...And then the children of the village threw stones, screaming "Heretic" and "Fornicator"

Comments

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I won't air my opinions here, as it will no doubt offend pretty much everyone, but damn, good post, Cate.
[esto es genial]
[braces for the onslaught]
You tell a story like nobody else, Cate. Seriously, you rock!
Awesome as always. You are such a wonderful writer, not only is this hilarious, I give it 2 bonus gold stars for making fun of crazy religious freaks. This is funny, only because of how awfully true it is.
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I totally agree with you. Why is it that us heathens accept people and their beliefs, but the holy ones do nothing but judge? Fantastic post. Amen! :)
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lol--i have a freind whose parents are BAC--since he was in high school I think and they have all but disowned him. He had a child out of wedlock and then ended up divorced, living in sin, you know, all the stuff regular people do. They'd help out any member of his church before him. really he has all but disowned them.

I just don't get why the people that act this way think it's their place to judge. Isn't that God's job? I mean, duh. Isn't Jesus supposed to love everyone unconditionally? so why can't they do that? Theyre the ones wearing the WWJD crap. What would Jesus do? He wouldn't be bugging the crap out of me and looking down his nose at me I bet.

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I wish more Christians would engage me in religious discussion. Once they get to know me a little, they generally stay clear of the subject. I try to bring it up, but they won't touch it. So, what am I? A total lost cause? They should see me as a challenge, the under-achieving bastards.

It could also be the fact that when they tell me about their "special" relationship with Christ, I'm often inspired to tell them about my close relationship with Lord Satan. I can identify with their enthusiasm. Like their own (weaker) deity, Satan has changed my life in so many wonderful ways that I just want to tell everyone about it. Especially all the poor, deceived Christians. "But, Ben, don't you want to go to Heaven?" I don't know. Will there be beer and porn in Heaven? That's what I thought.

MERRRRY CHRISTMAAAAAAS!

Well as I said while we spoke (and are speaking on chat)...

I'm never going to judge you or make you feel like a "village witch." I am a Christian and I do believe in Christ, you know that, and Jesus would not want me or anyone else to treat you like you were less.

I'm really sorry that you were treated so poorly by other Christians. That is just a crime and a shame. Maybe they thought they were doing what they thought was right at the time, I don't know, but someone, a real christian would have made you feel fellowship and not exclusion by shunning you or treating like a sick animal with a disease.

I think being Christian means helping others, being a true friend, being an inspiration, having compassion and understanding for others. And a lot of other things, but for sure not being as those people were to you.

You know, I know what it's like to be under that scrutiny too. I married into a Mormon family. I was raised Methodist. I've attended church on both sides. I've never in my life encountered such scrutiny then when I go to the Mormon church and they see the crucifix I wear on my chest. They do not believe in the symbol of the crucifix. To them it is sacreligious.

They automatically zone in on my crucifix and with sorrow in their eyes, they embrace me and try to convert me, even though I already believe in Jesus. It's been so frustrating having to turn away the missionaries who knock on my door several times a month. I tell them "its not that I don't believe in God and I need to be saved. I am saved and I DO believe in Jesus.. we just don't want to be a Mormon family!" And I get the "but you do know, we are the true church?"

I don't know that and I don't believe that. Those are my beliefs. I wish they would respect that. From time to time, I still go to a Mormon service, out of respect for my mother in law who is Mormon, but each time I go I get the same looks of sorrow and I sit there, listening to their service called Sacrament Meeting where members of the church go up front and talk about how the church is the "true church." It's really frustrating for me. I just don't understand why they see me as needing to be saved when I believe in the same person as they do!

But I believe they are good people and their heart is in helping people and being good neighbors, all in all.

I do know your frustration and I understand what it's like to judged and how awful that feels.


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**already hears the hellacoius uproar this is likely to start**

My issue is the whole judging when their religion tells them not to. And things about all sins being equal - but somehow theirs are okay and everyone else's are not okay.

