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Annoying proselytizing (and preaching)

Sgt. Pepper

All you need is love.
I'm speaking from the perspective of a former evangelical Christian who understands how the game of evangelism is played. Being a former Christian appears to have put a target on my back because whenever some Christians learn that I am no longer a Christian, they seem to resort to immediately threatening me with God's wrath and hellfire. I recently encountered a situation in which several Christians accused me of being a witch and tried to learn personal information about me in order to confront me (read here). Nothing occurred because these Christians were unable to find out any information about me that would have allowed them to confront me.

As a former evangelical Christian, I know that Christians feel compelled to spread the gospel and convert nonbelievers to Christianity, but now that I'm on the opposite side, I find evangelizing by Christians to be quite annoying. It also makes me feel ashamed because it reminds me that I was once overbearing with other non-Christians and even with Christians who didn't believe exactly as I did. I have even apologized to some of these people since I left Christianity. I know that there are several other former Christians on RF, so I was wondering if they've also been confronted by Christians about no longer being a Christian and how they handled it. If you are not an ex-Christian but you've been preached at and coerced by Christians to convert to Christianity, then how did you handle the situation?
 

Twilight Hue

Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
I'm speaking from the perspective of a former evangelical Christian who understands how the game of evangelism is played. Being a former Christian appears to have put a target on my back because whenever some Christians learn that I am no longer a Christian, they seem to resort to immediately threatening me with God's wrath and hellfire. I recently encountered a situation in which several Christians accused me of being a witch and tried to learn personal information about me in order to confront me (read here). Nothing occurred because these Christians were unable to find out any information about me that would have allowed them to confront me.

As a former evangelical Christian, I know that Christians feel compelled to spread the gospel and convert nonbelievers to Christianity, but now that I'm on the opposite side, I find evangelizing by Christians to be quite annoying. It also makes me feel ashamed because it reminds me that I was once overbearing with other non-Christians and even with Christians who didn't believe exactly as I did. I have even apologized to some of these people since I left Christianity. I know that there are several other former Christians on RF, so I was wondering if they've also been confronted by Christians about no longer being a Christian and how they handled it. If you are not an ex-Christian but you've been preached at and coerced by Christians to convert to Christianity, then how did you handle the situation?
Tell them what they claim. It's not a religion based off fear.

See ya later space cowboy!
 

Twilight Hue

Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
I thank them for there concern for my well-being and theirs and move on.

Becoming annoyed by them is a waste of my time, energy, and resources.
Yea. I'd tell them to get their act together first if they have any hope to ever impress anyone. Not that it would ever actually happen.

Abrahamics are just not any more unique or special compared to any other religion out there in the world.
 

Twilight Hue

Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
Perhaps, if you've never caught a unique Abrahamic.

Have you ever caught one? Do you know how?

I haven't seen any inkling of the salt of the earth or the light of the world. Its just not there.

Christians and Abrahamics are clearly a pretty confused segmentated bunch, same as anyone else in religion with nothing divine leading or guiding them at all whatsoever, save for themselves, pretending they are divinely led and in communication with a god.
 

Vinayaka

devotee
Premium Member
I'm speaking from the perspective of a former evangelical Christian who understands how the game of evangelism is played. Being a former Christian appears to have put a target on my back because whenever some Christians learn that I am no longer a Christian, they seem to resort to immediately threatening me with God's wrath and hellfire. I recently encountered a situation in which several Christians accused me of being a witch and tried to learn personal information about me in order to confront me (read here). Nothing occurred because these Christians were unable to find out any information about me that would have allowed them to confront me.

As a former evangelical Christian, I know that Christians feel compelled to spread the gospel and convert nonbelievers to Christianity, but now that I'm on the opposite side, I find evangelizing by Christians to be quite annoying. It also makes me feel ashamed because it reminds me that I was once overbearing with other non-Christians and even with Christians who didn't believe exactly as I did. I have even apologized to some of these people since I left Christianity. I know that there are several other former Christians on RF, so I was wondering if they've also been confronted by Christians about no longer being a Christian and how they handled it. If you are not an ex-Christian but you've been preached at and coerced by Christians to convert to Christianity, then how did you handle the situation?
I don't encounter it much at all, and now I'm wondering of its occurrence is less frequent in Canada than in the US.
 

Quintessence

Consults with Trees
Staff member
Premium Member
Coercion can happen in many areas of life. I did a divination related to this recently, and three runes came up in the casting.

First, arm yourself with knowledge. Learn about how easy it is to manipulate humans with tricks and traps. Once you know the game, you will be more able to spot a con being played against you.

Second, stand your ground. When you sense you are being squeezed, do not give way under pressure. Stick to your principles, be true to who you are, and do not forget yourself.

