Me & the Baptist Preacher
By zigzagbuddha
@zigzagbuddha (4601)
United States
November 19, 2007 9:11pm CST
Tomorrow night there is a Baptist preacher coming to my house to try to convert me to Christianity, well, he said "discuss Christianity" but I know what he meant. I said he could come because I like him and he gave me some wood, and so he cold at least say he tried. And while I'm not saying 'it'll never happen' I am saying "fat chance."
Christianity has been one of the key players in the 'drama' of my disconnection from 'the God factor'... isn't that ironic I say with a sardonic smile.
I have a history with Christianity, and it's not a pleasant one. As to the man Jesus, I knew him. I bore him in the flesh. I bathed him with my tears. It cost me my life to speak of his coming. And I'm not the only one.
I have killed for him, died for him... welcomed him home. Nor again am I the only one. I have burned at the stake in his shadow, at the hands of those who would make of him a 'religion', a dogma... a mere discussion. I don't think I'm the only one there either.
And, sorry, all you Christians (Muslims too), but you don't have a monopoly on God. Actually I'm not sorry; I'm down right glad. What you call God, I prefer to call Source Energy - and it is freely available to all... no matter what race, creed, or color, whether animal, vegetable, mineral.
You don't have to burn the right incense, read the right books. You don't have to kneel at any altar. All it takes is the asking, and you don't even have to know the right words - in fact, words can be a hindrance, toss them aside!
Anyway, now I'm a little sorry I said he could come. Oh well, I'll offer him a cup of tea (no, I'm bot gonna spike it with LSD... but I'd like to). We'll attempt some enlightened conversation. Maybe I'll even drive him to distraction, but it's not likely to come to blows, and then before I know it he'll be gone and I'll be enjoying the evening in my own company... free to think my own thoughts and to create my own reality.
6 people like this
13 responses
@positiveminded1977 (7072)
• India
4 Jul 08
LOL, I really enjoyed this post and also the thread. You have written it beautifully, almost poetically. Has the pastor survived the visit?
Cheers and happy mylotting
1 person likes this
@positiveminded1977 (7072)
• India
5 Jul 08
Thanks for all those comments and responses to my discussions. :) Are you half-Indian? Or somehow related to India? I spotted your post on Calcutta, but sorry, I did not read it yet because I have a really slow dial up connection.
I find you so interesting that I added you as a friend.
Hope the wood problem is solved by now. One good thing about India is that you don't need any heat... it is naturally hot. Right now, it is supposed to be the monsoons, but the sun is shining brightly, and I am worried about my seedlings. The poor darlings have just been born... hope it pours soon. :)
Cheers and happy mylotting 
1 person likes this
@zigzagbuddha (4601)
• United States
5 Jul 08
The only Indian I have in me is American Indian, hehehehe... Cherokee. But I have a tremendous respect and affinity for India. On a superficial level one of my favorite movies is an Indian movie - called 'Monsoon' in fact! And Russill Paul is one of my favorite musicians. I love Yoga... it makes me laugh sometimes how yoga seems more popular here in America than even in India, it's own country of origin! I also love the lightweight beautiful clothing that is imported from your country here to America... although the sizes are always so narrow! I sure wish you could do something about that! 
I was delighted to see your friends request! I loved you instantly when I read your response to my story here, and when I read some of the discussions you have started and replied to I loved you even more! I have recently cleared out my friends list and am now a little slower and more deliberate in sending a friend request, but it is certain that I would have before long!
My wood 'problem' is not a problem right now because it is summer here, but I hope that it is solved by the time winter rolls back around, I'm thinking of solving it by moving to a warmer climate! And I expect your seedlings will grow strong and healthy, after all that is what they are designed to do!
I was delighted to see your friends request! I loved you instantly when I read your response to my story here, and when I read some of the discussions you have started and replied to I loved you even more! I have recently cleared out my friends list and am now a little slower and more deliberate in sending a friend request, but it is certain that I would have before long!
My wood 'problem' is not a problem right now because it is summer here, but I hope that it is solved by the time winter rolls back around, I'm thinking of solving it by moving to a warmer climate! And I expect your seedlings will grow strong and healthy, after all that is what they are designed to do!@zigzagbuddha (4601)
• United States
5 Jul 08
Thank you positiveminded! I am pleased that you enjoyed your visit, hehehe.
The pastor brought me one more load of wood when I had used up all the first load, but then he told me that he had to save the rest for his own parishioners, which I don't hold against him, and very much appreciate what he did give me. That was the last time I saw him. I really need to solve this winter heating problem!
