So I encountered a preacher today

Morrigan · 1st September 2009, 01:50 PM

Are street preachers usually persistent, in your experience?

In my previous (limited, thankfully) experienced, they usually aren't. I remember a couple of years ago a happy-looking guy with a charming smile stopped me in the street to talk about Jesus, and I told him I wasn't interested since I was an atheist. He just smiled and said something like, "All right, thank you for your time, have a nice day!" and moved on.

But today I encountered a strange kind of zealot. I was eating lunch in a nearby park with three co-workers, when a man came to us and started chit-chatting about the weather and if our lunch was good and so on. He was holding some sort of leaflet and said he wanted to talk about his website. I thought he wanted to promote his business at first, but then he added that it was about "discovering god".

When one of my co-workers told him we weren't interested, he didn't simply move on, oh no, he went on. Another co-worker told him, more firmly, "Thanks but no thanks, we are not interested at all", but it didn't stop him. He went on about how he was a changed man, he had been very sick, in the hospital and on dialysis and had a "miraculous healing" (I guess all the hospital staff and dialysis didn't help get him better huh, it was God!), he even said something pretentious like "I have suffered more than you" (and when told that he couldn't possibly know that since he didn't know us, he backpedaled with something like "Right, right, we each have our own suffering..."), and so on, while we mostly tried to ignore him. At one point I told him he was wasting his time, but he insisted he wasn't - he seemed convinced he could change our minds somehow?
He soon brought up God again, and I said we didn't believe in God, hoping it would make him finally give up... big mistake, he saw that as a challenge. It went something like this:

Him: "Oh yeah, really? How do you think you are alive, then?" (smirking as if he had just scored some sort of victory)
Me: "My parents screwed." (my coworkers sniggered a bit)
Him: "Right, and you think that's what made you the way you are?"
Me: "That's called DNA. Look it up."
Him: (looking all sad) "I understand now why you wear that shirt." (I was wearing a Mercyful Fate band shirt, with this drawing - I love having no dress code)
Me: METUUUHL!!

(Yeah, lame but I couldn't resist :P sometimes clichés are fun)

I forgot what he said next, but one of my co-workers said that she didn't understand why he kept at it after being told very clearly that we weren't interested, and another co-worker told him his preaching was obnoxious and not appreciated, but he STILL didn't leave yet. So I finally said, "What he's politely trying to tell you is: f**k off and go away

". Which prompted him to say I was "full of anger", of course (the only anger I had felt was the annoyance of having our peaceful lunch break disturbed by this persistent buffoon), and he FINALLY left after I said I was more amused than angry, after getting in the last word, of course: "I hope you will discover Him".

I've never seen one so persistent before. He was ready to debate life, the universe and everything with us. Every thing we said to get him to stop pestering us only fueled him more. Neither being polite nor being rude was of any help. It seems like the newly-converted, the ones with the "miraculous healings" are always the most overzealous to share it with others. The first guy I mentioned earlier, from a couple of years ago, was probably more a experienced type of preacher and knew how to pick his battles.

Pure_Argent · 1st September 2009, 01:56 PM

What you have here is not a "street preacher". It is a "street evangelist", a much rarer and more annoying breed.

Foster Zygote · 1st September 2009, 02:35 PM

Originally Posted by Morrigan

It seems like the newly-converted, the ones with the "miraculous healings" are always the most overzealous to share it with others.

Like people who've just quit smoking.

Nogbad · 1st September 2009, 02:43 PM

Usually they are relatively stationary and just berate you as you pass. I think I have only really encountered one that tagged along once. He was quite pleasant actually although he did say some bizarre things. The one that sticks with me (this was over 35 years ago) "Imagine how happy and fulfilled a carrot feels when we eat it" I think he was part of the Arthur Blessit lot.

Lanzy · 1st September 2009, 02:45 PM

Not-answering them after the first polite "go away", is my chosen method.

lumos · 1st September 2009, 03:21 PM

I like your drawing!

slingblade · 1st September 2009, 03:43 PM

Originally Posted by Foster Zygote

Like people who've just quit smoking.

I must love being the exception..I so often am.

I don't and won't give smokers hell for still smoking.
I do have to ask them not to smoke around me because it increases my cravings to an unbearable level, but that's the only reason.

Now then, carry on, pleased in the fact that you do know one ex-smoker who won't give anyone a rasher of **** for smoking.

Bloodtoes · 1st September 2009, 03:44 PM

It never ceases to amaze me the audacity some have to bring such topics up with random strangers. A muslim taxi driver once tried engaging me in a discussion about how we have to start looking to the sky. Sadly I was far too tired to be bothered with that kind of discussion and managed to brush him off until we arrived at the airport.

