I hate Evangelists... of ALL kinds.

[polimicks]

Seriously... Today while browsing my local paper online during a break, I accidentally clicked on Billy Graham's column. And I do mean accidentally(they messed up the usual positioning and I wasn't really paying attention), I know that there is nothing for me there, and so generally don't read it. It's part of my ongoing campaign to not have a stroke by the age of forty.

So there I am, expecting to see Carolyn Hax, and what I read is a letter from some woman who says that she has approached her co-workers about religion, and that they have politely informed her that they're happy she has a belief, that they don't share that belief and are perfectly content with that. She asks the Rev if it is possible to be happy without God, and how she should try to minister to these folks.

Instead of telling her to leave the nice people alone who do not wish to be pestered by a God-botherer, he proceeds to talk to her about slipping God into the conversation any way she can, and to realize that these poor fools need her ministering more than anyone.

There's a reason Mr. Yuck is my icon of choice for the account.

HOWEVER, this does not excuse Atheists for similar bad behavior. Oh freaking no. Just like I don't need someone nattering on and on about Jesus and his buddies, I do not need Atheists telling me I'm a delusional fool for having imaginary friends in the Universe. I do not need to be reasoned out of my Pagan beliefs, my belief in an afterlife, reincarnation, or the concept that the world was created by a Flying Spaghetti Monster. I don't. I'm a militant agnostic, albeit with Pagan leanings: I don't know, and you don't either. This means you, Atheists.

Haranguing passers-by with the word that God loves them and they need to convert is just as offensive to me as it is to try to sit me down and "reason" me out of any spiritual beliefs I might have. It's obnoxious. Both sides. Totally fucking obnoxious, and leave me out of it. And don't even try to tell me that Atheists don't do that, because I can point you to several folks, and books, that do that exact thing.

Look, as long as someone's personal beliefs aren't infringing on my right to believe or not, I don't give a flying fuck if they worship a purple penguin in Halo3 body armor riding a hot pink dragon and buggering the great big Homo in the sky.

I. Don't. Care.

And neither should you.

Seriously, Christians, I appreciate your concern, but fuck off. Atheists, I appreciate your concern, but fuck off. Same goes to Hare Krishnas and anyone else who thinks I need converting.

Feeling so desperately the need to convince other people of your rightness just smacks of a fundamental insecurity in your own beliefs (or lack thereof) to me. The harder you try to convince me you're right, the more secure I am in the knowledge that you have doubt. An assload of doubt. A METRIC assload of doubt. And I don't care what you're trying to convince me of.

Yeah, I spend a fair amount of time questioning the existence of some form of primal creative force in the Universe, and whether or not it's out to get me, has a sick sense of humor or just plain doesn't give a shit. And if I want your input, I'll ask you. But you don't need to inform me or attempt to correct my misguided ways.


And no, this is neither the time nor the place to get into a slap fight over who started it.

Comments

Re: I am not a member of the Agnostic Jihad.

[polimicks.livejournal.com]

Ok, here's the difference, you're not a child anymore. You are an adult with the right to believe as you see fit, as are they. Part of being an adult is recognizing that other people may hold different views and respecting that decision.

Repeatedly attempting to force something on another adult is not adult behavior. It is in the best case, rude and somewhat insulting, in worst case scenario, bullying and emotionally manipulative.

I will frequently give people a pass based on the fact that I'm sure they're very excited about this truth that they have, but if I have to repeat my "No, Thank you" more than once, the gloves are off. They have just displayed a complete and utter disregard for my autonomy as a person and my right to believe as I believe, and parent or not, I will unload on them about what a load of bullshit that is.

Now, if someone says to me, "I'd like to talk to you about Christ," and I say, "Thank you, no," and they respect that. I'm totally ok with that.

And I feel the exact same way about evangelical atheists.

It is not ok to force your views on other people, be it the belief in God or the absence of a belief in God.

Uncommon Courtesy

[mtfierce.livejournal.com]

Oh, as a matter of rational individuals reacting to one another, I agree there's rules, and social standards that limit our behaviour.

But to someone who believes you're effectively driving off a cliff, they're going to do what is in their power to get you to veer away.

Question: do you follow this to the next step that it's not right for parents to choose religion for their children? After all, they're forcing their views on the most malleable, unable-to-consent part of our population.

Re: Uncommon Courtesy

[polimicks.livejournal.com]

You know, as a parent you have a certain amount of control over your child's life. So long as the teaching of your beliefs does not cross the line into abuse (physical especially), you will, some may argue you have the responsibility to, teach your children your values. The thing is that you need to recognize that as they get closer to adulthood they may reject certain of your teaching. If at some point you feel the desire to use physical punishment to reinforce beliefs, say beating your son for being gay, then that crosses a line, even if you think you're doing it to ultimately save their soul.

I have my own feelings about teaching children to hate, I do feel that falls under child abuse. Particularly teaching them to hate themselves.