Third, be diplomatic and build bridges. Engage in good faith negotiations where possible, and don't loose your cool. Sometimes there are meeting points to be had and lessons that can be learned.
 

Aštra’el

Aštara, Blade of Aštoreth
**mod edit**

Proselytizing does not bother me. It is unfortunate that it is forbidden on this site. I would hear everything I could about every person’s and Order’s God(s), and about the way they experience them personally, and about what it is inside each of these people that resonates so much with their God(s) that they feel so inclined to reach out to me with such purpose- as if it is their calling- and attempt to bring me into their tribe. It is not annoying. It is fascinating. Exciting.

I can not be converted… but I welcome the conversation. I welcome the enthusiasm, the passion…. and I completely understand being called upon by one’s God(s) to fulfill a specific purpose, and to do everything in one’s power above and beyond to achieve that objective.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Father Heathen

Veteran Member
I do wonder if you were lying or exaggerating about being “witch hunted”, to further cast Christians in a negative light, or in some strange attempt to build camaraderie with people who resonate with the occult.
Your skepticism is baseless considering such behavior is the modus operandi of evangelicals and fundamentalists, especially in the south.
It's interesting how you're so protective and doting over a group who would never reciprocate it, and in fact would likely target and treat you like they did @Sgt. Pepper.
 

ChristineM

"Be strong", I whispered to my coffee.
Premium Member
I'm speaking from the perspective of a former evangelical Christian who understands how the game of evangelism is played. Being a former Christian appears to have put a target on my back because whenever some Christians learn that I am no longer a Christian, they seem to resort to immediately threatening me with God's wrath and hellfire. I recently encountered a situation in which several Christians accused me of being a witch and tried to learn personal information about me in order to confront me (read here). Nothing occurred because these Christians were unable to find out any information about me that would have allowed them to confront me.

As a former evangelical Christian, I know that Christians feel compelled to spread the gospel and convert nonbelievers to Christianity, but now that I'm on the opposite side, I find evangelizing by Christians to be quite annoying. It also makes me feel ashamed because it reminds me that I was once overbearing with other non-Christians and even with Christians who didn't believe exactly as I did. I have even apologized to some of these people since I left Christianity. I know that there are several other former Christians on RF, so I was wondering if they've also been confronted by Christians about no longer being a Christian and how they handled it. If you are not an ex-Christian but you've been preached at and coerced by Christians to convert to Christianity, then how did you handle the situation?

I'm an ex Christian of many years. I was not in what you would call an evangelical church but church of England. My church expected younger teen members of the congregation to read out a passage from the bible during Sunday service. I'm dyslexic, at that time undiagnosed so no remedial eyewear. I was unable to read and so was subjected to ridicule and humiliation. When i decided enough was enough, i.e. the vicar announcing from his pulpit to the congregation below that "Christine will not be reading today so the honour goes to John" i simply walked out never to return.

Soon after i was diagnosed as having a problem with the colour red, green eye glasses prescribed to filter out red and letters jumped into focus. I learned to read, the second book i read was the KJV. Initially to feed my starved spirit, but i soon saw it was total bull. The abuse i suffered, intolerance of difference was learned from the bible. The more i learned, the passages that were conveniently skipped or sanitised that I'd never heard began my path to atheiem.

Although I've been physically and mentally hurt several times in my life by Christians it wasnt due to evangelism but rather that there are Christians who are a hypocritical bunch of nasty ********. It took me many years to comprehend that it wasn't all Christians, in fact very few really but enough to leave a bad taste.

The only times ive been preached to, verbally abused and threatened with burning forever in hell. Sometimes spreading to my children and family has been on the internet. Which i find rathere amusing considering the culprits idea of hell comes from a 12 century comic poem and a 14th century painter.

My experience has taught me that respect and trust have to be earned.
 

ChristineM

"Be strong", I whispered to my coffee.
Premium Member
I'm speaking from the perspective of a former evangelical Christian who understands how the game of evangelism is played. Being a former Christian appears to have put a target on my back because whenever some Christians learn that I am no longer a Christian, they seem to resort to immediately threatening me with God's wrath and hellfire. I recently encountered a situation in which several Christians accused me of being a witch and tried to learn personal information about me in order to confront me (read here). Nothing occurred because these Christians were unable to find out any information about me that would have allowed them to confront me.

As a former evangelical Christian, I know that Christians feel compelled to spread the gospel and convert nonbelievers to Christianity, but now that I'm on the opposite side, I find evangelizing by Christians to be quite annoying. It also makes me feel ashamed because it reminds me that I was once overbearing with other non-Christians and even with Christians who didn't believe exactly as I did. I have even apologized to some of these people since I left Christianity. I know that there are several other former Christians on RF, so I was wondering if they've also been confronted by Christians about no longer being a Christian and how they handled it. If you are not an ex-Christian but you've been preached at and coerced by Christians to convert to Christianity, then how did you handle the situation?

