Hello, Do you have a moment to hear about $religion?
As is our usual Saturday morning routine, Jenn & I were watching an episode of House Hunters. For those that aren’t familiar with this show, House Hunters follows one family in their search for a new house. Usually the search is a race against time, the family furiously looking for those most coveted items that are impossible to live without. Of course I’m referring to granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances and the Pièce de résistance….hardwood floors. Every week I’m left feeling a little empty inside because our house is lacking all of these most precious items. But I digress.
Having been in our house for just over a year, I always felt that something was lacking (besides the obvious mentioned amenities above). This morning was the first morning that I truly felt like a real home owner as our house was finally visited by door-to-door sales people. These particular sales people were not selling freeze dried meat, aluminum siding, or windows. It was not the tiny, green uniformed mafia pushing their overpriced baked goods, these peddlers were pushing religion. Its not important what particular faith franchise these merchants were from, what is important is that they wanted very much to enter my home to show off their figurative wares. I got the feeling that these retailers were professional, they had been doing this kind of work before. There was no hesitation following the obviously rhetorical question of “Do you mind if I read you a passage from my $sales_catalog?” As the salesman began, I was forced to interrupt him, explaining to him politely that I wasn’t interested. He recoiled with a horrified expression on his face, gasping (almost). “You’re not interested in the catalog?”, he gasped (almost). “I am not”, I explained while slowly closing the door. He made one more effort with a different pitch, but I had already closed the door.
After they had left, I began thinking about several different things related to the mornings events. There are many places around the world where unfortunately people do not have the freedom to practice their religion of choice. One of the greatest gifts that this and other like minded countries offer its residents is the freedom to practice or not practice any religion they wish. How I see it however, it does not give someone the right or the responsibility to “show me the light” fixtures of page 42. Religious beliefs should be left up to an individual and should not be a contest with the other franchises. I haven’t completely made up my mind about what happens to us after death or if there will be an Armageddon. but I’m fairly certain that having the most sales doesn’t make your franchise the winner. Maybe I’m wrong and the top sellers get hideous yellow wool blazers, to wear for all eternity.
I also started thinking about religious matters in current events, one particular event stuck out in my mind. Because of the recent news of the possibility of a new mosque being built in New York city the First Amendment, the very amendment that gives people the freedom of religion, has also been in the news a lot. A lot of people are up in arms, begging the question, is everyone entitled to freedom of religion…so long as that religion is your religion?
I agree. Just do what I did once in college… The doorbell rang and I answered it, hung over and disheveled.
“Good morning! Would you like to talk about our Savior and Lord?”
Ugh. Bleary eyed and grumpy, I grabbed the guy by the tie and pulled him through the threshold of the door, yelling: “I’m glad you’re here! I want to talk to you about SATAN!”
We never had another evangelist show up at that address. I like to think the Almighty in whatever form He’s in has a sense of humor.