Aegis of Reason

PLEASE TELL ME IF YOU HAD A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE AS AN UNBELIEVER, THREATS OR VIOLENCE? I REALLY WANT TO HEAR YOUR STORY, OR YOUR OPINION.

Today I was given a clear threat by a so called christian. It is certainly the first time that happens because I do not resolve to violence, just decent conversation and arguments with those that call themselves religious.

I have no idea when it all started, I was having a conversation with a few people that were giving booklets away and who were young earth creationists. The young man did not know much about science (as they usually do) and directed me to his older companion who, after thinking a little bit, told me that evolution ‘was just a theory’. In a rather condescending way if i might add. Then this other gentleman came by and started to counter my arguments with the usual ‘but where did life come from?, nothing cant come from something’ argument. We conversed for about 5 minutes and then i left simply because I had to go to class.
That was months ago, I kept brushing shoulders with him and once or twice he would tell me that I was wrong to believe something (that there is no god) to too much of an extreme. How @#%#@#% ironic to get that from someone who has an imaginary friend!.

Then a few weeks ago, a very infamous religious agitator came to the university. He came with his rethoric of hatred and intolerance. he came with propaganda for creationism, the abolishment of secularism and ‘expelled’ whistles. Oh people were there to argue with him, the Catholics were there, the muslims were there, everyone was there. They were offended, you could see it in their eyes (well some were very happy fundamentalists). Certainly the president of the Atheist organization was there, doing nothing. Was I going to let it go?, what would you do?

I did what came to mind, I went straight to the library and checked out a 200 year old German book called Valhalla. A book on norse mythology with a very pretty cover (it really looked religious!). So i went into the circle and I started to counter preach him. I used his style and ways of speaking- a satire of himself.

Oh he was pissed!, it of course took him a while to realize what was going on. he was so angry!, this is a guy that doesnt care if you spit on him. He was yelling at me “excuse me!, we reserved this spot!”. ofcourse he was right by the american flag (you know, that place that everyone calls the free speech area). Ofcourse you cant reserve that area, his host organization only reserved to have a table nearby. It was scary, I am myself a chicken hearted coward and there i was in the middle of a super conservative university making my point against religion.

(on a side note, Bush senior, the guy that was quoted by saying that atheists are not really american citizens or patriots has his presidential library there)
Things calmed down and I simply left to my own class. I returned later and simply enjoyed conversation with moderates on the usual topics: DINOSAURS AND HUMANS DID NOT LIVE TOGETHER!

Well that was that. if you have been following my blog (which you arent ) the same day that I went to the second meeting of the Christian Crusade for Christ, some person gave me a paper for some event that talked about god and his answers. Whatever, my Socratic persona came out and started to ask him stuff like all other serious religious people that i encounter. Then the person (the guy that threatened me) came by and said something and left. Well whatever, i said thanks to the person giving away flyers and then i got myself a free bible. I proceeded to go to Campus crusade for christ and had an ok time.

Well this brings us to today, I hope that i didn’t lost you with an explanation of the past. Today I was minding my own business, walking in very well known parts of the university and he was there. He was sitting in the stairs with some people and started talking to me.

“Remember that time that you did that (I think he was referring to the christian agitator(campus evangelists)), I was so angry that i wanted to punch you. How was everything? do you keep arguing against religion? I really see no logic in getting out of your way to do all this. I really dont. I am warning you right now. you really make me angry”

I was to be frank a little bit shocked, my responses were not the best. Just simple things like ‘you have your opinions and that is you constitutional right to express them’ or something like that.

I started to walk off but he wanted me to stay and listen (which of course i couldn’t because i had to go to freaking class). Sure i told him that if he wanted to tell me something that bad, that he could walk me to my class. All in a friendly and smiling way.

he came a little bit close and said “are you an illegal immigrant? because if you are coming here to attack my country...”

I told him that I wasnt… (anyone with a brain knows that illegal immigrants cant enter universities due to lack of paperwork…) and second, wtf, came to attack his country? I am assuming that he meant verbally. I am not here to attack this country, I am here to defend the real constitutional rights and secularism that this country was founded upon. I had enough and left.

this all greatly disturbed me because it had never happened before. There is fear, i can feel it. But as Christopher hitchers usually says “if you arent angering them, you arent trying hard enough”… ok that might not be the actual quote but you get the point.

The day came to an end after class. I went to the library and checked out 5 books for a paper and there he was (if i was religious i would call it a sign from the heavens!). No, not the guy that threatened me, but an old friend that I had made in the Atheist Student group. I walked a little bit with him to learn that the group had not died out. In actuality they were now an activist organization and meet outside of campus on a local restaurant!. The atheists were there, i just didnt know!. And that is the happy ending, I shall go to their meetings soon. Maybe to plot something for the expelled movie?

PLEASE TELL ME IF YOU HAD A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE AS AN UNBELIEVER, THREATS OR VIOLENCE? I REALLY WANT TO HEAR YOUR STORY, OR YOUR OPINION.