jesus freaks

[Tsuki]

mmmmmmmmmmmmm i feel kinda bad, cause of what i did, see some jesus freak at my school has been trying to convert me to his religion ever day for the last 2 years! always telling me im gona goto hell for ever cause im not a chirstian, and this and that about how everything is wrong but the bible, and always trying to make me goto his church. one day i just wanted to knock his block off, but i knew id get in trouble so i just ignored him then one day just to shut him up i played along with him and went to his church (ya should ihave seen the look on his face, he was so happy i though he'd have a heart attack! TOO BAD HE DIDNT!), so just to make him feel good about his jesus freak butt ive been playing along with it for a year, and now im just sick and tired of it. all he talks about is it, and how everything and everyone that isnt of his religion is gona fry, and how i should convert as many people as i can, he even wanted me to give him the internet community so he could do some damage. i need some opinions on how i should crush his hopes and watch him cry! any opinions

[Pan]

I dunno about crushing his hopes.. but here's my 2 cents:

First off, I don't think you should have played along in the first place. All you did was encourage him to try to convert other people. The best way to deal with "jesus freaks" is to ignore them and hope they go away.

Second, there should be no reason you want to "crush his hopes and watch him cry" over this. Just explain to him why you went to church (to get him to leave you alone about your religion) and aplogise and say you can't lie to him anymore. There shouldn't be any getting back or revenge in this case, imho.

I know you're upset but think of what you want to do.. get someone back for trying to convert someone else and trying to get that person to convert others because he thinks he turned her to his path.. which he didn't I guess. He's only doing what he thinks is right. I'm not saying that he should do this, I'm just saying that you shouldn't play along and encourage him.

So just explain to him that you're not Christian and be done with it. You'll feel better. :)

[)O( ~ Khara~ )O(]

I agree with Loki, you should have never led him on. My main problem with the whole thing is this, I feel as strongly about being a witch as he probably does being a christian. As such a person, I would calmly tell him that while his friendship mattered if we could not agree to disagree on the religion aspect then we did not need to be friends. If he continued, then I am the type to take it further and report him for imposing his religious beliefs on me and we all know there is a seperation of church and state. If you dislike him so much walk away.

[Radocs]

i need some opinions on how i should crush his hopes and watch him cry!

That's not very nice. :eyebrow:

Maybe you should just leave him be and be done with it. ¬_¬

[Saphra]

I had a friend that tried to convert me, and all I said to them was, "I don't push my religion on you, so please don't push yours on me."
They understood and we went on being friends. Just because you don't agree with someones religion does not mean that that person is bad. He my just feel extremely strong for his religion, that or he was raised to try to convert others, kinda like the jahovas witness (I know I just really misspelled that, but you get the drift).
Still, it's not very nice to want to "crush them and make them cry". That is not what religion is about.

~stands down off her soapbox and goes back into the realm of threads~

[earthcat]

Tsuki, you may mention the lack of respect and tolerance of Christians to any other religion is one of the stronger reasons many of us rejected it in the first place. And that he is a prime example....
You can reply, "So be it." to his statements about you burning in hell, if that satisfies him. It is, after all, your choice. (And try not to laugh when you say it.)
I won't berate you for your past actions; I think you all ready realize you made a bad decision there. And it is past, so put it behind you, and move on.
Best wishes to you... (((((((((Tsuki)))))))))

[Methanespirit]

Tsuki, dittoes on what the others have said. If anyone wants to present the gospel, they should present it without also conemdning anyone for not accepting it. Those who see no value in it are not to be harassed about their decision. (Acts 17:16-34) This is the kind of thing that turns people off to the Christian path.

........methane

[Melysande]

I agree that what you did wasn't very nice. If this person has been pestering you every day for two years and you kept telling him not to, you had a harrassment suit on your hands. You could have threatened him with legal action for his continued unwanted advances.

[Willow_Raindancer]

I could never go to a church just to get someone to shut up.
That's not only disrespectful to them,
it's disrespectful to yourself!
You need to learn how to say "No".
Politely and with some finality!
Then refuse to discuss it.
If your in school, tell a teacher your civil liberties are being abused.
You have a right not to be bible thumped at school!
(unless your in a Christian school:rolleyes: )

It's hard when your being annoyed, but don't compromise
what you know is the right thing to do, EVER!
Blessed Be!
:cool:

[SerenityMoon]

*raises eyebrows* Tsuki, i think that was pretty cruel to want to make him cry like that. Come on, how would you feel if you were decieved like that, and then somebody shot you down? and labelling him a "freak" like that...do you wish to be called that?
you did indeed encourage him, and that's pretty wrong if you had no intention of sticking with it or sincerely trying. you need to tell him that you've tried the experience, and you wish to stay the way you are for now, but thanks anyway. if he keeps bothering you, be firm but not mean. there's a difference.

