Am I being recruited? God squad shit.

[SpiderChrist]

I think my sister-in-law has recently attempted to recruit me into her church. A couple of weeks ago my Dad died, and I received a photo message from the s-i-l about a week later. No text (condolences or such-like), no other recipients listed, just a photo of a poster asking folk to "Celebrate The True Gift Of Christmas" at her church in Bumfuck, Egypt (near Peterborough).

You hear about folk joining evangelical churches and their subsequent descent into mental illness trying to persuade others to do likewise, so I don't know if this is one of them "religious cunt exploiting another's vulnerability" deals or not.

What makes me think it might be that? Well, 1) my sister-in-law is well-aware of my atheism and general disdain for organised religion (she's known me for 25 years now) 2) it has been discussed among the extended family that this church is potentially cult-like, and 3) she spent years trying to convert my wife when they were younger.

Is this a cack-handed way of showing empathy, or is she just a tactless fucking zombie who I need to cut out of my life for good?

[willpurry]

I got temporarily mixed up with the Mormons a couple of years ago.  All because of a rusty gate in the park.

[Funcrusher]

Not Cof E then?

[Alberon]

The complete lack of any personalising text suggests she's not putting much effort in. I reckon she's just spammed it at everyone she knows.

Maybe a cult is like a job centre. She'll go in for her review and say "Look, I've tried to convert over fifty heathen blasphemers this week."


PS Sorry to year about your Dad. I've been there and it's a difficult time.

[Buelligan]

I don't think it's wickedness.  These folk truly believe that, until they saw the light, they were completely fucked.  When they see others struggling with life's arrows, they tend to sling them a parasitic lifeline.  They don't realise that's what they're doing, they're just trying to share their special answer. 

Nevertheless, if you don't want an outside authority controlling your every move forever and ever (amen), best to quietly ignore any further ticing.  I don't think it will end well, not if you value your independence, freedom to make your own choices and system of values. 

Of course, they would tell you that it's the Devil dictating these words, so, you know, caveat emptor matey _{I'm sorry My Lord, could you spell that, I'm not up on these archaic languages as you are.}.

Very sorry about your dad. 

[Mister Six]

My condolences on your dad, SpiderChrist.

(Ooh, the sentences CaB makes you type...)

Even if she's trying to convert you that might not be a reason to cut her out of your life. Maybe she's scared you'll go to Hell and the death of your dad has exacerbated those feelings? Still annoying as fuck but coming from a human place, at least.

[SpiderChrist]

Just had a response. Got carried away going through the friends list, apparently. Honestly, 6 days to come up with a reason/excuse and that's the best the god-botherer could come up with. Tchuh.

Considering telling her that I have converted to Islam.

[SpiderChrist]

And ta for the kind words RE the auld fella.

[Jockice]

I'm someone who as one of those poor disabled types regularly has people trying to get me to join their religions etc. I've actually had recruiters running across roads to me knowing I couldn't escape fast enough. But nothing - and I repeat nothing - is as bad as the vitamin B12 miracle cure cult a relative of mine is a member of.

[Buelligan]

I've lived here for a fair old while (over ten years) and I've had the English speaking Jehovah's on my tail since day five.  I'm not even lying.  They never give up either, kind of nice to think someone's thinking of me really.

[Bennett Brauer]

What's not to like?

[gilbertharding]

I'd like to second the Sympathy. And I speak from recent experience when I say the last thing anyone needs when dealing with becoming an orphan is dealing with bloody relatives and their stupid fucking shit.

This sister in law is your wife's sister, I presume - rather than your brother's wife? Not that it makes much difference either way... my advice is to ignore them utterly, using social media settings if applicable.

[Buelligan]

Or his sister's wife (if we're not going to be fuddyduddy about it now we're in the Modern World).

Jesus loves them all you know.

[Jockice]

Even if she's trying to convert you that might not be a reason to cut her out of your life. Maybe she's scared you'll go to Hell and the death of your dad has exacerbated those feelings? Still annoying as fuck but coming from a human place, at least.

It can become intolerable though. In the case of the vitamin b12 miracle cure cult (I know it's not a religion but it might as well be) others were incredibly tolerant until they (and me) were pushed too far.  Some of us even tried it but when it didn't have any effect of course it was because we were somehow stopping it from miraculously curing us.  I'm (just about) back on speaking terms with this person but other family members aren't. Meanwhile she posts stuff on Facebook about how she feels like 'the victim of a medieval witch trial,' which is about as far from what actually happened as it's possible to be.

It is fucking bizarre but it would take a lot more space to explain it. I'd actually rather have someone trying to recruit me to the Moonies or Scientologists.

[Noonling]

I'm someone who as one of those poor disabled types regularly has people trying to get me to join their religions etc. I've actually had recruiters running across roads to me knowing I couldn't escape fast enough. But nothing - and I repeat nothing - is as bad as the vitamin B12 miracle cure cult a relative of mine is a member of.

Just let the healing light of B12 into your heart and you will be saved.

[gilbertharding]

Or his sister's wife (if we're not going to be fuddyduddy about it now we're in the Modern World).

Jesus loves them all you know.

