thing as powdered egg is like real egg. (What do you mean? You haven't eaten powdered egg? Take it from an expert - there are some tastes you should NOT try.)