What’s the most interesting experience you’ve had with a zealously religious person?
Mine was an encounter in a student union. Ironically, I was there to meet up with a secular group. I was waiting on a bench playing a game on my phone when I was approached. He started with pretty stereotypical Jesus-questions but it escalated pretty quickly into his confession about his porn addiction and how Jesus had really allowed him to never think about sex ever. (Healthy, right?) We talked for a while and I was honest but also polite about my views. At one point I expressed the viewpoint that I really did not like when religious groups made life worse for LGBT folks. He stared at me more seriously than he had during the whole conversation and said: “Well... sometimes I struggle with those... urges.” I felt so much surprise, intrigue, and empathy. I felt so sad that he was caught in a worldview that was so self-deprecative. He later asked for my number. I’m still not sure whether he was trying to convert me or hit on me.
My best friend in life, my best man, my confidant, suddenly began talking in tongues and found the pentecostal jesus. Out of no where he met a group of people that convinced him he was a sinner and hell was the next stop. I tried so hard to remain rational with him but to no avail. He now teaches sunday school at his chruch which does not allow non whites due to the fact that jesus is white.
I wish it had been interesting - I was 15 just left work , and got the wrong train at Charing Cross which was non stop to sevenoaks - The train was a corridor one and crowded and I was pinned to the wall by this man preaching at me about me being a sinner and repenting -& embracing the lord- I had never experienced anything like it in my life before as I have never had a god (not even thor or odin) I then had to get out at sevenoaks and wait for a train going back the way - I didnt get home till 9.p.m
Yikes!
Years ago, a Mormon boy knocked on my door asking me to sign a petition supporting CA Prop 8 (the "Eliminates Right of Same-Sex Couples to Marry" Initiative). Normally, I would jut say “No thanks” and close the door but his high-n-mighty presumptuous attitude just rubbed me the wrong way so I engaged him in a debate about homosexuality right on the spot. He stated right off the bat “Oh, don’t get me wrong, I have gay friends, but …blah blah blah…” At that moment, I couldn’t help myself and proceeded to lecture him that “saying he has gay friends does not equate to having an instant license to be a bigot”, furthermore, he wasn’t much of a friend backstabbing them with this petition. He couldn’t run away fast enough
Thinking about this, it seems you would be doing your part to dismantle their effort if you wasted as much of their time as possible. For example: pretend like you could be convinced to sign and talk for as long as possible. lol.
My approach to such people is to ask them why they would make such an effort to give up their own rights. If you can take away someone's rights, your rights can be taken from you.
Interesting.....isn't a word I'd use to describe any encounters with religious folks.
Waiting (& Waiting & waiting& waiting!,!) In seats, at DMV, youngish woman with what i took to be her father (turned out to be boyfriend) asked Very Loudly, out of the blue, how I felt about abortion. ??????!!!!!!!!
I replied quietly that it was none of anybody's business but the woman & perhaps her doctor. She practically screamed at me, "But what does Gawd say?" People in other seats moved away, I repeated my original statement. Then she moved away, and had to go back & grab boyfriend by the arm to make him move too. Other people again shifted their seats...it was pretty amazing.
Geez louise!
Nog I can think of. There are some people that like to hang out outside the pay area of our MARTA (public transportation) train stations, always in twos with a stand handing out "literature", I guess. They aren't in your face, so they might not religulous. I would like to go up to them and share some music with them...
After a doorstep debate with two JW the younger less experienced one tried to physically attack me which was amusing and his ire became worse when I asked "Is this what Jesus would do?"
Also sitting in a pub, enjoying a pint with friends, a proselytizing Xian came in and started ranting and became more loud and angry as she was berated by the heathen she was amongst to the point where she screamed," HE IS COMING!" to which I shouted "About fkin time it's his round" she then stormed out amongst the laughter but I felt bad afterwards.
I do also refer to them as Xtians. Sometimes the Christofascist shoe fits...
Meeting a guy who suggested he wanted to "test himself in the face of temptation". He talked about how he knew would give him strength to resist any homosexual urges and keep him away from carnal depravity. Fast forward a couple of hours and seems to have have had the day off.
He happily blamed me (after he'd done what he needed with me) despite him making the first move, telling me exactly what he wanted to do with me and me often asking if he was sure.
Clearly I put the 'suck ' into 'sucubus'