Over the years, my mail deliverers have lost several checks--the one for the tax credit I got when I bought my house was quite hefty--and at least one credit card. I assume that the cookies were not delivered correctly!

@Gwen_Wanderer I assume you gave me the wrong address. Which begs the question, why did you say you wanted cookies to begin with?!
Over the last 20 years, I’ve given away literally dozens, if not hundreds of boxes of cookies. But that’s probably gonna be the last box I put in the mail. Hope you’re happy….

@Aaron70 actually, I did not say I wanted cookies. You asked for my address so you could send them. I told you that I do not often eat cookies because they are a weakness with me and I did not want the calories. However, you were intent on doing a good deed and and I acquiesced. I did not give you the wrong address, but you might have written it down incorrectly. Had they arrived, I would have given them to my grandkids as I did not want the calories.

@Gwen_Wanderer Wrong, I mentioned baking cookies for people on here a while before that. And you said you would take some. If you hadn’t said that, I wouldn’t have offered. That was the day after you proposed to me as I recall it….

@Gwen_Wanderer I repeated the address back to you. But of course you know this already. I could care less. But you ruined it for other people. ‍

@Aaron70 Geezus H., dude. Not only do you accuse me of lying and giving a false address, but you also indicate that as I am a woman, I am not to be trusted--nice sexist touch there. If you did not care, you would not have brought it up.

And good job there of shifting blame and making me responsible for "ruining it for other people." I shed false guilt when I left Xtianity. Looks like you didn't lose the "blaming others" mentality when you left. Let me tell you, sweetheart--those millions of other people will not suffer--not will they ever know unless you say, "Ya know, I used to give cookies to people but this woman ruined that for you.

The only thing that truly annoys me is that you posted all this shit in a public forum. That shows a total lack of class.

Adios.

I lived in Northern Cali for 20 years, and the assumptions about religion were far and few between. The Xtians here actually amuse me and often, I reply to them. In this case, it was not worth the effort!

I live in a semi-rural area and have few neighbors. I know that a couple of them are religious, but they do not try to engage me in conversation about god. When I moved here 15 years ago, though, people would stop their cars in the street to say "hi" and ask me if I had found a church. At that point, I was still into paganism; I told the people I was not looking for a church and if they pressed me (which they sometimes did), I told them I was pagan. After my "newness" wore off, the invitations stopped.

However, there is a church two doors down behind me. Someone from the church has come twice to invite me to services. I told them I am an atheist. It was amusing as the second guy who came said, "Oh, yes, I know--the music director spoke to you once. We've been praying for you." LOL!

They were handing out gift cards to show the neighborhood that the church "loved" them. I told him I wouldn't feel right taking them but when he insisted, I accepted them! I never went to church, though.

What they hear is different from what we hear! The guys who have yelled at me obviously didn't have an issue with not showing me "love." Women are different, but I still feel as if they are racking up points with Jesus rather than being truly concerned.

It would have accomplished nothing, but honestly, I would have liked to see the surprise and dismay in her face!

@Gwen_Wanderer You are a wonderful mixture of kindness with a little touch of evil delight.

@Betty I do have that reservoir of evil and I do delight in it!

@Gwen_Wanderer As you should. It makes you a well-rounded woman.

Spot on! That was my first thought--the child has no idea of what she is saying, but is merely parroting what the adults say.

I've had a couple of men (total strangers) yell at me in public places that I am going to hell! On the other hand, women have never told me that--they are more concerned about bringing me into the flock and saving my soul. I've also noticed that their tactics have changed, i.e. asking me if I don't want to see my Xtian loved ones in heaven when I die.

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@Gwen_Wanderer So the women are not AS odious as the men....

I agree. It is pointless to attempt to debate their beliefs

It was absolutely pointless to say anything in this case. She was not trying to convert me, but was sharing a story that she thought I would find heartwarming.

If her face reflected her thoughts, though, she was very confused that I did not respond.

@Unity it is pointless, but depending on how "they" approach my atheism, I like to poke some of them.

I just remembered that a few months back, I told an old fart I used to attend church, but have long been a nonbeliever. He "anointed" me by touching my shoulder and said that HE KNEW that god was going to work a miracle and bring me back into the fold.

I guess it didn't work as I am still an atheist. Maybe god tried and gave up.

@Gwen_Wanderer It seemed to me that she wanted validation of her story. She wasn't trying to convert you so instead of a potential angry exchange you chose not to respond. You had a very good assessment of the situation in my opinion.

@Gwen_Wanderer, @Unity In many situations, I agree with you. It depends on the attitude.

@Gwen_Wanderer I'd of probably found the touching my shoulder offensive.