[Chibi-Fallon]

SerenityMoon, I think that was just a “heat of the moment” thing. I've felt like that a million times. I don't really want it. In fact I'd hate myself for doing it. But at some times *man* would it be sweet. :o
I have a “friend” (she doesn’t really have many friends and I’ve known her since 1st grade so it’s not like I’m gonna be mean to her) who has been trying to convert me since I as 8 or so. Yes that’s right 7 whole years (and they still haven’t given up). You’d think they’d have the sense to not make fun of my father’s religion (Unitarian) in front of me at their church. :rolleyes: But no. But at least you have a guy who'll come out and say it. They ask me to sing at their church, and I have a really hard time saying no to things that are pressured on me (but I'm getting better :) ). Yes I sing, then go to youth group...

[SerenityMoon]

*wondering why she was the only one singled out when she agreed with several other people who said the same thing*
-_-

[Pan]

*patpats Serenity Moon* I was the one that started the replies. So pin it on me! :T

[SerenityMoon]

LMAO it was you, i say! YOU!! *POINTS!!*

[Mex]

All I have to say is, do you believe in the rede?????:confused:

If not, do whatever your heart tells you to do, because from what you have claimed to be doing for the past year only shows that you are quite immature and have no real morals anyway!!!:razz:

Sorry, but I had to get that out!!!:ack:

BB

P.S. We are all taking the same journey, just some use other paths to get to their destination. This doesn't mean that there is a right or wrong path as long as it leads to the Truth!:wave:

[shnen]

I understand you semi-hatred for this guy. My family is the same way, and they won't give up, regardless.

In any case you will jsut have to be the better person, or else tell him to leave you alone or else you will charge him with harassment. but don't crush him, everyone has a right to believe what they want, its when they try and push it on others where the problem comes in... he is only trying to save his world.

[Phoenix Blue]

Quoth Mex:
All I have to say is, do you believe in the rede?????:confused:

If not, do whatever your heart tells you to do, because from what you have claimed to be doing for the past year only shows that you are quite immature and have no real morals anyway!!!:razz:

Sorry, but I had to get that out!!!:ack:

The Rede does not demand someone act perfectly under all situations. To so act is impossible, as you prove here. I also find it ironic that you could call someone immature and stick out an emoticon tongue at them in the same paragraph. In fact, it's obvious the young man does have moral qualms about it, or else he wouldn't have felt bad in the first place.

If you have to say "I'm sorry" either before or after you make a statement, you're probably better off simply not saying it. If you believe in the Rede, that is.

[SerenityMoon]

woo.*inches away from phoenix blue* ^^;;;
either way, i still think it was taken care of quite meanly, and that it's horrid to want to deliberately crush the poor guy. i've had people like that all over me too, and never once have I ever wanted to hurt them (mentally or physically or whatever) for it.

[flar7]

Moderator Mode


Originally posted by Mex
All I have to say is, do you believe in the rede?????:confused:

If not, do whatever your heart tells you to do, because from what you have claimed to be doing for the past year only shows that you are quite immature and have no real morals anyway!!!:razz:

Sorry, but I had to get that out!!!:ack:

BB

P.S. We are all taking the same journey, just some use other paths to get to their destination. This doesn't mean that there is a right or wrong path as long as it leads to the Truth!:wave:

post of this nature are not allowed. You may disagree with people
but you may not bash them. RESPECT! is the rule. Saying sorry
after a post like that does not excuse the behavior when you say
it in the same post. Next time, keep those comments out of your post.

End of Moderator Mode

[Mex]

I am surprised with the reactions I have received to my earlier comments. I simply added the smilies to my post as an attempt to "soften" them. I would never harm anyone intentionally and all I felt I was doing was expressing my anger at the content of Tsuki's thread. The last sentence of Tsuki's thread asks about how can they go about "crushing" this Jesus freak? Really, after that question was my reaction really so severe? I will apologise for breaking any rules and will try not to be so aggressive next time.

phoenix blue
I mentioned the rede thinking of (An' it harm none, do what thou wilt) because I felt it an appropriate response to the last question Tsuki asked. I never claimed that the rede demands perfection from us.

BB

[Writer_Waif]

IMO and I respond because I am faced with being told that I am going to 'hell' on a daily basis ...

