Source
r/atheism•
focks

Just got a knock on my door...

It was two sisters from the LDS Church, on a Mission. They knocked on the door, I explained to them very calmly and politely that I do not believe in the same things that they believe in, and handed them both two plastic cups with ice, and poured them each a glass of water from a large water bottle I had not yet opened. I gave the rest to them to take to their next house and wished them well on their journeys. They thanked me for the water, they thanked me for my time, and they wished me a good evening. It was very friendly.

I try to be a nice person. I'm also an Atheist. Just because our beliefs don't match, doesn't mean we have any reason to be less civil to each other. I'm pretty satisfied with my meeting with the Mormons today. How do you treat people that are inordinately opposed to your own beliefs? How do they treat you?

Posted Jul 9, 2011, 8:50 PM UTC

1854
Capercaillie•

Wow. You treated other human beings with kindness. No other atheist has ever done this! Most of us treat all theists like crap. It never would have occurred to me--an atheist--to be nice to other people, just because. You've opened my eyes. Bravo!

59
Soul_0f_Wit•

I agree entirely. The idea that atheists are sarcastic and hyper critical is completely unfounded, leaving no reason to provide evidence otherwise.

26
Capercaillie•

Certainly! Since all theists see all atheists as sarcastic, hypercritical assholes, the way to combat this is to make up a little story about how one of us is not, then post it on an atheist website. Perfect logic, no matter how you slice it.

13
[deleted]•

[deleted]

13
OKImHere•

Said the atheist, sarcastically.

7
virus5877•

I see what you did there ;)

2
[deleted]•

I shoot them and then eat their bodies.

21
[deleted]•

And then add their clothes to the pile.

Someday I'll have enough to make a pretty rockin' fort.

10
[deleted]•

I always parse LDS as LSD at first glance.

10
amanitus•

Me too. I wish they just called it Mormonomonism.

1
notQuiteCrazyEnough•

Have you ever played Parse the Parcel?

It's a really fun game, especially when your roomate just got a big delivery!

1
Red_Rocket•

Should have invited them inside.....brown chicken brown cow!

9
MarcoVincenzo•

Brown Chicken, Brown Cow for those who don't understand the reference.

2
Red_Rocket•

Ha! Never heard that song before :)

1
Hubbell•

The Bible’s too wordy. The 10 Commandments are a lot of shit. You don’t need all these things. The Bible should be one sheet of paper, and on that sheet of paper it should say: ‘Try not to be a cunt.’

-Jim Jefferies

4
W00sterAtheist•

Depends on their behavior - I am not a person who says I always treat people nicely.

If they don't shut up when I tell them I am not interested and in a polite way, I seize to remain polite.

3
Demosthenes54Agnostic Atheist•

I've had 2 mormons come to my door, and invited them back at a time I was available to discuss religion. Sure enough they came back and we spent 2 hours discussing mormonism and the absurdity of religion and why it isnt necessary (I did at least). I gave them each a cold bottle of water and let them use the restroom before they left. They told me they are invited into about 1 in every 500 houses, and just about all the other ones they get the door slammed in their face. This is a very christian neighborhood.

3
xrx66•

You treated other human beings that belong to an organization that has expended an incredible amount of time, energy, and money to keep all people from enjoying the same civil right of marriage as if they were not members of such an organization.

Huzzah.

2
kbreddit95•

Given that way of thinking does that mean i should treat people who have commited pety theft the same as rapists and murderers?

Don't treat people who follow a very wide and diverse faith as if they are all the same.

0
xrx66•

We're talking about LDS. They're neither wide, nor diverse.

edit: Let's flip it around. If the KKK went door to door to peddle propaganda, would you find out if the fine knights at your door had actually done any lynching, or other harm, before deciding how to respond?

4
kbreddit95•

Yes, well i wouldn't actually go through all that effort, i would respond with a polite "No thank you, i'm fine" the exact same way that i would to any religious preacher, assuming that they approached me the same way as preachers which has strangely always been polite, smiling and respectful.

Are you honestly comparing all religious people to the KKK? The KKK are known to all share roughly the same beliefs, i know bisexual Christians who curse, act provocatively and will happily fuck anybody, when was the last time you met a member of the KKK that went out and married a black person?