And that death convo... man, did I ever piss someone off with that convo. He kept saying, "but don't you want to know what will happen to you when you die?" I said "No." Him, "Why not?" Me: "Why does it matter? I'll be dead then."... round and round we went. He could not conceptualize a life NOT spent in preparation for rewards upon death. I could not conceptualize a life spent NOT enjoying rewards of being alive.

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Absolutely spot on.

Just last night dad asked me into the living room because he had something to show me. He changed the channel from his "Military Weapons Show" to "Eternal Doom: The Book of Revelations" or whatever the hell was the name of the show. He then looked at me with all seriousness and said "Ashley, you really should sit down and watch this show." I was a bit confused and said "Why? I know what the Book of Revelations is." Then dad said "Well, then you know that those that believe in God and his only son that are Christians are going to heaven when the rapture comes. Those that are non-believers are going to hell." From me "Again, what is your point?" Dad "In our family looks like one of us won't be making it to heaven..." I was floored!

I stopped going to church when I turned 21. I couldn't stand to be around "Saturday Night Sinners" (including my parents) who felt like God was going to give them the keys to heaven because they went to church for an hour on Sunday. But my worst offense was not joining "the Church" when I was 14. The way my parents talked Satan himself was going to personally rip the soul from my body at any moment.
Oh, and you don't have to be christian to help others, be a true friend, be an inspiration, have compassion and understanding for others.
[esto es genial]

2nd note: This is also why I joined the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. I was touched by his noodly appendage and am a proud Pastafarian. In the Church of the FSM, if we're intent on converting someone to spend their life planning for an after-life in our heaven of beer volcanos and a stripper factory, we at least have the decency to dress in full pirate regalia!

Ramen!

Paperheart... shame on your father for saying that to you.
That's disgusting he would treat you, his own daughter, like that.


I've come to expect no less than that from my father. Both my parents really. The great irony is that I have a very strong belief in God. I just chose to follow God in a different way.
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indeed, cate. indeed. that's about all i can say.

ok, one more thing--i have an aunt who is BAC. she's rather subtle about it sometimes, but she definitely gets her witness on around me and my brothers.

and my mother the catholic doesn't understand that I DON'T WANT TO GO to christmas mass next monday, and in fact AM NOT going, despite the fact that i live under her roof at the moment. me = grownup. me = old enough to choose my own religious leanings. v. frustrating.

i'm rather intrigued by this Lord Satan Ben mentions above me here. Ben, can you tell me more?

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So been there...and came to the conclusion that the least 'Christian' people are those that are Christian...

I love thy neighbour CupCate! ;Þ

Oh, I certainly can.

(Insert maniacal laughter.)

Satan loves everyone. He doesn't judge anyone, and he always has candy. The only downside is that he tends to make everything smell like goat. And he says "seriously" a lot.

Religions ARE about judging. You are supposed to judge the acts of others according to whether or not they are in line with your religion, and act (or even punish) accordingly. How can a person say they're not judging if they believe people who don't conform to certain of their religious beliefs will go to hell, or earn disapproval by an often rathful and vengeful God (see: the Bible)? That seems like a huge contradiction.

Judgement is the reason why Christian and Muslim proselytizing exists- because these people judge other people's religions and cultures (some of them thousands of years old) to be so backwards and inferior, that they must "save" them from their evil pagan ways. Sure, the thought is nice in theory (save people from burning in hell- though nobody's ever actually come back and confirmed hell's existence, anyway), but it is awfully presumptuous and judgemental to feel that your way is the only way to eternal peace. Plus, it is gross when people try to convert others because they want to earn points towards heaven.

All the love-y Jesus stuff may give people a nice fuzzy feeling in their tummies, but it doesn't disguise the fact that religion IS about enlarging the flock and keeping them in check. Religious people (those whose lives are shaped by their religion) have to judge people and believe that other religions are inferior, because if they didn't, their whole school of thought and way of living would mean very little.

