When Opinion Clashing Goes To Far
@jeweledbluerose (3061)
United States
May 19, 2007 12:13pm CST
I have always been one, that listens to every opinion with an open mind, whether I agree with it or not. Cause let's face it after all opinions are just that, opinions (thoughts expressed).
Well let me tell you about something that has me a bit ticked off at the moment. I have a friend who is Wiccan/Pagan (whatever you wish to call it), who would always invite Christian missionaries into her home. Even though her beliefs are firmly set, she keeps her mind open to other religions, and enjoys learning about them. No harm in that right?
Well yesterday I get a call from her, she was so upset that I could barely understand what she was saying, so after I get her calmed down. She explains to me that she and a couple missionaries she had over, got into a heated debate about religion. After words were exchanged, they threatened to call child protective services on her, because they felt she was willingly putting her children in danger because of her beliefs.
In which they made good with their threat, and several hours after the missionaries left, she got a call from CPS asking her several questions. Even going as far as asking if the claims that were being made were true, that she was planning to sacrifice (kill) her own children. What the!?! I know my friend and she loves her children more than anything in this world, and would never do anything to put them in harms way.
Now mind you, I know that sometimes discussions can get really heated, and I wasn't there to hear what all was said and see what was going on, but for someone to do this, just because of what someone believes in or for just expressing an opinion to the fact, just makes me rather furious. Opinions nor beliefs are not, and I repeat ARE NOT, any reason to go about breaking up a family over.
I, on the other hand, am at a loss for words. I really don't know what to say to my friend to make her feel better. All I can really do is be there and stand by her as she goes through this. Which she shouldn't have to be going through in the first place.
I am not sure after this mess is through if she will be forever closing her door to future missionaries that may come to visit. I'd understand if she did, but in my opinion we all need to be tolerant of each other's beliefs and religions, and really shouldn't let one mishap close our minds forever.
What would you do if you were facing a similar situation? What would you do if you were the friend of someone going through a similar situation?
2 people like this
6 responses
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
23 May 07
This is a tough call. On the one hand the missionaries need to respect your friend's right to her spiritual beliefs, and her right to raise her kids with those beliefs if she chooses.
On the other hand, if any of us truly believed that a woman was going to sacrifice her kids, we wouldn't care what her beliefs were, we would feel obligated to act.
It is sad that the missionaries couldn't learn a few things about Wicca/Pagan from her during their visits.
(((Btw, if this couple of missionaries were from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons), your friend should call the Mission President's Office to discuss this. While there LDS missionaries who might mistreat people with other beliefs, it goes against church policy and doctrine to do so))))
1 person likes this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
28 Jun 07
I'm glad the Pastor was willing to at least try to help out.
Thanks for the "best response"
1 person likes this
@jeweledbluerose (3061)
• United States
26 May 07
Thanks for the advice, but they were of the Baptist faith. I'm not sure what all procedures they follow for this sort of thing, but I do know that the Pastor was very helpful in getting this matter resolved. Not sure what all he did, but I do know that my friend is no longer under investigation by CPS. She's happy about that, but still upset that they were so intolerant of her and her beliefs. Her first experience with those sort of people.
And I am proud of her, even though those two aren't allowed in her house again, she is still willing to have other missionaries over and continuing her "talks" as she calls them.
Even though it wasn't my kids that were threatened to be taken away from me, I was just as scared as my friend was. Cause no matter what the disagreement is, one should never try to break up a family over it. And it had me wondering, when and if this would happen to me. I hope not, but well this case sort of proves that some people will go overboard just to prove their beliefs and/or opinions.
@jeweledbluerose (3061)
• United States
28 Jun 07
You're welcome! I am to, I don't know, nor do I want to think of what may have happened if he didn't help. It's a situation I hope never occurs again.
@lloydanthony111 (4698)
• United States
21 May 07
Those people owe your friend a huge apology. She should never invite them back into her home again.
That was a terrible thing that they did. How would they have felt if your friend's children were actually taken away from her?
I hope your friend is feeling better.
Lloyd
@lloydanthony111 (4698)
• United States
23 May 07
It just goes to show the intorrelance of the religous right in this country.
We need to respect each other's thoughts and ideas.
Lloyd
1 person likes this
@jeweledbluerose (3061)
• United States
21 May 07
I'm thinking at this point that they wouldn't care, and don't think that they will ever apologize to my friend for the heartache they have caused. Unless they are forced to apologize, but again I don't see that happening either.
