I Confronted A Fundie The Other Day

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It actually wasn't much of a confrontation. But there is this guy here at the University of Minnesota ~ Twin Cities who, at least two days a week, comes to campus, and reads out of his bible, shouting about how everyone is going to burn in hell. He also tried to interrupt our anti-war protest on Wednesday.

Now, some of you may know that I am active in the anti-war group on campus. I was out flyering for us on Thursday. We have this pamphlet called "What 'Support Our Troops' really means", and I was handing them out. I happened to pass this guy, I came up to him, rather civilly, told him I was a liberal christian, hoping he would at least somewhat listen to me, I handed him my pamphlet, he gave me a crazy look, and I went back out on my way.

I just figured since he's always trying to "get through" to people, I'd give him a taste of his own medicine. Wonder if it worked any. :P

[loro mi dicevano]

1. Minnesota fundies are of the very creepy sort.

I once knew one that wore the same shirt every day: "Satan, you're FIRED!" And told me (a lesbian) that he was mad at his friend because his friend was "acting gay, and I'm homophobic."

Wackos.

Good job. :)

[anti_shrub]

2. We had a live one in downtown Pittsburgh the other day

Older guy with a staff with a crucifix, and a folded 2 sided poster of a baby on one half and the always lovely aborted fetus on the other side.

This guy was all over the map, I thought it was going to be the usual anti-choice stuff but he was railing against TV and churches that are getting too lax. I think I heard a shiavo or two, but I was busy trying to figure out where he was going.

I was actually somewhat impressed at the guy's lung power. I thought he was using a megaphone but his voice was naturally echoing about 4 streets away.

I was going to confront the guy, but I was on my lunch break and I didn't want to waste it arguing with a nutball since I usually skip breakfast.

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3. yeah, our guy is loud too

I can usually hear him from all the way across the mall.

[madeline_con]

4. It will never work...

This guy is of the type who likes to comdemn everyone else to hell. I have no clue why they do this, I guess they want you to 'repent' and have them help 'save' you a la Benny Hinn right there on the sidewalk.

Also, if he's interrupting a war protest, he really needs to be told to go home and read up on Jesus again, because he's so far off base.

At least he might give it some thought in his off time.

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5. i should clarify re: interrupting the protest

he was there on the steps where we were having it. we told him that we were supposed to have a protest at noon (it was 11.45) and he said "I know". He said he would leave at 12. We started getting the feeling that he was scaring people away from us. You think you're going to go to an anti-war protest, and you come to the place just to hear a guy screaming about how you're going to hell. Not cool. so one the group members started beating his drums really loud, and then another turned up some patriotic music. he was still shouting, but nobody could hear him. so he finally gave up.

[madeline_con]

8. This is when the best weapon...

is a super soaker. Just blast him.

[BTFSTL]

6. Kind of like...

...campus preachers named Brother Jed, Sister Cindy, the late Brother Max, Brother Jim, et.al.

You could always count on them showing up early on in the year at Eastern Illinois University (Charleston, IL), my alma mater, for a few days of screaming, hollering and general mayhem.

They never said anything to me, fortunately, but it was almost disgusting how they perverted the name of Christ for their own uses. Now look what's going on in this country.

Don't get me wrong, religion can be a good thing. But not in the hands of these jokers.

[FreedomAngel82]

7. Good for you

He's not the only one who can "convert" people. :)

[Selatius]

9. We have one here at Mississippi State

I generally just don't bother with him. He can say whatever he wants, but as long as he isn't harrassing folks or violating their personal space by getting in their faces, I have no bone to pick with him. It can be a task to try to ignore him while walking to class.

He's been confined to our campus' free speech zone after some folks complained about him getting in their faces or following them to proselytize them. I had a problem with that.

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10. that's really sad. if the entire campus isn't a free speech zone,

then is there really much of a point to college? isn't college supposed to challenge us intellectually? and try to make us think about ideas of others.

sad.

[kittenpants]

11. I don't suppose his name was Brother Jed?

There was a Brother Jed at Ohio State just like that. People would gather round to mock him, but he showed up every week to save us anyway.