My brother's mother-in-law is like that. She's a born again Christian and a judgemental hypocrite. She doesn't like my brother because he's not "saved" and she acts like she's better than everyone. She's also a hypocrite in the sense that she doesn't give out candy at Halloween cause she believes it's "heathen holiday", yet she had no problem taking her grandson out to the other houses and getting candy for him. I can't stand people like that. In my opinion the people who consider themselves Christians yet treat people that way...judging them and in some cases, hating them...they're the ones who should be worried about going to hell. I believe in God, but I don't judge others for not believing. I believe that if God is anything like he's been described then he accepts everyone exactly the way they are...as long as a person does their best in life and tries to be a good person to others...that's all that matters. I smoke, I drink...I've had sex...and yet I have manners and am polite to others and try and treat others kindly...I like to think that the way I treat other people would be more important when deciding my fate than whether or not I smoke or have sex. But anyway, my point is people like the ones you mentioned above are anything but Christian and are total hypocrites.

P.S. Sorry this is so long...I tend to ramble...

LOL> I am pretty much of the same belief as you. I hate seeing Christians get unfairly bashed but sometimes it feels good because I get it from some of them sometimes.
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Great post. I was cringing as you were getting into the story of the baby shower because I could just see what was going to happen. but that took a lot of courage to go and it shows that you really cared about your friend. I had a similar experience in high school where a friend helped me to find Jesus, only I wasn't ready to change my whole life for christ. I would have to stop going to church with my family. (I am Tenrikyo, not Buddhist, not Shinto, Tenrikyo) I would have to stop believing in God the Parent and Oyasama, our Foundress. I would have to turn my whole life around. I was only fifteen years old! No way. So I told her that I couldn't go through with it and she stopped being my friend! It was a tragedy. I loved her! She was so nice to me before that happened. We had biology together and we would sit together and have a lot of fun. I still miss her and regret that it was a lost friendship. But I was able to renew my own faith and it was a big life lesson, so that was good. I really could not understand the christian heaven and hell thing. Why does believing in one person decide where I go after I die? I like the Tenrikyo teaching that heaven and hell are right here on earth. I think it's important to know about other religions and be respectful of others beliefs, but not when they persecute like that. It's not right. I felt really bad about not being able to believe. Why should I feel guilty when God loves us all, we are God's children? Well, thanks for writing what you did.
This is odd, because I almost never am approached by people wanting to save me. Oh, occasionally Mormon missionaries will come to the door, but I send them away with a question for their supervisor and never see them again. Once in a while Jehovah's Witnesses knock, but they're not persistent. But when I'm out and about? I don't think anyone has ever approached me. Perhaps it's the Bible hanging from a chain on my belt (just kidding). Perhaps it's because I'm 6'3", about 250, and dress like Wolfman Jack. Maybe I just look unapproachable. But it's odd.
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Great post. Entertaining. Well-written. The funny (strange, not ha ha) thing about organized religion is the conviction almost every faith seems to have that their particular church is the right one, and that if you don't belong, you're doomed -- sheesh, they can't all be right! There are going to be an awful lot of people in hell...
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Do NOT tell homosexuals that they're going to hell.

I have a co-worker who is very Christian and loves to talk about it. We had a discussion about homosexuality, and he was telling me about how he has gay friends. Before we even really got into the conversation, I mentioned that this is a hot-button issue for me, and that if he is homophobic he should keep it to himself because I'm very pro-gay rights. (I did put it much more eloquently and gentle than that.) Well, he said, "It's OK, I'm friends with gay people." Then he turned around and said that he preaches Christianity to them because he loves them, and he wants them to see that they are living a sinful lifestyle. BUT they can change. I seriously felt the heat rising into my face and excused myself to go to the little girls' room. I just think about my best friends that are gay, and these people who want to change them are missing out on some great friends.

Living smack dab in the middle of the Bible Belt, this is nothing new to me. I've received every flyer and tract that's been made about why I'm going to Hell. There was one left in our lunch room at work that said, "It doesn't matter if you're a nice person. If you don't accept Jesus Christ into your life, then you are going to Hell." Oh, that's great! So I can be the biggest bitch in the world, but I'm cool if I accept Jesus? Hmmm... Not the right religion for me, that's for sure.

Great post!
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[this is once again fabulous] I have