I had an encounter with an evangelical today.

[bravenak]

Last edited Sun Aug 18, 2013, 04:09 PM - Edit history (2)

He was in the line behind me at the grocery store and he only had a few items, so I was all " you can go ahead of me, I have nothing to do today". He refused and said if I had nothing to do, I should be at church.
I said," No I shouldn't, I'm an atheist I might deconvert somebody" and started laughing. His eyes got hella big and he said, " but you're black!"
I told him I had noticed that and that was one of my reasons. The slave masters religion was not for me.
He reminded me that Jesus died for all of our sins.
I told him Jesus never existed.
He told me that former atheists make the best Christians.
I told him they were never atheists.
He asked for proof that Jesus never existed.
I asked for proof that he did.
He said the Bible.
Everybody in line started laughing and sighing.
He gave me a pamphlet.
I paid and left the store. He followed me and begged me to receive The Lord as my savior so ill get to go to heaven. He seemed angry.
I informed him that I didn't want to go there as its where all the bad people and serial killers, and bankers and politicians are going to be.
I finally drove off but I wasn't laughing anymore. I hate high pressure sales tactics and it makes me sick to my stomach. I was most irritated by the idea that you can tell somebody what they should believe and follow them when they disagree. I glad he didn't have a gun, he was so irritated he might have stood his ground.
I'd like to know who put the word out that all black people are Christian. We're not. Really.
I can't sing either.
It was a bizarre experience and I'm glad most Christian have common sense and tact.


P.S. Found that very same pamphlet in my door twice this week. Weird. My neighbors didn't get the pamphlets. It was the watchtower society.

[Warpy]

1. You should see them try to wrap their heads around

the concept of women being atheists. They flip out completely and some of them get violent. Women outside that tidy herd of sheep really threaten them, which is why so many of us live in that "I'm not particularly religious" ghetto offline.

They have smoke pouring out of their ears and have to reboot if they see us online.

[bravenak]

2. It was scary yo!

I'm small and he was pissed and looming over me. My heart was beating so fast.
I'm easy going and I don't care about changing minds about god. I have nothing to prove, I'm positive I'm right. But I don't want to get harassed for lacking belief.
More women should come out atheist. It's a lonely world for a female atheist. We upset the order of things and have to hide out.

[ZombieHorde]

3. That is a creepy story. nt

[Manifestor_of_Light]

4. Something I have wondered about Black people.

Scenario 1:
Whitey tells them they're inferior to white people and they're bad because of their skin color(curse of Ham):
This is racist and horrible and why Lincoln outlawed slavery.

Scenario 2:
Black preacher tells them they're inferior to Jesus (not perfect) and bad because of original sin of all people: Perfectly acceptable and encouraged.

Same message justified by two different reasons from the bible. One outrageous and the other accepted and encouraged, because everybody should be "saved" from eternal damnation.




Lousy moral guide.

[bravenak]

5. It boggles my mind.

Not only that, but the slaves were told from the bible to obey their master and their reward will be in heaven. After they die.
What a scam!

[LostOne4Ever]

11. Original Sin and salvation by faith

The two most evil, odious, and oppressive doctrines of the Abrahamic Religions.

I can not understand how ANYONE can accept those two concepts and believe in a Benevolent god. Being born is not evil and a benevolent god would not damn someone to eternal suffering for a simple mistake.

They are the ball and Chain that keep people enslaved to the religions.

No its not a lousy moral guide, it is an evil immoral guide to forsaking our conscience for the bigotry of ancient stupid people long since dead.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

18. I agree.

Every time I say on DU that original sin destroys peoples' self-esteem and induces unearned guilt and shame, then I am told that Xtianity really isn't like that, that it's a nice religion. John Bradshaw has written extensively about how bad and destructive it is.

I visited two black megachurches during my spiritual journey.

Now I'm into secular humanism and Mahayana Buddhism.

[AtheistCrusader]

14. Christianity is a lousy moral guide, period, regardless of the target audience.

It is predicated on scapegoating. Pure and simple.

Even if it were objectively proven true, I would reject it. My 'sins' are mine. Not for someone else to pay for, if indeed they must be paid for at all.

If a god cannot accept me as I was allegedly made, then we need have nothing to do with one another anyway.

[Arugula Latte]

21. Plus, it boils down to being a creepy death cult.

No thank you.

[Curmudgeoness]

6. But can you jump?

Sorry, bad joke.