Another time, while working at a gas station, an old man started a conversation with me about NASCAR in order to bring up Jeff Gordon which eventually lead to him handing me a pamphlet about born again christianity. Apparently Jeff Gordon's born again and as such god has blessed him with driving talents.. lol

ProbeX · 1st September 2009, 04:12 PM

Wow. You were fairly polite, all things considered

I'd have given him one solitary chance to shut up and move on. Then it'd have been time to take my cell phone out and threatened to call 911 if he kept harassing us.

Morrigan · 1st September 2009, 04:41 PM

Originally Posted by Pure_Argent

What you have here is not a "street preacher". It is a "street evangelist", a much rarer and more annoying breed.

Ah, thanks. I wasn't sure if I had the right term.

Monster Machine · 1st September 2009, 06:25 PM

It's the smug arrogance that gets me.

Ah, The Chosen - shining examples of their religion... and they wonder why we think it's bollocks...

Monster

Ron_Tomkins · 1st September 2009, 06:32 PM

Are you insane?? YOU LET THAT MAN GO AWAY FROM YOUR LIFE!???

Sista you don't know what you are DOING! You must be WISE!! Because the JUDGEMENT DAY WILL ARRIVE!! And when that day arrives, WHO will be taking attendance? THE LORD ALMIGHTY! PRAISE THE LORD! BROTHERS AND SISTERS, THE JUDGEMENT DAY IS WRITTEN! IT WAS CAST ON STONE BY THE WISE MAN! THE DAY WILL ARRIVE AND YOU MUST REPENT! PRAY THE LORD! HAAALLELUJAAAH! HAAALLELUJAAAAAHHH!!!

Pure_Argent · 1st September 2009, 07:20 PM

Originally Posted by Ron_Tomkins

Are you insane?? YOU LET THAT MAN GO AWAY FROM YOUR LIFE!???

Sista you don't know what you are DOING! You must be WISE!! Because the JUDGEMENT DAY WILL ARRIVE!! And when that day arrives, WHO will be taking attendance? THE LORD ALMIGHTY! PRAISE THE LORD! BROTHERS AND SISTERS, THE JUDGEMENT DAY IS WRITTEN! IT WAS CAST ON STONE BY THE WISE MAN! THE DAY WILL ARRIVE AND YOU MUST REPENT! PRAY THE LORD! HAAALLELUJAAAH! HAAALLELUJAAAAAHHH!!!

'Twas writ in fire, not stone! Burn the heretic! BUUUURRRRNNNN!

steve s · 1st September 2009, 11:05 PM

Originally Posted by Bloodtoes

Another time, while working at a gas station, an old man started a conversation with me about NASCAR in order to bring up Jeff Gordon which eventually lead to him handing me a pamphlet about born again christianity. Apparently Jeff Gordon's born again and as such god has blessed him with driving talents.. lol

I hate non sequiturs like that. Does that mean if Gordon loses to a non-Christian driver, the belief system of the other driver must be superior to Christianity?

I live in the suburbs so I don't encounter many street-corner preachers. I get the door-to-door variety, mainly Mormons and JWs. I don't have the patience to engage them the way many of you do. I usually open the door, and before they have the chance to say anything I say "No thanks, not interested."

One time though, I opened the door and the guy said "Have you ever heard of Jesus Christ?" and I said "You must think I'm the biggest [Rule10]ing idiot that ever lived to ask that" and slammed the door in his face. I feel no obligation to be nice to these people.

Steve S.

