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phuketbound

A friend of mine from the States, posted this link on his fb.

Keeping Your Cool When Confronted By Christian Crazies

Friendly Atheist recently had a post in which Hemant shared a report he had received from an atheist woman about how a complete stranger had approached her in Wal-Mart and began praying over her 15-week-old child. He asked readers how they would respond if something like this happened to them as well as a few related questions. I found myself thinking that how I would like to respond is probably quite a bit different from how I would actually respond.

I thought that the first comment on Friendly Atheist's thread, contributed by SkepGeek, was so perfect that it should be shared:

I would treat this the same way as when the mentally handicapped guy waves vigorously at me and says hi when I get on the bus.

What a great lesson for us all to remember! Sure, we could get angry and yell. It might even make us feel better temporarily. But when one is not dealing with a rational adult, SkepGeek's reframe seems so much better.

I spent a year living in an apartment next to a family with an moderately retarded adult child. He was extremely friendly but could sometimes be a bit intimidating due to his size, the loud volume with which he spoke, and his quick and unpredictable movements. One never quite new what to expect from him, and I recall that my female guests, which he would never miss greeting, often said that he made them feel uncomfortable.

The thing is, I never would have yelled at him, struck him, or even found myself becoming more than mildly annoyed with him. Yes, he was loud and often disruptive. His parents seemed to cope by leaving him out in the apartment complex's parking lot, often with no supervision. Having him in my face every time I went in or out did get old. At the same time, I recognized that he did not know any better. He wasn't doing this to annoy me; it was just who he was.

In many respects, the crazed Christian who abruptly begin praying over a stranger's child is the same way. I suspect that she would not have done what she did if she had stopped to consider how the child's parents would feel. In the grips of her Christian delusion, she might have even thought that she was doing something nice for the child.

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I have had to deal with people like this in Korea on at least a weekly basis. If I am walking in the foreigner district, I may be given pamphlets, and asked to go to church with these strangers.

I was once approached by a few woman who asked me if I knew that God was a woman. I said, yes I know, and walked away.

I was approached on the subway by a woman that said at least a two page spiel on the importance of the passover, and that I should attend church with her. I was given pamphlets, and her phone number in case I changed my mind. There are many foreigners who are practicing Christians here in Korea, and I hold nothing against these people. Religion is a personal choice imo. The people that approached me were actually Koreans, and they are evangelical Christians.

I am not mean to these people, and sometimes I listen to them. Sometimes I walk away, and other times, I feel sorry for them.

Have you ever been approached and given pamphlets or lectures on Christianity where you are living? What did you do, and how did you react? Do you think this person in the article went overboard in saying that some Christians are like the mentally ill, and are delusional?

DaffyDuck

Good advice. Good thread.

In an apartment complex I used to live in, Jehova's Witnesses came by regularly, passing out their Watchtower pamphlets. Every couple of months they would knock on my door around 8:30am on a Saturday morning, in their vain effort to 'save my sould' (I presume). Every time I told them that I appreciate their efforts, that I would appreciate it more if they came later in the day, but that I would appreciate them a great deal more even if they never came back.

A couple of months later, this would repeat.

...until one day, I decided to open the door stark naked, and to invite them in to tell me more about god.

Never seen them again.

chassamui

In UK recently a district nurse/health visitor was suspended because she asked a patient if she could pray for her recovery.
It caused quite a stink at the time and the woman was reinstated.

crippen

I have found that if you call them 'Morons' the leave pretty quick and never come back.

nedwalk

i used to live about 10k out of town, in the bush on 350 acres at the end of the road in a valley, and bugeer me if the bloody bible thumpers used to find me also, so yep total nudity was the solution, offered em in to discuss their beliefs only if they respected mine and dropped their clobber mostly they never got out of their cars

phuketbound

Yeah, there are so many Jehovah's here too. Between them and evangelical christians, there is never a dull moment.

