Just to give you an idea of her beliefs: JW’s, Mormons and yours truly were absolutely going to hell where we would suffer eternal torment. She adamantly insisted that I could not possibly understand how awful that torment would be. Satan was a literal personage (but not Satan’s Brother). She always prayed silently to prevent Satan from overhearing her prayers and plotting to trick her. She had been abused as a child and viewed her Heavenly Father as her only father and the person in the world she was closest to. She was certain we are in the last days and warned that I could literally wake up in hell tomorrow. She also said that I could be a literal demon.
I guess she felt like it was her job to share the good news
Um ... what she said above was GOOD news?
Maksutov:
That's the problem with this supernatural stuff, it doesn't really solve anything. It's a placeholder for ignorance.
Mayan Elephant:
Not only have I denounced the Big Lie, I have denounced the Big lie big lie.
“I brought my own alcohol,” she joked. I laughed and asked her “from where?” “From the hotel across the street,” she said.
check
I gradually realized that she was a pretty serious Christian.
Check
She had been abused as a child and viewed her Heavenly Father as her only father and the person in the world she was closest to
check
It certainly was one of the oddest conversations I can recall
Odd in what way? The only thing that sounds strange to me is she didn't get political. I'll be surprised if Whiskey believes this encounter happened, however.
I’ve never had one where the believer was so defensive. Maybe she felt threatened being in such close proximity to an atheist
I'd wager your conversation was more comfortable than had she spent that much time speaking with my right-wing friend. People like her don't get along with other people like her. It's possible you did threaten her, I'm thinking that one over, if I meet you in real life one day I could say. You might carry a weight of credibility.
Lost Gospel of Thomas 1:8 - And Jesus said, "what about the Pharisees? They did it too! Wherefore, we shall do it even more!"
Just to give you an idea of her beliefs: JW’s, Mormons and yours truly were absolutely going to hell where we would suffer eternal torment. She adamantly insisted that I could not possibly understand how awful that torment would be. Satan was a literal personage (but not Satan’s Brother). She always prayed silently to prevent Satan from overhearing her prayers and plotting to trick her. She had been abused as a child and viewed her Heavenly Father as her only father and the person in the world she was closest to. She was certain we are in the last days and warned that I could literally wake up in hell tomorrow. She also said that I could be a literal demon.
“I brought my own alcohol,” she joked. I laughed and asked her “from where?” “From the hotel across the street,” she said.
check
I gradually realized that she was a pretty serious Christian.
Check
She had been abused as a child and viewed her Heavenly Father as her only father and the person in the world she was closest to
check
It certainly was one of the oddest conversations I can recall
Odd in what way? The only thing that sounds strange to me is she didn't get political. I'll be surprised if Whiskey believes this encounter happened, however.
I’ve never had one where the believer was so defensive. Maybe she felt threatened being in such close proximity to an atheist
I'd wager your conversation was more comfortable than had she spent that much time speaking with my right-wing friend. People like her don't get along with other people like her. It's possible you did threaten her, I'm thinking that one over, if I meet you in real life one day I could say. You might carry a weight of credibility.
Odd in three ways. The first was the absence of any curiosity about my beliefs. The second was the extent of her defensiveness. The third was the demon thing. I've never had any suggest in a face to face conversation that I might be a demon. I think I responded by saying "I think I would make a crappy demon," and chuckling.
She did say that she was an introvert and didn't like people.
he/him
“I prefer peace. But if trouble must come, let it come in my time so that my children can live in peace.” — Thomas Paine
The first two aren’t odd, do you think my right wing friend is comfortable listening to what anyone else has to say about anything, let alone if it disagrees with him? Of course she has no interest in anything you have to say, she’s getting a free therapy session. It’s the duty of the entire world to listen to her vent her problems and you did a first rate job listening; how dare you talk.
I thought I’d read your story carefully but I missed the demon accusation. It fits the profile but I’ll agree that’s odd. If it were a YouTube bro it would be normal, but also insincere. She was sincere, can you flesh that part out more?
I’ve spoken to more than my share of weirdo believers, but never have been accused of being a demon — in person that is. I’m talking only in real life. I suspect you come across as credible and confident in your opinions, you were confident enough to let her know you disagreed but with perfect control. You played the role of therapist while she was her typical unhinged self getting the stress out. But a therapist isn’t going to disagree with her.
Lost Gospel of Thomas 1:8 - And Jesus said, "what about the Pharisees? They did it too! Wherefore, we shall do it even more!"
The first two aren’t odd, do you think my right wing friend is comfortable listening to what anyone else has to say about anything, let alone if it disagrees with him? Of course she has no interest in anything you have to say, she’s getting a free therapy session. It’s the duty of the entire world to listen to her vent her problems and you did a first rate job listening; how dare you talk.
I thought I’d read your story carefully but I missed the demon accusation. It fits the profile but I’ll agree that’s odd. If it were a YouTube bro it would be normal, but also insincere. She was sincere, can you flesh that part out more?
I’ve spoken to more than my share of weirdo believers, but never have been accused of being a demon — in person that is. I’m talking only in real life. I suspect you come across as credible and confident in your opinions, you were confident enough to let her know you disagreed but with perfect control. You played the role of therapist while she was her typical unhinged self getting the stress out. But a therapist isn’t going to disagree with her.
Thanks Dean Robbers. I meant that the experience was odd for me in comparison to the many other conversations I have had about religious beliefs with believers.
You could be right about the free therapy session. The conversation was much more balanced between us before the issue of religion came up.
I think she was absolutely serious about the demon thing. She never out and out accused me — just said that I could be a demon. There’s was no indication that she was joking. She just said it a couple of times, and I don’t recall the specific context.
I think I’ve gotten pretty good at saying “I’m not a believer” in a matter of fact but confident tone. The same with communicating that I’m not in any way attacking their beliefs. I dunno.
he/him
“I prefer peace. But if trouble must come, let it come in my time so that my children can live in peace.” — Thomas Paine
I’m wondering if there is a similar dynamic to the LDS idea that a “testimony comes in the bearing of it” here. Maybe she was trying to convince herself that “God wouldn’t give her more than she could handle.” Armchair psychology.
