calm down, maybe?

[alexr_rwx]

Just yelled at some Jehovah's Witnesses working the neighborhood. They came up to the door and I knew exactly what was going on, and I interrupted their spiel and asked them, "Can you surprise God?"

... they didn't understand what I was getting at, and eventually got on about how the earth is so perfect, that it definitely must have a loving creator to set up all this order. At which point I started yelling at them about people starving to death in Africa, and they got scared of me barking at them and left.

But Michael Corleone is right: "Never hate your enemies."

I shouldn't give them the pleasure of being berated. They probably get off on thinking that they've got this huge uphill spiritual battle, and relish feeling oppressed.

Also maybe I should be nicer to human beings :-(

Comments

[oniugnip.livejournal.com]

The appropriate social Aikido would have been to try to sell them on the FSM. Or perhaps the Buddha. Or a pyramid scheme.

Related!!
Ben Collins-Sussman on online communication and messing with people, in a constructive and loving way.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_6c4nxD8Tw

[wjl.livejournal.com]

You inspire me to promote Godfather part II's position in my to-watch list..

[oniugnip.livejournal.com]

Godfather Part II is amazing cinema, and you should watch it!!

Part III (where that line comes from) is not nearly as good of a movie, but perhaps worth watching for the completionism; it's got its moments. It's also got some stiff acting, difficult-to-follow storytelling, and confusing editing. Michael mellows and becomes much warmer as an older man; it's kind of like Flynn from Tron to Tron Legacy, except the Godfather movies are orders of magnitude better.

[agonistes]

The husband of one of my Denver besties has a degree in medieval Christian theology. The Mormons and JWs are not allowed to come back to their house, per orders of higher-ups. According to bestie, he smiles the whole time they're at the door.

[oniugnip.livejournal.com]

So rad.

In a story that I imagine is very similar, Dale McGowan (one of my personal heroes) has handled JWs very gracefully, while still bringing the theological pain:

http://parentingbeyondbelief.com/blog/?p=6285

[deepdistraction.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the link, Alex. What an interesting fellow.

[britta43.livejournal.com]

Sometimes people really suck. Also I love that question. And I think yes. But, then maybe no. I don't know is my go to answer lately.

[oniugnip.livejournal.com]

Hrm, who really sucks in this context? Me or the JWs? I think it was me: I should have been much more civil.

But then, if they can't stand up to some scruffy atheist kid yelling at them about predestination and theodicy, how are they going to save anybody?

You like the "surprise" question? What are some possible tacks for answering it?

[(Anonymous)]

Well, I cant imagine you yelling at people, but I am not surprised that you would challenge them with starving people in Africa. I confronted some Baptists (Lovingly, of course) today. One lady said "This is a glorious day that the Lord has made" I replied... I'm confused about something- did the Lord make Saturday when people just to our north died in the tornado? Was that glorious? Do you think that the people who lost their entire family are blessed with God's bounty? Well, she said... that is problematic. I didn't want to destroy her faith, But I just get so weighed down when I hear about our glorious blessings all the time. By the way, I am blessed with a fabulous family, but I also know that shet happens to good people all the time and we would be hard pressed to tell someone whose house has been destroyed that God has a glorious plan for them.

BTW, I loved the blog you shared about the man and the Bible verse about stoning the son. I really wish I could remember that stuff at the right time.

Alex, I love you

[oniugnip.livejournal.com]

<3 <3 <3

Mom, you're such a good human being.