Kogarian said:
I'm going to go ahead off and explain that I'm an atheist. I'm pretty liberal (compared to those around me). I try to be open and respectful to the ideas around me.
oh really?
I live in a really conservative and Christian-dominated area. As such, the vast majority of my friends are Christians and conservative.
I'm sure
And so are many of the idiots around me.
it's a good thing you told me you are open and respectful, because you sound like an asshole there.
The thing is, the people considered my closest friends are those who don't discuss religion much and aren't judgemental,
OK, close friends don't talk about religion...
while my more distant friends are religious but nice.
"distant friends" do. More of that open respectfulness I suppose.
Normally, I keep quiet when people discuss things. I don't talk about my 'views on the after-life' as I learned it pisses people off.
Good policy, why stir the waters, right.
Recently, though, I've starting becoming more vocal about things in school. Whenever someone brings up some religious aspect during a history, science, or english class, I some how find a way to piss them off just so they shut up about it.
oh wait, you weren't done. I suppose if you back paddle like that, you want to stir the waters.
(Ex. Someone was talking about how the true meaning of the Christmas tree is just a metaphor for Jesus, while I mentioned that I thought it was a pagan tradition.). Things that aren't untrue, but anger them nevertheless.
The thing being is the origins of the Christmas tree aside, why was it adopted as a common symbol within the religion. And I am sure you were as non-confrontational at the time.
Many of my more distant friends have noticed this. Being nice, they haven't said anything insulting to me. Instead, they've been trying to convert me.
The atheist mantra:
"I don't believe in God"
"I do"
"Why would you believe in God?"
"It's because ..., do you understand?"
"Do I understand?!? you're trying to convert me!"
I put up with this for the better part of the year.
I'm sure.
However, I can't stand it anymore.
says the open and understanding guy.
I tried to passively push them away,
passively? and since when do open respectful people push ideas and others away? Is this a new way of being open and understanding?
but they just come on stronger.
ever consider listening instead of pushing? It's human nature, if you're going to fight other people will fight back.
I told a few to just stop.
passive, open, and respectful. Good job
But it still continued. I finally snapped a few times in the past couple of months.
You? From the story you've told so far I can hardly believe.
Once I called one friend a 'slutface' in front of her group of friends
you're an asshole.
that have been trying to convert me for a while
Yeah... see above.
(that's my nickname for her, so she wasn't too mad).
you're a total asshole.
Most of the friends who witnessed it became very angry and started insulting me.
I wonder why.
One thirty-some-year-old I don't even know somehow found out and told me he'd teach me 'respect', but he relayed it through someone else.
so he didn't tell you he'd teach you some 'respect'? Dramatic.
I know verbally insulting someone just because they're frustrating you is childish at best, d**kish as worst.
Here is the first thing you've said that has some merit to it. You should internalize this concept much, much better.
But here's what I want to know. Am I soley to blame for this? Was I just being a prick? Because that's what some have told me.
They were right. By your own admission these aren't evil or vicious people trying to force anything on you, they are your friends. If talking about certain subjects causes discomfort and fights, you shouldn't discuss it. And it sounds more like this is an ongoing teenage "who's right" discussion than an active effort to convert. Bring up Top Model and all of a sudden no one is saying you should come to church.
Or is trying to convert someone for over a year after they even told you to stop make them at fault?
It is a part of a Jehovah Witness' faith to invite others into their church, for them it is a way of showing respect to God, the church, and their fellow man. As an open and respectful person would you be open to and respect that, or would you snap?
Or was it just one of those things that are bound to happen because someone has different views?
That is a bullshit cop out. Having different views doesn't mean you have to call someone "slut-face" and it is no excuse either. Thinking like that leads to ongoing hatred. Who's at fault for the disrespect in the world? It is kids like you, whether they are religious or not, it is the same behavior and the same attitude that drives it.
I have no doubt that more than one of these "friends" of yours are just as guilty of it, but learn a thing or two, instead of saying "your wrong" try saying "I've learned this" try explaining how different faiths and cultures respond to the same events. Jesus is seen as a prophet in Islam, Sikhism observes a lot of the same philosophies of Christianity, how do they express this? Knowledge is a powerful tool, and it is a way of expressing your beliefs without projecting judgment on anyone else. Show respect and awareness for the spiritual world and no one will judge you and your views.
And don't expect to read a book and it'll all start going your way. You've clearly burned more than one bridge and clearly have a lot of growing up to do. But I'm not an atheist, I know many atheists (and Jews and Buddhists and Muslims, even a legitimate practicing pagan) and I
never call them "slut-face"
Now seriously... How many of these threads need to get locked before people stop putting them up.