1st September 2009, 01:50 PM	#1
Morrigan Crone of War Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 2,891	So I encountered a preacher today Are street preachers usually persistent, in your experience? In my previous (limited, thankfully) experienced, they usually aren't. I remember a couple of years ago a happy-looking guy with a charming smile stopped me in the street to talk about Jesus, and I told him I wasn't interested since I was an atheist. He just smiled and said something like, "All right, thank you for your time, have a nice day!" and moved on. But today I encountered a strange kind of zealot. I was eating lunch in a nearby park with three co-workers, when a man came to us and started chit-chatting about the weather and if our lunch was good and so on. He was holding some sort of leaflet and said he wanted to talk about his website. I thought he wanted to promote his business at first, but then he added that it was about "discovering god". When one of my co-workers told him we weren't interested, he didn't simply move on, oh no, he went on. Another co-worker told him, more firmly, "Thanks but no thanks, we are not interested at all", but it didn't stop him. He went on about how he was a changed man, he had been very sick, in the hospital and on dialysis and had a "miraculous healing" (I guess all the hospital staff and dialysis didn't help get him better huh, it was God!), he even said something pretentious like "I have suffered more than you" (and when told that he couldn't possibly know that since he didn't know us, he backpedaled with something like "Right, right, we each have our own suffering..."), and so on, while we mostly tried to ignore him. At one point I told him he was wasting his time, but he insisted he wasn't - he seemed convinced he could change our minds somehow? He soon brought up God again, and I said we didn't believe in God, hoping it would make him finally give up... big mistake, he saw that as a challenge. It went something like this: Him: "Oh yeah, really? How do you think you are alive, then?" (smirking as if he had just scored some sort of victory) Me: "My parents screwed." (my coworkers sniggered a bit) Him: "Right, and you think that's what made you the way you are?" Me: "That's called DNA. Look it up." Him: (looking all sad) "I understand now why you wear that shirt." (I was wearing a Mercyful Fate band shirt, with this drawing - I love having no dress code) Me: METUUUHL!! (Yeah, lame but I couldn't resist :P sometimes clichés are fun) I forgot what he said next, but one of my co-workers said that she didn't understand why he kept at it after being told very clearly that we weren't interested, and another co-worker told him his preaching was obnoxious and not appreciated, but he STILL didn't leave yet. So I finally said, "What he's politely trying to tell you is: f**k off and go away ". Which prompted him to say I was "full of anger", of course (the only anger I had felt was the annoyance of having our peaceful lunch break disturbed by this persistent buffoon), and he FINALLY left after I said I was more amused than angry, after getting in the last word, of course: "I hope you will discover Him". I've never seen one so persistent before. He was ready to debate life, the universe and everything with us. Every thing we said to get him to stop pestering us only fueled him more. Neither being polite nor being rude was of any help. It seems like the newly-converted, the ones with the "miraculous healings" are always the most overzealous to share it with others. The first guy I mentioned earlier, from a couple of years ago, was probably more a experienced type of preacher and knew how to pick his battles.
Morrigan Crone of War Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 2,891

1st September 2009, 01:56 PM	#2
Pure_Argent Certified Castlevania Fanboy Join Date: May 2009 Location: The Clock Tower Boss Room Posts: 3,820	What you have here is not a "street preacher". It is a "street evangelist", a much rarer and more annoying breed.
	__________________ "What is a man? Just a miserable little pile of secrets!" - Dracula, Castlevania "The truth may be out there, but lies are inside your head." - Terry Pratchett, Hogfather

1st September 2009, 02:35 PM	#3
Foster Zygote Dental Floss Tycoon Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Utility Muffin Research Kitchen Posts: 7,840	Originally Posted by Morrigan It seems like the newly-converted, the ones with the "miraculous healings" are always the most overzealous to share it with others. Like people who've just quit smoking.
	__________________ A cheetah coat fills up with steam She's such a scream

1st September 2009, 02:43 PM	#4
Nogbad Master Poster Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Scotland Posts: 2,091	Usually they are relatively stationary and just berate you as you pass. I think I have only really encountered one that tagged along once. He was quite pleasant actually although he did say some bizarre things. The one that sticks with me (this was over 35 years ago) "Imagine how happy and fulfilled a carrot feels when we eat it" I think he was part of the Arthur Blessit lot.
	__________________ Cogito cogito ergo cogito sum.

1st September 2009, 03:21 PM	#6
lumos Thinker Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 143	I like your drawing!
lumos Thinker Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 143

1st September 2009, 02:45 PM	#5
Lanzy Muse Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Reading, PA Posts: 695	Not-answering them after the first polite "go away", is my chosen method.

1st September 2009, 03:43 PM	#7
slingblade 63% similar to you Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: In This Fog, Who Knows? Posts: 13,776	Originally Posted by Foster Zygote Like people who've just quit smoking. I must love being the exception..I so often am. I don't and won't give smokers hell for still smoking. I do have to ask them not to smoke around me because it increases my cravings to an unbearable level, but that's the only reason. Now then, carry on, pleased in the fact that you do know one ex-smoker who won't give anyone a rasher of **** for smoking.
	__________________ http://s47.photobucket.com/albums/f1..._jewelrycraft/

