Comment by James on March 6, 2011 at 9:15pm

Where I used to work there used to be a customer that would come in and give us Bible tracts, lists of Jesus, quotes etc... The odd part is that he always acted like he was spreading some super secret. Like we would have never heard of Christianity if it weren't for his efforts. I never said anything to him because it wouldn't exactly be professional to start a debate with a customer, and because my bosses were Bosses and would possibly be dumb enough to reprimand me over it.

What I always did do was read it with my coworker, tear apart the quotes and 'reasoning' in it, cite scripture in contrast with the printed message and then dispose of them. I think I was a good part of her becoming quite irreligious.

Comment by Velogiraptor on March 6, 2011 at 10:18pm

We have a couple of people at my job that do religious crafts. The most recent was this guy trying to give or sell me one of his praying hands and crucifix drawings.  When I politely declined, he looked at me like some ungrateful wretch.  He looked at me funny ever since.  I'm not in customer service or anything.  I work in an office.  It's not the place to be hanging up religious paraphernalia.  I don't hang up Dawkins quotes, and I don't expect to be ambushed where I have no escape.

Comment by Heather Spoonheim on March 7, 2011 at 3:13am

Actually, Cass, I HAVE had people spit their gum in a wrapper and hand it to me.  It was a weird town though, so I dealt with that and a lot of other things.  No one ever handed me a religious tract, although people often left them on the coffee table (casual restaurant/bistro).

 

On the other hand, I have had some people give me religious tracts here while I'm waiting for the bus.  I typically just take them because I don't speak French well enough to deal with any potential discussions that might result from a simple, "Non, merci."  My favorite thing to do with them is to take them to work and hand them to co-workers (all of whom know I am atheist) just to see the expressions on their faces.

Comment by Shine on March 7, 2011 at 8:52am

While waitressing, I would receive a religious pamphlet at least two or three times a year. Invariably, it would be accompanied by a shitty tip. I guess that they figured I could pay my bills with prayer.

Comment by Cara Coleen on March 7, 2011 at 1:17pm

Shine, I can't tell you how many times that happened to me while waitressing. It's amazing how cheapness & proselytizing go hand-in-hand. To their credit, there was also a group of people that went around for a while handing out tracts with money attach... to prove Christians really weren't cheap. I was a Christian server at the time, so I really REALLY appreciated the thought. Haha

Comment by Cara Coleen on March 7, 2011 at 1:20pm

Oh... yeah... I got those tracts accompanied by shitty tips as a Christian server. What bugged me is that they just assumed I didn't "have a relationship with Jesus". It was so impersonal. You could just tell they were collecting bonus points for Heaven with the least effort possible. Oh well! At least I know how ineffective those things are from both perspectives :D

Comment by Jacob Denning on March 7, 2011 at 1:22pm

I had someone give me one of these at work, but mine had some story about how an evil pirate lived all of his life in sin and found Jesus on his death bed. Right befor he died he was saved and went to heaven. I read it and looked at the guy who gave it to me and said, "Wow, thanks! I'm glad to know that I can live my life doing whatever I want and ask to be forgiven right befor I die!"...he didn't know what to say and walked away.

Comment by Craig Nomazlab on March 7, 2011 at 8:28pm

My mother who's a teacher found a guy wearing only speedos with "Jesus saves" written across the crotch handing out bibles and talking to little kids about jesus on the school playground.

Comment by James on March 7, 2011 at 9:01pm

Once last week and again today, we've come home from work to find watchtower rags stuffed in the storm door. Why they are going door to door when everyone is working I'll never know, but now I'm hoping they come by on the weekend so I can try and have  a nice little debate with them.

Comment by Evey on March 8, 2011 at 1:50am

I work at a hotel for a very devout Hindu family.  Behind the front desk in a corner visible to customers is a family alter (I'm afraid I don't know what it's called, if anyone has a better word for it, I wouldn't mind some clarification).

One day, I had a lady come in, thank god out loud that she got to her destination safe, and ask for a room. While I was getting her checked in, she took notice of the alter, and looked at me. She asked what it was, and I explained to her with the best of my ability with my limited knowledge of my boss's religion. She nodded, and I finished her paperwork and gave her the room key. She went on to say something about how god was so good and being the polite Southerner I am, just smiled and wished her a good day.

Later, she came back to the desk, told me I was working for Satan himself and handed me a pamphlet on how to get saved. She asked if I would pray with her. I declined, saying that I didn't think it was appropriate for the workplace. She then told me that she would pray for me, that I would see the 'holy light of god'.

 

I was a Christian at that point, though struggling with my religion. I think having her try to push her flavor of Christianity on me was a turning point in my religious perspective. I kind of wish she'd come back so I could thank her for showing me the error of my ways. :p

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