Laera

Isn't there a verse somewhere that says "foolish men will believe anything" or some such? I would quote that and send it to him - start a bible-verse war!

Wouldn't likely be too good on the relationship, but it'd be entertaining!

BibleBelted

Or you could try this:

Today's Daily Verses - Tuesday, 5/14/2002

Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will be like him yourself.
-Proverbs 26:4


Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.
-Proverbs 26:5

[ May 14, 2002: Message edited by: BibleBelted ]</p>

Rational Ag

Proverbs 14:15, KJV

The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.


Proverbs 14: 15 NASB

The naive believes everything, But the sensible man considers his steps.

Koyaanisqatsi

Not to get all Freudian on your ass, BUT...(ahem)...

IMO, you responded in the manner you did because you really wanted to get into it with him, I would guess because he's been getting on your nerves of late with his constant witnessing, yes?

J'accuse!

There is no way for you to deprogram him (it just doesn't work that way as we all know), but you can get into a good intellectual exchange that challenges his faith, which is a cult member's wet dream.

They don't do it for us, they do it for themselves, thinking it will get them that much closer to gawd, so I say have it at! Cordially and as politely as possible (I know, the irony is dripping) and let the guy think he's done his bit for King of the Jews and Country.

After he sees that you really do know what you're talking about, but aren't going to ever be programmed, you'll give him the second greatest orgasm cult members can have: someone to pray over.

He'll eventually move on, or, if not, you'll have your very own Amos to sharpen your intellect upon every day .

[ May 14, 2002: Message edited by: Koyaanisqatsi ]</p>

Queen of Swords

Proverbs 14:15 : "The simple believeth every word..."

Edited to add : Oops. Should've read the whole thread!

[ May 14, 2002: Message edited by: QueenofSwords ]</p>

Rational Ag

I didn't really want to get into it with him. I didn't really want to talk about either, but I'm not going to lie about it.

He started off slow with the gospel music question (while I was thinking about something else). Of course my knee-jerk reaction is going to be "No, I don't listen to that kinda stuff."

It was all downhill from there.

I generally go out to lunch every day and read a book. Most of the restaurants around here are frequented by people I work with, and since I don't like to get into discussions about stuff like this with my co-workers I always have to hide the cover of whatever book I am reading when I walk in and out of the restaurant.

It's kind of silly, but I don't feel like being shunned by everyone at my facility because I'm reading "Honest To Jesus" or "Atheism: A Case Against God" on my lunch break.

One time I was sitting at lunch and a fellow female engineer walks up with a group of 5 others behind her and starts asking what I'm reading. I said "It's a history book", but she kept prodding. She kept asking questions. I told her it was a Greek history book about 4 times before she finally gave up and left me alone. I like her as a person; I just didn't feel like being shunned by her because she doesn't understand where I'm coming from.

The social stigma of being an atheist here in Texas is pretty rough. Everyone thinks atheists are supremely evil creatures.

-Rational Ag

LeftCoast

I hear you. I grew up just north of you in Oklahoma and as I've said in other places, you stood a better chance of being treated with respect if you came out and admitted to being a card carrying member of the Communist Party than if you admitted to being an atheist.

That's one of the reasons that I left and have never once had even a slight urge to move back.

The Other Michael

Hi Rational Ag,

See what you get for living in Baja Oklahoma?

You might point out to the guy that you REALLY don't want to talk about it on WORK time, and point out to him that what he's doing might well (I'm not an EEO expert) qualify as religious harrassment, and you, liking him as much as you do, would be very saddened to see him get in trouble for something like that.

And if he persists, bring it up with the company management. He's using company resources to create a hostile work environment for you, and they'll probably have him cease and desist sharply since once they are informed of the problem they should be liable if they don't deal with it.

Give hiim all the rope you reasonably can, but ultimately it will be his decision whether he continues, and he'll have to suffer the consequences (just like we are going to suffer the consequences of denying the One True Lord (TM) - said consequences mostly seeming to harrassment by that fictional critter's earthly minions).

Oh yes, you mentioned something that leads me to believe

Just because you are an atheist doesn't mean you can't enjoy some of the religious music. You didn't say what it was, but I'll have to admit that some of the traditional stuff in the Baptist hymnals, as long as you can avoid thinking about the meaning of the lyrics, is actually kind of fun and bouncy.

One of the songs they sang at my grandma's funeral a couple of years ago was "have a little talk with Jesus", and while I don't know what the correct musical term is, I find the "call/response" high vs bass lines in the lyrics are interesting.

Good luck,
Michael

Hedwig

Do you have the option of redirecting his emails to a "junk mail" folder? That's my "when all else fails" solution. I used to be an opinion columnist for a local newspaper and I learned to utilize that option when I started getting a whole lot of Christians emailing me about my columns.

Allkholollick

Hello Rational Ag,

I live about two hours East of Houston so I know how people here react to atheism. I am finding that it is harder and harder to keep my mouth shut on this issue in public or at home. As much as it sucks to have things change at work I think that it would have been worse for you to have lied about your non-belief.
I am with the other posters here who think that your coworker planned the little music episode. He may have suspected your non-belief or that you didn't belong to his particular splinter group.
Anyway, good luck to you!