One of the most disgusting things I've ever seen posted on Yahoo! Answers

[crowdog66]

Have you ever had the opportunity to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with someone right before they died?

Maybe you're a policeman, a fireman, or a health care professional and you witnessed to someone before they died. Maybe you witnessed to a relative or a close friend before they died.

The original question: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AlFKfY8ZfoTK6kT1rVmkuVPsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20080103185003AAqEcMF&show=7#profile-info-5vqo3XzHaa

... is it just me, or is this utterly disgusting?

This was my response:

My mother, like me, was a Wiccan. She died in June.

If someone -- anyone -- had tried to witness to her as she lay on her deathbed, I would have physically assaulted them. With extreme prejudice, as the assassins say.

EDITED TO ADD: Okay, my IMPULSE would be to assault them... what I probably would have done, once I finished picking my jaw up off the floor, was firmly escort them from my mother's room, tell them not to come back, and then report them to the hospital authorities. I was my mother's Priestess, and it was my responsibility to look after her spiritual needs as she lay dying. Part of that would have been protecting her from evil attempts such as the one you're suggesting.

Keep your bloody religion to yourself, and grow a sense of respect before somebody beats it into you.

I am normally a fairly mild-mannered person, but that level of rudeness just... gah!

EDITED TO ADD: I started a question ABOUT that question, here:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/;_ylc=X3oDMTE1MmI4N2IyBF9TAzIxMTU1MDAxMTgEc2VjA2Fuc19ub3QEc2xrA3N1YmplY3Q-;_ylv=3?qid=20080103191053AAwAMsC

Comments

[paraoptomistic.livejournal.com]

I think the best witness for any religion is one who practices it in their daily life. Nobody has been "saved" by being threatened with eternal damnation. No matter what your religion is, there is no excuse for intolerance. If someone offers to talk about Jesus (or Buddha, or the Flying Spaghetti Monster) and the listener declines, it should be dropped.

[matrixrefugee.livejournal.com]

I'm with you on all counts. People who gently share the gospel with someone who's dying are only trying to offer them something beyond this life to hold onto to help them over to the other side when/if there's little hope for them to hang on here. Maybe there's some nasty types who obnoxiously preach at the dying, but I think they're in the minority. I'm minded of a story I heard about a cop in LA, a Catholic who baptized a young gangbanger who'd been shot in gang brawl; the poor kid was terrified of dying, but after the cop prayed with him and baptized him, the kid was more at peace. Sadly, the kid later died in the hospital from his wounds, but I don't doubt he made out like the Good Thief at Christ's right hand: he got in at the head of the line.

[elaryn.livejournal.com]

That seems evil and predatory to me. Offering spiritual comfort to someone who is badly hurt is one thing, but the primariy focus ought to be the welfare of the injured and not following some idiotic personal agenda. Religion is NOT like counting coup! You do not get to put a notch in your holy book (or whatever) for every person you made a pitch to.

Religion isn't what one preaches, anyway. It's about how you live your life and why. I Corinthians 13 says it pretty well. In part:

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not love, I am nothing...

If you're living it, people will see it, and they'll respond. Kindness begets kindness. Love begets love.

Ah well... Speaking of preaching, I feel like I'm sort of preaching to a senior religious, so I'll just be quite now, but...sheesh! Some people! Is it any wonder that some folks are down on religion? Once again, it's not God(dess) but the more obnoxious members of the Deity's fan club.

[curiosity.livejournal.com]

If it's someone who enjoys that sort of thing, then no problem. If the OP means shoving Christ down just anyone's throat then . . . um. I don't think he likes it rough. In all the stuff I've read, never did I see "J.C. is all about the kinky side of being your savior. Stay away from dark alleys, churches, and public servants while in life threatening jeopardy."

[flamingchords.livejournal.com]

I'm absolutely with you on this. But then, I'm sure you knew I would be.