When I met Christian1 outside Starbucks I wasn’t expecting him to march me inside and force me to join Christian2 and Christian3 for a little debate about morality and what God had intended for us. No where in my blog have I expressed an interested in meeting more than one person at once and certainly not a group of people who would try and convert me to their religion.
Christians 1-3 were disguised as ordinary students. They wore student clothes and had student hairstyles and mannerisms. They didn’t even have slightly elevated noses which is something I’m used to seeing on people who think they belong to something special. They could have easily been mistaken for normal people. I know that not all Christian’s are like the ones I met today, (I have some Christian friends who are really rather dirty) and even if they were, I wouldn’t mind as long as they let me go about my own business undisturbed but whatever somebody’s religion, it’s annoying when they’re so egocentric that all they can focus on is showing you “the error of your ways.”
The Christians were kind and offered to buy me coffee but I told them that ever since being accused of only doing this to get free food and drink I’d decided to pay my own way. They politely enquired as to my well being and no sooner had the words “Why are there three of you here?” left my mouth, had they thrust a copy of the New Testament across the table. Christian2 did most of the talking. She “observed” that I was lost and using the internet to cry for help. She told me that me cry had been answered by God and they were here to guide me. I found myself wondering how I could mistake wanting to lose my virginity for wanting a copy of the new testament to be presented to be in Starbucks Cafe but I suppose finishing university can be a confusing time for people.
I tried to leave as soon as the bible came out but they came across as so considerate and kind that I found it impossible to just walk off and when I tried to politely excuse myself they pretended not to notice and keep on talking. I spent an hour and a quarter talking to Christians 1-3. Since I started my mission, many people have tried to show me the errors of my ways but this is the first time religion has been brought into it.
Current exclusion criteria:
-married men
-people who list more than 2 insecurities during any 5 minute period
-people who feel they need to take consecutive showers in order to be truly clean
-people who can’t judge the right and wrong moments to start a kiss
-women
-people who don’t reveal their gender before the date
-people who demand a decision too soon
-people who wear too much aftershave
-people I don’t find physically attractive
-people who charge for sex
-people who offer me money for sex
-people who sulk
-hypocritical people
-people who don’t turn up
-people who I suspect to be undercover reporters
-really, really boring people
-people who want to convert you to their religion
How do I apologise to him? - 1 reply
3 days ago
21 comments:
That kind of "Christian" really gets on my tits. I have never had anyone try and convert me to Islam, Buddhism, Sikhism, Judaism, Hinduism or any other religion, yet around once a term someone takes it upon themselves to inform me (either directly or through infuriating literature) that I need to be 'saved'. I know for most of the non-Christian religions I listed my being white might make me less of an 'obvious' candidate, but I certainly haven't heard of people going around trying to convince asians that they ought to be Muslims. I don't know why they can't just leave people alone.
i'll second that. bunch of weirdos! GET A LIFE YOU FREAKS. YOU're going to HELL.
I wouldn't go that far: I don't believe in the place!
i was being ironical. :)
More Orthodox Christian's believe that non-Christians are damned to hell. Not wishing to see such a heinous thing happen to another human being, they believe it is their religious duty to convert you to Christianity.
Now, obviously if you are a friend to one of the more orthodox Christians, then they are likely to care all the more about you, and hence will be more keen to convert you!
I have many Christian friends, both moderate and orthodox; the latter variett do sometimes try to convert me, though perhaps more subtly than those you describe. I usually take such moves with a pinch of salt, since I have no intention to become a Christian. However, I am flattered by their concern: it is nice to know that they care so deeply about me.
I for one wouldn't mind to much if a hindu or buddist or somebody tried to convert me, might be quite funny. Christianity is pretty dull, R.S GCSE convinced of that but its still pretty humourous when they try to convert you. Its the free bbq's and stuff that get me, and the random rubbish in my pidge. Just imagine if a rasta tried to convert you, awesome.
seems we all know the type...the last time someone tried that kind of thing i was really really obtuse about it, and probably not all that polite. i don't think they'd realised before that my reply reflected exactly how i (and many others) felt about how they were approaching me about it. never been bothered since apart from the random new testament thingy that appeared outside my door in such a fashion as to make me trip over it. irritating but easily dealt with
i agree with the rastafarian comment! awesome! don't think it would ever happen, though
Heh- I was pounced on in broad street with a friend on Wednesday... I'm too nice to be excessively rude, but did find it rather unpleasant to continually have my arm patted while being told 'Open your heart and Jesus will come to you'. I had told him that I was an atheist, God doesn't exist, and Jesus is dead- but it didn't deter him in the slightest.
I even tried franticly to catch other people's eye- in the hopes they'd pretend to know me and rescue me. I got many sympathetic glances... but no help. Ultimately I resorted to glancing at my watch and doing an impression of the white rabbit- 'I'm late, I'm late' - grabbing my friend and running away (most exercise I've done all term).
I have been told that the thing to do is claim to be Catholic. Apparently that is more off-putting than claiming to be atheist, a satanist or (as my friend tried) a witch.
