I'm on Fiveteenth and High and the kiosk is on fire!

[brigdh]

I should be meaner. Really, I need to learn how to be rude. But I just can't be mean to someone if they're being nice, even if they really deserve it.

Where is this coming from? I just spent 45 minutes talking to two reborn Christians who wanted to share their views with me. And they were perfectly nice, normal-seeming people. It's just... when they said they wanted to ask me a few questions that wouldn't take more than two minutes for a group called 'Real Life', I didn't know what I was getting into. And I hate talking about religious views with people I'm diametrically opposed to, anyway. I want to just agree to disagree. I want them to go and be happy with their Bible and their "Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life" and their "sex in marriage only" and leave me alone. But they were being all nice, asking me to explain how I felt, and how I saw God and they just wanted to understand where I was coming from. But I hate having to explain myself, because half the time I don't understand what I think myself, and it's just worse when you have to explain yourself to someone else. I feel stupid.

And they came in right as I opened up MS Word to begin working on "Five Things". Nothing to make you hit the exit button faster than gay porn. Of course, while we're sitting there talking, 'Contact' from Rent comes on my Winamp. In case you've never heard the song, it pretty much consists of people yelling words like "Sweat! Rubber! Latex! Harder! Hotter!"

And yes, I could have scared them away right at the beginning by saying something like "I think God is a woman who created the universe when she orgasmed, and there's infinite gods, and some of them are scary." or "No, there's no God, and we're all going to die and everything is meaningless." But they were so nice. So well intentioned and enthusiastic. They just wanted to help me find Jesus, and I can't fault them for that, if that's what they really believe.

And it's not that they were scary fundamentalist Christians, or that anyone is Christian. Because if it makes you happy, then I'm genuinely happy for you. Just don't come to my door and tell me about it, okay? Or better yet, teach me how to tell you to go away so I don't have to worry about it. Because that was time I really could have used working on my story.

Yeah, and the title of this post has nothing to do with anything, but I promised someone I'd name an LJ entry that. strangedreams explains it, if you're interested.

Comments

[sephyelysian.livejournal.com]

God tell me about it. I feel your pain, sister. I try to avoid discussing religion with people because it usually ends up with their heads exploding. I haven't got a problem with any religious group but I really despise having it shoved off on me when I don't ask. If I wanna know about something I'll go and investigate, otherwise leave me the hell alone. I can honestly say that I'm doing people a public service because they would not like half the things I have to tell them starting with being agnostic and bisexual and moving on from there. :P Generally, it's better to just smile gently, say I'm very sorry, I would like to answer your questions but I simply don't have the time and shut the door in their face. They'll thank you for it later.

Let me share an entry that may make you chuckle... The person in question is most definitely not fundamentalist (altho' she was raised a Methodist) and is now in fact Neo-pagan. She has a couple of really entertaining things to say about fundamentalist Christianity. For those of you who take offense, I'm sorry and don't read it or do and realize she's not making fun of Christianity as a religion but the sheer stupidity that some people spout off without having consulted their Bible.

http://www.livejournal.com/users/thevault/33611.html#cutid1

Sorry you had to deal with that, hon. *hugs

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Bwahaha!! That is seriously about the funniest thing ever.

And awww, thanks. Yeah, there were plenty of things I could have said to them too, but really, I'm just madder at myself for not kicking them out sooner, when I really didn't have that time to waste. I knew they weren't going to say anything I wanted to hear, so I just should have refused to talk to them in the first place. Especially if they're going to sit there and talk to me like a child, because, hello, I spent twelve years at a catholic school, I can spout off the Bible verses and catechism definitions better than anyone.

Them: What does 'sin' mean to you?
Me: Sin is an act of defiance or rebellion, characterized by choosing to turn away from God and His love.
Them: I, um... yeah, that's right.

So, yeah. I should have just told them to go away. But it's okay, I'm good now.

[strangedreams.livejournal.com]

I had those people come once last year, and I just smiled and nodded while they went through their rhetoric to me. It was weird, because it seemed like they didn't think I was familiar with Christianity at all, and I was. I mean, nowadays, in this country, you have to be practically retarded not to know what Christianity is about, because with the majority of the population, if you're not born in it, you're born around it.

Of course, I kinda-sorta saw it as a bit of an opportunity to show these girls that there's something else out there than what they believe, and I'm sure I didn't change anybody's opinion but at least now they're aware that something else exists. I'd like to think that it might have had some kind of passing influence on their lives.

Of course, saying, "I think God is a woman who created the universe when she orgasmed, and there's infinite gods, and some of them are scary" probably would have scared them off. :-D

*giggles at the title* Good Patty. *pets*

Re:

[sephyelysian.livejournal.com]

Yeah, you should have... You were much nicer about it than I would have been. *rolls eyes. You do know that it's illegal for them to solicite in dorm rooms, right? The next time they come around and try to poke at you, whip that little gem out for them. :P

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

It was weird, because it seemed like they didn't think I was familiar with Christianity at all, and I was. I mean, nowadays, in this country, you have to be practically retarded not to know what Christianity is about, because with the majority of the population, if you're not born in it, you're born around it.

Yeah, that was totally the vibe I got from them. It seemed like they expected me to ask "Jesus who now? The son of what?" And it's just unrealistic for them to think that.

*giggles at the title* Good Patty. *pets*

Yes, I may be too lazy to type up a description of Saturday night, but at least I remembered the heading. It's almost the same thing, right?

Re:

[strangedreams.livejournal.com]

But of course :-D

Hi

[bcassie.livejournal.com]

Hi, just a quick note to introduce myself since I've just joined and friended you. I'm a huge Angel/Wes whore and when my brain works even write them.

I live in Hell, otherwise known as Bradford, West Yorkshire in England famous for it's annual riots and such! I hope to see you around, take care.

Sorry about hijacking your post

Re: Hi

[wordsofastory.livejournal.com]

Hey!

Nice to meet you, always good to make new friends. And an Angel/Wes fan is a very good thing.

I live in Hell, otherwise known as Bradford, West Yorkshire in England famous for it's annual riots and such!

Well, that's just great! I'm at the Ohio State University, now known for rioting even when we when win the damn football games. Mmmm, the smell of burning couches and tear gas... We can comfort each other. ;)

Re: Hi

[bcassie.livejournal.com]

::hugs:: We can toast marshmallows together!