toto wrote:

On Mon, 20 Feb 2006 11:33:12 -0500, "Marie"
wrote:

"toto" wrote in message
. ..
Most religious folks I know don't generally bring up religion
with others who are not of their own faith. Most children who are
religious don't tell other kids they are going to hell either.

I have had, over the years, several strangers come to me and my children in
the grocery store, or a restaurant, and just start talking about Jesus and
if I went to church. This happened just a few weeks ago, actually, in
Walmart. An elderly man came to say what cute kids I have and then started
telling me he hopes I have them in church and he just went on and on about
it. When I first meet people, one of the first questions is where I go to
church. When I answer nowhere, Oh how shocked the people look and just can't

I think in the case where people were approaching me like that, I
would respond that my religion was my own business and that I did not
want to discuss it. Politely at first, and then increasingly
emphatically. I would not tell them that I didn't believe
specifically although I might say that I was not a Christian and did
not want to be saved.

I had people outside the PO once who wanted me to sign a petition
outlawing Halloween celebrations because they were worshiping the
devil, and I told them that I did not believe that Halloween was devil
worship, it was the celebration before All Saints Day, and they should
be petitioning FOR it instead of against it. I tend to be a
rabblerouser.

get over that I don't BELIEVE. There have been several times strange
children at the park, on finding out my kids don't go to church, have told
them they are going to hell. You people who are saying it's not common- you
are so lucky. My family couldn't even join a homeschool group in my area b/c
they required a signed statement of faith. We drive an hour to get to our
group (which is worth the drive, it's a wonderful group, but I do wish it
were closer). Christian groups try to ban movies and tv series. (brokeback
mountain was banned here but we went to another city to see it, and book of
daniel was cancelled on NBC) It's something you just can not avoid here.
Marie

I only recently moved to the South and I hope that I never have that
experience. It was certainly not common in Chicago despite the fact
that there were plenty of Southern Baptists around. There were people
who preached on the street corners, but they were pretty easy to
avoid. I have actually seen less of those in New Orleans than I did
in Chicago.

I have never had anyone come up and start talking about Jesus to me in
the grocery store or mall stores here (but I have only been here about
a year).

grandma Rosalie