pyroguysr's Diaryland Diary ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Grocery Store Christianity GROCERY STORE CHRISTIANITY Had the weirdest thing happen today. I went to the store to do some banking and then buy some dinner. At the bank I began talking to this guy in line and we start talking politics. OK, so he's a conservative like me, even if he DOES think that Bush is a socialist, that "The Savage Nation" is the best program on radio (which is why it's on at 9 pm at night) and that the U.S. is slowly going to hell-in-a-handbasket (unless we get back on the gold standard)! LOL. Anyway... We talk, we meander outside (mainly because it's not really polite to talk religion and politics in the middle of a busy banking area in the middle of a crowded grocery store). We go outside and start talking about various religions. He asks me about what I do (vendor salesman at Renaissance Fairs) and finds that interesting. I mentioned the fundemenatalists I've met both on the christian side and the pagan side of things in the rennie world, telling him my story of "church day" and then the "nut guy" at the Louisiana RenFest and how he was prosthelytizing at the campfire after fair. The Friday after Thanksgiving is "church day" at the LARF. They invite churches to bring people in so that they can see that people at a Renaissance Festival are NOT all devil-worshipping, pentacle-wearing wicca believing pagans (they are mainly the last two! *grins*). I give "blessings" at ren fairs, which means I take some glitter, wet my thumb and rub the gitter into a young woman's eye brows while saying: "May you always have the ethereal beauty of a faerie princess; the wisdom of a Queen and (sprinkling some glitter in her hair) the patience of all the saints." (What do I do for Men & boys? I dust them and say, "May you make it through the rest of the day without being turned into a newt!") Most people love it. But, I managed to get one or two people who are utterly insecure in their faith and would jump back, look at me and say: "I reject your magic in the name of our savior, Jesus Christ!" Sheesh! Then there was the Nut Guy (he sold candied almonds and walnuts). He had been going on about how he 'hated' christians and failed to notice that he was offending more than a few people at the fire (not ALL rennies are pagans. More like 50% are pagans and the other 50% quietly believe in what they want to believe and it's none of your business!). I asked him questions about 'why' he hated them and let him rant. I ended the discussion by saying, "And how are you different from the fundementalists you hate so much? You're doing the same thing by demanding everyone be an atheist pagan (an oxymoron to me - sorry) like him. He though about it for a moment, then went off in search of beer. Several people thanked me for doing that. Anyhow, this somehow leads to discussions of Fundementalists (of all ilks) and he asks me to describe what I think a fundie is. I tell him it's "someone who has had a revelation about whatever God they believe in, becomes 'born again' in that thought and then feels that he has been charged by God to preach his or her revelation and convert everyone around to his or her way of thinking - because, after all, they're right! I mean, god told them so, so it MUST be true, correct? He accepts that premise with a chuckle. We go on about the Constitution and how it does NOT guarantee "freedom FROM religion but, freedom OF religion." He's all for that. He gives me a long lecture about things I already know, how the founding fathers WERE christian (don't EVEN think of arguing that point with me - I'm far too well read on the subject!). But I begin to think he's assuming something... And eventually he asks the inevitable $64,000 dollar question... "I know it's none of my business, but what religion ARE you?" Yes, I know I should have said at that point, "You're right. It IS none of your business" and walked away. But I'm a twisted little Pyro. I had to answer... "I have my own personal belief system. I was raised a Catholic, but joined the Presbyterian Church for the community feeling and go there when I feel the need to get some 'church.' However, I'm a sole practitioner." "Presbyterian, eh? How do you practice Presbyterian solo?" "No, I'm not a Presbyterian. I said, I have my own set of beliefs and I just go to the church when I want the feeling of 'community' around me." "Unaffiliated?" "Something like that." "Well, you believe in the bible, right?" "I believe its a good book filled with parables to guide you through life, yes. So is the Koran, the Torah, the Bahagvad Gita and others." "Well... you believe that Jesus is your Lord and Savior, don't you?" "Well, no. I have my own set of beliefs." "But we just talked about Revelations and when the rapture comes! You understood what I meant about translations from the Torah when we discussed Sheol! You said you knew that when those that refuse to believe are doomed to be reduced to ashes of nothingness!" "Ah, no, I said that generally is what christians believe. But I don't believe in the concepts of heaven and hell. I find that notion in a supposed 'omnipotent' god to be repulsive and juvenile." "What do you mean?" OK, I'm thinking... how do I tell him I'm one of the few, the proud, the Mari... erm, a conservative (for a lack of a better all-encompassing word) druidic pagan? YES! I HAD IT! "I guess, for lack of a better all-encompassing word to describe my belief system, I'm what most christians refer to as a 'pagan.' Though it goes beyond tha...." The look in his eyes was priceless. And I finally got my shopping done. 7:45 p.m. - 2005-12-29 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
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