prosequence

Man what a hellish day. Some of the people I work with have no limits when it comes to pushing their religion.
They strated talking about how there can't be a God because he wouldn't of let these fishermen die (3 local fishermen died in storm). At first I just kind of ignored them, you know, do the polite thing and nod and say "oh yeah.."... but they started going on about other things... any way, had to get that off my chest.
I realise not all people with those beliefs are like that, unfortunately there's always a few that want you to convert to their religion and "see it their way". Oh well I guess every religion needs their share of crazies.

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And now here I stand because of you, Mister Anderson, because of you I'm no longer an agent of the system, because of you I've changed...

Bill O'Rights

Yes, we call them...zealots. Every religion has 'em, whether we want 'em or not. Athiests are certainly no exception.

Yalaynia

I m not a church person. I have my own beliefs when it comes to god, heaven, and hell. I have had discussions with otheres about religions no one in specific but just looking at the different beliefs and how each religion takes things into their own context of what they think it means. I do find it interesting the different interpritations that you do get from people of different religions. I was fortunate enough to have people of various religions as friends we would sit during lunch hour at school while playing cards. Its was was pretty cool to have a discussion and not have someone saying that you are wrong because of this that or the other thing no one was pushing their religion on anyone.

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I couldnt think of anything to put here , but I guess anything would do

Johnny Rotten

I've found that discussions on politics and religion are usually no more welcome in a workplace than they are at a bar. Work is where you work, IMHO--Unless you're employed at a religious or political organization, natch. Thankfully, the kinds of statements you just encountered are usually just occasional flare-ups. As they are often bone-headed, however, it's difficult to diplomatically ask them to keep their religious opinions outside of the workspace. If it happens again, I would recommend casually bringing up the subject with your superior.

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"The idea that money doesn't buy you happiness is a lie put about by the rich, to stop the poor from killing them." -- Michael Caine

Lunchbox7

I was raised a catholic but ended up rejecting the faith. As a result I have done heaps of reading into alternative religons. I am now totally comfortable with my spirituality. As far as Im concerned it doesnt matter what religon you are as long as it gives your life meaning and it hurts no one else. What really distresses me is when people of a different religon take full on offence because I dont believe what they believe. Last semester I got into a philosophical debate at uni. I said I didnt believe in God for such and such reasons and even though I had rejected chritiantity it had heaps of exelent ideas. I did not bag their religion out. I merely said I believe something else yet I respected what they believed. All of a sudden I had a shit load of christians getting heaps psycho at me. They started off DEMANDING how I couldnt believe what they believe and thus forcing me to attempt to justify my beliefs. I did so. The more I did it (calmly) the more psycho they got. Why cant people of one religion just let people of other religions believe what they want to believe? After all the differences between the major religions are semantic. They basically all have the same idea: Be cool to each other. Its amazing how many people will ignore the most vital premis of their religion by fighting other religions. Religious wars, heathen burnings, inquisitions etc are all insane. Why cant we all just be cool to each other? There I got that off my chest.

lurkette

I've found that people who are vocal about their beliefs tend to fall into one of two categories:

1. those who are so uncertain about their own position that they have to scream loudly about it to convince themselves that they are okay

2. those who are so unable to deal with others having different opinions that they feel they must convince everyone around them

Really two variations on a theme, IMHO.

It's not just religion and politics that brings out this tendency in some people. I was a vegetarian for three years, and not even one of the militant ones. I just didn't want to eat meat. Didn't matter to me if someone else did. But I'd go to a cookout - with FRIENDS, even - and say "could I have a veggie burger?" and you should have heard the vegetarian-bashing. I'm sure some of it was just in reaction to the judgment they assumed they were suffering at my hands (they were wrong) and they felt they needed to defend their meat-eating ways. But difference of opinion is often interpreted as judgment, and I think people have a natural desire for unity and agreement.

There are many paths to wisdom, and it makes so little sense to try to drag people who are on a path that suits them onto your own path just so you can pretend you've found the One and Only True Path.

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"If ten million people believe a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing."

- Anatole France

Lunchbox7

Well said Lurkette

Bill O'Rights

Amen, Brother! Bad pun intended...sorry. But, somehow, it sounded better than "I agree 100%, full on."


If you can answer this, then you have solved 98% of the world's problems.

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"I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires." - Susan B. Anthony

"Hedonism with rules isn't hedonism at all, it's the Republican party." - JumpinJesus

It is indisputable that true beauty lies within...but a nice rack sure doesn't hurt.

thingstodo

I don't think most religions push as much as christianity. I never have jewish people trying to convert me! I've traveled all over the world for work and I've ONLY had christians try to convert me.

Hmmm....

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If you're wringing your hands you can't roll up your shirt sleeves.

Stangers have the best candy.

Mantus

I have mixed feelings about such people. I usually get mad at them when they prey on the weak and misfortunate, trying to sway them when their guard is down. But then again a moment of weakness is the best time to test one’s beliefs. So I don’t know, it’s a tough call. Otherwise it isn’t so much the fact that some one is trying to convert me to their beliefs but the fact that they are doing it at a bad time. If I was trying to do work then I would get annoyed if some was talking to me no matter the subject.

Lebell

Well damn.

BOR and Lurkette said it all.


*goes and sits in the corner*

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"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." – C. S. Lewis

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Thagrastay

I am just going to dive rtight in here and damn the repercussions.
All of you are going straiht to hell!

No. No. No. I am kidding. Really. I just love to do that kind of thing. It scares the shit out of people. It's in bad taste, I know, but what can I say?

No, really. I find that the most aggressive people when it comes to evangelizing are Muslims. I took a job at a major Insurance firm that was loaded with Arabs who also were Muslims. My first day there, and this Guy introduces himself and then asks me what faith I am. I told him I am a Christian. He told me that He was going to convert me to Islam. I asked him if I had a choice in the matter and he said that he knew all about my faith and he would show me what I believed was wrong and how the Koran was the only way and how I would be converted. I told him that I would be happy to listen to him and would promise to keep an open mind, but I would like to also share the Bible with him if I may. and that it would be cool if we could study the two together. Surprisingly, he agreed, but we had to do this in secret so none of his Muslim friends could find out he was having anything to do with the Bible. Eventually, we became very good friends and He came to Christ.
When it comes to evengelizing, Christians have a mandate to do it. But sometimes their approach can be a little heavy handed. It is eternity that's on the line in the minds of the Christian, and they don't want anyone to miss out, so think of it in terms of that, please. Christians are sharing the message in Love- even if it's a pushy, beligerent, nasty, desperate, offensive, in-your-face, brutal kind of Love! LOL! I equate it to this- If I see someone standing on the corner and there's a car or bus coming at them, I am going to tell them. Whether or not they chose to listen to me is entirely up to them. But at least I have told them. It depends on the situation as to how I tell them, though. But one way or another, It will be because I love them.

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"That's it! They've got the cuffs on him, he's IN the car!"

prosequence

I personally find atheists the most pushy and unrelenting.

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And now here I stand because of you, Mister Anderson, because of you I'm no longer an agent of the system, because of you I've changed...