Atheists & Agnostics
Related: About this forumTwo ladies showed up at my door to tell me the good news today
Nice enough people, big smiles on their faces. The good news is that Jesus is coming and he will be king. I explained that I dont believe in that nonsense and none of their claims hold up to reasonable scrutiny and they said good bye. I replied, Happy Holidays, but the news isnt very good for me.
And that was that and then I thought about it. How sociopathic are these people? Their faith tells them I am going to be murdered and tortured and to them thats good news because it helps them out. Imagine if I showed ok at random houses reveling in the imminent murder and torture of the people who answered the door.
tanyev
(44,870 posts)if a foreigner appeared from nowhere claiming to rule over the entire earth.
umroman
(39 posts)I used to fantasize knocking on doors and asking, "Have you heard the good news about cats?"
They'll change your life!
Only 2 now, but they're still a delight.
FSogol
(46,865 posts)https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/209891170-we-ll-prescribe-you-a-cat
Pinback
(12,920 posts)I met a charming cat on my morning walk today, which lifted my mood for the rest of the day. (Of course he should have been inside instead of out endangering birds, but Im glad I met him anyway.)
FSogol
(46,865 posts)dutch777
(3,672 posts)dickthegrouch
(3,673 posts)As was pointed out to me many years ago please translates in many languages as a very weak request
Sil vous plait (French) if you please
Por favor (Spanish) as a favor
And many more.
I still use please when Im willing to accept a no. For more forceful requests there is no please about it.
Attilatheblond
(4,805 posts)[link:[url=https://postimg.cc/fkPzCRHb][img][/img][/url]|]
But the young men working door to door soliciting for various home improvement rackets just too ignorant to get the message. And one smart ass self employed 'preacher' was reaching into his wallet and said, 'Sorta steep fee, but, OK...' I told him to save his money and get off my property. The damned pushy evangelist came back a couple months later to see if the house rule had changed or I had been smitten by the lord and replaced with a more congenial resident. No such luck, poser, get thee off my lawn!
Aristus
(68,766 posts)Only a few days after I put it up, a guy rang the doorbell. When I pointed to the sign, he said he wasnt selling anything, and then proceeded to try to sell me something.
I shut the door in his face. If it happens again, Ill just stand at the side window, point to the sign, wave bye-bye, and walk away from the door.
usonian
(15,058 posts)Apocalyptic thinking is big these days even outside their group.
The thing about apocalyptic thinking is that if an apocalypse fails to show up, the date is moved forward, or left indeterminate.
Eventually, the sun will expand, as similar stars do, and fry the planet, so that's that.
But apocalyptic thinking is ultimately life-denying, since it posits a "better life" than this one, and from all (unverified) descriptions, is so unchallenging as to be the opposite of what humans are all about. We are problem-solvers and makers, and without problems and with everything handed to us, we might want to leave that womb, as we actually do "IRL".
I know all about putting off chores until a butler or household robot shows up (NOT).
But one can dream (and get on the f***ing chores).
"I Sing the Body Electric" is the 35th episode of the third season of The Twilight Zone, originally aired on May 18, 1962. The episode, written by Ray Bradbury, follows a widowed father who, after losing his wife, acquires a robotic grandmother to care for his three children, exploring themes of love, loss, and the nature of family.
The theme of apocalyptic thinking is covered by Kurt Spellmeyer in "Buddha at the Apocalypse," an interesting book even if you aren't Buddhist.
Alas, it's time to clean up the house, because, even if it doesn't feel like it, ordinary chores lead to enlightenment, if we live in the moment, and not some other imagined time.
No tomorrow without today.
Unless you're a time lord, but that's for another discussion. Any old time!
yellowdogintexas
(22,888 posts)I found this out when blockwalking a few years ago. One of my good Democrats was out in his yard and he told me not to bother going to that house because they were JH and do not vote. They do not celebrate anything either.
True Dough
(21,203 posts)War in Ukraine, war between Israel and Palestine, nuclear weapons, climate change and on and on.
I turn the tables on them by telling them that I think it's a great time to be alive: all this amazing technology at our fingertips, incredible medical advances, fewer people worldwide are dirt poor, and literacy rates are improving globally. I ask them if they'd rather have lived through WW II, or the Black Plague, or the reign of Genghis Khan.
Then I wish them a good day and close the door.
Bernardo de La Paz
(51,706 posts)boonecreek
(326 posts)Point out to them that gravity is also "just a theory",
then drop something. Then tell them they have no idea
what a theory is.
AZ8theist
(6,605 posts)I know INSTANTLY they have no idea what they're talking about. Science discussion OVER.
Karadeniz
(23,616 posts)treatment and burn you out of house and home or the Inquisition remedy of deporting you to maintain the purity of your neighborhood. Who knows what improvements another 600 years might bring !!!
paleotn
(19,693 posts)We stopped putting up with their shit since the late 17th century. Some would be more than happy to go all medieval once again.
GreenWave
(9,604 posts)littlemissmartypants
(26,064 posts)It probably flew high above their heads.
Iggo
(48,639 posts)Johnny2X2X
(21,961 posts)Most of these groups believe theyre the only ones being saved. JWs believe that exactly 144,000 people will be saved, not a single one more.
