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Flame » in reply to Can't say that I know....

*I* do.
Mary Anne — (archived)

I followed a car this morning, as I do at least a dozen times every day, whose bumper exhorted me to do some religious thing or other. In this case, it was "Pray For Our Troops". I can wish the troops well. I can support our troops. I don't pray. I resent being told to pray for them, even on a bumper sticker, but I let it pass. I have to. Otherwise I would have rear-ended the car in front of me. A thousand pinpricks can add up to serious anger, if I let it. I understand exactly where Art's coming from.

Yesterday, I went to the club where I work out. They had the Jesus music on again. They have a lot of different music. They never played the Jesus music when they were making their sales pitch to me. When I complained the first time, I was told that the owners are Christians, and that "surely you knew that." I replied that the word "Christian" doesn't appear anywhere in the business literature, nor is a cross displayed. If it had, I would have known that their personal beliefs were being promoted by their business. They didn't care. Their hours are compatible with my schedule, and they're convenient to me, so I haven't quit. When the Jesus music is on these days, sometimes I leave. It depends on how I feel that day. (It was seriously irritating to hear the Jesus music throughout the month of December, including the entire week of Hanukkah, not because I'm Jewish, but because these are the same people who claim to be persecuted for their Christian faith. Guess we don't care if we have Jewish, or any other non-Christian, members. I don't go in December anymore.) This time, I stayed, and put a dollar in my jar at home for Americans United for the Separation of Church and State. One month I gave them $15.00.

That's usually how I deal with these things. I have a neighbor who would be horrified to know I joined NARAL because of his anti-abortion letters to the editor. I couldn't fight with him in the paper because our children are friends, and it would have interfered with their friendship. So I support a national organization that will oppose everything he stands for.

I have a short list of churches whose services I won't attend, no matter what. Weddings, funerals, it doesn't matter. They prostletize at these events, not just ritual invocations of the next world, and it makes me angry, especially at the funerals. Funerals are for the living to remember the deceased person, and as long as I'm one of the living, those officiating should have some respect for all the living, including me. For the families of those whose funerals will be at these churches, I go to the viewing or send a nice card. Life is too short to expose myself deliberately to stuff like that.

For every action, an equal and opposite reaction. I can smile and walk away.

They can't tell me how to be without my consent. They can't make me feel bad. Only I can do that, and if I let them control me, they've already won. Jesus was actually correct: the kingdom of God is at hand. It's right here, ready to be grasped. Those who keep telling others about Hell are missing it.

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