Pretty ticked off about something I received in the mail

[Kimberlily]

I wasn't sure where to post this, and I'm mostly venting, so bear with me!

:rant: I belong to another board that is not a spiritual board, but there are a good number of pagans and a good number of Christians there. 99% of the time, we respect each others' beliefs, and I think it is wonderful. The Christians often ask questions about our various Pagan paths, and are very respectful.

I swapped some stuff with a member there, and she included a little comic book titled "The Execution" in the envelope. I flipped through it, thinking maybe she was self-employed and trying to promote her work or something.

Here it is: http://www.chick.com/reading/tracts/0027/0027_01.asp

I have to say I'm offended that she sent it. I am very open about my spirituality on the board, so I'm sure she sent it because she thinks I need to be "saved". I want to tell her off, but the reality is that isn't my way. I'm a non-agressive person. I usually just let stuff that is said roll off me because it isn't worthwhile to get all huffy and ticked off about it. I don't get offended when I see quotes from the bible in people's signatures on the other board, but receiving unsolicited Christian literature in my mail struck a nerve.

I went through the chick.com website and found a lot of their "tracts" quite offensive. For the record, I have absolutely NOTHING against Christians, no matter what their path. I just hate having someone else's religion stuffed down my throat.

[Garnet Heart]

Are you 100% sure the person was serious in sending you this?

Chick tracts are sort of famous around the internet for being over the top, and well...honestly...kind of funny!

Has the person ever otherwise made any mention of disapproving of your religion or hinting that you should convert? It just seems kind of random that someone you're close enough with to make an exchange with would send you, of all things, a Chick tract.

Here's a couple of my "favorites."

http://www.chick.com/reading/tracts/0046/0046_01.asp

http://www.chick.com/reading/tracts/0003/0003_01.asp

Can't seem to find some of the old classics. I mean...I can see how these would be very offensive if people took them seriously. His tracts depict Catholics, Pagans, Jews, Muslims, gays, people who believe in a woman's right to choose, all going to hell. The question is...does anyone take them seriously?

[Libris]

Wow, that is really really freaking offensive. I hate how some (NOT all Christians) assume that non-Christians are just ignorant bad people who need their help.

[Libris]

Are you 100% sure the person was serious in sending you this?

Chick tracts are sort of famous around the internet for being over the top, and well...honestly...kind of funny!



Hrmmm, so its kind of like Landover Baptist? That would be quite a bit different, but who would send someone they don't know really well such a joke? I mean, it would be funny from my sister but if it was stuck in a my little pony trade that would be different... Who knows!

[Kimberlily]

I'm actually not close to her at all - in fact, I'd never "spoken" to her before since she's fairly new on the site and I'd never had reason to until recently. I posted some stuff on the swap forum there, and she offered to swap some perfumes for a couple of items I was getting rid of.

She does have scripture in her user text, and almost every post she makes mentions either her church or the bible...

[wolf]

Chick tracts have been around for a very long time. You can either take them personally, or appreciate them for the humor that sometimes unintentionally offer. I used to collect them.

If you think the ones on paganism are bad (Dark Dungeons, for one), you should take a look at the tracts on some of the other Christian sects. They are a sales/"witnessing" tool for the particular branch of fundamentalism that Jack Chick espouses.

[Libris]

I'm actually not close to her at all - in fact, I'd never "spoken" to her before since she's fairly new on the site and I'd never had reason to until recently. I posted some stuff on the swap forum there, and she offered to swap some perfumes for a couple of items I was getting rid of.

She does have scripture in her user text, and almost every post she makes mentions either her church or the bible...

Sounds like she probably was being serious. I'd tell her in a nice but firm way that I don't appreciate being proselytized to and in the future don't trade with her.

[wolf]

Hrmmm, so its kind of like Landover Baptist? That would be quite a bit different, but who would send someone they don't know really well such a joke?


Chick tracts are not meant as a joke. They are quite serious. You can read about the history of the tracts on the website.

[Libris]

Chick tracts are not meant as a joke. They are quite serious. You can read about the history of the tracts on the website.


Its hard to believe anyone could take them seriously--- scary!

[wyldwolf]

I think that it is a little over the top for someone you don't really know to send that to you. I have family members, that don't know a thing about my beliefs and the reason for that is that I know that things like that would be sent to me nonstop. I think that it's a shame that I have to hide such a large part of myself from them, but it's better than what I would have to deal with if they knew. I am like you, I don't judge anyone for their beliefs, but unfortunately, not everyone thinks the same as you and I do. I would just let it go. Obviously, this is not someone that has a very open mind and quite frankly, IMHO, not worth knowing. :)

[Kimberlily]

wyldwolf, I have to say I agree wholeheartedly. I have no reason to have anything further to do with this woman, but I really am tired of being a target for other people's negativity just because I'm "too nice" to say anything. I decided to send a PM to the site's moderators to get advice. I think what she did is actually against the community guidelines.

