Unbeliever 7/16/2004
This will be the first, and I hope the last, time I ever blog on this subject.
I had a rather surreal lunch yesterday. A vendor came over, and after a site inspection, asked if I would like to join her for lunch with her technicians. I said ok, and we went to the corner shop in her car. As I got into the car, I noticed a flyer from a church, and a small ‘Jesus’ pillow hanging from her rear view mirror.
I then asked which church she went to, and she became very evasive. After some prodding, she revealed that she attended a Charismatic church in the east side of town. The name of the church meant nothing to me, being the heathen that I am, but we had a short discussion in the car about the various flavours of Christianity. And I discovered that she was very close minded about the entire Christian world. She didn’t even know who the Jesuits are, when I told her I attended a Jesuit school sometime in the course of my rather chequered education path.
Over lunch, she then started asking me about my belief in God, and started trying to convert me, not very subtly I might add. It wsa almost like a hard sell from a pyramid marketing firm, without the politeness and the promise of yachts and Mercedes if I recruited 25,000 people, including my grandmother. I listened politely, because I have always held the belief that religion is a very personal thing. Religion, for me, as always been something that you have to choose for yourself, and while listening to someone espouse the benefits of their religion, being threatened with not getting into someone’s concept of ‘heaven’ makes something in my head switch off.
I have friends, some of whom I met recently, who are Christians. And they struggle with their faith like everyone else. And I respect them immensely for it, especially those of them who blog about their faith. But someone I hardly know coming and telling me that I have to surrender myself obviously doesn’t know me very well. I was then asked if I had ever seen God, and I replied, many times. I was then asked how, because she was obviously wanting to take my experience to show that her ‘version’ of God was entirely responsible for every factor affecting my life.
I clammed up, and flatly stated that my opinion of religion is that it is personal, and she used that as bait to decide that I was ‘confused’ and ‘lost’. Those of you who know me in real life would probably have formed the opinion that self confidence is not something I lack, and that my sense of direction is a shade below a GPS in accuracy, spiritual or otherwise. I certainly have an unshakeable belief in good, and a faith, but don’t tell me that I am wrong for being so because I don’t subscribe to your religious dogma. I certainly could have had a good time messing with her concept of God in her head, but I thought she was ditzy enough without being subjected to a mind fuck from me.
The vendor gave me the impression of someone who had swallowed the teachings of her church whole, without examining what she was learning. I am not completely cynical, nor skeptical, but I certainly would question someone telling me that I am a heathen and will burn in hell. Perhaps I will, perhaps not. The journey to the great beyond is one most people make once, unless you’re Buddhist or Hindu.
I have just re-read the entire post, and realise some portions of it may upset some parties. If so, please keep the hate mail to a minimum, and don’t bother converting me. Better souls than you have tried and failed. And for that certain someone I spoke to about this yesterday, I thank you and love you for respecting my faith, as I unconditionally respect yours.
- Posted in : Work Bitching
- Author : thesnark
Comments»
how sad that we have reduced God to a MLM product.
ahahha.
You don’ t know me, and to be honest, I don’t even know your name… but I’m in a rush after work, and I must meet some of my colleagues.
To be honest, I doubt you’ll see this comment, as you posted this up a good six months ago, but I wanted to apologise for the… actions of this christian woman that tried to force the gospel on you. She had no right, and should not have tried to convert you at all. We don’t work that way: as christians, we share when we have the chance, and minister when given that priveledge.
On behalf of christians everywhere, I apologise, and hope you don’t think less of us.
Feel free to blast me at my email, if you wish. That is your perogative, and your freedom, though I hope you will not.
If you have any questions at all, you know how to contact me.
God bless you.
Why, Jonathan Matthew Foo, how noble of you. Yet so very hypocritical. If memory serves me right, you used to do the exact same thing. You not only force Christianity down people’s throats, but you also divide your friends into Christians and non-Christians, and treat them accordingly.
If anyone ever needed a wakeup call, it’s you.
To Jimmy Leong -
You’re right. I once was like that. And I already received my wake-up call.
A lot has changed in many years… whoever you are, I apologise - I’m afraid I don’t remember you at all.
Memory is a fickle thing, Jimmy. You only remember what you want to - and all too often, it’s the bad things about others people recall.
I’m sorry I don’t remember you. And I regret that all you remember of me is my faults.
Good day to you, and God bless.