Christianity doesn't have to be dull - just take my attitude as `allegedly' Catholic (and people run away hiding their children before they get eaten).
I don't care.
Yep that's it as long as you do not impose your views on me I couldn't care less what you are up to.
Ok obvious exceptions are: illegal acts they are no good; wars overall they are no good (sometimes though better than doing nothing).
I am a full believer of "where the freedom of another person starts, mine ends" (as long as the other persons follows it too as otherwise I get a tad annoyed).
Then again I go to church on Christmas and Easter because it's family reunion.
If you are generically speaking about the Christian Union God Squad that runs in Oxford than probably most of your comments are right.
Last time I spoke with one of them I was more or less told that, as a Catholic, I shall burn in hell for eternity as I do not recognize the Queen as the head of the church; and pardon me if I am wrong but wasn't that schism all about Henry VIII could get a new wife?
All of you have completely misunderstood christianity to a cringe worthy extent. the only one of you who actually seems to know what you're talking about is sk8r boi, good on ya :) the rest of you, don't talk about that which you most blatantly know nothing about, perhaps you should actually listen to what the 'god squad' says to you!
I'd rather hope that if there is a God he is less petty than man and doesn't go `uh uh you didn't follow the wise Henry so tough luck shut up and get a stick up your ...'
which is what your god squad was pretty much saying.
I'd rather hope that if there is a God he is less petty than man and doesn't go `uh uh you didn't follow the wise Henry so tough luck shut up and get a stick up your ...'
which is what your god squad was pretty much saying.
There seem to be misguided people on both sides of the debate. Certainly there are Christians who live up to the rather unfortunate stereotypes, but at the same time there are lots of non-Christians who have misconceptions about what Christianity is really about (some of whom are just as unpleasantly 'self-righteouss' in their own way).
CS Lewis put it very well when he said that "Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important." If you look at the claims of Christianity you will see that, like it or not, he is right.
Christians, obviously, take the view that it is of infinite importance. It must either be of importance for everyone, or for no-one, which is why Christians feel the need to share their beliefs. Pressurising people to "convert" is not helpful, neither is forcing people to adhere to a set of rules and stereotypes. But it is important to give people clear information about the Christian message in a way which enables them to make up their own mind.
If you are not a Christian, do take the chance to investigate for yourself, in your own time. A cheesy summary of the Christian Faith can be found here.
If you conclude it's of no importance, than you can get on with living life, being thankful that you're not wasting it (Let's face it, if Christianity's not so important then it's a complete waste of time).
If you conclude that it's of infinite importance, then pray about it, and accept the claims of Jesus.
Whatever you do, don't sit on the fence.
I don't think I've misunderstood Christianity at all, I have a great deal of respect for those who practise it and leave me alone, I'm just saying that some of its exponents are annoying. If someone went around telling all the Muslims they could find that they were misguided as they did not believe Jesus was truly the son of God, and needed to convert to escape damnation, think how offensive that would be. They'd probably get locked up if the new 'incitement to religious hatred' laws get through. So why is it OK to do it to me, a considered atheist?
Hello d.
Yes, some Christians can be very annoying, but then no-one is perfect, are they?
I never said anything about "targeting" of one group of people (eg atheists)over another (eg Muslims)- I'm just saying that if the Christian claims are so important then everyone should have the chance to think about it.
I don't feel that I'm being offensive when I say that there are a lot of misconceptions about Christianity (though I'm sorry if you have taken offence). I think it's fair to say that there are lots of people who have wrong ideas about Christianity, and if Christians are going to claim that their faith is so important then they should at least have the chance to get the facts across. Admittedly they could often do it in a better way, but even so I don't hear you objecting to the Muslims who hand out information about Islam on Cornmarket. (just to clarify - I am in no way saying that you should object, I'm just questioning the apparent bias).
Lastly, I don't understand why you "have a great deal of respect for Christians who practise but leave you alone". If you want them to leave you alone, the implication is that you think that Christianity is of no importance. Surely then in your eyes, Christians are just wasting their time?
Hello again d,
Just to add a point of clarification to my previous post - having read the threads through again.
I can understand why you respect Christians who leave you alone, if by that you mean that they don't constantly pressurise and bully you to convert.
But if you mean that you are not interested in finding out about their faith at all, then you are effectively saying it's of no importance, and then the end of my last post makes sense...
"Christians" who behave like that should all go fuck themseleves. Faith is a personal matter and it's nobody's job to go about "converting" other people. It's deeply hypocritical and shows that those doing the converting have serious issues of their own.
Someone seems a little defensive. Have you completely misunderstood some of the more intelligent comments relating to this post? Christians try to convert you because they want to save you and it's a proof of their own love of mankind that they try to do so. They don't do it to be hypocritical. If you knew the secret of eternal life and could hope for a relationship with God wouldn't you want to help those around you?
Before this goes too much further or gets any sillier, may I suggest that anyone actually interested in an argument about Christianity have a read of http://www.oxfordgossip.co.uk/new/showthread.php?t=1320
Should keep you quiet for a while, anyhow.
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