# Why I don't like religious tracts **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [July 30, 2001, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-religious-tracts/74203 "2001-07-30T07:09:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![red\_dragon60](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ce73a5/32.png) [@red\_dragon60](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/red_dragon60)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2001, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-religious-tracts/74203/1 "2001-07-30T07:09:59Z")
I work at a Bob Evans resturant, which for those of you not informed is a country-style food emporium. Lotsa old people, and we get many after church every Sunday. However, the tracts people leave on tables are kind of aggravating me. If I was weak-willed enough to decide to change from my religion to a new one by just reading a piece of paper, shouldn’t I be in a cult by now? If you want to whitness because it is part of your religion, go ahead. But do it in your own words, not by leaving a piece of paper. There seem to be an amazing amount of these things left. One of the things that set me off happened about a week ago. I was bussing a table and saw a ten folded on the table. It was obviously counterfeit from looking at it up close, but I didn’t pick it up. I fully experienced the stupidity of it when the server grabbed it, opened it, and saw it was a tract. She is a Christian, and I love her to pieces. She was OK with it, and thanked the people who left it. I got to look at it later. It said something like “You won’t be diappointed with Christ!” If I was a server and recieved something like that, I would feel pretty shitty. I felt kind of bad for the girl until she explained that she was fine with it. What does this tell me? These people felt that they could win more converts by tricking people and decieving them. That is so underhanded and mean. I hope God talks with them about it later. They also bought what seemed like counterfeit money, giving money to the people who made the presses. This thing was the exact same size, and was folded in half like a normal bill is folded in thirds. Isn’t that illegal, or at least immoral? I have nothing against people who want to whitness. But speak the word, don’t try and spread it by tricking people. ---
**Author:** ![KJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b2d939/32.png) [@KJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KJ)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2001, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-religious-tracts/74203/2 "2001-07-30T07:32:44Z")
That’s pretty low. And definitely illegal. There was thread a long time ago (can’t find it; it was a loong time ago and I forgot the thread title) about fundamentalists trying to spread their religion, and they did it by obtaining a fire truck and driving it with the siren on at 5 in the morning (probably illegal) and sticking pamphlets into peoples’ mailboxes (definitely illegal.) Not the best way to convince people to join your cause. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2001, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-religious-tracts/74203/3 "2001-07-30T07:34:37Z")
Ahem. “Witness.” Other than that, I’m pleased to see that Fundies have found a way to make their proselytizing _even more annoying._ And they said it couldn’t be done… ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2001, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-religious-tracts/74203/4 "2001-07-30T07:57:10Z")
Heh. Speaking as a Hardcore Militant Atheist, I’d like to get my hands on some of those “Fake Money Jesus Tracts”–they should make _excellent_ recruiting tools for the Secular Humanist Conspiracy. (I’m not sure if they’re close enough to real money that they actually cross the line into illegality, though.) ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2001, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-religious-tracts/74203/5 "2001-07-30T08:16:55Z")
Let me get this straight. In a restaurant in which the servers depend on tips for a significant part of their income, these assholes left something that was designed to **look** like a good tip, but was in fact worthless. If that **isn’t** illegal, it has to be one of the lowest things you can do without breaking the law. How exactly is that supposed to win people over? “Hmm, so these Christians I just served made me think I was getting ten bucks to put towards next term’s textbooks (or the rent, or my kids’ school clothes, or new shoes, or whatever) while in fact they were giving me a worthless piece of paper inviting me to join their religion. Sign me up! I want to be just like them!” :rolleyes: How about a **real** ten with a note folded up inside? That might actually get some positive attention from somebody who’s busting her ass for under minimum wage. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2001, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-religious-tracts/74203/6 "2001-07-30T09:07:52Z")
