Oops...

[silverthorne]

So, it's national prayer day. Eheh.

Annnnd...I may have just managed to scare a bunch of people, depending on how far they talk. (Answer: Probably very far indeed; people likes the gossip around here).

Because...yeah...couple of housekeeping folks around the time clock when I was checking in, looking at the sign that announced the chaplin would be in all day to pray for/with people. And of course, I was asked when I would go.

I tried to get out of it without too much exchange by saying 'Won't have time, and I pray differently anyway'.

That, and the next seven questions weren't into letting it drop.

Until I shrugged and said 'Because I'm not Christian.'

Cue wall-eyed stares, you know, the ones that say 'you mean there are other religions?!'

And of course, when one of them recovered from the shock, the inevitable question got asked.

'What are you?'

'...pagan.'

And so I finally managed to escape in the wake of a bunch of more wall-eyed stares.

This should be fun to see how far around this gets and how many people start acting funky.

I'm also half-tempted to raid the 'chapel'...just to see what the good father could do for me.

Thing is though, that's just fucking with people. So...no.

Ah well.

Comments

[paradisacorbasi.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the warning.

If someone approaches me about prayer [and they will, because religion gets shoved down my throat at work on a regular basis], I may have to quote Zorro, the Gay Blade

Oh, Heavenly Peter
He who knits and sews
Let this simple and inane [man]
find what [he] seeks.

But of course, that's not very politic.

[silverthorne.livejournal.com]

Welcome.

To be honest, other than the 'WTF'? reactions, it doesn't really bug me all that much. I just hope that the rabid folks don't come find me.

I usually end up wondering how Jewish and other folks feel when the flyers for things like this or Ash Wednesday go up, but...yeah. It's kinda sad that the religious view is so mono-visual, or seems that way at any rate. I'd probably feel a lot less weird (and a lot more likely to actually stick my nose in the chapel room), if I thought there would be an honest attempt at providing a more rounded availability.

...but since I seem to recall reading something about 'there will be readings from scripture' on the poster, looks like it's pretty one-sided.

I maintain that I don't have a problem with any religious gathering...the keyword there being though--any.

Ah well...at least it's not a requirement of my own path to have to go to a holy place and talk to a holy man to pray 'the right way'. ^^

[paradisacorbasi.livejournal.com]

I don't object to religious gatherings either, nor do I begrudge anyone their right to pray.

It's when they expect me to be on the same page with them that I have a problem. And at my job, that's an issue. People are always invoking God as the reason for things happening or not happening. Up to and including telling me the job situation with me being stuck where I am is because God doesn't want me to have it yet.

[nnylrac.livejournal.com]

I have my own beliefs, but I'm not so stupid/nieve/unaware that I don't realize that other people are not necessarily going to have the same spirituality/faith as I do. I also think that it is your business to share or not to share.

[derek-bliss.livejournal.com]

It is, but it's like getting cornered for anything; there's a fine line between standing up for yourself and just being downright rude (or seeming to be so). And in an environment where a good portionnof how well you do accordnig to others is how 'friendly' you can be with everyone...

And again...I don't necessarily mind talking about my religion, but I do prefer to keep it to myself if I'm pretty sure the person I'm talkiong to isn't going to be thrilled with my words. These folks weren't willing to leave it alone though until I answered.