So theyre really going door to door just to tell people how happy they are that theyre going to be tortured for eternity so they can be in paradise. Its really sick when you think about it.
paleotn
(19,693 posts)Conform to our view or die eternally in hell. Have a nice day! Under the smiling faces, they're not very nice people at all to put it mildly. Reason number 683 for why I left the faith long ago.
AdamGG
(1,536 posts)Then I politely ask them about their theological inconsistencies.
Like, if the Bible is the all knowing word of god, how is it that the old testament says that after the messiah comes, nation will not lift up sword against nation, they'll beat the swords into ploughshares and spears into pruning hooks and no one will learn war any more.
They reply by saying that those things will all happen the second time he comes and I ask them if the old testament said nothing about him coming twice, why the all knowing word of god needed to be corrected in the sequel, or is he just a little forgetful and bad with details. And, if those old testament prophecies needed to be corrected, why are they so confident that details from the new testament won't also need to be corrected.
They politely excuse themselves and I count it as a small victory.
LogDog75
(211 posts)They'd knock on his door and ask him if they could come in and talk to him about Jesus. He said sure, but upon one condition. He told them he'd let them talk about their religious beliefs in their way for 30-minutes without him interrupting them. Then, for the next 30-minutes, he'd talk to the about his religious beliefs in his way.
When they asked him what his way is he told them they sit around in a circle while he explained his beliefs.
Funny, but they didn't take him up on his offer and they never came back.
Vinca
(51,344 posts)was polite, but the last time they came I decided it was time to debate. LOL. I think I might have turned one of them.
multigraincracker
(34,529 posts)Well he returned about 2,000 years ago in his Sermon on the Mt. he told the crowd that some of those there that day would live to see his return. Those were HIS words.
drmeow
(5,371 posts)I told them (amongst other points) that what they were doing was "not very Christian." If looks could kill, I'd have died on the spot - but they left!
sorcrow
(544 posts)multigraincracker
(34,529 posts)Ike the Quakers, sometimes called the Friends. They sit there in silence.
No talking, Singing or chewing gum. The Friends Service has begun.
wcmagumba
(3,294 posts)They have a four year college in Wichita, KS, I live nearby. There are more than one type of Quakers, Programmed and unprogramed. The Programmed version have more traditional church services with a message, singing and prayer. The Unprogrammed sect is the silent one, you "commune" with God in keeping quiet as a group...
multigraincracker
(34,529 posts)To survive, can they adapt to a changing environment? Like Catholic Church and divorces as one example of change. Seems every individual church with in a sect delivers and focuses on, at least a few different concept.
wcmagumba
(3,294 posts)Last edited Sun Dec 29, 2024, 03:43 AM - Edit history (1)
I even went to an atheist "meeting" one time, it was interesting. Also, the Unitarian Universalists are fun, kind of a free for all. You can believe pretty much anything you want or even not believe at all....everyone is welcome...
Edit: I attended a "Unity" Church founded in the Kansas City area a couple of times, nice and seeming decent values people but the sect was founded by a married couple who claimed miracles so kind of suspect.
I have attended Buddhist meetings (not a religion but a philosophy, imo).
I consider my self an agnostic with no real proof of religious truths either way...there are lots of other outliers in Christianity and then of course other world faiths..."so it goes".
BlueKota
(3,785 posts)several years ago. They said the bit about sharing the good news. Marnie my German Shepherd had come to the door with me. She didn't bark or growl. She just sat in front of me and stared at them.
Then the older of the two, had the nerve to ask,"do you have to have that dog with you?" That ended any inkling of my politely declining. I got snarky. I replied, "yes she lives here, and is not an uninvited and unwelcome guest like the two of you. She also protects me from strangers. The younger started to tug at the older one's sleeve and said "we should go." The older lady looks at me again, told me I was rude and needed Jesus.
I replied you're the rude one. "I don't come to your home, assuming my beliefs are superior to yours. I am Catholic(didn't add the lapsed part) and the New Testament was pretty clear that Jesus didn't want people using their religion to show off and seek admiration from others by acting holier than thou.I don't think he would approve you peddling him like a cheap set of encyclopedias. Now get off my porch." The young one said, "we need to leave now." They did.
Funny our friend lives down the road and he let them in because he didn't want to be rude. When he told us, my sister points at me and said, "you should have called her. She had no problem being rude to them. I am proud of her." I told him he shouldn't let people in like that because they could have been crooks, but he said they just talked to him about religion then left, but he wouldn't do it again.
SARose
(960 posts)Hubs quickly told them we are fully immersed, fully confirmed atheists. Their mouths were hanging open.
He is so rude!
Told him God was going to get him for this.
He looked at me and said Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spicesmint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the lawjustice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.
Biggest atheist evah quoting scripture. Lord save us!🙄
Midnight Writer
(23,221 posts)They don't like the idea of strangers knocking on their door, unexpected and uninvited, to talk religion.
I also keep a little pile of religious tracts (the little cartoon books showing people sinning and then burning in hell) near my door that I hand to them. Some of them are pretty gruesome.
progressoid
(50,854 posts)Typed on an old school type writer and then copied. But the envelopes were hand written. Ya know, to give it that personal touch.