How many of you have been victims of attempted gang savings?

Question

When I was younger in high school and collage I had groups of Christians usually led by someone I thought of as a friend attempt to save me. My husband tells me the same thing happens in the military except they aren’t as polite.
My oldest child told me today that her friends told her she would go to hell if she didn’t attend Church. For being ten years old came up with an interesting counter point. She told them, “When I’m with people that love me I am in Church, because Church is home, and home is where people love me.” Sorry I couldn’t help bragging her up a bit, she is a blessing.
I’m also remembering a Nun being vexed no end by a couple of fundamentalist that was trying to save her. Do any of you have stories of marauding bands of Christians out on patrol to convert the unwary to their way of thinking?

Answer 1

When I was a teenager I seemed to be a magnate for them. They had these little christian comics telling you in different ways how you were evil and going to hell. We used to collect them like trading cards. Even worse was the scientologists downtown where I used to hang out. They had a dianetics centre here in Toronto forever it seems.

My wife and I also get acosted frequently, as do my kids, they seems to be some radar for the unbelievers. They really seem to hate when I quote scripture back at them. While I am an atheist I have studied the history of religions and enjoy it as mythology.

At least the maurauding bands of christians today aren't allowed to burn you at the stake or worse.

Answer 2

When I was in high school there was an actual "Revelations" club that met after school. I was not "officially" sanctioned by the administration like the Drama club or the Chess club, but funny, how the pagan group met so many roadblocks...

Anyway, at least twice a week I had to deal with people accosting me during lunch or afterwards in the free half hour or so I had, trying to "convert the Satanist." (I am not, and never have been, a Satanist.) After four months of this, I found a funky cross made of blue agate at a flea market and started wearing it. They left me alone after that--never mind that I never went to a meeting, church, or gave any other indication that I'd been "saved."

I kept the cross for years, and referred to it as my "talisman vs. fundies."

Answer 3

Southern Baptist's are the best at it! You see them in action and it is mind blowing. The problem with it "gang savings" is that with that many fanatical people in the same place and the same time it becomes overwhelming for the target. They think that they are feeling the touch of a higher power when in reality it is just the power of the human spirit. Like those crazed Michael Jackson or Elvis fans from years ago. By themselves they just liked them. Get that same person at a concert with 5,000 others that feel the same way and they feed off each and work themselves into such a frenzy they start passing out all over each other.

Answer 4

The feeling of having my family and friends organizing a prayer meeting in my home because I was dating a Sunni Muslim was very painful. It was a feeling of rejection and betrayal. However, many years later I have re-framed the incident and know undoubtedly that they were doing what they felt was right. They were acting from what they thought was love. I don't even need to forgive them because I see it now as simply a different perspective. I only have love and compassion for anyone doing such things. What I feel people should know is that "gang savings" are usually fear motivated and not love motivated. Think about that one.

Answer 5

I don't personally have any such stories, but if you haven't seen the documentary "Jesus Camp," you definitely should.

P.S. - I love that bit about "marauding bands of Christians out on patrol to convert the unwary" -- very well said, you wouldn't happen to be a writer would you?

Answer 6

There used to be a religious group that were in the town where I went to college. I won't mention their name, since it was a very small town. Suffice it to say they would hangout in the student union in groups of three or four, and look for a lone person who looked unhappy or lost.

They would then gang up on them, tell them how great their church was, etc- never giving the student a chance top speak, breathe or even think for themselves. They especially targetted the homesick ones, since the college was pretty remote.

I once yelled at them for getting on a shy young woman I knew - she didn't know how to tell them she wasn't interested, and they wouldn't let up. She was visibly getting upset.

Soon after, the college banned non students from the union who were not there with another student or on business.

Answer 7

I have never really run into christians such as that. Two of my closest friends are christians and they know I am an atheist and we leave our individual beliefs at the door, so to say. They respect others with different beliefs as I would hope most true "christians" would. I guess this is not the case. Jehovah witnesses are the annoying ones. Even my friends complain about them.

Answer 8

I volunteer at a Correctional Facility for Felon girls ages 12 - 25. They are from all walks of life and their crimes vary from some pretty stupid stuff, to the worst of the worst. I go in to talk with them one on one. Me and about 6 other ladies who have been doing this for some 20 years. They know that I am a Protestant visitor and are always surprised that I do not look, act, or present myself the way they thought I would. My intention is never to convert them. I go to see them because I know what it is like to have no options, no family, no guidance, no hope. No one to talk things out with. Scary stuff. In some cases, these girls haven't had anyone visit them in 2 years. No body. As much as I become their connection to the outside World, they are my connection to my inside self. [I get more out of this than they do.] I don't convert. I listen. I cry. I respond. They know that I know they can't fool me because I was once them. I am faithful in my commitment to them. I have seen some amazing things happen. In their lives and in mine. I am not part of a marauding band of Christians roaming the back alleys looking to convert a wayward. I am part of a group of women who spend time with the unloveable and show them through our commitment and dedictation, they are loveable and they have value. We all do. Is that so bad?

Answer 9

I was accosted by a couple of young guys on bikes once. Nice, snappy, well-dressed. Looked like they'd just come from a formal dinner or something. They stopped me and did something innocuous like ask for directions or something, and then after thanking me and asking if I was "from around here," they asked me if I'd ever heard of their church. And then out came the pamphlets and the sermon. Very deceptive. I always wondered if that counted as bearing false witness.

Answer 10

No, but I have had LDS and Jehovah's Witnesses visit me. The reason I mention it (I know it's not uncommon) is because their reaction to me is unlike how I've heard they react to other people. When they ask if they can share some scripture and fellowship with me about the good news of Jesus Christ, I respond "Sure, come on in, and I'll share with you how I practice witchcraft, do you have a wand with you or would you like me to provide you with one?"

They are usually doing wheelies to try to get off my door step and are politely declining as they're getting on their cute little bicycles or walking quickly to the next house.

I haven't had a single one of them ask me if I'm joking, I think they can tell that I'm not really the type to joke about something like that, and that I would probably take offense if they suggested such.

I really can't wait for one of them to finally take my offer, just to see if I'm for real. I've got the wands, incense, cauldron and candles all ready (no athame, though, I wouldn't want to scare them or anything). If they're up for sharing, then so am I!