I can't stand when religion is pushed on me.

[trumad]

I was going to use the word forced but after thinking about it, forced is a bit extreme. It's more like pushed. I'm reading the Alaska Airlines thread and it got me thinking of all the ways that people have tried to push religion on me.

At my door when solicitation is clearly not allowed in my neighborhood.

By my own father, yep my own Daddy. If I complain about anything, I mean anything like....I didn't have a good month at work, his reply is that I need to go to church with him. If my plumbing backs up, it's the Lord telling me something. If the Dolphins lose, it's because I haven't gone to confession in 10 years....That's my Daddy.

Standing anywhere and having someone walk up to you with those little business cards with the scripture. No thanks I say... They ask if I want to be saved... Again, no thanks... They ask if I will have eternal damnation if I don't give my soul to Jesus. I say, Fuck off!

Look...I think that a great majority of religious people are good people... I just think that pushing your religion on someone is pretty fucking rude... So...with that said, Alaska Airlines is pushing religion ain't no two ways about it.

[Tsiyu]

1. How about a sister who tells you

that some double-yoked egg is a sign from God that a big, huge blessing is about to come? (It never came, BTW).

[Us vs Them]

15. Well...

We did get the Jeff Gannon scandal?

[Dookus]

2. I agree

it's the one area of life where people feel compelled to approach strangers and tell them they're wrong in their beliefs.

It's presumputous and rude, but it's somehow acceptable because it's religion.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

7. You should see this thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=214&topic_id=4207#4242

I agree-presumptuous and rude and 'holier than thou'. :eyes:

[Solly Mack]

3. too bad there isn't a repellent spray for them

just spray the offending party and they get shoo'ed away.

[Maat]

4. It is out of a misguided desire to help his child.

But ... I'm sorry you have to go through this.

For years, I just told my family that I was agnostic.

For the past year and a half, I've had more trouble than ever.

Why?

Becaue I found my faith, and it is a progressive one (Church of Religious Science).

That seems to disturb the Religious Right relatives even more than usual.

It is like they think that my daughter, husband and I have joined a cult. I tend to ask them, "Whose church tells them what to think, say and do? Not mine. Whose church tells them with whom to associate? Not mine. Whose church tells them about inerrancy and exactly what to believe? Not mine."

It is just interesting. That's all.

[trumad]

5. I would love a church where nothing was said.

You just go, pray and then go watch football.

[Maat]

9. Then try your local Church of Religious Science.

Not a negative or threatening word said there. It's all loving and positive.

Or try Unitarian-Universalist.

We progressives have to go to and support progressive beliefs and progressive congregations.

We have a DU Group that is very informative (look at the Mission Statement); it is called "Seekers on Unique Paths" Group.

We also have a "Liberal Christians" DU Group.

We have a Neopagan Spirituality Group.

We have an Atheist/Agnostic Group.

Check 'em out.

Helps you frame your faith-related arguments or lack thereof.

[trumad]

11. Sorry.. the name Church of Religious Science freaks me out.

[Maat]

18. It did me too until someone explained it to me.

The Church was founded by a man named Ernest Holmes. He studied the world's religions and found equivalent and wise concepts in all of them.

At the time, Mary Baker founded another 'new thought' church - the Church of Christian Science. Holmes differed (they studied under the same philosophers), because (1) he felt that religion and science were completely compatible, (2) that one should fully avail oneself of medical science because God had put that there for its (his/her) people, and (3) he didn't not consider himself to be a Christian. He felt that Spirit was within (a panentheist).

The Church has gotten very modern, and now honors all paths to Spirit (God), and welcomes all.

It is not Scientology, and not Christian Science.

It is just a church focusing on affirmative statements ('prayer').

I also visit the local Unitarian-Universalist congregations.

These questions are answered in the info and links in our DU Group, Seekers on Unique Paths. The other spiritual DU Groups are also very informative.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

6. It's considered rude in New England to discuss religion

which is why the Jehovah's and other such religions that rely on "in your face" tactics aren't well-received.

I'm Catholic, and I've been told I'm not a true Christian and that I'm going to hell by these so-called "Christians".

I was prosletyzed on a flight from Atlanta to Boston, and when my row mate asked me about my relationship with Jesus, I replied that it was none of their business. It's like discussing bodily functions of family secrets. It IS an invasion of privacy.


BTW there was a good thread in the R&T forum about prosletyzing:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=214&topic_id=4207

[NC_Nurse]

8. I feel the same way.

I can't believe the arrogance of people who think they need to make sure YOU are "saved" or whatever. Who died and made them God? How can any human being truly say that they KNOW beyond any doubt what God wants you to do/believe etc.

