How many people preach to you? What I'm tired of is people talking about "born-again" Christians or "fundamentalist" Christians like it's a bad thing. If you're a Christian, you're a born again. If you're an irritating person, you'll be an irritating Christian. Christians are told in the Bible to go out and tell everyone. However, there's a time and a place for it, not everyone everywhere wants to hear it all the time. Some people are open to hear it, others will call you every name in the book. How is that people can spout off about political views, jeepin views, whatever, and people have no problem, but everyone gets all butt hurt when you mention God? I mean seriously, if someone who truly believes in the Bible is trying to share the gospel with you, it's (usually) because they're concerned for where you'll be for eternity.
Sorry, rant over :soapbox:
I differentiate between the "born again" Christians (who picked it up somewhat late in life,) and the "born & raised" Christians. Those who came to it rather late tend to be more aggressive about the whole thing, while those who came up with it are more low-key about it, don't drag Faith into a discussion by the heels, and are willing to discuss it with a more open mind.
Two examples - both in my immediate family (and I'm sure I've talked about them before.)
My brother-in-law (Mike) is what I think of as a "classic Born-Again Christian." He hit bottom with dope (I think cocaine was his drug of choice,) and "found God" some 25 years or so ago. When conversing about pretty much any topic you could name, he'll drag God in by the heels and say just how good his life has been since he was saved.
My daughter-in-law (Elisia) and her family are primarily Ukrainian, and were all raised Christian Orthodox. We can converse with her - or her family - for hours on end and not hear the first mention of God or of faith, unless it's related to the topic at hand (and not tangentially - but directly.) Separate intellect from emotion from faith, and one can converse well.
One more once, I don't have anything at all against Faith or Belief. My argument concerns having it foisted upon me
without asking or
after I've said I don't want to hear it (I've been trying to get Mike to understand that point for the last dozen years. I may have to get out a large stick next time, I'm getting worn out...)
I really don't even have trouble with "fundamentalist" Christians (to use your word) - save perhaps those arsewits who follow the Right Reverend Phelps back east, and protest at funerals (which is just plain wrong, I don't care who you are.) I simply view them as people who take their beliefs very much to heart - and, as long as they don't drag it in by the heels when I talk to them about anything, we'll get along just fine.
But, it seems that every time I've had to deal with a "born again" Christian (my brother-in-law, my neice Shala, people I've worked with, ...) they always seem to be the most aggressive sort of Believer - one step short of radical Islam, as far as conviction goes (they just don't take it upon themselves to attack anyone anymore. With Christians, that went out with the Crusades.) I like to think I'm pretty tolerant, but when it's thrown up in my face I do tend to more actively reject the idea. If you want to get someone to start thinking your way, either appeal to their intellect (for those that are rather bright) or try to gently come at them sidewise (for those who are not, or who are deep-seated in their own convictions.) Getting in someone's face usually doesn't work - if you can find my old man, you can ask him how
that worked out. He did finally get the wall fixed, but it took him a while and he wasn't any good at fixing drywall...
Quoth George Carlin - "Religion is like a lift in your shoe. If you need it for a while and it helps you walk straight, that's a good thing. But,
very few people need lifts forever. And, for God's sake, let's not go nailing lifts onto the natives' feet!" (Altered slightly - "very few" was originally "no-one." Catch is, we're just not that grown up as a people, I think.)
