Loans | eHarmony | Compare Mobile Phones | Debt Consolidation | Credit Cards

Proselytizing Rant [Archive] - MysticWicks Online Pagan Community and Spiritual Sanctuary

PDA

View Full Version : Proselytizing Rant


Rhaevyn
May 18th, 2005, 10:07 PM
I'm posting this because I'm actually somewhat amused. A little annoyed, too, but in that, "Shoo fly, don't bother me," kind of fashion. But I had to rant about it somewhere.

Okay, I really have no problem with people of other paths. I don't care what people follow as long as they are respectful to others. I don't care for trolls of any religion, but I know running a website is going to leave you open to a certain amount of trolling.

Because of this, I posted a few rules on my "Contact Me" page of my website. Rule #5 is:

5) Wanna tell me I'm going to Hell? Save it. I have no problem with Christians or Christianity, but if you sought out my site, which you know you disagree with in the first place, methinks you're just trying to pick a fight. If you choose to lower yourself and proselytize anyway, be sure to use a real e-mail address of your own so I can respond if I so choose. I probably won't, however, because I don't think it's worth the waste of energy.

Today someone did a search on MSN for "wicca" (I know, because his IP address matched up with my hit logs) and then sent me an e-mail saying:

hey you really should stop worshiping the devil and turn to Christ for all you answers HE is the one and only true way to heaven not through Wicca I don't know how you can be so confused about it 1st step is believe God is real then admit you are a sinner then confess your sins to Him then all is forgiven that is if you really believe that He is who really is no I understand you've probably heard this a million times but its true now I'm telling you your going to hell but you will if you don't change you ways this isn't a bogus e-mail address so feel free to right me back concerning your salvation.
God Bless You!

So he admitted to using a real e-mail address, but he a) sought out a site specifically about Wicca, and b) ignored the "don't bother proselytizing" warning. This leads me to believe c) I am correct in assuming he's trying to pick a fight. (Yes, I'm snarking about him behind his back, but again, this is more to vent than anything.)

What I wish these people would realize is that threats of hellfire and damnation simply DO NOT WORK. They work for us no more than a Hindu e-mailing him and saying he's going to be reborn in a lower caste unless he becomes Hindu, himself, would get him to convert. If he knows we've heard it a million times, then he can probably bet that hearing it one more time STILL won't work. Also, I am in no way "confused" about my religious path, so I don't know where he gets that idea. Finally...if I was concerned about my "salvation" I sure as hell won't go to some random stranger who arrogantly ignored my rules and sent this e-mail anyway.

But, as I mentioned, I am actually somewhat amused. These people mean well, but they go about proselytizing in the WRONG way. They don't seem to realize that more flies are trapped in honey than are killed with a swatter. In other words, if they'd stop the bullying and went about proselytizing in a more friendly, less arrogant manner, they would be more likely to earn their brownie points for heaven....er...excuse me...convert people to their path. In no way to I consider him to be the perfect example of Christians everywhere...he's lucky I've met more of the friendly, open, understanding Christians who actually are good representatives of the religion. He's just proven that he's just another tard. And though I know it's a waste of my energy here to vent about him, I'm not going to answer his e-mail. Can't give him the martyrdom he's so despirately craving that he's having to seek out Wiccan websites to pick fights in the hopes that he, too, can be given a cross when "those evil Pagans" beat him with a clue-by-four. I have no interest in feeding his crucifixation. (Crucifixation: A state of mental duress...that admires blood, guts, suffering, agony...and usually wishes to be crucified and martyred hirself. From Holysmoke.org (http://www.holysmoke.org/hs00/hs-faq.htm))

So...just had to vent a little. No need to reply. I feel better now. :)

Ron
May 19th, 2005, 03:51 PM
Well, as an aside may I say that Chr-stianity is not the only faith grouping in which the concept of "Hell" is present. Nevertheless, I do not believe in it -- in fact it was my first theory on the subject of religion, at age 6. lol.

Anyhow. You should not bother too much about what litterate persons who use computers but refuse to emply proper grammatical conventions have to say. lol. IMHO. (I usually ask them if they would like to write their "composition" over again with more respectful grammar. lol) I exaggerate my unlove for anti-punctuationists.

Rhad.

Jenne
May 19th, 2005, 03:53 PM
Oh, that's sucky. Well, at least you have a good attitude about it (the "shoo-fly" thing). And yes, it's all in a person's approach when it comes down to it, isn't it?

Lunacie
May 19th, 2005, 04:09 PM
What I wish these people would realize is that threats of hellfire and damnation simply DO NOT WORK. They work for us no more than a Hindu e-mailing him and saying he's going to be reborn in a lower caste unless he becomes Hindu, himself, would get him to convert.

I love that. http://mysticwicks.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif I’d be tempted to send a response like this back…

“Now I’m not telling you that you’re going to be reincarnated over and over and over again until you understand that all paths connect with the Divine, but you probably will be.”

Ron
May 19th, 2005, 04:46 PM
“Now I’m not telling you that you’re going to be reincarnated over and over and over again until you understand that all paths connect with the Divine, but you probably will be.”
loll!!!! I wish I had your wit sometimes! :crown:

Rhaevyn
May 19th, 2005, 07:48 PM
Anyhow. You should not bother too much about what litterate persons who use computers but refuse to emply proper grammatical conventions have to say. lol. IMHO. (I usually ask them if they would like to write their "composition" over again with more respectful grammar. lol) I exaggerate my unlove for anti-punctuationists.

