When People Can't Take " I'm Not Interested In Your Religion" Statement

[kanozas]

Background: I'm being actively pursued by an SDA member who started out "innocently" asking me xyz. Said they were in dialogue with other people of my faith...wanted to have original documents to bolster their viewpoints. I gave them the links...they turned it on me and I think that was the intention to begin with.

Acting like they didn't text me....about it...glad they didn't call me...I would have hung up after all this switching things around, acting like they didn't remember sending me things on people converting out of mine. Mind you, they told someone with a dying child that nutrition could heal the child. Child died. They acted like it was the parents' fault...those no longer speak...

What I don't like about it (SDA) is that this person acts like nutrition is salvation of the soul. It's important but people get sick no matter what, eventually, and if not, they still die.

 

[kanozas]

ETA: Don't delete...I have something to say.


I came in here with a serious question but I'm editing the title today. It's about people who actively pursue you to convert you to their faith through coercion of some sort. Isn't that against someone's human dignity? Scare tactics? LOL. Good try. ahem!

I questioned it again because they kept on sending/asking me to review stuff with the SDA. I'm not at all interested. Kept sending..."I'm not interested nor do I try and convert people." They kept on and acting like they don't remember the very texts they sent me on the subject to read testimonials and then be pointed to a document online...then to say, "Oh, lots of _____ are reading this and converting over here." GOOD FOR THEM. I will not be one of them. Bait and switch? You don't remember your very words 3 days ago? I copied and pasted them. Then acting like it was about my faith? No, we're not going to do that confusion/you misunderstand/bait and switch nonsense. That's the height of rudeness. Discuss what you want...in an open dialogue with willing people. I am not willing. I have no problem with your religion...it's just not mine and I'm not interested in it.

I asked ways to get around this because it's not someone I can dismiss...but there are 120 views and no opinions. At this point, this is just a small rant on people who have no respect for when you tell them, "I'm not interested," and they keep on bombarding you with it anyway. Disgusting. People have free will to do whatever they want to do. Just because it's YOUR truth doesn't mean ours is null and void. Good grief!

 

[kanozas]

Is SDA a cult? This is cult-like coercion tactics. Maybe it's just this person??? Relentless....like, does this person think they are G-d? You can't save me...only Jesus can? Wow! I might have to nix this relationship as before because this is just plain tew much!!! My goodness!

 

[kanozas]

Things escalated but after I stood my ground on drawn boundaries, it's quieted down. It was pretty intense for a bit. I basically had o tell them that my salvation was none of their business, meaning, that they don't know everything and that they certainly aren't G-d. There's a point to trying to be someone else's "Holy Spirit" where the Lord basically tells you to worry about yourself and stay out of His own territory . I said that religion was off-limits and it's a family member.

 

[charmingt]

They sound deceptive and definitely need to back off of you. God gave us all free will.

 

[Foxglove]

I think you'd get more answers in OT and more recs on how to get her to leave you alone

 

[CoilyFields]

When people pursue me after I've said no thank you, I just tell them that I appreciate their concern for my well-being but that I am firmly rooted in my beliefs and prefer to not discuss it any longer. After that, I walk away if they continue. In your case, I would block them.

I had to realize in my own evangelizing that all I could do was offer, it wasn't my job to cajole or convince. And that love would draw people more than anything.

 

[kanozas]

When people pursue me after I've said no thank you, I just tell them that I appreciate their concern for my well-being but that I am firmly rooted in my beliefs and prefer to not discuss it any longer. After that, I walk away if they continue. In your case, I would block them.

I had to realize in my own evangelizing that all I could do was offer, it wasn't my job to cajole or convince. And that love would draw people more than anything.

One of the problems is that he's showing signs of being involved in a cult. SMH.

 

[kanozas]

I think you'd get more answers in OT and more recs on how to get her to leave you alone

I needed Christian advice, not secular advice, though. But thanks for the recommendation.

 

[kanozas]

They sound deceptive and definitely need to back off of you. God gave us all free will.

Exactly, and that's probably why it bothers my soul so much. SMH. There has been little to no communication as of late. This is a family member but I won't elaborate further on that. I don't know when he joined this religion. Doesn't sound right to me plus, I'm not interested in it. Just the fact that he was trying to figure out a way to attempt to guilt me into it. LOL. That . don't . work . on . me!

 

[dicapr]

Things escalated but after I stood my ground on drawn boundaries, it's quieted down. It was pretty intense for a bit. I basically had o tell them that my salvation was none of their business, meaning, that they don't know everything and that they certainly aren't G-d. There's a point to trying to be someone else's "Holy Spirit" where the Lord basically tells you to worry about yourself and stay out of His own territory . I said that religion was off-limits and it's a family member.

It’s a personality type. I’ve got someone at work like that who is non-denominational. Even after the a coworker told her that she was atheist she still wanted to share her faith. I was like back off-she doesn’t believe in God and you are not doing any service trying to ram it down someone’s throat.

I don’t discuss or share my faith unless people are having a religious discussion or directly ask me about it -and I was raised SDA. The most overly zealous ones that even people in the church side eye seem to always be witnessing. I tell you they give us a bad name! People’s faith is between them and God. If you are at peace with him it’s no one else’s business. If you don’t agree keep it moving or end the relationship-it’s that simple. And that mess he has got with salvation and diet being tied is crazy! We don’t eat certain things but it has nothing to do with salvation.

 

[kanozas]

It’s a personality type. I’ve got someone at work like that who is non-denominational. Even after the a coworker told her that she was atheist she still wanted to share her faith. I was like back off-she doesn’t believe in God and you are not doing any service trying to ram it down someone’s throat.

I don’t discuss or share my faith unless people are having a religious discussion or directly ask me about it -and I was raised SDA. The most overly zealous ones that even people in the church side eye seem to always be witnessing. I tell you they give us a bad name! People’s faith is between them and God. If you are at peace with him it’s no one else’s business. If you don’t agree keep it moving or end the relationship-it’s that simple.

Thank you for responding. I meant no harm comparing it to a cult cuz L-rd knows how people think of Catholics. I've never seen anyone so intense like that. I apologize and realize it's just his personality type. SMH. I should say he's exhibiitng cult-like behaviors. Thank you so much, this puts many things into perspective for me now.

 

[dicapr]

Thank you for responding. I meant no harm comparing it to a cult cuz L-rd knows how people think of Catholics. I've never seen anyone so intense like that. I apologize and realize it's just his personality type. SMH. I should say he's exhibiitng cult-like behaviors. Thank you so much, this puts many things into perspective for me now.

I know how some people are. I understand people need to witness and people who have new truth tend to be over the top. Add that to someone who has a pushy and “I’m right” personality and it can get out of control quickly. He didn’t respect you as a person, family, and sister in Christ. You had every right to be taken aback. However I’ve seen that behavior in Christians and non-Christians alike. Pushy people are pushy people-period.