I agree that the practice is very low. But illegal??? How so? Surely that cannot be considered counterfeiting? [sub]that’s right. i called you shirley![/sub] ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2001, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-religious-tracts/74203/7 "2001-07-30T14:29:48Z")
thank the lord i don’t live where you do! in northern ireland the only people you get are the mad free presbyterians in belfast who bang tambourines and ask if you know jesus. they also hand out tracts outside nightclubs denouncing alcohol as the “devil’s vomit”. also they use to hang out outside the family planning clinic and protest (i don’t know why, it’s ireland, abortion is illegal) and stand outside (there are only 2) gay clubs in belfast with “save ulster from sodomy” signs. so they are basically discounted as complete loopers and ignored. in the south you occasionally get the odd nun with a collecting tin, but that’s that. and jehovah’s witnesses, mormons and hare krishnas are all very polite and will go away if you ask them to…or tell them you’re jewish. i don’t know, i always thought that you were supposed to witness by good works and calm demeanour? it’s a lot less annoying. and if you shall know them by their fruits…counterfeit $10 don’t say a lot. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Wright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@Steve\_Wright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_Wright)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2001, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-religious-tracts/74203/8 "2001-07-30T15:18:12Z")
So, in addition to having all the best tunes, the Devil vomits alcohol, does he? I might have to consider switching sides… (Unless it’s the sort of alcohol you get in nightclubs; overpriced cocktails and designer lagers and the like - ugh!) As to the OP: this is a cheap trick, and a nasty one. I am not a fan of cheap and nasty religion. Especially when it’s (nominally) my religion. ---
**Author:** ![red\_dragon60](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ce73a5/32.png) [@red\_dragon60](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/red_dragon60)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2001, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-religious-tracts/74203/9 "2001-07-30T23:19:25Z")
For the record, it looked EXACTLY like a ten, until you looked at the paper it was printed on. It was less wide than a ten, but in all respects looked like a real one. It was even as tall. Most Christians are a fine lot with me, and are nice. It’s the ones like those people who thought that making people feel bad will win them over. flodnak, I like your idea a lot more. What better way to spread the message than by charity and giving? ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2001, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-religious-tracts/74203/10 "2001-07-30T23:33:09Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by red\_dragon60 \* > \*\* If I was weak-willed enough to decide to change from my religion to a new one by just reading a piece of paper, shouldn’t I be in a cult by now?_\* Heh. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2001, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-religious-tracts/74203/11 "2001-07-30T23:44:38Z")
If I were the manager of that restaurant, I would approach the people next time, and tell them that if they did that again, they would not be welcomed back. They’re willing to give words, but not where it hurts… Oh MAN, that is such a story for CUstomer’s Suck! ---
**Author:** ![beergeek279](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7ea924/32.png) [@beergeek279](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beergeek279)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2001, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-religious-tracts/74203/12 "2001-07-31T05:42:51Z")
Well, if you’re looking for a tract in the style of Chick to pass out BACK to these people, take a look at [http://spacemoose.com/strips/antlers2.jpg](http://spacemoose.com/strips/antlers2.jpg) . (The required warning: a little on the risque side) ---
**Author:** ![Canby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Canby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canby)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2001, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-religious-tracts/74203/13 "2001-07-31T05:51:11Z")
I’ve seen that fake money tract too. The server who got it was _livid_ when she opened it up. They had left little or no tip with it, naturally. I kind of wish I had saved all the tracts I’ve gotten while waiting tables. I’d have an interesting collection. Yeah, nothing like getting a crappy tip _and_ being told I’m going to hell to make my night. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2001, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-religious-tracts/74203/14 "2001-07-31T10:23:51Z")
