Have you ever been repelled by one's 'religious fervor'....?

[bliss_eternal]

I recently requested information from someone about a business opportunity. When I received it, I was surprised and I don't know, maybe...'put off' by the content of the information.

This business has NOTHING to do with religion. Apparently the person with the biz is a christian or a bible thumper--not sure. Within the packet of information, were several samples of her work. All of the samples were of a religious nature. All of them.

A poem she wrote--religious. Samples utilizing her art, used biblical texts. Samples of her husband's work--religious, also featuring biblical texts. A brochure offering advertising her work in a variety of prayers... :shrug:

I understand that a feature of christianity and other religions, is to 'minister' to others, or to share your faith. But I find it off putting and rather unprofessional that this is the way someone is representing themselves--at least it is to me. Isn't this presumptuous of this person to assume I share their beliefs and/or want to witness it, so to speak?

Anyway, have you ever felt put out or repelled by someone 'sharing their faith' with you this way? Or in some other way?

[MrScorpio]

1. Religion has given the talentless hacks of the world an outlet

Report their Bible-thumping asses to the BBB

[bliss_eternal]

7. Hmmm--I hadn't thought of that...

maybe I should.

[WCGreen]

2. Yes.... A lot of times....

[Clintmax]

3. Yes I have!

My little sister is one of those! Whatever church she goes to has her believing the rapture is due to happen any day! Consequently, she e-mails me all the time telling me I better get into church so I can go up into the clouds with her and Jesus. :puke: She told my little brother some time back that he was going to be one of those left behind and implored him to not get "that mark". :rofl: She's lost it, I tell ya!

[bliss_eternal]

8. I'm so sorry--

that must be rough--in your own family.

I divorced the bible thumpers in my family. On top of being so called-devout christians, they were hypocrites. I couldn't take it...

[Jamastiene]

4. Yes. If I want to hear preaching, I'll go to church.

Otherwise, I most likely don't want to hear it unless the conversation is with a liberal religious person who espouses love and compassion only. I don't like religion when it is coming from a questionable source or when it is not relevant to the topic, if that makes any sense.

[bliss_eternal]

9. Makes perfect sense to me!

I agree completely! I have 'christian' friends--but they are liberal/progressive--so it's ALL about being loving and exhibiting the love of christ.

I have NO idea who these people are, aside from speaking to them about their business. I can't believe most of the materials have such a 'gospel-like' spin to them...

[In_The_Wind]

5. In Myrtle Beach South Carolina

almost every time I went to a store the check-out person would say "god bless you" ...

for 5 months - I was blessed for spending money ...

:shrug:

[bliss_eternal]

11. what did you say?

Or did you say anything after they would 'bless you'?

That's interesting. If it happened that many times, I would have been rather confused, I think.

[LaurenG]

6. Yes chain email always stating that

"(InsertDeity of choice here) will bless you but you have to send this to 25000... people in 5 seconds or it won't work". I don't like it and I usually don't get tricked into opening them but when I do, sigh...

[bliss_eternal]

12. Oh NO! I HATE those!

I stopped corresponding with someone that used to send me those all the time. Do they really think somehow that is spreading the message or whatever?

Seriously, would their deities of choice be computer literate and have e-mail?

[LaurenG]

16. lol nt

[Initech]

10. Yeah. I have a hard time eating at the local Flame Broiler...

Not because of their food, but because of their choice of radio station - KFSH (or "The Fish", it's a "Christian Rock" station for the So Cal Bible thumpers). Not to mention one of the walls inside the joint is covered with religious art.

I dont have anything against Christianity, but I do hate when people try to force their religion on others, especially in a place where people eat.

[Rabrrrrrr]

13. I know a restaurant kind of like that -

they aren't real in-your-face, but there is some religious stuff in the entry-way, and the menu has little snippets of Scripture here and there.

But on the other hand, the people who own the place ACT like Christians - they close on Sunday so they, and whatever of their staff want to, can go to church and have a Sabbath.

Imagine that - a VERY family-oriented restaurant, actually giving up the Sunday church lunch crowd so that they can give everyone a day off.

I think that's cool!

It's a like kitschy in the place, a little bit of the "america = Christianity = being nicey nicey = fluffy angels and thomas kinkade", but they have great food.

[bliss_eternal]

15. That IS nice!

Sounds like they practice what they preach--I like that.

I can't tell you how many people that go on and on about this admin. being so great for preaching about their 'christian-family values' at the same time, have the audacity to be pissy with a chain restaurant that is closed on Sunday.

:wtf:

The hypocrisy of some that support this admin and 'christianity' is just bizarre to me...

