I have the feeling I’m going to need to create a whole new website dedicated solely to my cashiering stories.
The other day, after I finished ringing up an elderly woman’s groceries, she handed me a card with John 3:16 typed out on it. On the other side, in script handwriting, it read “Jesus loves you.” On either side of me stood cashiers with crosses around their necks, but of course I was standing at the register this woman happened to go to. And to add to the irony of the situation, I was wearing my gay pride bracelet. Perfect.
This weekend, I received yet another religious customer set on saving my soul. He handed me two cards held together with a rubber band, complete with Bible verses he advised I say to myself before going to sleep each night. Yeah, okay.
The two prayer cards given to me by a customer.
To be honest, I think it’s just plain rude. Even if they hand these cards out blindly, they have to know that there are many people in the world who do not share their beliefs. To assume that those people are naive and impressionable enough to completely change their beliefs and lifestyles around based on one card is pretty offensive. I even know many religious people who would find it offensive, especially because it implies that religion needs advertising in the first place. Religion should be personal and something one finds on their own, not an organization they eventually succumb to after being pressured by messages and advertisements all around them.
That’s why I don’t see the purpose in organized religion — if religion is supposed to be personal, how can one system work for such large groups of people? How can one system work for people who are born into it and know nothing else? People who have had no chance to discover their own beliefs are not making a personal choice, but rather taking a lifestyle that has been set out for them for granted. I do believe that at some point, historically, organized religion did serve a greater social purpose, but I think it’s time our society move beyond that.
Today, we have so many different organized religions to begin with that any social or anthropological purpose they once served can’t possibly still apply. How do such strong clashing opinions–sometimes fanatical ones–help to keep society structured? In ancient times, religion helped to keep societies in peace and transition into what we would now call civilization. That’s not to say it never caused trouble in the past, but it certainly had a more positive social relevance than it does today. Conversely, when we think of how religion impacts our society today, the first things that come to mind include war and discrimination. Anytime religion even comes up in a regular conversation it typically ends in some sort of disagreement, to the point where it’s considered socially inappropriate to even mention religion. Does that sound like a peaceful, structured system to you, or one that socially benefits our society at all? Something that gets people so angry we can’t even talk about it?
These cards were the perfect example of those clashing views we all have — the customers I had probably pass out many more on a daily basis, but I’m sure they elicit very different reactions from people every time. Some might be touched, some offended, some might verbally attack them, and others will just blog about it. In any case, I think this kind of “advertising” has a lot more potential for bad than good, unless, I suppose, you live in a town with very little religious diversity. Either way, I don’t see why some people delude themselves into thinking this will make a positive difference. Some people will already agree with you, and others will continue to disagree with you — and maybe even more strongly.
And of course I share a similar story from my customer service days. My friend and I were cleaning the movie theater and came across a bunch of pamphlets from a local church. We thought they were just promoting their church but we opened them to find a discussion topic regarding the “issue of an increase in homosexuality.” Ironically, my friend is gay along with 80% of the theater staff…We enjoyed watching the pamphlets getting pounded by the trash compactor.
Even though I do believe that people should be open about their beliefs, I do not believe that it equals to converting others. As a Catholic, I do not believe that is our job to do. Also, as you mentioned, the “marketing” ploy that they’re using makes the entire religion sound fishy, and for those who are religious in the right ways, it gives them a bad rap.
A few years ago, an anti-Catholic tried to convert me. I took his pamphlet and stuffed it between the pages of an FHM magazine. And that was just being nice. Too bad I didn’t use it as toilet paper.
I don’t find it rude at all. Were I to receive something similar and it was something I didn’t believe in, I’d just leave it somewhere for another person to find. I’d say thank you and move on. Maybe I’d tack it to one of those bulletin boards in a supermarket or leave it on the counter in the post office.
I don’t know, I just think that people get offended too easily. Like the people who get mad when someone wishes them a Merry Christmas. I would not be offended if someone were to say “Happy Hanukkah” or “Happy Kwanzaa” to me. I’d smile and know they were giving me good wishes.
The Jehovah Witness people come around the neighborhood often. If I choose to answer the door, I smile politely and tell them I have my own beliefs and suggest they save their literature for the next house. Then I wish them a nice day.
I guess I’m just too laid back but I choose to be offended by far worse things than religion.
By the way, I love your blog! I started reading after following your link from idolbloglive.com.
If you think that’s rude, read on my site about what happened to me, it’s along the same lines, but jeeze people now a days http://www.heartlesswind.com/index.php?id=6
I know from my experiences, being a cashier for nearly 2 years (combined), I have my fair share of stories. I’ve had those religious cards handed to me several times before, but I was nice, said thank you, and later threw it away – not because I don’t have respect, but I probably couldn’t remember to do it.
My blog, like yours, contains many stories of a cashier too. lol.
I can relate.. exept for prayer cards I’ve been given a bible. Every Sunday we get 2 church rushes at my work since we happen to be located almost across the street.
I remember when I was in middle school a group of religious people waited right outside the entrance of my school and, when school was out, handed out bibles with pamphlets inside to the students. I was offended — they were obviously targeting young impressionable kids… I didn’t think it was a nice thing to do, I thought it was quite manipulative. At my high school this sometimes happens, but I see more people giving out free condoms than the religious guys.
People like that annoy me too. I just ignore them whenever I get them, or say “No thank you” if I see someone about to try and evangelise to me!