0
xrx66•

You keep batting at the "all religions" straw man when I've already corrected you on this once before. Again, we're talking about LDS. I'm not sure how much clearer I can make this to you.

edit: Or, "all Christians", to be more specific.

3
Capercaillie•

I'm from Arkansas, where we know that Mormons are murderers.

3
focksOP•

Actually, I treated some people with respect because they're people. Not because the organization they represent has vastly different views on such incredibly controversial (and I'll be the first to say that it really ought not to be an issue at all) subject. I think you missed the point of my post entirely.

0
xrx66•

Actually, I treated some people with respect because they're people.

I think I understand your point(s) perfectly. If you like playing on that one way street, knock yourself out.

2
kbreddit95•

It's very nice how you acted towards them but please don't think that you're different to most other atheists, admittedly i may not give them a cup of water although i still act polite and kind.

2
JoeAconite•

What a good Samaritan!

2
DeathIsTheEnd•

I had two Jehovah's Witness' come to mine today.

Unfortunately I was too polite and so they've said they're going to come back and since they're old people I can't really debate them.

2
[deleted]•

I tell them with 100% honesty that I enjoy The Watchtower, have read their Bible and that my faith in the gods has not changed since I was a child. They walk away happy thinking what they want to think. Win/win.

2
RickRay1•

You're too nice. They'll probably be back for a beer next time. I had 2 J.W.'s come to the door. Me: "Are you selling religion? If you are, I'm not buying, I'm an atheist and proud of it. Have a great day! "

2
popscythe•

I was wondering if you do the same thing for every other employee that comes to your door in the course of their duties, or if you've been suckered into the notion that the work of cultists who are promoting violent and oppressive mythology is somehow more important (or more worth reacting to with kindness) than of the employees that you fund with your taxes that go door to door for various reasons?

The next time a police officer comes to your door to inform you that you've accidentally illegally parked and that you need to move your vehicle, you'd better bust out the ice water and smiles.

2
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1
lagnarok•

In my opinion, people shouldn't go door to door converting anyone. I certainly don't go to churches and tell people not to have faith. It would be nice if they didn't come to my house and tell me that I ought to have faith.

12
xrx66•

Exactly. They're fine with the taking aspect of mutual respect. It's the giving aspect that gives them trouble.

6
Capercaillie•

Apparently, mutual respect means "Don't say anything bad about my religion, because that's a hate crime, but if you want to marry your lesbian girlfriend or buy a beer on Sunday morning, well, I can't really respect that."

9
[deleted]•

[deleted]

0
xrx66•

Is proxy baptism an element of this mutual respect you envision? How about the Prop. 8 work? Is that also an element of this mutual respect you envision?

4
[deleted]•

I kind of read this as: I got a knock on my door, I opened it, there were starving children outside, so I fed them. You must believe in Christ.

1
antonivsIgnostic•

How do you treat people that are inordinately opposed to your own beliefs?

I treat them kindly, then I go and passive-aggressively preach how awesome I am at other people who share my beliefs.

1
hazarabs•

Answer the door naked and offer them a beer.

1
[deleted]•

I'll need your address, a white shirt, and a black tie.

2
[deleted]•

oh my fucking god. this same fucking post be it with mormons or jehovah's witnesses or whatever is posted EVERY GOD DAMN DAY! if you happen to treat a mormon nicely good for fucking you, you're a mother fucking hero. just like the one million jack off's before you.

1
[deleted]•

He said it to start a discussion and to give an example of religious people being sane, respectful people. Don't be a dick.

-1
[deleted]•

and the same exact story is told practically every fucking day. give it a rest already

3
[deleted]•

He said it TO START A DISCUSSION. You're contributing less than him.

-1
[deleted]•

a discussion which is had here practically every fucking day. also i only contribute when i have something EVEN REMOTELY ORIGINAL to contribute. this subreddit, like all subreddits when they reach a certain size, is beginning to reach what i call it's "critical retard mass", where you have retards posting and being upvoted by retards and anything actually interesting gets drowned out by circlejerking and rage comics. tis a shame.

3
focksOP•

She. :)

0
[deleted]•

Sorry, I assume everyone on Reddit is a guy. No offense intended.

0
Jmann17•

Did anyone else read this as the 'LSD Church' and get excited, immediately wondering where such a place was?

1