[Garnet Heart]

Oh, yeah, sorry if I was confusing. Chick tracts are intended, by the people that make them, to be taken seriously. The problem is that only the most fundamentalist born agains really believe that stuff. I mean, Jack Chick and crew aren't just your run of the mill fundamentalists who believe everyone but them are going to hell...they have bizarre conspiracy theories about how the Roman Catholic Church was secretly behind the Holocaust, the Soviet Revolution in Russia...and pretty much everything else bad ever.

If you want some poetic justice, you could always send her back one of the many parody Chick tracts to be found on the internets...

[morningstar2651]

Here is a parody tract.

Images removed due to adult language -- PB

[Kimberlily]

morningstar, that is too funny :lol: I'm not going to send it to her, since she seems like a nice but narrow-minded person. You gave me a good laugh though!

[morningstar2651]

morningstar, that is too funny :lol: I'm not going to send it to her, since she seems like a nice but narrow-minded person. You gave me a good laugh though!You're welcome. :)

[Morrigan_Wolfwind]

I found that comic to be incredibly boring. It's not worth getting angry over.

Usually I'd say something more substantial and possibly come close to rambling, but I walked home through the rain and I'm tired and slightly chilled right now.

EDIT: The comic you got sent, not the others.

[maelstrom]

Soul soliciting evangelists are very annoying. Fortunately, they are not the only ones with interesting literature. Check this out:

http://www.aquatabch.org/afwe/theotherpeople.php

I think it would be poetic to send your Christian friend one of these tracts, and see if she appreciates it. They are very polite, as well as educational, and I'm a big fan.

[Merrilyn]

Soul soliciting evangelists are very annoying. Fortunately, they are not the only ones with interesting literature. Check this out:

http://www.aquatabch.org/afwe/theotherpeople.php

I think it would be poetic to send your Christian friend one of these tracts, and see if she appreciates it. They are very polite, as well as educational, and I'm a big fan.

NIFTY! Thanks for sharing this. : )

[Brightshores]

Looks serious to me.

What I can't believe is that the producers of this document think people would actually be converted by this stupid little comic.. It's simplistic and trite, insulting, and almost silly in its attempt to reach those who don't believe in their version of Christianity.

[wolfjan1]

To me, ALL of these are offensive, subversive and just plain PREACHY! And did I forget dogmatic? How about not funny at all and CERTAINLY not entertaining.
I take the personal responsibility to refuse to read further and leave this post.

[inkywitch]

Wow.. just.. wow. Scary. I'm glad you contacted the authority on the boards.

[LostSheep]

yay it's Jack Chick again!

that guy's a legend.

And the funniest thing about him is that he is serious. Landover Baptist have their work cut out to out-satirise him.

It's like how the political satirists must have felt when GWB came to office.

[Herne]

I stay away from those strip like they are some kind of plague!!!

One i do enjoy though, and i take that one VERY lightly: www.sinfest.net (http://www.sinfest.net)

[BFD_Zayl]

*stretches* burn it, thats what i would do. ink on paper can't harm you physically or emotionally (unless its a death threat of some sort) those are my thoughts.

[Meadhbh]

It won't let it bother you much. Thats why they do it, it makes them feel holy to go out and do battle with the pagans. There was guy around here the other day whose topic was "Why Christains are the most oppressed religion in America." And of course we all know whats comming, thats right its because of the pagans. It was fun when he started talking about how no god fearing christain should shop or eat anywhere that will hire pagan because they have no right to exist let long earn a living. Almost an exact quote there.

[Rain30]

Chick tracts always make me giggle. I don't know why. I just find them unintentionally funny. I think it's even funnier than Landover Baptist because he actually believes what he's saying. Yes, I have a very warped sense of humor. So sue me. :lol:

[firefairy86]

I don't personally don't find it all that offensive, but if I was sent it I'd probably be annoyed and take action to stop it. I don't know why people even bother to make these because I doubt anybody has actually converted to Christianity after reading one of these. Everybody knows that some Christians feel that anybody who doesn't accept Jesus in their hearts will burn in hell. Which is actually kinda sad for them... and thats why they probably even bother to send them in the first place.

[Pagan Warrior]

I would toss it in the circular file and let that person know you have no desire to trade with her again.

[Kimberlily]

I decided to send a message to a moderator, since swapping is common practise on the board. She agreed that it was not appropriate, and the mods are discussing the issue and will let me know what they suggest I do.

[Autumn-Forest]

If somebody sent me that and knew that I was a Pagan/Witch, I'd be highly offended.