heh the tracts here are usually hate filled diatriabes against the catholic church moslems ect until the goverment took him out for income tax evasion the worst was tony rome or something close to it among his claims was the pope was a homosexual and the catholic church was trying to rule the world ect … almost like the flyers you see the neo nazis pass around the other is oddly a diatrabe againts other christans in that comic book form basically condeming moderen christanity and also condeming any of the more moderate churches so basically both are just a another lesson in how to hate someone else for their beliefs and they wonder why no one likes organized religion these days ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-religious-tracts/74203/15 "2001-08-01T03:15:25Z")
Fortunately, in my three year pizza delivery career, I never once received a Jesus tract in lieu of a tip. Then again, it was back in fundamentalist Catholic Buffalo, and if there’s anything that Catholics are not, it’s Bible-thumpin’. To my co-workers who were unlucky enough to get a pamphlet enscribed with the likes of “Here’s a tip – turn to the love of Jesus or be cast into the pool of eternal hellfire!”, their standard response was “thanks for caring, but Jesus doesn’t may my tuition/rent.” A creepy (IMHO) link – [http://www.kynd.net/~grtcmisn/tractips.htm](http://www.kynd.net/~grtcmisn/tractips.htm) … and an unusually frank essay [http://www.fischtank.com/ccmarticlesdetail.cfm?ccmarticleid=60](http://www.fischtank.com/ccmarticlesdetail.cfm?ccmarticleid=60) ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-religious-tracts/74203/16 "2001-08-01T03:35:24Z")
> [@](#): > > As a former Catholic I take Last Rites, Why is Mary Crying and Are > Roman Catholics Christians to the Catholic church 1/2 before mass. > I distribute them in the pews, next to the holy water and even on the > pulpit. Then I sit close to the back, and pray these dear people would > receive them and receive what they read. I also drop one in the > offering basket. Some times I walk out and put them on the cars parked > outside. > [@](#): > > I am 90 years old. My two friends and I passed out 110,000 tracts > in 1997. I go to parking lots and put This Was Your Life rolled up, > with the title facing out, into the driver’s side door handle (very important). > That way when the person puts the key in the slot and opens the car > door, they see the tract. I have watched and not one person has thrown > the tract down. Most of them get in the car and read it on the spot. Some > drive away with it in the car. Which means they take it home to their families. “Hey, Dad-look at this loony cartoon I found in my car! Haheheheheheh…” “Oh, dear, that is funny!!!” Mormons own the Mariott? Wow. I have to hand it to them-I stayed there once for a wedding-best hotel I ever went to-breakfast was the BEST! > [@](#): > > Our family hands tracts to the people at the windows of fast food > places and my children get real excited when they get to pass out > tracts in al the stores we go in. Hey, cool! Another booger in my burger! Oooh…this one smells like urine!!! > [@](#): > > I ask the clerk if he ever has a bad day. If using the right expression > I always get a postive (answer). Then I give the tract The Mind Machine > saying. He understands. Yeah, he understands you’re a complete loon! > [@](#): > > This is my “hobby” and I use the big telephone book. My goal is to mail > a tract to each address. The city area is a bit over 300,000. I write my > church’s address on the back of each tract. I love Chick tracts! Um, yeah, sir, we have a complaint…you broke some anti-stalking laws… > [@](#): > > When we go out to a restaurant, whether we are at home or on > vacation, we leave the waitress or waiter a 20% tip, along with a > note of thanks clipped to the cover of a paperback copy of the > King James Bible, ( old and new testament ) from the American > Bible Society, ( $2.50 each when you buy a case of 20 ) in the > Bible in different locations we place a Chick tract, God’s Simple > Plan Of Salvation tract from Lifegate Tracts Inc., and an Our Daily > Bread booklet from Radio Bible Class. I have had many waitresses > come running after me to thank me for the Bible. At LEAST they tip. > [@](#): > > Chick tracts truely do get read. I left one in the ladies room in a > Wal Mart and when I came out someone had picked it up and was > showing it to another person. Also, I have some in my car’s glove > compartment and if I see a car or a van with a shriner’s or masonic > symbol on it I put The Curse Of Baphomet under the windshield wiper. Hey, John, get a load of this! AHAHAHAHAHA > [@](#): > > I put Chick tracts in different country entries in encyclopedias in the > library. For example, I would put a Spanish tract in the entry for Spain > and a Russian tract in the entry for Russia. Because we all know only Russian speaking people look up Russia in the encyclopedia!!! > [@](#): > > On Halloween night my seven year old granddaughter dressed as an > angel and went door to door “treat for tract.” She passed out to each > house a Chick tract. People were surprised and as they were closing > their doors we could see them looking at the tract. We also gave Chick > tracts out to the kids that came to our house for treats. And spend the next morning cleaning eggs off of our car! > [@](#): > > On Halloween, we passed out Boo! to everyone. One teen boy said, > “Oh, a comic book! I’ll read this tonight, Thanks!” Then he told his > friends he just got a comic book. He was so excited. Ah, shit, this isn’t The Black Pearl!!! Dammit! ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-religious-tracts/74203/17 "2001-08-01T04:07:46Z")
> [@](#): > > I also mail tracts to hypnotists, That’s what he wanted you to do! > [@](#): > > phsycics Who? I assume he means “psychics”. At least we can rest assured that the tracts won’t get there, given the spelling atrocities. > [@](#): > > and just recently I sent “Hi There!” to a satanic art production company. And the day they ran out of toilet paper in the office bathroom, they thanked you very much. > [@](#): > > I get lots of E-mail that has been forwarded ( sometimes repeatedly ) which brings with it the E-mail addresses of each prior recipient. I like to send an E-mail Tract to every new E-mail address on the list. This is a way of reaching people with God’s Word that may have no other contact. No, this is a way of royally pissing off a lot of people, and getting yourself "block sender"ed. > [@](#): > > If every Christian put a tract in all bills, being paid, the message of Jesus would be in almost every business in America. “Hey, Cindy, you ever hear of this ‘Jesus’ guy? Me neither, but there’s a little book about him in this loser’s phone bill!” > [@](#): > > I have a Flea Market business and give out free pens. Tracks are inserted in the clip so that they have to take the pen with the tract. I have had no one turn them down. Is it just me, or does anyone else think this guy needs to re-think his business model? “We only give out free pens. People ask how we make money. The answer? Volume.” > [@](#): > > Throughout the day several of my co-workers come into my office to use the copy machine. After using it and before putting the top down, I put a Chick tract on the glass where the original is placed. Then the next person who makes copies, lifts the top and to their surprise, finds a presentation of the gospel. Unless they use the auto-feeder, that is, in which case they have a badly-rendered drawing of Satan in the middle of every single page of 50 copies of the quarterly report. > [@](#): > > Also, in the personal ads in the weekend newspapers there are always ads by persons seeking correspondence with others. What an opportunity to witness. When people are at their most desperate! This stuff is seriously sad. I never saw the Money Tract during my tour at Cracker Barrel, but my GF said that she saw one or two tracts impersonating a $5. Pissed her off royally. Dr. J ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-religious-tracts/74203/18 "2001-08-01T08:09:34Z")
[hijack] > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RugbyMan \* > \*\*Well, if you’re looking for a tract in the style of Chick to pass out BACK to these people, take a look at [http://spacemoose.com/strips/antlers2.jpg](http://spacemoose.com/strips/antlers2.jpg) . (The required warning: a little on the risque side) \*\* Wait. Stop. You actually expect me to believe that somebody on this planet other than me reads Spacemoose? Impossible! [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ccd318/32.png) [@John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Kentzel-Griffin)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-religious-tracts/74203/19 "2001-08-01T17:17:10Z")
Mostly disturbing and yet funny. I got a kick out of this piece of advice: > [@](#): > > _from [**Tract Passing Tips**](http://www.kynd.net/~grtcmisn/tractips.htm)_ > A good tip is to never ask them if they want one. Umm. . . ---
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2001, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-religious-tracts/74203/20 "2001-08-01T18:03:09Z")
> [@](#): > > _from [Gospel Tipping](http://www.fischtank.com/ccmarticlesdetail.cfm?ccmarticleid=60)_ > > In fact, Kay and her co-workers dread Sundays because they consistently have their highest food sales (and thus their hardest work) but their lowest tips. “This speaks a negative message to my co-workers who do not know Christ,” she wrote in a letter to Good News Publishing, the maker of the tract the four Christians left her. **“I have found that homosexuals and bikers are consistently better tippers than Christians.”** That last line just cracks me up. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-i-dont-like-religious-tracts/74203.md?page=2)