I think you should tell him that you have not been converted and that you have your beliefs and he has his and let that be the end of it. If he chooses to respond just don't answer back. Know in your heart that you are who the Creator made you to be and he is who the Creator made him to be.

just my opinion,

SilverMoon Dragon

[Phoenix Blue]

Quoth Mex:
I mentioned the rede thinking of (An' it harm none, do what thou wilt) because I felt it an appropriate response to the last question Tsuki asked. I never claimed that the rede demands perfection from us.
I understand that; and if you'd left it there, you would've had a valid point. You'd even have a point by saying that wanting to "crush" someone was immature--because it is. I objected mainly to your proclamation that the young man had no morals--that sort of statement, made the way you made it, was harmful. You can't very well call someone on violating the Rede when you turn around and break it yourself.

[Tsuki]

it seems that many think i havent told this man many times to leave me alone, i have told him time and time again that i dont care leav me along, i tried not to hurt him, i even warned him a few times, but people do learn, you tell a kid dont touch the pot on the stove cause it's hot but many kids touch it anyways, that's how people learn, play with fire you get burned that's what happens, and as for the no morals, how could you say that im not the one putting childish little face on a message say that someone else has no morals, yeah made i was wrong for wanting to crush his hopes, but could it be that i was angry case some how he found my number how and kept bugging me about going to church and not calling my dad father cause his bible said to only call his god father

[Tsuki]

ah! i gess my keyboard is a little messed up there were a few words in the last reply that didnt make it, cause i didnt edit it (now that's very childish on my part) if you need help on the words just reply to me and ill fix it

[Haedis]

or you could just use the "edit" function :)

[flar7]

~Moderator Mode~

No more of the "name calling" behavior. Discuss the topic
without bashing each other or it will be closed. That means no
more snappy comebacks from either side, unless related to topic
and not insults.

~End of Moderator Mode~

[Garnet]

If you guys can't play nice, I'm going to send you to seperate rooms! (lol)

Let's face it, most of us have been in Tsuki's situation. Even if people don't know we're Pagans/Wiccana/whatever. No matter what religion a person claims to believe in, there will always be someone who thinks her/his religion is better.
Look around you. Most fundie/evangelical groups preach their path is the only true one.
Jimmy Swaggert has spent his entire career preaching that the Roman Catholic church is the largest & most dangerous cult there is. A few years ago, an Anglican-Catholic priest had a show on a local cable channel, & the area Roman Catholic diocese managed to drive him off the air. The other day, two of my co-workers were arguing whether the Southern or American branch of the Baptist church was the 'real' one. Sheesh, a dear friend of mine is a 'high church' Episcopalian, & he constantly bashes the 'low church' Episcopalians...if he travels to a place without a high church, he won't attend services at a 'low' church because it's not really Episcopalian. In Isreal some of the worst conflict is between the Orthodox Jews-who run the political show there- & liberal Jews, who have no legal 'voice' there. After some gang trouble in my neighborhood, a fundie group put up leaflets on lightpoles pleading with the gangsters to turn their lives over to Jesus & bashed the Jehovah's Witnesses as a cult in the same 'breath'. And these days, lots of people of all paths are beating up Islam.
I took grief for being Catholic when I was a kid, I took grief for being a Jew after I converted, now I take grief when someone sees me reading a book on any Pagan/Wiccan subject, tarot, spellcasting...whatever.
Would I have strung the guy along? No, but Tsuki tried to get the kid to leave him alone, & it didn't work. I try the "if you don't convert me, I won't convert you' method, usually. Sometimes, I just say, "I got on this path after a lot of hard thinking & searching, & you aren't going to knock me off it."
If all else fails, I try, "I read your tract/leaflet/whatever. It made my belief in my own path stronger." That usually stuns them long enough to let me escape.

[Danustouch]

I dunno, Tsuki. I think you should really come clean with him, in the nicest way that you can...

"Listen, I've got to come clean with you now, because if I don't, I'm putting myself through more discomfort, and also being cruel to you. The truth is, the only reason I got into this situation with you, was because you wouldn't leave me alone about all this religious stuff. The truth is, I don't WANT to be a Christian. But, you wouldn't listen to that. I felt such pressure from you, that I decided to go along with it, just so that I wouldn't be pestered all the time with it. But..I don't feel it in my heart, and I probably never will. I'm sorry that I mislead you, but..I really want nothing more to do with this. ". After that, if he keeps harrassing you, go to the school administration, the principle, or guidance counselor, and tell them that you feel that you are being harrassed. But the truth is, you kind of dug your own grave by getting into this with him. You should have gone to the principle, or a guidance counselor when he was first harrassing you. Deciding to use a sneaky technique, was lowering yourself to his level. I think that as the years go bye, you'll look back on this with a little regret. You weren't honest with him, and you didn't stand up for yourself. You didn't take the high road, at all in this situation.