I don't need that dogmatic crap stuffed down my throat, we don't send them stuff in the mail, we don't go knocking on their door early in the morning to tell them to repent. Live and let live, don't convert people.

I would try to talk to that person, but I think it would be hard to tell them to not do that because a lot of people are closed minded, especially people who send that kind of stuff through the mail. :/

blessings,
Autumn

[Annest]

If someone sent me something like that I´d laugh it off and send some of my stuff in return. But hey, thats me and I´m weird enough to get along with the jehovas witnesses when they knock on my door.

Anne

[Whitewolf]

If somebody sent me that and knew that I was a Pagan/Witch, I'd be highly offended.

I don't need that dogmatic crap stuffed down my throat, we don't send them stuff in the mail, we don't go knocking on their door early in the morning to tell them to repent. Live and let live, don't convert people.

I would try to talk to that person, but I think it would be hard to tell them to not do that because a lot of people are closed minded, especially people who send that kind of stuff through the mail. :/

blessings,
Autumn


I feel the same way. Live and let live. If someone sent me that I'd be offended too.

[Diotima]

I frequent the same board as you do, and we have met in the Solitary pagan thread...so, I'm curious to know how the mod team decided to act in this case, if you are comfortable sharing.

I'm sorry that this happened to you, sorry and surprised as well. Though there are many Christians on that board, they have always acted respectfully. I suppose that there is one bad apple in every tree.

I find those chick tracts very disturbing- what kind of people have that kind of imagination? Do they SERIOUSLY think that these tracts picture Christianity as an attractive choice for a religion?

[Kimberlily]

Diotima, the mods decided not to give her a formal reprimand, but requested that I send her a PM since they thought it would be better received and a better lesson than getting an edict from on high. They mentioned that another member received the same tract as I did, and that they were planning on sending her a PM too.

So I sent her a PM, saying how I felt about it, and that I didn't think it was appropriate. She replied saying that she didn't mean to offend me, and "I'm a Christian, and I just want other people to know what I believe to be the Truth." so I replied, saying "I didn't think you meant any offense - but a swap isn't the most appropriate venue in which to share one's spiritual beliefs. I understand that you wanted to spread the word about what you believe, but in my opinion, it is important to respect that others may not share your beliefs. After all, one of the Ten Commandments says "do unto others as you would have done to you" and I don't think you'd be pleased if I sent you literature about my religion."

Her reply was "I try to give the gospel to everyone I come in contact with. If they're not interested, I respect that. If you were to send me something, I'd look at it, maybe read it; and if I didn't like it, I'd throw it away, like I'm sure you did. Thats all. If someone DID send me something, I'd know they were really sincere about what they believe, and respect them for that, even if I don't agree with their religion."

So basically she doesn't see anything wrong with sending unsolicited religious literature in the mail. And I'm positive that she'd be offended if I did send her Pagan literature. I'll be forwarding her replies to the mods and see if they want to contact her as well, since she doesn't seem to get it. The mods said they are not okay with members using the swaps as a means to promote and outside agenda.

[Rainbow]

Yeah, we get those all the time. I collect them (And other religious garbage. And some religious material which isn't "garbage" necessarily but still moderately preachy.). Fun stuff.

[Diotima]

Well, I think it was good idea that you tried pm'ing her first. Too bad that she doesn't see what the problem with her behavior is. I'm glad to hear that you are continuing to work this out with the help of the mods, stressful as that is.
I agree that this sort of thing should not spread into swaps and trades (especially since Chick tracts are definitely from the more inappropriate end of religious literature).

Have you considered mentioning this in her trader rating? I mean, not giving a negative rating, just mentioning that she sent you religious "gift" as an extra?

I wish you strength.

[AmyDarling]

I'm sorry but those kind of cartoons make me laugh. However the person distributing them (and yeah they have booklets like that that they distribute)
is lucky I have never caught them.

[ShadowcatX]

You know what continually amazes me about the whole "live and let live policy," it's in their faith to go out and convert others and for the most part it's not not in ours, but a lot of people want to push that aspect of our religion on to them and see nothing wrong with it, but when they try and push theirs on to us. . .

Seems to me the person who sent the tract was friendly and respectful in her replies (if predictable) and she has said she'd be open to having pagan literature sent to her so why not either brush it off or send her something? Either way, it's not worth getting upset over, then or now.

[AmyDarling]

Either way, it's not worth getting upset over, then or now.

Exactly. I will not give them the satisfaction of being offended or casting any doubt on what I believe to be true.

[Aidron]

I for one liked the comic. I have to say, it was a creative way of comparing the more mundane realm to the Christian beliefs.

Although if someone handed me that comic, I'd give them my standard response: "So someone died for my sins. That apparently wasn't enough, so let's keep the trend going with you."