Ugh! Annoying Fundie Neighbor!

[Doodlebug]

Hey everyone. I live in this apartment complex where all the apartments are contained within a big building so I see a lot of my neighbors all the time. Anyway, I have a Fundamentalist neighbor who is extremely annoying. I quit going to church and earlier she caught me as I was going to my car to ask if I was going to church. I said no and that I was going to my Mom's house and she started going on and on about how I should go to church and how I should go with her sometime. It was really annoying because I am very liberal and I could honestly care less about church. God and religion is mostly private for me. What should I do?

[Rowan Darkmoon]

I would simply say, "I appreciate the offer, but no thank you." If she presses, you might try telling her that God and religion are very important and private things to you, and that you prefer not to talk about it. If you just refuse to talk, hopefully she'll get the message. :lol: It sounds like she's not doing it to be malicious, but out of concern for your spiritual well being, even if it is annoying and misguided.

[Doodlebug]

I would simply say, "I appreciate the offer, but no thank you." If she presses, you might try telling her that God and religion are very important and private things to you, and that you prefer not to talk about it. If you just refuse to talk, hopefully she'll get the message. :lol: It sounds like she's not doing it to be malicious, but out of concern for your spiritual well being, even if it is annoying and misguided.
She doesn't listen though. She's like oh but God wants us to have fellowship with others. I mean, I told her that I prefer to keep it as a private thing but she just doesn't listen. She's one of these the Bible is literal truth and if you don't accept it you're just plain wrong type people. It's very annoying. :(

[TheSpiritWithin]

MOVE!

Your spiritual energy is valuable and these people are not evolved and probably never will be!

Go somewhere where you can share and help and feel and be.

Love!

Julie
the spirit within.
xo

[Morrighan61]

The next time she bugs you to go to church with her tell her "Gee, I'm sorry I'd love to but I'm afraid I can't just can't make the time right now. I'm far too busy! My coven is RIGHT in the middle of it's annual drive to raise funds for a halfway house that rehabilitates misguided missionaries...."

;)

Morrighan

[Doodlebug]

The next time she bugs you to go to church with her tell her "Gee, I'm sorry I'd love to but I'm afraid I can't just can't make the time right now. I'm far too busy! My coven is RIGHT in the middle of it's annual drive to raise funds for a halfway house that rehabilitates misguided missionaries...."

;)

Morrighan
lol! But I'm not a witch. ;)

[Aleannah]

you could simply tell her that if you ever regain the desire to go back to church and want to attend with someone, she will be the first one you think of. But, her constantly asking you to go tends to make you stay away, but thanks for the open invitation. :hugz:

[Verthandi]

She's like oh but God wants us to have fellowship with others.
Isn't there a passage in the Bible about worshipping in secret? I don't remember the book or the literal quote but it was something like, if you're fasting, wash and trim your nails. If you're praying, lock yourself alone in a room and do it silently.

[Athene]

As you say 'church', I'm assuming you mean fundamentalist Christian (after all there are fundamentalist Pagans _whistle_ )

you could simply tell her that if you ever regain the desire to go back to church and want to attend with someone, she will be the first one you think of. But, her constantly asking you to go tends to make you stay away, but thanks for the open invitation. :hugz:

I agree with this advice.

She doesn't sound at all like the type that would be open to reason or even shock, such as by telling her you're Pagan or whatever. She would probably just believe that you need more saving.

In your situation, I would be as honest as possible. If she kept harping on at me I would say that her evangelising was putting me off. You could scare her and say it's putting you off God, lol, if you're feeling wicked.

But you have to deal with it head on, these type of people don't listen. They're on a mission.

Love & Light

[Aine of the Fae]

You could always do what I once did to a fundie coworker. It was several years ago, middle of the summer, and I was working with a group at the time. We did our summertime workings outside, on private land, skyclad.

This co-worker of mine found out I was a witch and freaked out! She continually bugged me to go to church with her. I finally relented. Under one condition. She had to attend circle with me. She didn't have to participate, she could sit at the outside and observe, but I wanted her to see that we weren't having orgies and sacrificing kittens.

She, surprisingly, agreed. She showed up with a box of Bibles and a handful of tracts. She was quiet and did fine. Until the point we all stripped. She ran, I never saw her after that! She requested transfer to a different department, although she never said why!

[Pip_Sensei]

I'd say

"No church can save only Jesus so go read your Bible"

That should shut her up for a while.

[wakywitch]

You can also tell her that you don't need a church in order to talk to Jesus.
Hope it works out for you!

[IvyWitch]

MOVE!

Your spiritual energy is valuable and these people are not evolved and probably never will be!

Go somewhere where you can share and help and feel and be.

Love!

Julie
the spirit within.
xo

You know....moving away, or running away from people you don't like or people who you don't agree with doesn't solve anything, and that's a whole lot of moving. *shakes head*

[OriginalWacky]

You know....moving away, or running away from people you don't like or people who you don't agree with doesn't solve anything, and that's a whole lot of moving. *shakes head*
I can't imagine moving every time somebody annoyed me. I've already moved something like 45 times in my life... and I know that more than 45 people have irritated me.

[Antoninus]

lol! But I'm not a witch. ;)
But does SHE know that? :D

[TheSpiritWithin]

Sometimes the solution often is to work things out and try to adapt to an environment. At the time I was just thinking of a situation where I lived that I was condemned for being a creative free spirit. I tryed to fit in and be the person everyone else wanted and thought it would help but actually sent me into a depression.

It was wrong of me to base this post on personal experience. Events that happen to people in life are very unique and not always dealt with in the same way.

My apologizes. I hope you found some resolve.

Julie
xo

[Hearthwitch]

That is all excellent advice! There is a passage in the bible that states you should pray in private. I can not remember where I just remember it from church when I was in Catholic school. That might help you.
Dealing with neighbors can always be a chore. When we lived in Germany we lived in an apartment building. All but two of us attended the same church. Come Halloween while the other family and I decorated our stairwell and handed candy the rest of our neighbors looked down on us. Luckily the were normally very nice people who meant well. That is probably the best way to look at your neighbor. She means well.

[misschief]

if she keeps doing things like following you to your car and stuff, i'd get her for harrassment. but... i'm really bitchy and not tolerant of people.. so take that with a grain of salt. my neighbors are too terrified of me to do anything like that.. LOL