1 person likes this
@lancingboy (1385)
• United States
28 Feb 08
Wow, that dream in your post above seemed scary. That does make sense though if Christians ended up being trapped in a terrible place, and not know they were free to go when they wanted. I would've reflected on my beliefs too if I had that dream. I have had dreams of ancient deities though, and those are always exciting!
I know about having church members come to your house to try and convert you. I've been there before. My grandma sent them over lol.
1 person likes this
@lancingboy (1385)
• United States
29 Feb 08
So was the indian woman your grandmother then?
The deities I have seen in my dreams so far have been Isis, Hel, Anubis (I think) and that's all so far. Anubis and Hel were both in the same dream.
Yeah, my avatar is a character from Final Fantasy 8 named Seifer Almasy. The dog was in the beginning of the game annoying Seifer lol.
1 person likes this
@zigzagbuddha (4601)
• United States
14 Mar 08
I wondered why you hadn't replied to my comment here! Every time I came to my profile page I saw that mine was the last comment, and now here this is saying it is 3 weeks old!!!! WTF!
I'm pretty sure it was my great-grandmother who was coming to 'escort' my grandmother home. In that same dream I had been left a 'treasure' by my great-grandmother... it was the bolt of material she had been planning on making her wedding dress out of. Hmmmm.
I'm curious about the dreams you had and the context of your life at the time you had them if you can remember. I want to write a book about dreams one day.
@zigzagbuddha (4601)
• United States
28 Feb 08
PS: I can't help but love you with that very darling avatar! Do you have a puppy to sit at your feet like that? That is one of the cutest avatars I have ever seen!
@whywiki (6066)
• Canada
23 Jun 08
A free thinker? It would take a lot of wood for me to let him come over! I am just a stubborn Atheist and I am afraid I would end up thinking less of him. I am best not in conversations with people that have deep beliefs for long periods of time.
@zigzagbuddha (4601)
• United States
23 Jun 08
Hehehehe, it was a lot of wood! And I monopolized the conversation outrageously, since I have no tolerance for idiotic beliefs, and didn't give him a chance to irritate me with his.
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
1 Dec 07
Wow, that was two weeks ago--how did it go? Did he come on to you? Did you come on to him? Was he boring? If you put him in the coldest corner of the room and behaved yourself maybe he will bring you more wood...if it was worth it. Tell all!
1 person likes this
@SusanShayAvon (1003)
• United States
14 Mar 08
Yeah I feel you here. Christianity has been shoved down my throat and I always here that you need to be in church. Well guess what I am over 18 and when I want to go I will, which I don't see in the near future me going regularly anywhere. I don't care to be a hypocrite I can live my life my way rather than being judged by a bunch of holier than thous. And besides, have you ever dated the preacher's kid they are the biggest horndogs in the church!!!
1 person likes this
@zigzagbuddha (4601)
• United States
14 Mar 08
I never dated a preacher's son, but my ex-bf's best friend was the preachers son... gawd, I hated it when he came over!!! There was always some negative repercussions to follow, because he would have been trying for months to 'be good' in his role as father and son till all the 'bad boy' in him would come pouring out in one hell-bent night, or maybe 3 in a row with no sleep in between. There were often cops involved. Man I'm glad those days are behind me.
@zigzagbuddha (4601)
• United States
29 Jun 08
Hehehehe, it was the kind of wood that was once a tree but is now ashes. And anyway, I am female... but regardless, I can't even imagine getting turned on by a Christian.
@hmbw_24 (404)
• United States
20 Nov 07
Hi zigzag, how are ya? well im writing to you as a christian (now dont stop reading haha!) and a baptist one at that! im not writing to preach to you although i beg you not to be too hard on the preacher, i find that most of the baptist preachers in my area are very well meaning and not pushy. What I am writing to you is to ask you if you could be more specific in explaining what you believe. I am always open minded and curious as to what others think about this oh so important part of our lives. I think it is so important to have something to believe in. thanks and have a good day.
1 person likes this
@williamjisir (22819)
• China
20 Nov 07
Hello dear zigzag buddha friend. I am glad that you have your own favorite belief. So long as you are happy with it, then you could just keep on with what makes you happy. I think that the most important thing for one is to do something that pleases him. I hope that you would both have a nice conversation about the belief. Good day, friend.
