Comments on: Pass-Along Cards

By: rick

rick — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 23:14:24 +0000

No problem ltbugaf. I feel like it’s my obligation to point out when people exhibit antisocial behaviour.

If I help you to avoid insulting just one person, it’ll all be worth it.

By: ltbugaf

ltbugaf — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 21:25:40 +0000

Thanks for spelling out exactly what I may and may not do, rick. It’s comforting to have your guidance as the self-appointed arbiter of what is and isn’t rude.

By: George

George — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 02:54:29 +0000

The other day I was walking out of a Sam’s Club and this man had a card table sit up selling religious trinkets. He asked if I would like to buy one and I said no and and continued walking and then he wanted me to pray and I said no that I did not believe and then he followed me using a loud voice for all to hear that I was going to hell.

If you are forcing a pass along card onto others, are you really any different than the trinket seller?

When I was a missionary, we were supposed to sell X number of BOM’s each week. It was really hard to sell them. We used to leave copies on buses and bicycle seats and count them as a placement.

Do you get to count each pass along card that is tacked to a cubicle as a placement?

By: JM

JM — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 20:02:42 +0000

Roland,

Giving them to other members doesn’t count! ;-)

By: Roland

Roland — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 19:58:39 +0000

I’ve handed them co-workers who liked the picture and now display the picture side on the walls in their cubicles.

By: rick

rick — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 16:32:03 +0000

“You seem to like putting a negative spin on things.”

No, I prefer to put a truthy spin on things (thank-you Mr. Colbert).

I didn’t say that God being the head of your church was a *bad* thing, I said that you can’t claim to not be acting coercively *while* proclaiming God to be the head of your church.

By: Bookslinger

Bookslinger — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 04:44:26 +0000

Nermal,
If you have time, read my blog. I generally don’t discuss religion with strangers, unless they ask. I don’t discuss personal beliefs, unless they ask. I offer them books, sometimes the Bible, in their language, along with the corresponding English edition. I do mention that the book is _from_ my church, and it’s called “The Book of Mormon”, and it’s Christian.

I feel so misunderstood.

But people still don’t get it even when I explain it face to face. They have to literally see it in action to understand the approach, the interaction, and the reaction.

It makes so many people happy to be given a free book in their language, along with the English edition. And they like it “even though” it is religious.

People from other cultures are not as religion-phobic as most North Americans and Europeans.

Rick: “So when you invoke God as the head of your church you are invoking authority, fear and anxiety.”

You seem to like putting a negative spin on things.

I happen to think God being the head of LDS church is a _good_ thing. I don’t think I could respect a church that doesn’t believe God is at the head of their church.

By: nermalcat

nermalcat — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 03:49:56 +0000

I have to admit that I am uncomfortable with bringing up religion out of the blue with strangers or new aquaintances.

In my experience, people you work with or play with or attend school with etc. will naturally figure out that you are a Mormon pretty quickly with their own line of questioning. Then, more often than not, they start asking plenty of questions on their own ( if they are not already familiar with the LDS church that is).

I suppose it depends on the particular situation, but bringing up religion with strangers or people I don’t know well seems a little Amway salesman-ish to me.

By: JM

JM — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 02:45:50 +0000

BS said: "JM, I donâ€t think that there is any friction between free will versus offering someone religious information. I see no contradiction or friction between DC 88:81 and AoF 11. " I don't recall using the word friction. Nor did I say they were contradictory. But I do see the overlap being minimal. And I do see most members of the church as seeing them as more mutually inclusive than they really are.

By: rick

rick — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 21:49:37 +0000

I can rule out any sort of casual contact with another member of society as an appropriate venue for the discussion of personal beliefs.

If you know the person and are already well acquainted enough to have a personal discussion, then MAYBE you may be okay with talking religion.