Spirituality is about trying to evolve yourself, empower yourself, and to find Wisdom (IMHO), and your actions were not those of an evolved, empowered, or wise person. It seems to me, that they were done out of anger, out of frustration, and out of some sense of revenge. In other words, Tsuki, you let him get the best of you. There were a million and one things that you could have done to get him out of your hair....you could have even done a magickal working that woudl have made you less visable to him (because I'm really confused as to why he specifically targeted you with his witnessing, unless you'd left the door open to it, and continued to have religious discussions with him....), but instead, you chose the "low road". You chose to deceive him, AND to place yourself in an uncomfortable position. Now it's going to be more difficult than ever to be "done" with him. Because by putting your energy into deceiving him, you've established a connection or history with him. Now, when you go to a principle, or guidance counselor about any harrassing he might do in the future, they're going to be pretty confused, and probably a little bit miffed that you didn't go to them sooner.

I know that that type of harrassment can be very aggrivating. However, when you truly KNOW yourself, and OWN yourself, you'll be able to resolve issues like this by taking the high road.

Good Luck.

[Tsuki]

thinking my teachers and such may help is alittle different, some of my teacher agree with him, like Mr Richards after i told him he started preaching to me, one teacher even told me to just stay away from him (that was funny cause his locker in weights is right next to mine, and we have it at the same time), and as for the principal, he let those little guys that give out bibles onto the campus so they could give the books out. I dont think the staff is going to help me much

[Semele]

Originally posted by Tsuki
it seems that many think i havent told this man many times to leave me alone, i have told him time and time again that i dont care leav me along, i tried not to hurt him,

And you reinforced this proclaimation by going to church with him and pretending to follow and share his religious beliefs for an entire year? I think you can see why he is trying so hard to lead you back on the path that he feels you may have slipped from...if you look hard enough.

You speak about him as though you can't stand him, but I think you two are or at least were good friends at some point. Try to remember that the next time you are so angry at him for his insistance and as Danus and others have suggested...come clean. Tell the truth and then tell him you want no further attempts at religious discussion. If he attempts to keep discussing...get away from him and take whatever measures necessary to make him leave you alone. That may mean calling the cops sadly enough, if the school officials wont help you. I have a suspicion that this is about so much more than church and religion though.

[Illuminatus]

A side note,

The act of giving somebody part of what they want in an attempt to keep them from trying to take more is called "Appeasement". The Allied powers in Europe tried that with Hitler, back in the 1930's. They thought "Well, he's going to start a war, so let's give him a chunk of Yugoslavia or Checkeslovakia or Poland, to keep him happy."

This almost never works. Giving somebody part of what they want, when their demands were unreasonable to begin with, does not dissuade them from persuing more demands. It actually makes them more agressive. It sends the message that they can demand whatever they want, and it will be given. Most people have mastered this concept by the age of 2 ("Mine!"), but tend to forget it as they get older.

I'm not saying your friend is Hitler, but I am saying that you shouldn't be carving up pieces of the Balkans to throw at him while you hope he goes away. It's a general rule - if you feed it, it'll just keep coming back for more. Just say no!

- Illuminatus!

[Willow_Raindancer]

Originally posted by Tsuki
thinking my teachers and such may help is alittle different, some of my teacher agree with him, like Mr Richards after i told him he started preaching to me, one teacher even told me to just stay away from him (that was funny cause his locker in weights is right next to mine, and we have it at the same time), and as for the principal, he let those little guys that give out bibles onto the campus so they could give the books out. I dont think the staff is going to help me much

Are you saying a teacher tried to preach to you?
If it happened, you need to right down all the details, times, dates and everything that was said.
First contact your school board. If you can get your parents help, that's great if not try anyway.

Second if the school board won't help, go find your state branch of the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union)
Only do this if your serious about stopping the harassment, after all the ACLU has important work to do. Don't use them and waste their time if you don't intend to fallow through;)

Third, stand up for yourself a bit (you can do it politly too). They'll only walk on someone who's willing to lay there:D

[Phoenix Blue]

That all presumes you're attending a public school, of course, and not some parochial school.

[Willow_Raindancer]

Originally posted by Phoenix_Blue
That all presumes you're attending a public school, of course, and not some parochial school.

Sorry I forgot to mention that one!
THANKS P~B!

[SerenityMoon]

*chuckles* well said, Illuminatus. and i agree. shouldn't have tried to appease him, becuase well, if you don't want pigeons, don't feed them.
i can understand WHY you tried to appease him, but you probably regret it now, ne?
*shakes head* i really don't know what you can do now besides just be firm with him. you can be harsh, if you have to, but don't downright insult him.