"You're going to hell!"

[Tama]

Yeah...how many times has Dresden's silver pentacle saved his ass?

Defense indeed.

[slavetotheman]

Then, in May, less than a month from graduation, we were having one of our discussions on some subject (I forget what), and I realized the discussion wasn't going anywhere. I said something on the lines of, "Well, you have your opinion, and I have mine--" and then he says, "Yeah, but you're wrong." And he said it in a flat, matter-of-fact way that very clearly stated he wasn't joking around.

Right there, I lost a lot of respect for him, because it became clear he wasn't the tolerant, open-minded person I thought he was.

Why is that? Did you think that his side had some merit? If so, he was winning the argument

Sorry, this is just a pet peeve of mine. Tolerance and open-mindedness != agreement with the other person, acquiesence to their position, or disavowing one's convictions that the other person is wrong. Disagreement does not make one closed-minded. Insisting that one's own views be validated, and labeling those who don't give that validation as "not open-minded" is itself a closed-minded attitude, because in so doing one will by default reject association with individuals with contrasting viewpoints and be drawn more to "open-minded" people who, by inference on the basis of their validation, share similar viewpoints, in effect creating an insular environment for oneself where one is exposed to a minority of contrary positions.

Getting back to your story, could your classmate have dispensed with the "yeah, but you're wrong" and let it slide? Sure, it was at best discourteous if not outright snide, depending on the tone he used, both of which are ample reasons to lose respect for him. Then again, even if he'd given you a grin as he said it, that wouldn't have meant he was kidding when he said he thinks you're wrong; the reason it would've taken the bite out of the comment is because it would've been presented in a friendlier manner indicating he still respected you as a person despite your disagreement on the matter.

And that's what's at the heart of all these stories: it's not so much about the disagreements or the firmly held convictions, but rather how those differences were allowed, if not outright used and directed, by one party to define the relationship, be that over the long-term, like a developing friendship, or over the extreme short-term, like the few moments spent interacting at the register.

Still, I wonder, how many people out there have confessed their wicked ways and accepted Jesus Christ as their personal savior because a stranger at the checkout told them they're going to hell for wearing a pendant symbolizing another religion? Anyone? ... Bueller?

[Kogarashi]

Still, I wonder, how many people out there have confessed their wicked ways and accepted Jesus Christ as their personal savior because a stranger at the checkout told them they're going to hell for wearing a pendant symbolizing another religion? Anyone? ... Bueller?

I'm guessing about as many people see the evils of (insert religion here) or D&D because of a Jack Chick tract. Some methods work better than others. Telling someone at the checkout that they're going to Hell because of what they're wearing or because they don't believe the same things as you? Probably not going to work, any more than telling a sucky customer he's an idiot is going to get him to realize the error of his ways.

As for the situation in the OP, I'll add my voice to those who say you shouldn't have to defend yourself. About the time the woman told me to "watch out" because of a religious-affiliated piece of jewelry I was wearing, I would probably just say, "Thank you for your concern," and attempt to leave it at that. If I forgot, well, that could go with the insistance that I was Hell-bound. Nothing more need be said on the topic at the checkout lane.


Incidentally, for those who are curious, I went and did a little looking up on the Nauvoo Temple after Mytical's comments. The stars on the building are not intended to be pentagrams; rather, they stand for other religious concepts as well as simply representing, well, stars. The ones on the stained glass windows do look like pentagrams, but that appears to be a coincidence and was not intentional. So, star symbolism yes, pentagrams no.

[Jester]

I'd love to hear that story... pretty please?

Story time!!!

Perhaps some time in the future.

That was Brother Jed for us.

Holy friggin shit! I could swear that the intolerant fire-and-brimstone preacher from my earlier comments was Brother Jed! I don't know if it was the SAME Brother Jed, but I could swear that that was his name. And he was a semi-regular at our school, popping up every few months to preach to us how we were all evil and going to hell. And calling all the women who had the temerity to wear short skirts, shorts, or jeans "whores." Etc., etc.

He's the one that I was referring to when I mentioned the police intervention.

... Really? The 'traditional' manner of dress for their gender makes them whores? How out of it was that guy?

Probably believed that women should wear long dresses, rather than short skirts.

Precisely. Of course, in his mind, because they were not married, keeping house, and raising children for the men of this world, they were whores anyway.

No, I'm not making this shit up. As I said, these guys were very entertaining!

[Jay 2K Winger]

Yeah...how many times has Dresden's silver pentacle saved his ass?

Defense indeed.

Well... it didn't save him that one time.

[Canarr]

Perhaps some time in the future.

You're a cruel, cruel man... does bribery work on you?

[AdamaGeist]

Well... it didn't save him that one time.

Yeah, well, if anyone finds out how to make a 'Circle of Protection: Sniper Rifle' we'll do our best to get one to him. XP

[Jay 2K Winger]

Yeah, well, if anyone finds out how to make a 'Circle of Protection: Sniper Rifle' we'll do our best to get one to him. XP

*snerk* Wanna bet that's gonna become one of his next projects in the next few books?

[unperson]

I wear a pentagram, pentacle, whatever you want to call it.

With a circle around it (of any form, upside down or not) - Pentacle
Without a circle around it - Pentagram

I'm here to help

Also, that lady needs to shut her gob. :/

[Jester]

You're a cruel, cruel man... does bribery work on you?

It does, but bribery had nothing to do with my not telling the story.

Time did.

Of which I did not have enough to give the story justice.

So....soon. (No, I don't have that time now, either.)

[Ironclad Alibi]

With all of this talk about Hell, maybe some of our members who live near there could visit it and gives us a report. It is near Ann Arbor, Michigan. From the web site, it looks like a tourist trap of sorts. Probably a fun place to visit.

If you do visit Hell, you'll have a good retort for the SCs that tell you you're going there.

[dendawg]

With all of this talk about Hell, maybe some of our members who live near there could visit it and gives us a report. It is near Ann Arbor, Michigan. From the web site, it looks like a tourist trap of sorts. Probably a fun place to visit.

If you do visit Hell, you'll have a good retort for the SCs that tell you you're going there.

I've been there...not a bad way to kill a day. Just come with an open wallet.

[Tama]

I heard someone asked someone once what to call the city and the second someone said, "I don't care. Call it hell if you want!"

[Aethian]

With all of this talk about Hell, maybe some of our members who live near there could visit it and gives us a report. It is near Ann Arbor, Michigan. From the web site, it looks like a tourist trap of sorts. Probably a fun place to visit.

If you do visit Hell, you'll have a good retort for the SCs that tell you you're going there.

They have the best ice cream shop. And the cutest church...

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Oh, man, how funny would that be if it was called "The First Church of Hell" or something.