If you approach someone with the intent of talking to them about god and Jesus, and handing out pamphlets, if they say they are not interested, move on. If you insist on talking to them anyway, and the say they’re an atheist, leave it alone. If you’re stupid enough to ask why they’re an atheist, and they say they’ve read the old testament and found it to be bullshit, that should be the end of the conversation. Don’t say something stupid like, I’ll pray for you, or, who keeps your heart beating, or, aren’t you afraid that when you die… It’s all the same kind of bullshit to an atheist. If you are going to be rude and obnoxious enough to continue when they have repeatedly stated, in no uncertain terms, their total contempt for the topic being discussed, if you keep pushing it to the point where they tell you to shut the fuck up, just shut the fuck up. Pushing it beyond that point, if not much sooner, only proves you to be an asshole.
This happened in a parking lot, where swords are frowned upon.
Isn’t rejection, particularly scornful or hostile rejection, part of the process? I gathered they primarily want either or two reactions - the person politely listening to their witnessing or angrily rejecting their witnessing, the latter response helping to reinforce their cult’s message that their dogma is true and people are hostile to it because it is true.
Complete indifference, simply walking around them as if they were a puddle without making eye contact or answering questions, is probably the least satisfying for them.
Well then, that stupid bitch got what she wanted, scorn and contempt.
Well, yeah… and she probably commiserated with her fellow culties about how hostile the world is to their Message, which sets the groundwork for the cult leaders to label her relatives hostile (or “suppressive”) to the Message any time they try to talk her out of that loony bin.
While witnessing belongs in GD, rants belong in the Pit. Moving from GD to the Pit.
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Aggressive, pushy evangelists piss me off. A person’s beliefs are their own business and none of yours. You’re not going to browbeat anyone into faith you idiots.
I just keep walking. Never comment. Never look at them. Easy to do.
I live where no self respecting ‘door knocker’ would come. But if they did I wouldn’t answer the door.
If she was smart, she wouldn’t be a god botherer.
The last time a JW came to my door, she dragged a little kid with her. This time I (very politely) demolished creationism. The little kid heard her mentor losing badly, maybe some day in the future she’ll escape. And it was far more satisfying to me than yelling.
The next time one comes I’ll offer water while demolishing their arguments, to be doubly polite.
Jesus Christ, what an awful thread!
When I interact with proselytizers, I actually kind of end up feeling bad for them. It always seems to end something like this:
“Why don’t you believe in God?”
“Well, when I was about 13 or so, I still believed there probably was a supreme being, because I thought something had to have created the universe. Then I realized that the fault in that logic was that if you need a god to create the universe, then something would have had to create that god, and that kind of nonsense never has a bottom. So, no god was necessary any more. The universe created itself.”
After a couple of blinks, I get a “Well you have a nice day, sir”
I don’t think I blew their mind or anything, but they always react like “I did not sign up to talk to this weirdo this morning.”
Golf clap.
I live pretty remote by Colorado Mountain standards. Out in the middle of nowhere by most folks standards I suppose. (Pizza? The flour is over there).
About once a year, we get one or two bible thumper pamphlet stuck in the door. I guess I will… applaud them for their… tenacity. Or perhaps they rack up Jesus points by the miles they cover. Don’t know.
If I had absolutely nothing to do, and it was a nice day, I might actually try to talk to these folks and try to figure out just what is spinning around in their heads. Offer them a beer on the deck (I don’t mind drinking alone). Might be interesting.
I couldn’t do that. I was waiting outside the store with my groceries, waiting for my sister to get back from the chicken place, when this bitch rolls up in an SUV, husband or fellow cultist behind the wheel. She holds a pamphlet out the window, asks if she can talk to me about Jesus. I say, not interested, that should have been the end of it . But no, this bitch sees that I can’t easily escape, so she keeps pushing it, asking more questions that I don’t want to answer, getting me increasingly pissed off. I keep fighting her on everything she says, clearly indicating that I have no interest in continuing this conversation, telling her how stupid she and her religion is. I really hate self important assholes like that who feel they can preach anywhere, even on public transportation, that’s the only way this situation could have been worse. Just because you have the right doesn’t make it right. And when you see someone who is clearly waiting for a ride, and you target that person, goddamn, that’s not fucking right at all.
When people get uppity about bible thumpers, I wish I could be a fly on the wall during an interaction of the same quality featuring a different religion. I’d just like to know if the reaction is equal and proportionate or not. I’d wager a months salary it wouldn’t be.
Yeah, well, that’s you. The point is, if the person you’re talking to tells you they are not interested, don’t be an asshole and continue the conversation. I don’t want to talk about it, move on. Don’t keep pushing it. If the other person wants to talk about it, fine, but if they don’t, shut up and move on.
You’re never alone with Jesus!
The thing is, I’ve never ever ever been approached by any other religion except Christian-flavoured idiots. Ever. Non-religious idiots (like salespeople) usually get the exact same treatment. Which is a polite “no thank you” followed by an increasing level as hostility the more they insist.
Laughter is not only the best medicine, in some situations, it’s a good defense.
You’d lose. If that bitch was any other religion, my reaction would’ve been the same. No, I don’t want to talk about god, or Buddha, or Xenu, or Allah, or any other god, prophet or deity, and if I indicate that I don’t want to talk about it, and you keep pushing it, I will tell you to shut the fuck up.
“Jesus freaks
Out in the streets
Handing tickets out for Ga-awd…”
–B.Taupin
My favorite line from love-bombed brain-washed tract-waving jeezoid L.A. burnouts was, “I used to be fucked up on dope. Now I’m fucked up on the Lord. Wanna hit?” (Waves ticket in my face.)
Conversion goes much easier with drugs. Get’em stoned; steal any souls; done.
PS: An acquaintance dealt with Tony Alamo cult street-freak teams a bit too enthusiastically. Drop that bat, Eugene! Don’t martyr-em! They love it!