As far as I know these two are not allowed in my friend's house, nor the homes of her friends. I know I certainly don't want them in mine after the turmoil they brought into my friend's life.
She's still upset over this ordeal, but after it's all over I'm sure we all will be breathing a sigh of relief.
1 person likes this
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
19 May 07
I would find out what denomination of religion they were from and I would immediately report them to their superior. I would also inform them unless corrective action was taken to retract their statement to CPS and an apology to your friend was not immediately done they would be sued for deformation of character.
1 person likes this
@jeweledbluerose (3061)
• United States
20 May 07
Well apparently this is not the first time it has happened. My friend contacted the church and talked with the pastor and according to him there was another incident reported that was the same in nature. She did threaten a lawsuit, the pastor said though that he would take care of the situation. But at this point neither my friend nor I are to sure about it, if this has happened before.
@SKLC_PT (1234)
•
21 May 07
Thats really f*** up. Those people were real spiteful and harsh, no matter how much they didn't like her, even if they hated her for the worst of reasons, there would be no reasons to do such a thing. I really don't know what I would do in your place, and I don't know if there's much you can do, but maybe me a witness on her behalf on how she is a good mother. She should find a list of people that can be witnesses on her behalf to how she is a good mother, it should help hopefully. I hope all goes well with her!
@jeweledbluerose (3061)
• United States
21 May 07
I've already been one of many that Child Protective Services is gonna be talking to. I couldn't stress enough to them that my friend is a good mother and would never do anything to harm her children. I was friends with her even before she got married, and started her own family, and it's all she would ever really talked about, how it would be a dream come true to be married to the right guy, and have two children.
I can only hope this is all over soon, cause it's really hurting my friend, she's a mess, which is understandable, I am mess myself and it's not my kids that have been threatened to be taken away from me. I can only hope at this point that those two are stopped before they can do this crap to another family.
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
19 May 07
Wow.. people sure can get radical!
I do agree with your view that we should try to be tolerant of one another. That's what I practise too.
Hope your friend manages to patch up with her "friends"...
@jeweledbluerose (3061)
• United States
19 May 07
It has left me shocked to say the least. I mean I knew people can sometimes go to extreme levels when opinions and beliefs clash, but to break up a family over it, has really left me speechless. Hearing about it, is one thing, but actually being witness to it is another thing. And at this point words can't even begin to touch the surface at expressing the anger I am feeling towards this matter presently.
It's because of people like that, that intolerance continues to spread like a plague across this world. It really needs to stop. Plus to me that was a bit childish, just because someone didn't agree with them, they had to run off and tell big daddy and lie! It's really infuriating
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
19 May 07
The extent shocks me, yes... but for someone who is so fanatic about her religion, it is definitely understandable. You make the switch from mere religion to that of life and truth.
1 person likes this
@jillhill (37353)
• United States
19 May 07
Very tough call. I also have a friend that is a pagan/or believes in the ancient mystics. I am a christian and we don't clash at all but I do know that there are others that are appauled by her belief. Stand next to her and be her friend is all I can say and she has the right to her own religion. I wonder though, why it was she invites other to her house. If I wanted to know more about other religions I would visit their church. Good Luck to both of you.
@jeweledbluerose (3061)
• United States
19 May 07
She has no car, and the closet church to her is 10 miles away. She really lives out in the middle of no where. Plus she enjoys (or did enjoy) having these one on one conversations with those that would take the time to come out to her house. She liked getting personal views from people about religion, most of the conversations were civil, even when the others didn't particularly like what it was she talked about.
Apparently though this last one got really heated, and when she told them to leave and that she wasn't going to convert to their religion that is when they threatened her with CPS.
I guess I am trying rationalize it in some manner, but I can't come to any sort of conclusion why they thought it necessary just because a clash of wits went on that she was being a danger to her children.
But like with all of my friends, I am gonna be there for her through this whole thing. I just really hope her children don't get taken away, cause well I don't know what I will really think, but I know it won't be very good thoughts towards those two missionaries.
@jeweledbluerose (3061)
• United States
19 May 07
I too hope that this one experience doesn't close her mind, but I know the threat of having her children taken away has really done it's number on her. It's angered a lot that are close to her, and I know at this point it's not bringing good thoughts towards the church these two come from.
