Arrogance among Religion.

[Oni]

Arrogance among Religion.
   Yesterday I had an interesting experience. Aside from being sick, the Men in Black showed up. No not the cool ones with the big shiny guns that blast alien goo all over the place, but the ones with little black name tags, and hand out little back books. They always have a constant smile on there face. Enjoy knocking and going door to door and asking if I have a full and compleate life and letting me know that no matter what I answer I needed to ask for forgiveness from my sinfull ways and follow them and there teachings. … Well I am not going to say exactly what religion it was that knocked on my door, as I don’t want to directly bash any religion. I don’t really want to bash any religion. I have meet other Men in Black, and they were very cool, and came over more than once and just sat and had a drink, and we discussed things. So these two I would say were rather arrogant, and … well took a lot for me to be a good kitty and not tear into them. I was very polite…even though my ears were flat back and hair was standing up on the back of my neck.
   Any way while I was resting on the sofa trying to get better because I knew Rachael would come over, they knocked at the door. And I let them in. It was cute when they asked if Ben was my brother or friend…I stumbled for a moment (trying to think of a witty answer but failed) and said Companion. They asked if I was a member, I told them at one time, and why I was black listed, and then now back on the list. Told them about my past 7 (wow 7 years now, last 2 being the best of my life so far). Hinted at first and then directly told them I was gay. LOL that was cute to watch them slid further back on the sofa and re adjust there comfort level. As we were talking they asked me if I had ever read the Bible, Book of ________. I said yesh I had, and Told them that I also read the DoC of theres. They asked me if I had asked God what was the right religion to follow, and what he said. I told them yes I did, and he told me that Theres was not the one for me, and that he had other plans for me, and that all religions have the right idea, but all have flaws. I told them that God had a plan for me and that it was much the same as there. To go off and teach good idea’s and help people. They didn’t like me comparing myself to them.
   They told me that the voice I heard was not God, but was the Devil or myself telling me what I want to hear, and that unless I question the voice of God I will never know for sure if it is him talking to me or not.
   I extended out an equivalent exchange offer. To attend and visit there church, if they attended and visited MCC. They declined saying that MCC was to accepting for Gods work, and for them to be part of. And offered if I would like to go to there church. I declined as well. For a couple of reasons. 1. because they declined my offer, and two because I would not be welcome in there church unless I changed who I was. They say they accept everybody…they don’t.
   They asked me to re-read there books, and ask god again if I was doing the right thing, and that if theres was the one true church. I told them no, because I had already done that and got my answer. Why repeat a question when you already have the answer.
   They said that I should ask god for forgiveness of my sins. I chucked inside my head, and told them that I don’t need forgiveness for anything of my past. I am proud of it, and it has made me who I am today. God knows what I have done, and who I am now.
   There was so much more that I wanted to ask them, like how could they not be as accepting as God, or as Loving. How could they cast judgement on people just by who they are.
   I was funny though because as one of them was telling me I was going to hell, and the voice that I heard was the Devil, and that I am a bad person and should repent for my sins, and change my way of life so that God would accept me, and that his religion was the One True Religion, and all that other stuff (I tuned him out after afew minutes of his rant). His friend steped in and said that he saw the Holy Spirit fill me as the other guy was telling me all that, and that he saw that I knew there way was the right way, and could tell by the grin on my face that I was filled with the happiness that they brought into my home.
   I damn near lost it in laughter, and then tore into them….oh came so close to destroying there believe structure right infont of them. But I was a good cat and let them leave with there psykies intact….*cries* my evil streak is wearing down….The big grin on my face was me getting ready to just tear into there believe structure, and crush there wills. The shock that some one was that arrogant, and willing to denounce some one based on what they were, not who they were. The amazement that they could stand there and say all that, and honestly tell me that I was a bad person….*twitches* ohhh
   So not fair. I was polite and honest the hole time…*twitches*
They left saying that it was nice to meet us and tried to get Kritter, and Rachael to go to there church. That failed.
After they left we all had a good laugh at there expence. Maybe I should invite them back again.
And to think those were the same people who gave me the Priesthood, and told me that I now have the power to go off and speak the word of God and it was my responsibility. ROFLOL.
Any way that’s my little rant. I am sure that what people said was not exact as I typed it, but That’s the just of what happened.
Wonder if any one else has experience this and what they have done.
I know in the past I would gladly destroy there psykies, and beliefs and leave them to walk away tail tucked between there legs. I am not like that with all people that knock on my door though. We had some people of that religion that came over to our place a couple of times, and were very cool. Both with us and how they shared there idea’s with us. Because they didn’t preach, or put us down. They treated us like people, and we gave them the same respect. They asked me my idea, and I asked there, and we DISCUSSED THEM, it was not a verbal battle but a very good converstation to compare idea’s and thoughts. But never once did they offer to pray for our souls, and say that we were bad people because of our life style choice.
I still hold true and believe that organized religion is wrong (that’s why I like MCC they are so diverse, and teach a very good idea I think MCC has the right idea for a church, and that is to accept everybody and preach a good idea, a common sense idea). To many times I see a good idea taken and butchered and people destroy it. And idea is something one can change, a believe for some reason people have to fight over before it can be changed. Individual religion is a good idea, but as it grows to others, the one teaching has to tread softly because now they tread on the dreams of people.
The people that came to my door, I have meet many of them. And as individuals they are good people, and I will admit they have some good ideas in there belief system, but they have to many dogma’s and what I would call bad idea’s to make there religion a good one for me.
I compared my self to the people who came to my door because I do a simaler thing that they do. I teach a good idea and help people. But unlike them I don’t turn the people away that don’t like my idea’s. I still offer out my paw if they need a hand. Just cause a person things differently or lives a different lifestyle then me does not make them a bad person. It’s who they are that is important, not what they are.
Well that’s my little rant. Hope you all like it and it inspires you to say something about it, or compare it to something that happened to you.
~Oni

[Kritter]

I'm sorry but you should have bashed them. They came to our house and basically insulted you. Course they were not talking to Foxie and I; however, to me, it was also directed to us  . It did pissed me off. I don't have the wit and knoweldge of their religion to come back to them and say something rude. If I did, I would have done it.