Chassamui I remember reading about this. I'm glad she was reinstated. I've nothing against prayer, and christians, but when they continually harrass people on the street is when it gets annoying.

Happyman

Happyman

^

Not being a violent person I am always amazed when my polite request that they 'fuck off while they can still walk!' seems to work every time !

Nietzsche

I'm in love with a Christian girl.

She hates me.

I took her for a meal on our first date, which went well, but turned up pissed as a fart for the second.

Not very forgiving those Christians.

chassamui

Do you include the very uplifting salvation army bands in that category PB? I am not religious but i do like brass bands. (And egg sandwiches).

Jet Gorgon

The Koreans have taken over many churches in the Vancouver area. But then, they've taken over many shops and malls, too.

chassamui

'Keeping your cool' Smile at them but do not speak, for some reason people find it quite disarming.

StrontiumDog

I used to invite them in....then ask them about their beliefs, then after they've told me such mind bogglingly useful things as the earth is 6,000 years old (or whatever), throw scientific facts at them (such as the light speed), which they could never answer.

My favourite was about evolution. They would always say there's no proof...then I'd ask them about viral genetic mutation, such as commonly occurs in strains of flu and how it replicates in the billions until it develops resistance. That flummoxed them every time.

Imbeciles.

There's been lots of research on why people are religious. It's not unfair or unreasonable to suggest it is due to flaws in their intellect.

crippen

I think the all have Aspergers Syndrome,and I tell them so.

Panda

If one can live in Thailand and cope with all the whodo voodoo Buddhist stuff, one should be able to put up with the Christian nutters as well. As an Atheist I understand that most people need some religious beliefs to guide their lives. And I worked it out a long time ago that its useless trying to debate their beliefs with them. These days I show respect for all peoples religious beliefs so long as they dont infringe on my rights. And I expect them to do the same. As stated in another thread, I now tell the missionaries I am a Catholic and they generally abandon me as a lost cause.

FlyFree

I have a thing for this idea that one should respect others' beliefs. It's the thin edge of a wedge that is coming to the fore very strongly these days with the Muslim issue. Christianity has basically accepted that others should respect their right to their beliefs, but don't have to respect the beliefs. The Muslims of course are pushing this hard because they still have the old fear of losing their followers if their beliefs are openly challenged, something the Christians have learnt to work around.

Respect peoples right to believe in any fantasy they want, and if they respect your right not to have it shoved down your throat, but to respect the crap? What standard are you living at if you do? It is again a useful tool for the snake-oil salesmen and assorted nuts.

Panda

Not sure what you are getting at there Flyfree. Are you having a dig at the Muslims? I have never been approached by Muslim missionaries.

FlyFree

Lately this idea that all and sundry should respect Muslims' religion has been popping up everywhere, even the UN if I'm not mistaken. My point is, if I respect your belief, I'll have to tiptoe around it so as not to 'offend'. I cannot really challenge the basic tenets of your belief seriously. That means that religion is now protected from anything but the most superficial criticism.

Meanwhile, that religion is showing aggressive expansionist ambitions. Get the picture? Disable the defense, and advancement is easy.

What really would be horrifying is the day the Christians and Muslims actually make peace, rather than mouthing peace, and work together.


Muslim missionaries... you're treading on thin ice there.


If you still don't get my original point. There's a world of a difference between respecting someones RIGHT to their own beliefs, and respecting those beliefs, however ridiculous.

StrontiumDog

Agree FF. One of the things i abhor is that religion can't be challenged. Question Islam and you might get a fatwa against you...or end up murdered by some psycho. Granted many faiths are more tolerant than this, Islam being the extreme nowadays, but even Catholics go apeshit if you dare question there anti-abortion stance. Hell, doctors in the US have died at the hands of Christians, their only crime, administering abortions as wanted by their patients.

pompeybloke

Glad she was reinstated as offering a prayer genuinely like that is a sweet thing, relgion apart.