I have never been confronted like that, and hope that I never am. I usually mind my own business about religion, and figure if someone insists on believing, it is no skin off my back. But if they jump on me like that, they will get the "wrath of god" coming down on them. (As a woman, I can often be braver than a man because few men will attack me physically.)

And I have to agree that more women have to come out as atheists. I have no problem letting people know that I am an atheist. I used to avoid the word, and instead say "I don't believe it god", but as things get more and more hysterical on their part, I have learned that the word "atheist" has more impact.

[bravenak]

7. Can't jump either. It was a great joke.

This is the first time I've had this happen. I'll try to come up with something clever for the future. I like R'hllor (red god) and the old gods from asoiaf so maybe I'll use that. Or get some Scientology pamphlets and keep them on me to hand out to my persecutor.
He seemed so nice at first. Like a serial killer. All smiles until they jump on you.

[Curmudgeoness]

8. Wow, you just aren't safe anywhere anymore!

What ever happened to "mind your own business"? Actually, that is as good a comeback as you need.

[bravenak]

9. True that.

He should have been minding not tending.

[progressoid]

10. Your post reminds me of that scene in Blazing Saddles when the

railroad crew is told to sing a "work song".

But seriously, the anger from him seems common from some that are particularly zealous, or more likely, insecure in their beliefs. Your frank honesty probably threatened him. I have a lot of xian family members and friends but luckily not many get that defensive or aggressive about it.

[LostOne4Ever]

12. What an asshole

You try to be nice to them and then they use that as an excuse to criticize and then harass you.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE LIKE THAT!!!

That said, you are braver than I am. I would have simply said I was not religious and shrunk back into my shell and ignored him. If they badgered me like that I would probably have a panic attack. I can't deal with people like that. Hell, I can't deal with people in general.

I am sorry that you had to endure something like that.

[bravenak]

13. That's the part that pissed me off.

I was trying to let him go first. He should have checked out and said thank you or god bless if thats what he was into. He didn't even buy his stuff he was so keen on following me. Left it on the counter.
WTF? He yelled at me to repent and be reborn in the blood of the lamb. Loud!
Did he even want to buy anything?
After i got into my car he got into his. He acted like I ruined his day. I hope he lives alone, I'd hate to be at home waiting for him to get back to he store. Imagine having to send him back out.

[Lordquinton]

15. "but you're black!"

I have seen many times people claiming something to the effect of "You can't really be black without Jesus" and it makes me really scared and I feel a lot of sorrow for black atheists, on top of everything else in the world set up against them the bible is thrown on top.

I have also been called racist just for being an atheist and daring to question a black person's faith, in that "don't shove it in my face" manner.

[bravenak]

16. Whoa, you must never mess with black Jesus.

I've done it. They don't believe I don't believe. They call it a test. They pray for me while I eat snacks. They discuss it among themselves while I smoke a doobie. Then they pray again while I eat snacks. If you do it that way it's a tolerable experience. Always eat the 7-up cake and the sock it to me cake. You won't regret it.

[Lordquinton]

19. Note to self: Eat more snacks

Do you just stand there and stare at them while you eat? or do you shield the snacks with your body and give menacing glances over your shoulder to keep them at bay?

[bravenak]

20. They always offer you a seat.

I keep the food tray close so I don't have to get up. I smile and nod yes while I say no. It's confusing just like they are. Praise the cake and deliciouse treats enough and you get to take them with you.

[Scuba]

17. Thanks for the post, and for your courage to stand up for what you believe (or don't!).

[bravenak]

24. I feel for the guy.

He should have been at church.

[Evoman]

22. same with latinos...we are all catholics, dontcha know.

Should have asked the asshole why he wasn't in church.

[bravenak]

23. I didn't even think of that.

He should have been in church himself.

[IgnostU]

25. Just walk away .

You're not alone battling the ignorance and lack of manners of evangelicals . With most churches visited in Hampton Va ( trolling) I have found most churchmembers ( with few exceptions) to be black as well . Thank your good genes and how you grew up that you can determine for yourself what is credible and what is not . Such finetuned precision in thinking is not merely for your every day person .
Most of the people attending churches are resitant to change and find more comfort regurgitating the same old same old .
Your health is better served in avoiding any and all religious people . My groundrule for people visting my home is that religion has no place in my family's lives and I am using that as an -effective/adequate -social filter to ensure my future sanity. Just walk away next time , it may indeed save your life someday. I for one do not trust any person stating he "believes" , I could be staring a murderous psychopath right in the eye . Just walk away . Save your words and thoughts to do more productive things instead . The religious should be completely ignored as a whole in all possible ways .
Pamphlets make for good kindling in my open fire place