Rhad.
Tell me about it! I wonder if "anti-punctuationists" (I love that term now!) ever inhale while they're typing! And you're right, they should write respectfully if they wish to be treated so in return. I mean, really...how can anyone take that seriously?

Rhaevyn
May 19th, 2005, 07:52 PM
Oh, that's sucky. Well, at least you have a good attitude about it (the "shoo-fly" thing). And yes, it's all in a person's approach when it comes down to it, isn't it?
Heh, yeah. It is way too frustrating to get upset about it and not have anyone (deserving of it) to take out your frustrations on. So...it's much more fun to laugh at them over a stiff drink with friends and then brush them aside. :hehehehe:

Rhaevyn
May 19th, 2005, 07:53 PM
I love that. http://mysticwicks.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif I’d be tempted to send a response like this back…

“Now I’m not telling you that you’re going to be reincarnated over and over and over again until you understand that all paths connect with the Divine, but you probably will be.”
*LMAO!!!* I love that response! Though the thought of being reincarnated with him would make me pray to go to either Heaven or Hell just to get away from him! *L*

Lunacie
May 19th, 2005, 08:40 PM
loll!!!! I wish I had your wit sometimes! :crown:

:smooch: Thank you, I actually got my inspiration from Rhaevyn's remark about the Hindu email response. And I wish I had my wit more often, it comes and it goes - and it goes more often than it comes. :lol:

Bigboper123
May 19th, 2005, 11:02 PM
*registered Christian minister walks in* So that what those want to be have been up to. Sorry some of the followers just don't get the message, not all of us are asshats.

Geryongesis
May 19th, 2005, 11:19 PM
naw, the best way to deal with christian prosthetlyzation is to go with it... then cause them irreparable psychological trauma when the time is right.

Geryon - inducing suicide in fundamentalist orthodox christians for Eris knows how many years :p

Rhaevyn
May 20th, 2005, 11:22 AM
*registered Christian minister walks in* So that what those want to be have been up to. Sorry some of the followers just don't get the message, not all of us are asshats.
Yeah...we love those of you who aren't. It's quite a task to have to clean up the PR mess that the asshats create, but how you represent the religion doesn't go unnoticed! Keep up the good work!

Rhaevyn
May 20th, 2005, 11:30 AM
naw, the best way to deal with christian prosthetlyzation is to go with it... then cause them irreparable psychological trauma when the time is right.

Geryon - inducing suicide in fundamentalist orthodox christians for Eris knows how many years :p
Aww, but that's more fun in person! Then you can do something like the Turkey Spell* and enjoy the reaction!

*The Turkey Spell essentially consists of balling your hands into fists, placing them at your armpits, flapping your elbows like wings, and yelling, "GOBBLE GOBBLE GOBBLE!" at the person you want to banish. It has a pretty good success rate.

Geryongesis
May 20th, 2005, 11:14 PM
Who Told You The Ancient Art Of The Turkey Hex? It Was Him Wasnt It? Wasnt It! Tell Me!!!!

Theognome
May 20th, 2005, 11:21 PM
Who Told You The Ancient Art Of The Turkey Hex? It Was Him Wasnt It? Wasnt It! Tell Me!!!!

I've known about the Turkey Hex for some while. And aye, it does work most of the time.

orgtigger
May 22nd, 2005, 01:52 AM
You should check out the Anything but God thread in theology/philosopy forum, Mark W. tried posting a hit-and-run but AlAskiender and the rest of us drug him back, it's to bad he got banned.

orgtigger
May 22nd, 2005, 01:53 AM
Aww, but that's more fun in person! Then you can do something like the Turkey Spell* and enjoy the reaction!

*The Turkey Spell essentially consists of balling your hands into fists, placing them at your armpits, flapping your elbows like wings, and yelling, "GOBBLE GOBBLE GOBBLE!" at the person you want to banish. It has a pretty good success rate.
:alol:

Gen
May 22nd, 2005, 06:55 AM
They don't seem to realize that more flies are trapped in honey than are killed with a swatter. In other words, if they'd stop the bullying and went about proselytizing in a more friendly, less arrogant manner, they would be more likely to earn their brownie points for heaven....

Ohhhhhh, I find Crazy Christians* who proselytize with honey to be even more insidious.

There's a local church here -- actually, they don't call it a "church," as that would be too off-putting, they call it a "fellowship" -- that advertises themselves as sort of a Starbucks with live music and friendly people. It sounds chill, but somebody rich, powerful, and Crazy must be paying for their slick and ubiquitous advertising.

Recently, this church apparently bought access to a list of registered voters and mailed personalized invitations to everyone in my city. This struck me as incredibly rude, invasive, and presumptuous, and made me furious for about an hour or two.

I'd much rather have some glossy-eyed zealot come to my door in person, the old-fashioned way, and tell me to my face that I'm destined for hell. At least then, the inappropriateness of the gesture is out on my doorstep for everyone to see.


*I call this type "Crazy Christians" to differentiate them from the reasonable members of their religion.

VroomBroom
June 1st, 2005, 06:04 AM
Aww, but that's more fun in person! Then you can do something like the Turkey Spell* and enjoy the reaction!

*The Turkey Spell essentially consists of balling your hands into fists, placing them at your armpits, flapping your elbows like wings, and yelling, "GOBBLE GOBBLE GOBBLE!" at the person you want to banish. It has a pretty good success rate.

Don't foget to seal that spell with the all important pecking in the direction of the the proslytizer:farmerjoe