I know that... Last time I checked I wasn't sure all the xtians were all on board.

[Jockice]

Just let the healing light of B12 into your heart and you will be saved.

Don't you start!

(For the record, I have asked every doctor I've seen since all this started - around half a dozen for various reasons - if I have a B12 deficiency. They've all said no. I get my blood tested on a regular basis, so asked if there are any possible discrepancies. And been told no. I've informed this person about that but all I get back is a load of stuff about how doctors are only given half an hour of training about B12 (and yes, that includes specialist neurologists) and anyway they rarely prescribe it because Big Pharma would rather make sure that patients were given more expensive but inaffective drugs. Anyway, I drink energy drinks (usually one a day although I don't always finish that) and that cancels out all the miraculous work the B12 injections would do.)

And so on. Forever and ever. I'll stop derailing the thread now. Back to God everyone.

[SpiderChrist]

I'd like to second the Sympathy. And I speak from recent experience when I say the last thing anyone needs when dealing with becoming an orphan is dealing with bloody relatives and their stupid fucking shit.

This sister in law is your wife's sister, I presume - rather than your brother's wife? Not that it makes much difference either way... my advice is to ignore them utterly, using social media settings if applicable.

Yeah, wife's sister. And I really don't buy the excuse either. Grrrr I'm fucking pissed off about all this.

[gilbertharding]

I recently went on a speeding awareness course to atone for a crime I committed (bear with me here) and one of the nuggets of wisdom I took away from it, which might also be helpful to you on this matter was "getting angry about what this person has done is like drinking poison and expecting THEM to die."

Basically, she's probably never going to know and/or understand what she's done wrong.

Does your wife have the kind of relationship with her sister which would mean she cares either way if you ever pay more than lip service towards a relationship?

[Kryton]

What's not to like?

That's fucking brill. I love this kind of religious propaganda art or whatever it's called.

[gib]

the guy in the green shirt at the back looks a bit traumatized but at least he still has a strong stride

[Dex Sawash]

What's not to like?

Brexit means Brexit

[Sin Agog]

Sounds like just a casual invite to midnight mass.  Once-a-year Christians flock to that shit.

I'm a devout atheist, but I think it's sort of inspiring when someone's trudging from door-to-door trying to save total strangers' souls.  It's an alien piece of misguided kindness in a grabby world. If I did believe in that noise, I'd have to go full-in like that.  How can you treat eternity like a trip to the post office?  No wonder they're distraught at all the secular lost souls roaming the streets, doomed for eternity, and, like Andrew Garfield in that Mel Gibson movie Hacksaw Ridge, trying to bring as many of us fuckers to safety as they can before the lights go out.  They actually believe in God, no funning! Of course, there's often money at the root of it all, but the tendrils going out from door to door are nobler folks than I.

[H-O-W-L]

Of course, they would tell you that it's the Devil dictating these words, so, you know, caveat emptor matey _{I'm sorry My Lord, could you spell that, I'm not up on these archaic languages as you are.}.

Aye, this is why I fucked off when I was part of a church. The excuse of "SATAN DID IT" for fucking everything evil was so heinous it broke my moral code and I had to walk out. I actually did it in the midst of a service, too, though I tried to be as quiet as possible and not make a scene. I just couldn't stomach it anymore or I was gonna actually throw up.

Condolences.

[SpiderChrist]

I recently went on a speeding awareness course to atone for a crime I committed (bear with me here) and one of the nuggets of wisdom I took away from it, which might also be helpful to you on this matter was "getting angry about what this person has done is like drinking poison and expecting THEM to die."

Basically, she's probably never going to know and/or understand what she's done wrong.

Does your wife have the kind of relationship with her sister which would mean she cares either way if you ever pay more than lip service towards a relationship?

Honestly? No. Your advice is good advice and I intend to take it. I used to like getting angry, though.

Sounds like just a casual invite to midnight mass.  Once-a-year Christians flock to that shit.

I'm a devout atheist, but I think it's sort of inspiring when someone's trudging from door-to-door trying to save total strangers' souls.  It's an alien piece of misguided kindness in a grabby world. If I did believe in that noise, I'd have to go full-in like that.  How can you treat eternity like a trip to the post office?  No wonder they're distraught at all the secular lost souls roaming the streets, doomed for eternity, and, like Andrew Garfield in that Mel Gibson movie Hacksaw Ridge, trying to bring as many of us fuckers to safety as they can before the lights go out.  They actually believe in God, no funning! Of course, there's often money at the root of it all, but the tendrils going out from door to door are nobler folks than I.

Hmmm. Really not sure about that.

[greenman]

What's not to like?

You never see were there traveling to though do you? it could be Luton.

[SpiderChrist]

Whittlesey

[Sebastian Cobb]

You never see were there traveling to though do you? it could be Luton.

[Jack Shaftoe]

Ha, I was thinking about that Prodigy inlay thing just the other day. Partly because I had noisy neighbours who so loved the whole repetitive beat thing I am now firmly aligned with the chaps in uniform on the left of the picture.

[Pingers]

What's not to like?

"That's that city of fags dealt with, let's fuck off"