1st September 2009, 03:44 PM	#8
Bloodtoes Student Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 47	It never ceases to amaze me the audacity some have to bring such topics up with random strangers. A muslim taxi driver once tried engaging me in a discussion about how we have to start looking to the sky. Sadly I was far too tired to be bothered with that kind of discussion and managed to brush him off until we arrived at the airport. Another time, while working at a gas station, an old man started a conversation with me about NASCAR in order to bring up Jeff Gordon which eventually lead to him handing me a pamphlet about born again christianity. Apparently Jeff Gordon's born again and as such god has blessed him with driving talents.. lol

1st September 2009, 04:12 PM	#9
ProbeX Graduate Poster Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,241	Wow. You were fairly polite, all things considered I'd have given him one solitary chance to shut up and move on. Then it'd have been time to take my cell phone out and threatened to call 911 if he kept harassing us.
ProbeX Graduate Poster Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,241	__________________ I promise to have faith. Just show me the evidence first.

1st September 2009, 04:41 PM	#10
Morrigan Crone of War Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 2,891	Originally Posted by Pure_Argent What you have here is not a "street preacher". It is a "street evangelist", a much rarer and more annoying breed. Ah, thanks. I wasn't sure if I had the right term.
Morrigan Crone of War Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 2,891

1st September 2009, 06:25 PM	#11
Monster Machine Thinker Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Canada, eh? Posts: 181	It's the smug arrogance that gets me. Ah, The Chosen - shining examples of their religion... and they wonder why we think it's bollocks... Monster
	__________________ O pitiful shadow lost in the darkness, bringing torment and pain to others. O damned soul wallowing in your sin. Perhaps, it is time to die? ~ Enma Ai

1st September 2009, 06:32 PM	#12
Ron_Tomkins Satan's Helper Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: NYC Posts: 15,120	Are you insane?? YOU LET THAT MAN GO AWAY FROM YOUR LIFE!??? Sista you don't know what you are DOING! You must be WISE!! Because the JUDGEMENT DAY WILL ARRIVE!! And when that day arrives, WHO will be taking attendance? THE LORD ALMIGHTY! PRAISE THE LORD! BROTHERS AND SISTERS, THE JUDGEMENT DAY IS WRITTEN! IT WAS CAST ON STONE BY THE WISE MAN! THE DAY WILL ARRIVE AND YOU MUST REPENT! PRAY THE LORD! HAAALLELUJAAAH! HAAALLELUJAAAAAHHH!!!
	__________________ "I am a collection of water, calcium and organic molecules called Carl Sagan" Carl Sagan

1st September 2009, 07:20 PM	#13
Pure_Argent Certified Castlevania Fanboy Join Date: May 2009 Location: The Clock Tower Boss Room Posts: 3,820	Originally Posted by Ron_Tomkins Are you insane?? YOU LET THAT MAN GO AWAY FROM YOUR LIFE!??? Sista you don't know what you are DOING! You must be WISE!! Because the JUDGEMENT DAY WILL ARRIVE!! And when that day arrives, WHO will be taking attendance? THE LORD ALMIGHTY! PRAISE THE LORD! BROTHERS AND SISTERS, THE JUDGEMENT DAY IS WRITTEN! IT WAS CAST ON STONE BY THE WISE MAN! THE DAY WILL ARRIVE AND YOU MUST REPENT! PRAY THE LORD! HAAALLELUJAAAH! HAAALLELUJAAAAAHHH!!! 'Twas writ in fire, not stone! Burn the heretic! BUUUURRRRNNNN!
	__________________ "What is a man? Just a miserable little pile of secrets!" - Dracula, Castlevania "The truth may be out there, but lies are inside your head." - Terry Pratchett, Hogfather

1st September 2009, 11:05 PM	#14
steve s Graduate Poster Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 1,513	Originally Posted by Bloodtoes Another time, while working at a gas station, an old man started a conversation with me about NASCAR in order to bring up Jeff Gordon which eventually lead to him handing me a pamphlet about born again christianity. Apparently Jeff Gordon's born again and as such god has blessed him with driving talents.. lol I hate non sequiturs like that. Does that mean if Gordon loses to a non-Christian driver, the belief system of the other driver must be superior to Christianity? I live in the suburbs so I don't encounter many street-corner preachers. I get the door-to-door variety, mainly Mormons and JWs. I don't have the patience to engage them the way many of you do. I usually open the door, and before they have the chance to say anything I say "No thanks, not interested." One time though, I opened the door and the guy said "Have you ever heard of Jesus Christ?" and I said "You must think I'm the biggest [Rule10]ing idiot that ever lived to ask that" and slammed the door in his face. I feel no obligation to be nice to these people. Steve S.
steve s Graduate Poster Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 1,513	__________________ "Nature abhors a moron." -- H. L. Mencken