How do you deal with people who think there is something wrong with you because you are a believer?

[hrmjustin]

For me I just say we all have our beliefs and my beliefs don't harm you.

[pscot]

1. Probably the same way you handle

people who think there's something wrong with you because you are not a believer. You're just getting a taste of what some of us have had to deal with all our lives. And you're still in the majority. On the positive side, no one's telling you you're evil and will burn in hell for all eternity.

[hrmjustin]

2. I am gay so yes I do have them saying I am going to hell.

Also some evangelicals don't consider Episcopalians to be true Christians.

[pscot]

4. Nothing like additional information

to make one feel foolish. As long as you aren't tormenting those around you or launching drone attacks on strangers, how you choose to live your life is nobody's business but your own. I've always believed a soft answer turneth away wrath. But if it doesn't, try wrath. As Al Capone once said, a kind word and a gun will often succeed where a kind word alone gets you nowhere. By the way, I've always had my doubts about Episcopalians.

[hrmjustin]

5. They don't call us whiskypalians for nothing.

[pscot]

6. Malt does more than Milton can

to justify God's ways to man.

[hrmjustin]

7. LOl I like that!

[wryter2000]

8. You're wise to wonder about Episcopalians

We're a shifty bunch.

[okasha]

3. It doesn't happen at all in real life.

I don't share my religious beliefs with the general public; pagans don't proseletize.

On DU, I generally just don't respond to their posts. The haters will hate regardless of anything beyond their own prejudices, but that's no skin off my karma.

[wryter2000]

9. I'm pretty much the same as you

Aside from jokes at our own expense, Episcopalians keep pretty quiet about our faith. We take seriously Jesus' admonition to pray in our rooms rather than on the street corner.

I don't get any grief in my real life. On DU, I used to try to explain that my religion doesn't hurt anyone else. Most of the non-believers here are perfectly nice people. The evangelical atheists - the ones who can't stand for anyone to believe in a deity - aren't worth trying to convince. I just avoid them and their posts.

[hrmjustin]

10. I agree we are quiet about our faith. You never see Episcopalians go door to door.

You will see us at the liquor store though.

[wryter2000]

11. Wherever you find four Episcopalians...

...you'll find a fifth.

[okasha]

12. Remember Bishop John Walker of Washington?

Conservatives called him Johnny Walker Red when referring to his liberalism and Johnny Walker Black when referring to his race.

[wryter2000]

14. I never heard of him

He sounds cool.

[hrmjustin]

15. I remember him! He was like Paul Moore of NY.

Or Spong of Newark.

[okasha]

23. Very much out of the same mold.

n/t

[kentauros]

22. L O L !

I grew up Episcopalian, but I don't think I ever heard about the drinking (or the jokes.) It did seem to be a highly socialized church, though, and that was always fun.

All of this continues to remind me of Eddie Izzard's take on the Church of England, which always seemed similar to the Episcopal experience:

"Cake or death?"

[cbayer]

16. Hello you!!!

How have you been? Are you writing? Getting published? Have an agent you are getting along with?

I sure miss working with you, dear wryter2000.

[wryter2000]

18. Hi!

Great to see you.

I'm still with my agent. She has one partial manuscript out, and I have another one I'll be sending her soon. I had one story out a few months ago. I'm getting ready to self-publish something soon. It's always an uphill slog.

I miss our days in the hot tub together.

[cbayer]

19. Glad to here that you are at least moving forward.

I have very mixed feelings about the hot tub. While I miss the camaraderie and team work, I really don't miss the judgement and attacks.

Wonderful to see you.

[hrmjustin]

20. Hot tub?

[cbayer]

21. Yep, and a drinks cabinet.

The admins kind of let things go towards the end, but it was great while it lasted.

[cbayer]

13. Wouldn't that depend on whether you felt they could be educated or not?

If someone is receptive, I would expect the believer (or non-believer for that matter) to take the time to explain how they see things and how they reached the place they are.

If not receptive, I would categorically ignore them.

Much the same for other issues, like sexuality or political party.

[Tumbulu]

17. I just had a great old friend come by

and she thinks this way.

So, I told her that humans everywhere all came up with gods, goddesses, God, Allah, fairies, supernatural beings, earth spirits, you name it. We need to populate our minds and hearts with imaginative works that help us feel connected with each other and with our world and the mysteries. I told her that I thought it was really arrogant to be on this "you are so stupid for believing in mythical beings" rant and that I view the capacity to imagine and create spiritual figures as critical to our human survival and health.

She gave me the usual " if there were no religions there would be no war or strife" fantasy, to which I responded that humans make up the religions and they make up the reasons to fight.

IMO it is all about developing and nurturing this crucial capacity to imagine what cannot be seen and how important imagination is to us as a species.

Anyway, at the end I think that I got her to think about how arrogant she sounded and I hope that it opened her mind a bit to the fact that many of us- ME for instance - need, love and want there to be all these positive and loving forces within plants, animals, the wind, the soil, and in my heart and within those around me.

[rug]

24. I scrutinize their basis for saying so.

It usually doesn't pass scrutiny.

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

25. I have had people tell me that since I am a practicing Catholic, I condone pedophilia

That sort of thing is really unanswerable.

[hrmjustin]

26. I am sorry you have had to hear that.

[Tumbulu]

27. so sorry, the attitude

of the people who are against all religions or any particular religion is usually quite rude and inflexible. I think it is a very hard way to be and is reflective of the limitations of the materialistic point of view of the industrialized culture we (try to) operate within.