THE JEHOOVERS FOUND ME . . .

When I left California and moved to Mexico some twenty years ago, one of the minor things that I inwardly smiled about was my escape from the annoyance of the frequent visits by the local tribe of Jahoovers [Jehovah Witnesses].  Alas, after a couple of years of peace, the local branch of the Mexican Jahoovers also ferreted out my new location and characteristically refused to accept my firm, but polite, admonition that I really wasn't interested in the religious wares they were peddling.

I have been in Thailand going on eight years now, with nary a visit from you-know-who.  I felt safe and secure in the knowledge that religious proselytization, at least the door knocking form,  was against the law here in the Land of Smiles.  However  I should have remembered that Thai people are exceedingly adept at sidestepping, or just ignoring, laws that seem foolish to them.  As a glowing example, the helmet requirement for all motorcycle [scooter] drivers and riders.  They much prefer the wind in their hair, and the risk of the occasional fine, as well as the possibility of their brains all over the pavement, to donning a dreaded helmet. 

So last week,  when the bell on my gate rang at mid-day, I looked out and was surprised to see four young women with black umbrellas as protection from the unseasonably hot sun during what should be our cooler monsoon season. Even more surprising were the long uncharacteristic pioneer type print dresses that they were wearing.   Was I about to be invited to be an extra in a Thai western film?  But then my eagle eyes became aware of the fact that each of them had a small black plastic briefcase.  My inner alarm bells began clanging long before we did our 'sawatdee kaps' as a greeting.  We exchanged a few pleasantries before I launched into my well honed "I'm just not interested" routine.  But of course they didn't leave before insisting that I accept one of their small pamphlets. I never did figure out the reason for the long dresses - perhaps they have been watching movies about the early Mormon pioneers and got a bit confused.. 

As I mentioned I have lived here for a nuimber of years and 99.9 % of my friends are Buddhists, and yet not a single one of them has ever suggested that I might be interested in following their chosen religion.  I didn't realize how much I appreciated this courtesy until the Jehoovers arrived at my home. 

 I don't care what you believe and support your freedom to express your beliefs, as long as you don't interfere with my life and my own set of beliefs.  But when it comes to folks confronting me at home or on the street, and who wish to introduce me to their belief system in the hopes of converting me, i.e., Bible thumpers, the Mormons and the JWs, yes, I am intolerant and find nothing unacceptable about being so.  I personally find organized religions unsavory, but if they don't bother me, or start wars, or attempt to impose their will on others, then let them be.  

Comments

[danny]

this is the sad tragedy of Xianity! but i finally understand it after talking with a fairly reasonable missionary in Taiwan once...he told me that as far as Christians are taught to see things, we heathens are like people in a house on fire to them and their entreaties to us and as if they merely want to yell FIRE and help us get out of the house on fire, which he inhabit in our heathenness, and therefore their entreaties are from their POV all about love and saving us from the fire of eternal damnation. That is their reality in terms of how they see non-Christians, that is their mission, this missionaries. Once I saw that , understand that, i understood THEM and now I forgive them because they mean well, even though they are totally misguided and ignorant of life's reality......SIGH

[danny]

but yes, never once in 20 years in Japan and Taiwan has a Buddhist or a Taoist or a Shintoist told me I was wrong to be a non-believer and have never been judged by my fellow islanders in Jville or Tville. Just saying. But yes, in the USA, daily life and on TV with televangelists, from Sarah Palin on down, or up, always the Christian judgments. YUCK. The tragedy of the West is Christianity. Nobody believes me but it's true....