2001-7-29 14:47:00
Most people feel the same as you do when accosted by Fundamentalists, Candice. They can be obnoxious at times.
I, however, actually enjoy the experience and you can too with a little preparation.
First, there is one prime ingredient that you must have within yourself in order to turn the tables on them.
You must be absolutely sure that their version of reality is distorted so they will have no power to make you doubt yourself or arouse the fear of hell within you.
There are many who were taught fundamentalists principles as a child and later came to a realization of a more loving God, yet because of nagging doubts and a residual fear of hell, the person becomes flustered when accosted by these born-againers from time to time. This may not be the case with you Candice, but I assure you that residual fear and doubt is a thorn in the side to many.
After I "graduated" from the Mormon Church in 1978 I attempted to enlighten my fellow Mormons for a time. Some really liked what I taught them, but as far as severing their ties and moving on they would say something like this:
"If you are right and the Church is wrong then I do not have a lot to worry about for I will get chance after chance until I progress forward and the worst that can happen is that I will waste a few lifetimes.
"BUT, if you are wrong and the Church is right and I was to get excommunicated for being an apostate then I could become a son of perdition and reign with the devil and his angels for all eternity. That's a lot more serious mistake than a couple lifetimes wasted.
"Now I think that what you have taught me is true, but I am not sure and as long as there is one chance in as thousand that the church is right, I will keep my big toe in the door and follow their rules."
It is sad that a one chance in a thousand possibility in the direction of fear can produce more motivation that a 99% surety in the Love and goodness of God.
Thus it is of extreme importance that each person on the path obtain his own soul contact and have a witness of the goodness of God and know within himself that if he follows the highest that he knows, that he or she will not be under any condemnation.
We will make mistakes now and then, and suffer the natural consequences, but if we have any faith at all in the goodness of God we will know within ourselves that God will never hold one under spiritual condemnation who is struggling to follow the highest he knows.
Now if a person is 99% sure that a certain path is correct and refuses to take it because of fear, he is not following his highest light. Any rejection of light creates a state of greater darkness than before the light was seen and this can cause the pilgrim to wander off on strange paths that can be a cause of much delay and pain before the path is regained.
So if you are fearless and planted with your feet on rock and not sand, then you can stand and prevail against any person who challenges you from an illusionary viewpoint. They can be from a religion or cult that you know nothing about and you can still confound them.
All you have to do is to carefully listen to them and then ask them questions to make them explain themselves.
Ask them questions such as: "Where does it say that in the scriptures?"
Half the time they cannot find a reference to what they are saying and of they do and if you read the context back to them and interpret it yourself they will become enraged.
Other questions are:
I mentioned previously that I had fun with a fundamentalist when he asked me if I accepted Jesus into my heart.
Now I knew that this idea was not even taught in the Bible so I asked him, "Where in the Bible does it tell me to accept Jesus in my heart?"
The guy's brain about started to smoke as he attempted to find a scripture relating to his most often repeated mantra.
I remember when the controversial movie -- "The Last Temptation of Christ" -- came to town and we went to see it. As we were waiting in line a group of "born-againers" accosted us. They had a great captive audience because no one was about to ruin their night and leave their place.
The conversation I had went something like this:
Born-Againer: "This movie is blasphemous and will take you away from the real Jesus. You should leave right now and not see it."
JJ: Have you seen the movie?
Born-Againer: "Of course not."
JJ: Then how do you know it is blasphemous?
Born-Againer: "I've read about it."
JJ: How do you know that what you've read is correct?
Born-Againer: "I just do."
JJ: How?
Born-Againer: "I trust my sources."
JJ: Why?
Born-Againer: "They are reliable."
JJ: And you know this because...?
Born-Againer: "I just know they are reliable."
JJ: Yet you tell me to not go to this movie because it may take me away from the real Jesus, but your reliable source went. Maybe this reliable source is led astray by the movie and also leading you astray?
Born-Againer: I tell you my source is reliable.
JJ: So what is there about the movie you have a problem with?
Born-Againer: It portrays Jesus as having sex with a woman.
JJ: But this was His last temptation on the cross. He dreamed of having a regular life, getting married and having a family instead of being on the cross. Are you saying that it is a sin to dream?
Born-Againer: Well, no, but Jesus would not consider having sex.
JJ: Where does it say that in the Bible?
Born-Againer: It says He is without sin.
JJ: So are you saying that getting married and having sex is a sin?
Born-Againer: Not for us but it would have been wrong for Jesus.
JJ: Why?
Born-Againer: Because He could not have sex and be our saviour.
JJ: Are you saying that sex is always evil?
Born-Againer: Well, no.
JJ: Maybe Jesus was married and did have sex. Can you show me any statement in the Bible that says He was not married?
The guy started getting frustrated as we left him and entered the theater.
But notice my approach. I was the one who took charge and asked the questions. Usually they keep control and they ask all questions, but it is a simple thing to turn the tables on them. You take the offensive, you ask the questions and they will be beside themselves and it is a fun dialog to experience.
Readers might want to review the series I posted recently called "Questions for Christians." [See Compiler's Note below.] Follow the same line of reasoning found in these articles, and it will be easy to confound these deluded ones.
Question:
How have you dealt with obnoxious people trying to convert you?
Copyright © 2001 by J.J. Dewey, All Rights Reserved