Wherein Religion Makes Guitardude a Sad Panda (long)

[guitardude1987]

*DISCLAIMER*
While I myself am not part of any religion, I do not have anything against those who follow one. So, with that in mind, continue on.

I'm not a Christian. I don't pretend to be, and I won't be "seeing the light" anytime soon.

You don't like gays?

I'm standing at my register when an older couple walks up. I should note that my appearance does not usually illicit kind responses from older people (long hair, an earring, and a tattoo of a linked chain around my left wrist). I am also gay, but as that is not so apparent, I don't get too much flak about that. Anyway, back to the story. I'm checking them out when the older guy starts talking. He asks me why I wear my hair long (it's nicely trimmed and pulled back, what do you care?) and why I have defaced my body by piercing my ear and tattooing my wrist. I just give simple answers, a "yes, sir" here and a "no, sir" there. Then he starts asking me if I "know Jesus Christ".

Me: "I'm not sure if that's relevent to anything, sir."
Him: "Yeah it is, you don't want to burn in hell with the faggots and Hitler, do ya?"
Me: *getting a little irritated* "Well, sir, I don't really believe in hell, but if I did, I'm pretty sure you wouldn't get sent there just for being gay."
Him: "Yeah you do. Read the Bible. It'll tell you what's what."

I don't remember much past this. All I remember is him saying something to the effect of "all the gays want to do is poison us all with their AIDS". At this point I point out that I myself am a gay man and that I neither have AIDS or go around spreading it. He got very quiet at this point and handed me his money. After the transaction was complete he hands me a "You Must Know Christ" pamphlet and went on his merry way...

[HorrorFrogPrincess]

Tsk, those people need to stop worrying about the afterlife and get a regular one.

[aurelemsrealm]

Sorry you had to go through that. Gotta love the holy rollers

First of all, sounds like the old man is too judgmental to be a true Christian. I'm no Christian, and won't pretend to be. However, I do have quite a few friends who are as close as I can imagine anyone being to a true follower of Jesus Christ. I have a great deal of respect for them and their beliefs. No, they aren't at all judgmental about superficial appearances like that.

Despite not being a Christian, the simple fact is that the Bible was a book written by men. Yes, perhaps the original Jewish culture of that era did write a Bible they truly believed to be inspired by God. Yes, I know that, historically speaking, it was compiled later by the Council of Nicea, but that's another story. However, it has since been translated into multiple languages and rewritten several times over. The simple fact is that it has the imprints of all those people and their personal opinions also contained along with the text derived from the original work. That's not to say the wisdom and knowledge contained within the Bible is worthless or somehow unworthy of consideration. I'm just saying that it is yet another reference for relating to the world outside of ourselves. I may not identify myself as a Christian because I do not feel that I am Christ-like, but I still do read and try to understand it because to ignore it just seems narrowminded.

[Sliceanddice]

*is not arquing religion at all so please remember that*
i personally feel people who preach about the bible havent read it. or else they would realise it isnt a clear guid ebook but a set of storys that can lead you to conclusions for your beliefs.
that guy wous out of line and was horrid.
theres atime and place to speak about religion and in the supermarket is not it. i actually have gotten to the pont where i say either they stop or they wait for someone else to help them.

[malmalthekiller]

It makes me mad that you would have to serve someone like that.

In a perfect world, you could've walked away and made them go get help somewhere else.

But in reality, you probably would've been in trouble for it.

[Sliceanddice]

But in reality, you probably would've been in trouble for it.

true but i can cry really well and my boss likes me and he would actually probably yell at the customers, but i have a good job (for a boss) so i dont have to worry about it.

edit- also ive noticed its mostly the states crazys the pounch on me...
i wonder if the OP got state crazys

[bainsidhe]

Ah, I see. A comparison between gays and Hitler. Wow. Know your audience fella.

I don't like the prophets who leave literature. Scratch that, I don't mind the ones who leave literature, but I do if they want to talk about it. I agree, the supermarket is not the place to discuss your organization's pamphlet regarding religion/politics/etcetcetcetcetc. You wanna help feed starving babies and rescue widdle puppies and kittens, hey I'm all for that. But don't bring a political or religious agenda into it.

[smileyeagle1021]

you know... I'm all for a good religous discussion... even a debate... what the SC was doing was niether... he was just using his religion as an excuse to be a jackass...

oh, and I have a really cool boss when it comes to stuff like that. I have no doubt that if I had a guest go all hellfire and brimstone on me about how I'm going to go to hell (likely wouldn't happen since when I'm at work it is hard to tell which way I swing and no way to know what if any religion I practice) my manager would back me on it... and I think that has a lot to do with the fact that when he comes out to intervene they'll start in on him instead of me (he looks very middle eastern, and gets crap for obviously being an infidel)

[PhiSigGirl1988]

People like that are the reason I don't like associating with the word "Christian." I am a firm believer in Jesus as my Lord and Savior, but geez...I'm definitely not like that.

Sorry you had to put up with him. What a jerk

[Polenicus]

*Sigh*

Religion was such a wonderful idea until we let people get involved and cock it all up.

The one underlying theme of religion, the one major facet that pretty juch every religion I know of goes by, the one tenet that damn near everyone seems to miss, is that religion's purpose is to serve as a guide and path to better live your life, and improve yourself as a person. It's main function is NOT as a means to judge people OTHER than yourself.

I'm pretty sure most religions even STATE this pretty plainly.

[Gravekeeper]

1) We're dangerously close to Fratching territory if not already in it. He'll be an even sadder panda if the thread gets closed.

2) If you are carrying pamphlets around in your daily life for any reason ( religious or otherwise ) you are already a sucktard and must be stopped.

[JLRodgers]

I swear I hate it when anyone gives me a pamphlet for anything -- even if I agree on the cause. I've never really had a good experience with a person with a pamphlet, they always seem rude and "in-your-face" about the subject.... now I'm sure they're not all like that, but all I've seen have been that way.

[Ree]

Could see this one heading for the rails as soon as the title came up.

Seems we can't have any type of post here about SC's who spout things such as this customer did without having it turn into a free-for-all bashing of all things Christian and religious.

I will say it again, people, because, appraently, it is very well hidden and people can't seem to see it in the rules or guidelines of this site.

NO DEBATES OF ANY KIND, BUT ESPECIALLY OF CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS.
In case you were wondering, religion is a controversial topic.

Are we clear now?

Great.

This one is closed.