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I went to a funeral for a Jehovah's Witnesses once. The priest came and talked to me and my 2 atheist friends afterwards. He asked if we were baptized. And
by 7952 5y ago
I went to a funeral for a Jehovah's Witnesses once. The priest came and talked to me and my 2 atheist friends afterwards. He asked if we were baptized. And then said how in his church they wait until people are older to decide for themselves. We all nodded in agreement, sounded sensible. But in hindsight he was just canvasing us. Prompt some critical thinking and plant an idea that people will lazily agree with. Total bs of course as to an atheist a baptised baby is exactly the same as an unbaptised one!
- themodelplumber 5y agoSounds familiar...I was kinda that guy a lot. I also had a weird pride in being on HN, reading phys.org, participating in FOSS projects alongside scientific community members, meeting up with them and hosting them at my house...but also being so extra as to know even more than these scientists, in some incredible ways! I hoped someday they'd see the truth. (Sigh) There's this power of location and meeting context in your example too. When I was young and not yet even part of leadership, we were taught to invite people to come to our favorite spiritual locations with us. Then, while there, we would gently and firmly declare our beliefs and ask the other if they could deny that they felt the truth in it...and by that point they are, even just relationally speaking, posed with one hell of a problem. BTW organizing funerals for people you don't know very well is stressful AF.