Displaced Fan wrote:
I hate doing it though Stuu. For example. Yesterday I went in to my orthodontist and out of the blue she starts telling me about her church and how my wife and I should go with her. Of course though when you have faith you can throw it in people's faces as much as you want but if you have no faith you better keep your mouth shut because anything you say is offensive. To some people the simple statement: "I don't have any faith" is offensive. So I just nodded and said yup yup to all of her "God willing" and "walk like Jesus" talk. It was very uncomfortable. My experience has been similar to yours in that if I do say I don't believe it gets worse because they want to "fix" me. "Why don't you believe?" "What moral compass can you have without the Bible?" and sooooooo on. It's very rude and presumptuous on their behalf but there is no changing it so I just zip my lip and nod a lot. I don't care who is religious or what those beliefs include, I just don't need them thrown in my face.
I simply don't understand how the level of disrespect they show to others when they do that doesn't even make a blip on their radar.
I always compare it to hockey fans. If I meet someone new I don't really think about what team they like or if they even like hockey. I end up inviting them over for a game and they show up wearing a Boston hat. For whatever reason I start feeling uncomfortable. That to me is how a religious person must feel when they find out I'm an athiest.
Now my religious friends here, don't take what I have said the wrong way. I have the utmost respect for you and your faith and your personal beliefs. My issue only starts when I am forced to have awkward "My faith is the bee's knees" conversations. It sucks pretty big. We all hate those religious door to door knockers and it's always like that for me. Like I said, sucky.
oh, trust me, i know exactly what you are talking about
(and this is coming from of of the more religious members here)
Those types of people annoy the hell out of me.
I am an Orthodox Christian (wel, catechumen but still). if youo want to ask about my faith, then you are free to do so, and i will answer to the best of my ability, or have you email a priest about it. Past that, I dont say anything about it, besides the way I conduct myself in my daily life.
The funny part, those same "christians" are always the first ones to claim that I am not a christian, and the catholics especially.
Anyways, that's kinda off topic
You don't have to fake being Christian, because being Christian isnt a requirement to be a scout. Like i said, all that must be true is that one needs to believe in some sort of deity, no matter what it is.
I would also suggest, if you are worried, not joining one based out of a church, rather one out of like a VFW, elks, or other such places. mabye even a school building.
(bigger post on scouts coming later, but i just wanted to adress this)