People like that are the reason why I don't like going to church and being fully involved to any religion group. Because how I see it, there is no church/religion that can fully accept anyone. There is a line for most religion. Some short and some long, but there is a line of acceptance.

Course MCC says they accept all and as of now, I have not witness any rejection to anyone. For that, I like MCC . The organization also doesn't bash religion to our throats like other religions do.

[Rachael]

Yeah, but...but...that guy knew Spanish.  He can't be all bad.

(Seriously, though, I agree that people who are invited into someone else's home have no right to be so arrogant and condescending.  Maybe if they had met you somewhere else, like a cafe or even their house...but you opened your door to them and they should have been more respectful.)

[chuckhart]

Onicat, I am glad you had the fortitude to go through that ordeal and stay calm (at least for outward appearances).  Invading your homes makes you feel trapped.  I think these discussions should be on neutral ground, like a cafe, mall, or coffee shop, and should be strictly voluntary on your part. 

Speaking another language is something almost anyone can do with just a little effort.  If he came by it through his family, he didn't even have to make the effort.  Sorry to burst that bubble of mystery and awe.

[Oni]

Meow Mix,
   Hehe I didn’t feel Traped, Not once. More sitting there with a WTF expression on my face after they left. A thought of … WOW there really are People that Arrogent and judgemential out there. I thought it was rather funny.
   I wouldn’t say they invated, as I did invite them in. So the game was on my grounds. I am more comfortable playing a game, or debate on a home terf, why because then I am not at risk of effecting the rest of public by a slip of tounge or action. A neutral ground for discussions like that would not work. Because there goal is to win you over to there side, so for that they have to take away your defenses. A game of politics if you will.
   I did volunteer to go through what they had to say, as I recognized them for who they were, and always expect as much when they do come in, only a couple have surprised me and been honestly open and accepting of other people even if they didn’t believe the way they did. I will always open my door to people who wish to come in and have a chat. Though now I am a bit more reserved on how quickly I will attack (verbally) and dear down there comfort level. I am sure that if they were there any longer I don’t think I would have held back as much. My tollarence for ignorance only goes so far. LOL.

[Rachael]

Oh, I know that. :p I was just revealing my weakness.  See, I can't completely dislike a person if they're bilingual.  I've joked that if I found out Hitler was bilingual, I'd think he was cool.

In reality, if I found out he was bilingual, that would not make up for the atrocities he committed.  It's more an example of how much I love languages than anything.

[Rachael]

Oni, I think you posted in the wrong thread again. :p

I'm not as tolerant as Oni is.  I'm mostly tolerant.  If someone has another religion--Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, or any other non-christian religion--I don't care.  I think they're cool.  I accept them for that.  Even if they don't have a religion, but just a set of beliefs, or they're agnostic...fine with me.

There are only two beliefs I have trouble with.

One is devil/demon worship.  So yes, if someone worshiped Satan, I couldn't respect that person.  I know it's a flaw, but even if they said something intelligent, I'd think, "...Yeah, but they worship Satan...the ultimate form of evil."  Even if they only see Satan as the epitome of self-indulgence, it bothers me.  All, the "Do what you want, if someone gets in your way, destroy them, only love those who deserve it"...It goes against everything I believe in.  Sure, most religions also do that, but they don't get right down to the core in it.  I can love someone who is a Satanist, but I can't just look at them as a person.  And if they're going to talk about their beliefs, I have to be very quiet, or else I'll get angry.

However, now that I think about it, I'm not sure if I can't respect the person.  I know I've become more tolerant, and I'm no longer someone who'd leave the room, or never talk to someone again if I found out they were a Satanist.  I think maybe I could respect the person...After all, I used to not accept atheists (see below), as well as polyamorists, and now I do.

The other is atheism.  And it's not quite like Satanism.  I mean, I'm friends with some atheists.  The only problem is I get uncomfortable when people talk about how they don't believe in God, especially if they used to.  It's the idea that depresses me.  So it's hard for me to stay strong in a conversation about atheism.  But unlike before, I can now be friends with someone who's an atheist, and I no longer freak out when visiting positiveatheism.org.

The two above beliefs are the only ones whose follower I could not get romantically involved with.  But that's not important.

I sincerely apologize for any offense I have caused to anyone.  I just wanted to be honest.  And I don't think God hates the above people either.  I think God loves everyone...in fact, he's probably more tolerant than I am.

[Oni]

I fixed the post.

[Rachael]

Ack!  Now MY post is in the wrong thread!

[Oni]

were would you likle it to be and I will move it there

[Rachael]

It doesn't matter.  The topics are kind of similar, so just keep it where it is.

[aksnowgirl98]

I wish i had been there, sounds entertaining.

[Oni]

Made me feel sorry for them really. To think that an idea can take so much control of a person that you can’t even open your mind to a new idea, or even other people because the idea and the people are different from you.

[ViewSonic]

Though I am sure they were just brining off there point of view to you. I have had my fair share of running into various door to door god sales people.

Not to fond of them really.

But I think you did well by standing your ground, and not pouncing them. lol. WOuld have been funny to see, but not ethicaly right.