In another story.

An acquaintance from another forum is a strega witch. Out shopping one day her amulet became visible. The checkout assistant asked what it was, she explained.

Several days later she was at work, the checkout assistant and a couple of friends broke into her home, armed, presumably to kill the witch.

Her dog did what dogs do to protect the home and was shot. Luckily she was not home or no doubt would have suffered the same fate.

When she returned home ehe rushed the dog to the vet who saved its life.

The culprits were caught, tried sentencd, and imprisoned. The ringleader commited suicide when he learned that he would not be released to spend Christmas with his family.
 

loverofhumanity

We are all the leaves of one tree
Premium Member
**mod edit**

Proselytizing does not bother me. It is unfortunate that it is forbidden on this site. I would hear everything I could about every person’s and Order’s God(s), and about the way they experience them personally, and about what it is inside each of these people that resonates so much with their God(s) that they feel so inclined to reach out to me with such purpose- as if it is their calling- and attempt to bring me into their tribe. It is not annoying. It is fascinating. Exciting.

I can not be converted… but I welcome the conversation. I welcome the enthusiasm, the passion…. and I completely understand being called upon by one’s God(s) to fulfill a specific purpose, and to do everything in one’s power above and beyond to achieve that objective.

Ask and you shall receive.
 

Sand Dancer

Crazy Cat Lady
I'm speaking from the perspective of a former evangelical Christian who understands how the game of evangelism is played. Being a former Christian appears to have put a target on my back because whenever some Christians learn that I am no longer a Christian, they seem to resort to immediately threatening me with God's wrath and hellfire. I recently encountered a situation in which several Christians accused me of being a witch and tried to learn personal information about me in order to confront me (read here). Nothing occurred because these Christians were unable to find out any information about me that would have allowed them to confront me.

As a former evangelical Christian, I know that Christians feel compelled to spread the gospel and convert nonbelievers to Christianity, but now that I'm on the opposite side, I find evangelizing by Christians to be quite annoying. It also makes me feel ashamed because it reminds me that I was once overbearing with other non-Christians and even with Christians who didn't believe exactly as I did. I have even apologized to some of these people since I left Christianity. I know that there are several other former Christians on RF, so I was wondering if they've also been confronted by Christians about no longer being a Christian and how they handled it. If you are not an ex-Christian but you've been preached at and coerced by Christians to convert to Christianity, then how did you handle the situation?
Most of my Christian friends don't know that I left. One friend who knows treats me the same, one keeps forgetting and another stopped associating with me. Most I haven't seen since I left church. No proselyzing, since I don't see most of them.
 

loverofhumanity

We are all the leaves of one tree
Premium Member
I welcome all people as they are all my fellow humans. I like to hear others preach to me and share their beliefs or non beliefs with me. I believe we can all learn something from each other religionist or atheist. I never consider myself more knowledgeable or ‘saved’ as I have many imperfections so no iron clad guarantee.

I believe in God but that the most beautiful creation of God is people. We have seen the worst of people but I believe we will see the best and that we will change this world through peoples goodness into a great place.
 

Sgt. Pepper

All you need is love.
Your skepticism is baseless considering such behavior is the modus operandi of evangelicals and fundamentalists, especially in the south.
It's interesting how you're so protective and doting over a group who would never reciprocate it, and in fact would likely target and treat you like they did @Sgt. Pepper.

It's not like the Christians who targeted me were the first to target Wiccans before my experience with them. It is well known that Christians have a long history of targeting and persecuting pagans, including Wiccans. The article below provides recent examples of Christians harassing Wiccans and other pagans. As far as I'm concerned, Christians don't need help being cast in a negative light.

Pagan and witchcraft festivals confront growing Christian harassment
 

Wandering Monk

Well-Known Member
In another story.

An acquaintance from another forum is a strega witch. Out shopping one day her amulet became visible. The checkout assistant asked what it was, she explained.

Several days later she was at work, the checkout assistant and a couple of friends broke into her home, armed, presumably to kill the witch.

Her dog did what dogs do to protect the home and was shot. Luckily she was not home or no doubt would have suffered the same fate.

When she returned home ehe rushed the dog to the vet who saved its life.

The culprits were caught, tried sentencd, and imprisoned. The ringleader commited suicide when he learned that he would not be released to spend Christmas with his family.

Yeah, so I'm going to need a source for this story. It should have made the papers.
 
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