@zigzagbuddha (4601)
• United States
20 Nov 07
Thank you for your support Sir William! Yes, I always look for the things that make me happy. I normally don't mind sharing my views either, but in this case I'm not too interested in hearing his, so that makes for a little bit of a one-sided conversation!
2 people like this
@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
20 Nov 07
Hey ZigZag, thanks for the Nice little Piece. You got talent! Yeah reincarnation is what its all about. I was the priest who raped Mothers and Deflowered Daughters in the name of God and Church!
Is it any wonder I have nothing good to say for Religion?
I too, believe in the Source, but I call Her God.
Oh My! I feel for the Pastor! He's gonna get in over his boots. Yes he'll be gone quickly, and glad to get away with whats left of his Faith. And then you can get back to your Creating.
Thanks again ZigZag!(have you read," Conversations with God" by Neale Donald Walsch?)
@zigzagbuddha (4601)
• United States
20 Nov 07
Hey Barehugs, thanks for the nice little compliment!
Yeah, I read "Conversations with God"... well, I watched a movie with that title and tried to read the book, but it had a little too much Christian flavoring for my taste.
2 people like this
@jeyaprakash84 (69)
• India
20 Nov 07
That was really a nice topic. I am also with you in mentioning the god 'Source Energy'. Some times I prefer to call it the supreme soul. I am not sure whether I can say it the supreme soul as all the souls are equally potential. But I hope we can refer it the soul which has gained perfection (spiritually).
Religious books are just like any other ethics book which gives us the way of life. But, as it has got a lot of interpretations, the reality of life is still not known. May be it can be realised when we are able to unite ourselves with the supreme energy.
1 person likes this
@zigzagbuddha (4601)
• United States
20 Nov 07
Hey Jey! I have missed you my friend. I thought maybe I had annoyed you.
As usual we have plenty of agreement, although I don't view the 'supreme soul' as the soul of perfection... in that case all of our lives become a sort of moot point, or just a ghost in history. I think the 'supreme soul' is more of a growth seeking being. And in the body of God we are the sensory apparatus. God follows our lead, not the other way around.
And the 'reality of life' I prefer to view as the Mystery of Life. It's so much more romantic that way! I think of it as the marriage of spirit and matter.
2 people like this
@citrusemma (508)
•
20 Nov 07
Let him try to talk to you~ he sounds like a nice guy and not all Christians are pushy XD
But start off with a DISGUSTING cup of tea/coffe for him and then debate so hard, and when you ask him for solid proof Jesus did miracles (i am a christian but I don't see any) and then he tells you that's what faith is about, tell him you don't have time for faith ~ and offer him a cup of tea/coffee and at this point he'll be eager to escape!
Well, that's how the plan goes~ good luck with it!
1 person likes this
@Gargoyle0134 (1257)
• United States
29 Jun 08
Call and cancel, or do not open the door. You have no real interest. Do not play games with the heads of others.
Being uninterested does NOT mean being cruel is OK.
@zigzagbuddha (4601)
• United States
29 Jun 08
You're not paying attention gargoyle. This story was posted 8 months ago. It's a little late to follow your advice... not that I would have anyway.
I will play whatever games I choose to play, I do not need your approval, and I'll heartily enjoy them because for sure I don't take life anywhere near as seriously as you apparently do.
@CJscott (4187)
• Portage La Prairie, Manitoba
19 Aug 09
Well did it go well, I wouldn't spike his coffee with LSD, I would bake him some nice brownies...I like brownies.
The universe is a wonderfully powerful thing, and what we ask for we get, says so right in EVERY version of the Bible, Old testament, new testament, another testament, and the koran qoran? How ever it is spelled.
I do hope he kept his word and didn't try to "convert" you, because someone really shouldn't do that, it is about discussing the facts and doctrines and letting you decide.
Cheers.
@zigzagbuddha (4601)
• United States
19 Aug 09
All those religious books you mentioned are actually the ones I was referring to in that other discussion. People who have bought into one religion or another often are afraid to think for themselves and rely on their religious books to do their thinking for them.
I am not into 'facts' and 'doctrines'... I am more interested in intuition and absolute freedom.
And to answer your question, it went fine. Until it became clear to him that I would not be joining his flock, and then he wasn't so friendly anymore. I have not seen him since.
@CJscott (4187)
• Portage La Prairie, Manitoba
19 Aug 09
Poor him, he might have learned something. I like to look at everything I read, hear, and learn from a critical point of view, based on how it helps. So I like some stuff about each of the religions I have learned of, and somethings I don't like and don't include in my believes.