[bliss_eternal]

14. Yuck--

I don't think I would want to eat there either.

Like you I have nothing against religion, christianity, etc. I DO have a problem with presumption and people being pushy.

One shouldn't presume I am what they are, in terms of religion.

[Initech]

18. Yeah, I have a hard time going anywhere that plays The Fish

If I want to be preached to, I'll go to church. They even play that crap at my orthopedic doctor's office. :puke:

When I'm in the waiting room, I usually break out my iPod and put on some much much better music.

What's worse - The Fish seems to be replacing KOST as the bland, boring, generic music station of choice everywhere now. :puke:

[bliss_eternal]

19. You must have it rough

living in oc--whenever dh and I are in the area, we are surprised (and mildly relieved) when we see any forms of progressiveness or any liberals. (This is usually just in the forms of a t-shirt or a Kerry bumper sticker on a car in the disneyland parking lots).

I get excited just seeing kids that are dating interracially walking around downtown disney. There was a time you NEVER saw that in orange county--and if you did, people stared.

We don't have a radio in our car, so we don't even know what the stations are there. I was concerned that stations like that (the Fish)may 'take over' the airwaves in the area--due to TBN having such a strong hold in Santa Ana.

[Initech]

21. I know - I really belong in Nor Cal!

Oh, and even the mere sight of the TBN building just makes me want to - :puke:

[bliss_eternal]

25. You are making a difference

with your presence, here in Socal with us. :hug:

Is the part of Anaheim you are in really conservative--repub.?

I've heard Fullerton is a little better--don't know how true that is, though. We stopped at a small grocery store not far from Fullerton, near Anaheim. I couldn't believe how racist the people there were--it was like something out of a movie. :scared:

on edit, p.s. I've often wanted to go to Nocal myself...always felt I belonged there more than here. :shrug:

[Initech]

28. I live out by the toll roads - VERY conservative area

It sucks - most of my neighbors are total freepers.

Not only that, my parent's house is about 10 minutes from the Nixon library.

[bliss_eternal]

32. I'm so sorry

to hear that. :hug: It must have been miserable to be there prior to and after the election.

I was at Disneyland after the election--very somber day. Some asshat was actually 'gloating.' A lot of the staff seemed quite subdued, though...

[TallahasseeGrannie]

29. My doctor's office

uses some Christian Musak.

Now, I'm a Christian and I really enjoy hymns. But not with my feet in the stirrups, you know? Plus they are these shmaltzy hymns and they make me think they are preparing me for bad news.

I like the doctor and have gone there 20 years.

[bliss_eternal]

33. LOL! LOL!

But not with my feet in the stirrups, you know?

:rofl:

I hear you loud and clear! LOL! LOL! Glad you like your doctor, though!

[LaraMN]

17. My old boss was a fundie, and he sold Amway,

and he had a crush on me, and my husband thought it was hilarious.:eyes:

[bliss_eternal]

20. Did he know

your political affiliations? :scared:

I would think knowing you are a liberal, would have turned him off...

:hug: Had to give you this, as I feel so badly for you that a funie had a crush on you. I'm so sorry.

I had a date with a Mormon once... Do you believe?

[LaraMN]

22. I kept my political opinions to myself. It was just a part-time job

and I knew I could walk away any time I wanted. In truth, I found it perversely interesting to listen to him blabber on, and to observe how his mind and reasoning seemed to work. He did creep me out sometimes, though, and he was downright MAD at me when I quit, even though I gave him notice a full month before I left.

[bliss_eternal]

26. It is interesting

sometimes to just kick back and listen to the way some minds work, isn't it? Kind of a weird blend between complete revulsion and utter fascination...

;)

[XemaSab]

34. It's the "car accident" mentality:

"There but for the grace of God go I..."

[left hand man]

23. was she attempting to sell their"art"?

maybe she has got a side biz going----but VERY "put offing" in MHO
When anyone tries the "testifying" crap with me I tell them where to stick it--- along with their sale----

[bliss_eternal]

30. I'm not sure--

she could have been trying to sell their art. If she was, that's even odd, as that wasn't what I was told I was getting. I was expecting a package of information--you know, about the business. It's all kind of strange.

On top of that, on further investigation--I've found that out of a few hundred people to take her 'course' and 'certify' to work with this business--only a few have actually followed through on it. :shrug:

One that has religious and married to a minister...

Welcome to DU, left hand man! I like your name! :hi:

[left hand man]

59. thanks--- it has meanings on many levels---

[ChoralScholar]

24. The people who own my house (landlords I guess)

keep inviting me to church.

