Lately I have found myself on the receiving end of a lot of preaching. One of the first things anyone should know about me is that I am 100% unpreachable. I’m completely unreceptive to it, especially when the approach is so obnoxiously aggressive, and almost negative in some respects. I am not, nor have I ever been, a Bible Thumper. I respect difference of religion so long as one’s beliefs are not being shoved down my throat and recited to me as Gospel, but I will not respect, accept, or allow someone to be disrespectful to me or anyone that reads this blog.
I make my own decisions, my own choices. I live by a specific code, and nobody tells me what to do, think, say, feel, or how to be. There’s no one controlling me. I believe in freedom of speech (Though I can honestly say that some people need to have the right revoked, simply for taking it WAY TOO FAR! And I mean that in the sense that their idea of “freedom of speech” is sick, not helpful or thought-provoking.), in the right to bear arms, in the right to practice whatever religion you choose, so long as you aren’t harming anyone, in the right to love whoever you choose, and I’m a firm believer that when you are trying to seek help for yourself in ANY way, you should be treated with dignity, respect, kindness, compassion, and empathy. If a person cannot at least be polite & professional, then they need to find another line of work if their job means dealing with people or the public on a daily basis.
One of the most important things I learned as a writer, and in business, and this was literally day one, is that not everyone you encounter is going to like you, and that you have to accept that. I don’t like more than half of the people I encounter in this world, but I still believe in having manners and being respectful. I still believe in holding doors for people, in assisting one with directions if they are lost, and in general, not being an asshole. I’m completely intolerant when it comes to the many varieties of assholes in this world, and there are so many, it’s unreal.
Whenever I mention an aspect of religion on this blog, it is by no means coming from a “Live as I live” point of view. I am not telling anyone what to think or believe. It’s coming from a “This is my story, and I’m going to tell it the way I want to tell it.” perspective. We all have different beliefs, and that’s exactly how it should be. Differences make the word go ’round. We all have a unique point of view, and so many of us have amazing gifts and stories to share with the world. I have an immense amount of respect for that, and for the individuals I speak with on a regular basis.
If you visit my blog, please respect others that also visit. Some people think they have the right to comment on other people’s comments, but I don’t feel that way. If a comment is left for me, then I am going to answer it. If a comment is left for someone else, that’s a whole different ball game, but again, I encourage respect. I have deleted some things I felt were inappropriate and/or disrespectful for a number of reasons.
At the end of the day, this may be a public blog that anyone can stumble upon and read, but I will always get the final say in the material in which I allow my readers to be subjected to. If anyone is ever bothered by something, come to me directly and I will do whatever needs doing to correct it. If you find that you dislike me or my approach, there’s an Unfollow button. Use it if you choose, I know I do.
And The Moon Sees All 
I have tons of respect for you, and I truly look up to you..big bunches.
Thank you. That’s one of the nicest compliments a person could ever pay me. *Hugs*
This reminds me of an encounter I had when I was in undergrad. As it was a public school campus, outsiders (aka solicitors) were allowed to come on the grounds to talk to people. There was an afternoon when a lady came up to me asking, “Have you been saved by Jesus yet?” I was immediately offended by her choice of words and bluntly told her I wasn’t interested in being saved (whether or not that is true obviously isn’t the point, I said it just to make her go away). Unfortunately, she took this as her cue to ‘educate’ me and it wasn’t until I took her pamphlets, promising to read them later (she was going to make me read it ALOUD with her), that she left me alone. Since then I’ve stayed far away from religious groups in general who are out trying to ‘educate’ the public. Like you, I’m not receptive to preaching at all. Everyone has the right to voice their views and beliefs but no one has the right to tell anyone what is “right”, especially when it comes to faith and practice. (Sorry for the mini-rant, this wasn’t supposed to be an essay haha).
I’ve dealt with that aspect of preaching my entire life. I grew up in a predominantly Jewish neighborhood, and as I got older the neighborhood started to become more religious on one side (an aspect of the religion I do not follow, so they deem me “not Jewish enough”) and more culturally diverse on the other. I embrace diversity and differences, I grew up with so much culture, but I’m completely unreceptive to preaching when someone is shoving it down my throat as “the only way”. The things they will say are just outright mind-blowing to me.
Thankfully I now live in a neighborhood where they aren’t coming to my front door, but I cannot deal with that level of preaching like what you experienced on campus. Occasionally I will be approached by someone in public with pamphlets and the usual run of the mill “Have you been saved…” inquiries. I am as respectful as humanly possible, but if pushed, I tell them exactly what I think and that usually shuts them up, or scares them. We’ve discussed the fact that I can be quite intimidating when I want to be, right? LOL.
I don’t think you were giving a mini-rant at all. I like it when a person has something to say and can articulate it. You can say as little or as much as you want here, and if anyone judges you for it I will personally tell them where to fly.