My favorite question to ask when someone is trying to save my soul?

I ask "Do you believe that prayer works" ? Their answer is always "Yes". Then I ask, "why aren't you praying now". If this is not appropriate , I will delete it right awasy. I get asked a lot, so I guess I project need.

:hi:

I have far, far greater respect for an omnipotent Great Spirit than to pray in any way whatsoever other than mere gratitude. For me, ALL true prayer is properly an expression of gratitude.

. . ."the ones who believe Christ is Santa Claus as a young man . . . oh yeah."



http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6900500320146403660&ei=4mrOSeL1E5K4qAPj_ZGeBA&q=seven+beauties+opening&emb=1

After all, I can't get in because I'm Jewish. My family will not be there. In fact I don't think anyone I know will be there. So I ask why would I want to go there? It will be boring, worst of all YOU will be there.

Then I ask again seriously, why aren't you praying now. It is answered with some sort of you are not in touch attitude. I have a whole one side of my family . wife's side that are Chaplains and evangelist and missionaries in China and saved people.

definition of magic is "The practice of using charms, spells, or rituals to attempt to produce supernatural effects or control events in nature" which includes "prayer".

I say, "No, I'm recycled."

It always stonkers them long enough to allow me a clean getaway.

(I'm a bad Buddhist, by the way)

he's Hindu:spray:

He is Hindu, I'm Christian but I do like Sufism, and my daughter is still a traveling soul. We get along because we respect and love each other. And that's the way it should be. God talks to us in the language we hear and can understand.

prayer this way:

"Dear Lord: We'd just ask you..."

Now they all copy that style of prayer. Oh, they'll put in something like "We give you all the praise," but then they get right down to asking for stuff. Near as I can tell, nobody's listening.

Then I quote Deuteronomy 23:2 at them
" A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the LORD. " (Deuteronomy 23:2)

Then I tell them that since my parents were not married when I was born I am a bastard by definition and therefore cannot be saved-says so right there in the Bible.
That usually leaves them standing there with their mouths gaping as I walk away.

put a stop to it, since that's the unforgivable sin, apparently.

holed up in in a church to pray for someone's soul. They are asking you to consider the fate of you soul and save it of your own accord. If that doesn't work, then I am sure they will add you to their prayers. I don't personally button hole folks. I try to set a good example of generosity and compassion, esp. to those in need. If the subject comes up-of course I am the first to tell anyone Christ's message.

Sometimes folks that are new to the faith can be overzealous-and that can turn off many a good person. I find that my faith gives my life a richer texture and deeper meaning and has made my life, in a way, much easier.....but maybe that is just me.

I don't worry as much as I use too. I still get mad sometimes-but I put it into a better perspective-and I don't get as mad as I use to. It changed my life in a good way. And what's wrong with trying to be a better person.

I am sure in their hearts they mean well for you.

end such conversations, they almost always say they'll pray for me. My stock response is, "Thanks. I'll think for you."

Take it for what it's worth.

and old and disadvantaged if I win. They know I am serious, too. I am a constant litany for supporting child, women and aged rights. As well as attacking any kind of discrimination.

Judging from the winners I see, deities have very little to do with the lotto.

"Thanks, I will think for you." Priceless.. May I use it?

he already belonged to a church. Then they would ask which one? "The Pedestrian Church", he would say in all seriousness. It was usually enough since they then believed he was already saved.

in one of his books (Texas?).

Along the lines of:
"I'm a Home Lutheran. We're very devout and don't discuss our religion. Thanks."

to Church everyday I wake up and see the clouds and birds flying.

"Nope. Got it right the first few times, thanks."


I know I should probably be more respectful but day-um, I have NEVER recruited anyone to paganism--why can't they just call it even and walk away?


:shrug:


Laura

so that's their belief. I don't mind that, as long as they stop doing that when I ask them to. The persistent ones get the scorn they deserve. On a personal level, I never try to convince anyone that their beliefs are incorrect. People will believe what they are able to believe and that's fine.

I'd rather they left me out of it, though. In fact, I'll insist on it.

Strange that DU got stuck.

"Who are you to say my soul is not saved already? Seems to me that this is something that is between me and God."

in a way that works for me and that's all they need to know.

the ones they tend to ignore like "Judge not, lest ye be judged" or the one about "removing the plank from your own eye". These people rarely actually listen to the teacher they proclaim to follow. Jesus encouraged people to pray in private and basically mind their own business. Service to God was to be displayed through acts of charity and kindness to those less fortunate, not through judgment.

by their belief that only Christians can understand the Bible correctly. They'll mumble something about "rightly dividing the scripture," then go on with their proselytizing.

Best to just walk off. If they follow you, turn and thumb your nose at them, or wiggle your fingers under your chin.

You will never beat them with scripture, since you are an unbeliever. You cannot possibly understand it, you see.

Everyone else is quoting scripture out of context possibly to serve the devil. I've actually had good luck with many extremists, by just saying simply that I have my own spiritual beliefs and they serve me well. I have even had some good discussions with some of them and they walk away wishing me well. When they offer me literature or invite me to a bible study, I just smile and say "no thanks".

I wonder because I've NEVER been asked questions like that. Maybe it's just me, and religious people who look at me decide I cannot be saved or something. I can truly say that my life is pretty much untouched by religion in the way that most of the posters I see here describe. I'm still waiting for that person DU'ers always describe as trying to convert them in the grocery checkout line, or at the carwash, or at work to ask me about my spirituality. I'm not sure what I'll say when and if it does happen, but I know I won't be looking for the rudest response and I won't be motivated to say anything insulting. That's just not me.

I guess I'm just lucky. Who knows?

I wonder, are most DU'ers ever approached by Jews or Muslims, or people of other faiths? It seems to always be Christians who cause DU'ers so much heartache. That's always seemed odd to me.

trying to use reason and logic with a wingnut.

http://www.northernsun.com/n/s/2218.html


If you're anything like me, you're way too busy for that gibberish.

And when they try to tell you they're doing God's work by spreading the gospel just repeat the answer in a different way and say, "But God is Everywhere and knows everything. Why would he possible feel he needs to rely on you?"

Or just get rude and say, "Shouldn't you be looking to your own sole first with your assumptions that you're better than others?"

seek it for themselves because they really want it. Salvation is a lifetime process, not an instant conversion.