I am a lost soul, Quick, somebody save me!
On Saturday we planned a big birthday party for Amiee and our friend Troy.. Amiee's birthday was on the 20th and Troys is on the 23rd. The plan for the party was Mexican food, so everyone had to bring some kind of Mexican dish and some booze..(come to think of it there was a surprising lack of tequila and corona for a Mexican themed party) My drummer, Gough, used to be a chef and he came over early to do some coloring on one of his tattoos and to get his Chili Verde ready for the party. We were stood in the kitchen getting a head start on the drinking when there was a knock at the door.. I looked toward the front door, which happened to be open at the time, and there stood a pair of Mormon Missionaries..
Gough just laughed and said "hey, that is all you buddy" so, not in the mood to deal with this, I made my way down to the doorstep and stepped out onto the porch. I didn't invite them in, because then they would see my kids and get excited, but we will get to that in a minute. So they introduce themselves and start asking me questions as they always do and of course are shocked by my response. "I am atheist" I said. I grew up Mormon, I was baptized when I was 8 years old and I went to church until I was 16, so I know what the word "Atheist" means to a Religious person, but by now the missionaries are caught up in trying to change my mind and start quoting some things that "God has promised us" and what "God will give us" and start spitting some scripture which also mention various things about God.. At this point I have a big grin on my face at the ignorance of these men. "I JUST TOLD YOU I DID NOT BELIEVE IN GOD" so these quotes and scriptures and promises mean nothing to me.. But I think that they really believe that a few scriptures and talking about God could undo the last 15 years of my disbelief.. Enough times of me cutting off every conversation they started with the words "I don't believe" they finally realized that it is no use and revealed the true reason for their visit. After I shake their hands and say farewell, they ask me "Is there an Irene that lives here" Ha Ha, oh I see.. "we were told that she needs a visit"
No, Irene is the 13 year old neighbor. I pointed them in the right direction and got back to the party preparations.
I was thinking about their visit later on, and all of the things that they had said to me.. The mention of God, Jesus, and the afterlife. It occurred to me that this approach is all wrong. I know that all of the people that believe in God would have a hard time with someone trying to convince them otherwise. That to make someone not believe in God would be the work of Satan.. For the record I do not believe in him either.. The point is, if I were to hit the streets and wanted to convert people to my way of thinking, I would not give them the so called "facts". I would not read them passages from a book that they may not have ever heard of or do not believe in.. I would simply ask them if they feel happy and complete in their current belief.
I think that is the approach I will take with the next set of missionaries to knock on my door. I will ask them "Are you happy?" "Do you feel content in these beliefs?" Because I AM and I DO! It is frustrating that nobody can accept that I am happy. To feel happiness and Love without God is just something that most people can't get their mind around.
So, I will continue to try not to be offended when you tell me your life is better than mine.. that you are happier than me.. that I will never truly understand love until I see it from your side of the fence. But, I will be.. It does offend me. and most of all it offends me when you tell me that I am leading my children astray by not teaching them about God.. I wish that there was something of equivalent offensiveness that I could say to you when you tell me that you will pray for me..
Gough just laughed and said "hey, that is all you buddy" so, not in the mood to deal with this, I made my way down to the doorstep and stepped out onto the porch. I didn't invite them in, because then they would see my kids and get excited, but we will get to that in a minute. So they introduce themselves and start asking me questions as they always do and of course are shocked by my response. "I am atheist" I said. I grew up Mormon, I was baptized when I was 8 years old and I went to church until I was 16, so I know what the word "Atheist" means to a Religious person, but by now the missionaries are caught up in trying to change my mind and start quoting some things that "God has promised us" and what "God will give us" and start spitting some scripture which also mention various things about God.. At this point I have a big grin on my face at the ignorance of these men. "I JUST TOLD YOU I DID NOT BELIEVE IN GOD" so these quotes and scriptures and promises mean nothing to me.. But I think that they really believe that a few scriptures and talking about God could undo the last 15 years of my disbelief.. Enough times of me cutting off every conversation they started with the words "I don't believe" they finally realized that it is no use and revealed the true reason for their visit. After I shake their hands and say farewell, they ask me "Is there an Irene that lives here" Ha Ha, oh I see.. "we were told that she needs a visit"No, Irene is the 13 year old neighbor. I pointed them in the right direction and got back to the party preparations.
I was thinking about their visit later on, and all of the things that they had said to me.. The mention of God, Jesus, and the afterlife. It occurred to me that this approach is all wrong. I know that all of the people that believe in God would have a hard time with someone trying to convince them otherwise. That to make someone not believe in God would be the work of Satan.. For the record I do not believe in him either.. The point is, if I were to hit the streets and wanted to convert people to my way of thinking, I would not give them the so called "facts". I would not read them passages from a book that they may not have ever heard of or do not believe in.. I would simply ask them if they feel happy and complete in their current belief.
I think that is the approach I will take with the next set of missionaries to knock on my door. I will ask them "Are you happy?" "Do you feel content in these beliefs?" Because I AM and I DO! It is frustrating that nobody can accept that I am happy. To feel happiness and Love without God is just something that most people can't get their mind around.
So, I will continue to try not to be offended when you tell me your life is better than mine.. that you are happier than me.. that I will never truly understand love until I see it from your side of the fence. But, I will be.. It does offend me. and most of all it offends me when you tell me that I am leading my children astray by not teaching them about God.. I wish that there was something of equivalent offensiveness that I could say to you when you tell me that you will pray for me..
Comments
Post a Comment