Well, I see another bunch of weeks have passed since I last posted. So here is a post for what is on my mind this a.m.: religious people who go door to door.
As I have blogged about many times, I am Catholic, but I don't have a strong faith (even though for several years I attended daily mass). I doubt things. I question things. I disagree with some things. Someday soon I am going to post about the diocesan campaign to get money out of people. To give you a preview now: I have a pledge card that gives me choices ranging from $40 a month for five years to $400 a month for five years.
But I digress, as usual.
I believe in letting people worship or not, as they see fit, as long as they are not hurting others. I know some people proudly display and talk or write about their faith. That is not me. Honestly, I sometimes feel uncomfortable when people do that on Facebook. And, as I have said before, I sometimes get annoyed when someone or some news entity posts about something tragic, and then 30 comments pop up offering prayers. In fact, I don't even like to say, "I'm praying for you" when a friend posts up something that many would deem prayer-worthy (even if I have or intend to pray for that person). I can't necessarily explain why, though I am guessing that at least part of the reason is because my faith in general (not just Catholic-specific) is shaky, and the other part is that I practically recoil when I see or read about people trumpeting their prayers/faith and then they turn around and post something negative.
But back to the subject at hand. As we have seen probably three to six times a year, this morning the half-dozen well-dressed religious people are going door to door. First, I am against pushing religion on others, and that seems to me to be exactly what these people are doing. Second, I don't get what they hope to accomplish by coming back to the same neighborhood several times a year. I guess I get that they may have dropped off some stuff and now they just want to follow up. But beyond that, what is the point? Perhaps that strategy has worked in the past, and they think since it worked for one person, let's keep at it. I mean I guess it must have worked on a few occasions, because why else would you keep coming back?
The people are nice. They aren't scary (to me, anyway). Years ago, I talked to someone, even took her pamphlets. I explained that I was Catholic and had no intention of going to another religion, but, sure, I would check out what she gave me. I think she might have even come back, but I don't remember if I let her in.
It was probably at that point that the hubby made and put up this sign.
I can tell you, no one has been trying to turn me into something else since that sign went up three years ago. So there is that. :-)
At the very least, I suppose these people are not hurting anyone, just annoying many, I suspect. So there is that too. Still, I have to think in this crazy world we live in, that someday in the not-too-distant future, these door-to-door "conversions" will end or be so rare.
Until then, I guess I should be glad that my family does not have to worry about any religious people harassing us.
Good luck to the rest of you!
As I have blogged about many times, I am Catholic, but I don't have a strong faith (even though for several years I attended daily mass). I doubt things. I question things. I disagree with some things. Someday soon I am going to post about the diocesan campaign to get money out of people. To give you a preview now: I have a pledge card that gives me choices ranging from $40 a month for five years to $400 a month for five years.
But I digress, as usual.
I believe in letting people worship or not, as they see fit, as long as they are not hurting others. I know some people proudly display and talk or write about their faith. That is not me. Honestly, I sometimes feel uncomfortable when people do that on Facebook. And, as I have said before, I sometimes get annoyed when someone or some news entity posts about something tragic, and then 30 comments pop up offering prayers. In fact, I don't even like to say, "I'm praying for you" when a friend posts up something that many would deem prayer-worthy (even if I have or intend to pray for that person). I can't necessarily explain why, though I am guessing that at least part of the reason is because my faith in general (not just Catholic-specific) is shaky, and the other part is that I practically recoil when I see or read about people trumpeting their prayers/faith and then they turn around and post something negative.
But back to the subject at hand. As we have seen probably three to six times a year, this morning the half-dozen well-dressed religious people are going door to door. First, I am against pushing religion on others, and that seems to me to be exactly what these people are doing. Second, I don't get what they hope to accomplish by coming back to the same neighborhood several times a year. I guess I get that they may have dropped off some stuff and now they just want to follow up. But beyond that, what is the point? Perhaps that strategy has worked in the past, and they think since it worked for one person, let's keep at it. I mean I guess it must have worked on a few occasions, because why else would you keep coming back?
The people are nice. They aren't scary (to me, anyway). Years ago, I talked to someone, even took her pamphlets. I explained that I was Catholic and had no intention of going to another religion, but, sure, I would check out what she gave me. I think she might have even come back, but I don't remember if I let her in.
It was probably at that point that the hubby made and put up this sign.
I can tell you, no one has been trying to turn me into something else since that sign went up three years ago. So there is that. :-)
At the very least, I suppose these people are not hurting anyone, just annoying many, I suspect. So there is that too. Still, I have to think in this crazy world we live in, that someday in the not-too-distant future, these door-to-door "conversions" will end or be so rare.
Until then, I guess I should be glad that my family does not have to worry about any religious people harassing us.
Good luck to the rest of you!
Comments
I've gotten those people occasionally; I tell them, "Boy, are YOU ever barking up the wrong tree here..."
Mostly, I just don't answer the door.
On another note, my boss loves to tell the story about how he put on a dress and opened the door to some people one time and it freaked them out so bad that they never came back.
Jessica: I had not considered that. Just shows my ignorance about so many other religions. But that is also funny about the dress. Our pit bull-shar pei mix never seemed to deter anyone.