I told them I'd prefer if they didn't evangelize me on their visits.

They're nutjobs... She hounded me for two months about a small dead branch in the yard.

She calls and says:

"Now I don't want the place looking shabby, there are too many church-board members who live in this neighborhood."

With these people, It's always about being seen isn't it?

So I leave messages for her now:

"Yeah, I've got a branch in my yard, I was wondering if you wanted me to try to reattach it or what.. I'd hate for it to look shabby"

and when the leaves started to turn

"You've GOT to help me, the tree in the front yard must be broken... the leaves are the wrong color and they're falling off like nobodys business. I hope to hear back soon, because I'm running out of tape."

She doesn't bother me anymore.

[Rabrrrrrr]

27. ROTFL!!

I'm glad I'm here alone - I let out a big old gut laugh on that one!

"The leaves are the wrong color and falling off like nobodys business. I hope to hear back soon, because I'm running out of tape."

Sheer GENIUS!

:applause:

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

[bliss_eternal]

31. I agree--

that was a good one! Bravo! :rofl:

[BamaGirl]

39. Omg

"You've GOT to help me, the tree in the front yard must be broken... the leaves are the wrong color and they're falling off like nobodys business. I hope to hear back soon, because I'm running out of tape."

:rofl: Brilliant lol!

[NMMNG]

42. OMFSM, that is too darn funny

"You've GOT to help me, the tree in the front yard must be broken... the leaves are the wrong color and they're falling off like nobodys business. I hope to hear back soon, because I'm running out of tape."

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

That is priceless!

[Pacifist Patriot]

35. Yes.

As a UU Minister I find wearing religion on your sleeve to be off-putting to say the least.

[bliss_eternal]

37. Do people that don't know

that you are a minister, try to 'recruit' you frequently?

[Pacifist Patriot]

38. LOL! People who know I'm a minister try to recruit me.

My aunts and uncles know I'm a minister and try to "save me." Aagghhh!!!

[bliss_eternal]

40. That's gotta'

get really old for you. LOL! I'm sorry they don't just give you some points for 'working in the field', so to speak and let you be.

:shrug:

It seems redundant to try to 'preach' to a minister, but maybe it's just me. LOL!

[Pacifist Patriot]

Unfortunately, many ultra-conservative Christians

do not consider me a minister. I mean, how can you be a minister if you aren't Christian? They really have no clue about Unitarian Universalism and can't be bothered with an explanation. I have a family member who told me right after a funeral I had officiated at that I was going to hell because I didn't mention Jesus once. Considering the deceased and all her family were Pagan UUs I didn't think it quite necessary.

It's really more amusing than tedious.

I just sent out my graduation announcements for my D.Div. to all of my Southern Baptist aunts, uncles and cousins. The responsive silence will be deafening.

[bliss_eternal]

48. Congratulations on your D. Div graduation!!!

You must be so excited (and proud) about your accomplishment!

:toast: :party: :bounce: :bounce: :party: :toast::toast: :party:

If I may ask, is there a website or somewhere that I could find out more about what Unitarian Universalism is? Is it at all like metaphysics? To be honest, my first encounter with it, has been since being a member of DU. I'm a bit of an information junkie (lol), so I'd love to read more about it...

Sorry again about the friends and family. :hug:

[Pacifist Patriot]

49. Thank you.

It's weird. I feel like I should have a greater sense of accomplishment but it's not like that at all. I don't know how to explain it. Hard to shift from student-mode after so long I guess.

Unitarian Universalist Association
http://www.uua.org/

The Principles of the Unitarian Universalist Association
We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote

The inherent worth and dignity of every person;

Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;

Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;

A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;

The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;

The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;

Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

The living tradition which we share draws from many sources:

Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life;

Words and deeds of prophetic women and men which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love;

Wisdom from the world's religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life;

Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God's love by loving our neighbors as ourselves;

Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit.

Spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.

Grateful for the religious pluralism which enriches and ennobles our faith, we are inspired to deepen our understanding and expand our vision. As free congregations we enter into this covenant, promising to one another our mutual trust and support.

My website is: http://www.unitarianminister.org/

[bliss_eternal]

54. Thank you for the link

and for sharing the belief system of your denomination. So much more welcoming and open than some other sects these days, isn't it? LOL! I

It's sad that so many traditional religions seem to have gotten so far away from the teachings of the guy they claim to live for...christ. (sigh)

Thank you again!

