View RSS Feed

Penguin

Apparently, I have a problem with proselytizers

Rate this Entry
10 Comments
by
Penguin
, 03-06-2010 at 01:20 AM (1905 Views)
So... this evening at the mall, I was approached by a guy who really wanted two things: to find out what I thought happened when we die, and to give me a pamphlet entitled "The Final Judgement".

I'm normally a pretty laid-back guy, but I got mad at him. Really mad. Our conversation started with me obviously pissed off and went downhill from there. It finally ended with me telling him that I'd go get mall security if he wouldn't leave me alone.

I can chalk some of my anger to the fact that I was already a bit annoyed (I was waiting for my wife who was running late), and to the fact that the guy was an annoying twit who wouldn't take "no" (or "I'm not interested" or "I'm really not in the mood to be proselytized to") for an answer, but I don't think that's the whole story. I think I just instinctively got mad at the idea of being evangelized to.

And it's happened before. I remember last summer, sitting on the bus when a Mormon missionary sat down and tried to strike up a conversation. He seemed really taken aback at how negatively I responded to his questions, and seemed genuinely confused when I told him that I didn't think it was right for him to be doing what he was doing.

I think that I just find proselytizing to be inherently disrespectful. When I run into it online, I can stop, take a moment (or just leave it and go on to something else) and then respond a bit more calmly, but in real life situation, when I've got someone standing in front of me waiting for a response, I don't have that luxury, so they get the unfiltered version of my opinion.

I find myself a bit disappointed in how I handle these situations. I think that at least some of them can be an opportunity for meaningful dialogue... or at least an opportunity to sharpen my argumentation skills.

Oh well. Maybe next time.
Tags: None Add / Edit Tags
Categories
‎ Atheism , ‎ Religion , ‎ Christianity

Comments

  1. Kiefer's Avatar
    I always wish people would try that stuff on me but nobody ever does. =/
  2. Chris's Avatar
    To be honest, I have the same problem. I get so frustrated that I just end up raising my voice or yelling at them for why they're hurting so many people and contributing to the problems of today rather than the solution. This mostly happens when I encounter a religious quack trying to talk about gender issues and gay rights, especially when it's at university. In my opinion, a university has failed when a student has graduated but continues to believe women are inferior / gay ppl are a disease.
  3. Penguin's Avatar
    At my university, it was Jehova's Witnesses who would stand on the path and hand out copies of Watchtower to students on their way to class, but they'd do it just off university property so they couldn't get in trouble for trespassing.
  4. Demojen's Avatar
    A christian bible thumper tried that on me. I have a loud booming voice and sound angry anyway, so when I said flat out NO, they didn't even bother trying to convince me.
  5. Demojen's Avatar
    @Penguin. Accept their Watchtower, tear it up and thank them for the wipe.
  6. Penguin's Avatar
    It's been a few years since I was in university, so I don't see the JWs on a daily basis.

    Coincidentally, though, I opened my front door on Sunday morning to see that my local Jehovha's Witnesses had put a little pamphlet in the handle.

    It's probably a good thing I wasn't awake when I rang the bell. I kinda feel bad about getting mad at some proselytizers, but I have no tolerance for people who peddle beliefs that kill kids.
  7. Judokas's Avatar
    I also don't like what they are doing but I approach it a different way. I typically ask them why they believe they are right and the other religions are wrong. It goes from their but they typically leave quickly as they realize I am not an appropriate mark.
  8. halfrican1878's Avatar
    Most religious people can't defend what they believe. As a christian myself, that's pretty annoying. But on the other hand, if people really do go to hell when they die, how much would a religious person have to hate you to not proselytize?
  9. halfrican1878's Avatar
    Most religious people can't defend what they believe. As a christian myself, that's pretty annoying. But on the other hand, if people really do go to hell when they die, how much would a religious person have to hate you to not proselytize?
  10. dmlash123's Avatar
    I was wondering whether or not the author of this thread, or anyone else for that matter, might be better disposed to proselytization if the approach was more dialogical in nature, as opposed to just proclaiming a message or asking if you've found Jesus, etc.