When did religion become a friggin' marketing campaign? I remember when people considered it a PRIVATE matter. Sheesh.

[Maat]

12. It really is a private matter.

You are right. But when someone is doubting, or wants to know what to try, this retired social worker likes to refer the individual to a progressive faith, such as Unitarian-Universalist, or Church of Religious Science.

And I like to have a response if a member of the religious right starts harassing me, basically.

[KissMeKate]

10. I grew up southern baptist

I had so much hellfire and brimstone shoved down my throat i have an allergic reaction to ingesting it now.

I am polite, but firm to proselytizers- I am an atheist, and am not interested, thank you.

[Maat]

13. Good for you, I say!

I think that either an atheist or a member of a progressive faith (or anyone else) has to respond in the face of that - FIRMLY.

[gollygee]

14. You need some Get Out of Hell Free cards

to hand back to people who hand you religious things. My husband and I hold onto these and hand them back and tell them we're all set on salvation. :D

http://www.goohf.com/

[KittyWampus]

16. I Can't Stand When Materialist Philosophy Is Pushed On Me

works both ways friend.

[readmoreoften]

21. ha, that's a good one

the materialist philosophers are at the door again!

the materialist philosophers don't want gay marriage!

the materialist philosophers are in the subway handing out pamphlets.

the materialist philosophers told your children that they will rot in hell if they continue to believe in god.

oh no! the materialist philosophers are trying to take away a woman's right to control her body!

when I was on an airplane, they sent out little cards with the meals that read, "Let us rejoice together in godless materialist philosophy'

And don't get me started about the existentialists! Existence precedes essence, my ass! Essence first! Essence first!

[Tux]

28. LOL

Materialistic philosophers are the least of our concerns. Yes, I hate thier door-to-door recruitment, same as Buddhists. Materialists do hate us by advancing science and technology. Not all scientists are godless but do operate on materialism.

Why can't we go back to the 90's when people understood things and not everything like chemistry, philosophy, Linux, porn, et al weren't a religion?

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

17. Well it wouldn't be pushed on you if you prayed for it not to

:evilgrin:

I just look at people who approach me in malls and parking lots anymore with religious shit and ask them if they want to fuck.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

22. THAT IS SO FUNNY!

I'd pay for a picture with the look on their faces after you said that!

[readmoreoften]

24. What a great idea! n/t

[ashmanonar]

25. BWAHAHAHAHA!

i should try that. they love to stand in the middle of campus and hand out their religious shit.

[illflem]

19. If heaven is full of Christens

I'd rather go to hell

[readmoreoften]

23. I used to say

I don't want to spend an hour and a half a week at your church. Want makes you think I want to spend eternity with you people?

[MemphisTiger]

29. Hell is full of many people that THOUGHT they were

Christians as well as clergy

[Maat]

20. By the way, I'm really scared.

I belong to such progressive faiths that the only way MY child is going to be able to become a rebel is to move back to the midwest with her grandparents, become a religious rightie Southern Baptist, and register as a Rethuglican.

I've told her that if she does that, Mommy will for sure have a fatal incident, and just drop dead right there.

[Behind the Aegis]

26. The most interesting thing

I find it amusing how they will turn it around and compare our not wanting religion shoved in our face to Rethugs complaining about homosexuality shoved in their face?! WTF?!? I couldn't believe I even read that here!

I don't care what religion you are, just don't get in my face with it! I promise I will do the same! And as far as "getting in someone's face" with my homosexuality...I promise not to fuck in front of you, if you do the same for me! :)

I practice my religion at home, on the road, where ever I go. I pray in public and in private. But, when I am praying in public, you will never know unless you are sitting under my lips!

[Tux]

27. At EMU

There were a couple Evangelical groups that looked for people on hard time so they can convert them (classic cult recruitment trick). Well, I had a bad week: lost my job, my mom was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, rent increased, and I had a 20 page paper to rewrite thanks to a stupid Mac virus that messed all my files I had on floppy.

Anyways, this Evangelical comes up to me and asked, "You can't learn the truth here." I said, "SO why are you here?" He looked shocked and said, "Have you heard Jesus?" "Nope." "Why not?" he asked. I replied, "He died about 2000 before I was born." He gave me a confused look and they never bothered me again.

[struggle4progress]

30. I used to tell 'em that G-d ordered me to be an atheist.

[Selwynn]

31. I hate it when religion is pushed on me too. I also hate it when...

non-religious points of view are pushed on me. In fact, I basically just hate it when anyone of any strip appoaches me with an attitude that says "take up my opinion or else."