[Pacifist Patriot]

47. Weird duplicate.

[jonnyblitz]

36. i don't encounter it that much, luckily for THEM. nt

[PassingFair]

41. OK, there's this woman at work....

and she's basically nice, but she's crazy.
She has a son who has been institutionalized since he was 10 or 12 (He's in his 30's now), and she's had him EXORCISED twice. He's a schizophrenic with psychotic episodes and she takes him to an EXORCIST!

Well, one canvass, when the sales were down, she wanted us all to link hands and pray. I didn't want to make a scene, and everyone was VERY uncomfortable about it, but we did it. :puke:

Then, afterwards, she suggested that we make it a regular thing. I said, "Great! Let me know in advance when it's my turn, so I can bring my candles and some chalk."

Needless to say, "prayer circle" has not become a regular thing on my team....

[NMMNG]

43. I have a guy at work

His parents belong to some charismatic religion where every little thing has a "spirit". There is a "spirit" of smoking, drinking, drug addiction, overeating, mental illness and probably every little sin in the book. When he began showing signs of mental illness (he has paranoid schizophrenia and severe anxiety) his parents did not take him to a psychiatrist or psychologist. They took him to the pastor and had an exorcism performed. Now this guy is so screwed up he has a fixation with hell and damnation, and constantly worries that "god" hates him and wants him to die. :eyes:


Stupid parents.

[bliss_eternal]

53. Buffy--

I feel so badly for your co-worker.

They may feel that what they are doing is what's best for him, based on their belief system of course. But seeing it here in black and white, it's kind of hard to ignore how damaging the reality of what they're doing is. That's so sad.

I personally believe that ANYTHING can be addictive--and that includes religion. I think some people take religion to some unhealthy proportions.

I've seen those that are severely overweight, in horrible abusive relationships, totally insecure about themselves and their lives continue to insist that none of that matters, because they are 'living for the lord.' When you try to 'gently' suggest that maybe the lord would want more for them, they just cite some scripture about how they are waiting on him to deliver, etc.

:shrug:

The whole argument of god not being able to reach out of the sky or wherever to help them--and maybe he would work through OTHERS, HUMANS helping them--they just don't get that at all...

[bliss_eternal]

52. That would make me crazy!

I don't know how you do it.

I'm kind of surprised that no one has said anything to her about 'religion in the workplace.' But I guess with these guys in the WH and using that as their own persoanl pulpit, it's difficult to get people to take their 'religion' out of work now...

Someone at her church has probably endorsed her activities as saving 'non-believers' and she thinks she's doing the lord's work...

:banghead:

[PassingFair]

55. Ah, she's just a nutty old lady...the one that REALLY bothers me...

is a new woman to our team. I had a really big sale last week, and before it came through, she said she'd pray for it to hit.

Now she's telling everyone (the boss, even!) that her prayer was what clinched it. All very ha ha, but it grates on my nerves!

[bliss_eternal]

57. I can see why--

that would get on my nerves, too. How nauseating...

:puke:

[lenidog]

44. Actually I am running neck and neck with being put off

by both bible thumpers and atheists. With some of the atheists I have run in to are filled with a bountiful supply of arrogance and condescension. They seem to believe because they are atheists the universe and evolution has made them a superior specimen of homo sapiens. To me being an atheist means one thing, you don't believe in God, nothing more and nothing less.

[bliss_eternal]

51. That's interesting--

I appreciate your sharing that. I guess it's easy for both sides (or all) to get didactic in their 'beliefs'--it can be a turn off for anyone.

No one likes to be 'preached' to or told 'they suck', in a manner of speaking--based on someone else's gauge.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

45. Christianity.... It's not just a cottage industry anymore.

[hibbing]

46. yes

Had a woman I work with keep inviting me to her church, oh you can wear jeans, oh we play good music and so on. This after she referred to AIDS as Gayds(sp), nice Christian attitude there..

Peace

[bliss_eternal]

50. How could you turn down a good Christian woman's

invitation to church? :sarcasm:

LOL!

Dh and I used to go to a church in our community--until one of the pastor's kept going on about what a great man * is. How wonderful their family is, and what a great woman, wife and mother barb must be, for rearing two future governors--one of which became pres. of our great land.
:puke:

After that speech--dh and I practically ran out of that place, and have never returned. :rofl: We couldn't get out fast enough...

Welcome to DU, hibbing! :hi:

[sbj405]

56. #1 way to turn me off : "Have a blessed day"

Can't tell you how many times I've heard this on government employees voicemail.

[Broken_Hero]

58. Yes...

A lot of times...i'm stuck in SW Missouri, baptists, and pentecoastals abound here in great numbers...can't as much walk down the street without having God SAVES signs flashing in your face, or people trying to convert you in some fashion, its nuts.