Religion on trail

[Cookerhiker]

It seems your more likely to run into discusions about religon here on WB then on the trail! There really aren't that many vocal, evangelicals on the AT at any given time, so it is just random chance you might meet up with one. How big a chance that is depends a lot on what sections you are on the trail, with the south much more likely then the north.

When one does run into one of these evangelicals (typically recently born again'ers) it is fun to sometimes play with their minds and beliefs, though usually the best thing to do is simply ignor them.

I agree that you're more likely to encounter discussions on religion here on WB than the Trail but re. evangelizing, I don't see it often on WB i.e. rarely since I've been on WB have members pushed their religion on others (and BTW I don't consider a religious expression in a signature line to be pushing). That is not to say that there aren't fundamentalist evangelicals on WB (there are), but they're hardly over-bearing or dogmatic.

[Cookerhiker]

......... Someone mentioned Paul the Apostial earlier and I think he said something along the lines of I do what I don't want to do and don't do what I should do. This happens alot for all of us it seems.

It sounds like you're referring to Romans 7:15-25. I've always liked this passage because it shows Paul's basic frail humanity which we all share; none of us are perfect.

[Hangman]

It sounds like you're referring to Romans 7:15-25. I've always liked this passage because it shows Paul's basic frail humanity which we all share; none of us are perfect.

Yes that was what I was trying to refer to. It was good to read again.

[Second Half]

Although I may regret jumping into this, here's my take on the subject. I don't have a problem with discussions of religion. Humans have a desire to understand the nature and purpose of the universe and it can be interesting hearing what people believe and why they believe in it.

Where it crosses the line into being unacceptable is when someone starts asking things like "are you saved?" "have you heard the good news?" "have you accepted Jesus as your savior?" or when they start expressing concern for the fate of my eternal soul. This is where it ceases to be a conversation and starts becoming judgemental and proselytizing. I think that is what people are objecting to.

[FlyPaper]

Although I may regret jumping into this, here's my take on the subject. I don't have a problem with discussions of religion. Humans have a desire to understand the nature and purpose of the universe and it can be interesting hearing what people believe and why they believe in it.

Where it crosses the line into being unacceptable is when someone starts asking things like "are you saved?" "have you heard the good news?" "have you accepted Jesus as your savior?" or when they start expressing concern for the fate of my eternal soul. This is where it ceases to be a conversation and starts becoming judgemental and proselytizing. I think that is what people are objecting to.

While it is more understandable that one would find this distasteful, I don't agree that "this is what people are objecting to."

Clearly, from their own words, MANY on this thread are objecting to much less intrusive discussions that what you describe.

I'm curious, why does someone expressing concern for the fate of your soul bother you anyway? If someone with beliefs differing from
mine expressed concern for me, I'd either welcome the opportunity to talk or politely tell them I don't want to discuss it. Jehovah's
Witnesses come by my house from time to time. I just tell them I'm not interested and we go our separate ways. If I met a JW at
a shelter and neither of us had anywhere we had to be, I'd probably happily engage in dialog.

[Manwich]

I agree that you're more likely to encounter discussions on religion here on WB than the Trail but re. evangelizing, I don't see it often on WB i.e. rarely since I've been on WB have members pushed their religion on others (and BTW I don't consider a religious expression in a signature line to be pushing). That is not to say that there aren't fundamentalist evangelicals on WB (there are), but they're hardly over-bearing or dogmatic.

I've personally experienced proselytizing here on this site through private message. It may not occur on the surface.

[TheRaven]

Holy smokin' jesus! I just gotta hear how your spirituality is related to the movie Avatar.

um, not related to the movie Avatar...just a similar belief in that everything is connected and all living things hold a unique spirit that can be tapped into if you are quiet enough to listen. In other words, all life is sacred, and that humans hold no more value than a dragonfly.

[Beachcomber]

If you don't want to hear any more preaching, try something like this: "Ha, Ha, HA! YOUR puny religion has only one god. But WE have THOUSANDS of gods!" It helps if one of your eyes is twitching kinda randomly while you'e talking.

[George]

I like when religious material is left in the shelters it has helped me many times ...... to get a fire started


from a bathroom wall near springer:

jesus save me ... from your followers

[Spokes]

What amazes me is most of the worlds conflicts are the result of religious ideology. So, I'm going to start carrying a small pocket edition of the US Constitution in my pack.

[Lone Wolf]

I like when religious material is left in the shelters it has helped me many times ...... to get a fire started


from a bathroom wall near springer:

jesus save me ... from your followers

a real outdoorsman doesn't need man-made fire starter. the fact you stayed at a shelter shows your inexperience. and i bet you didn't use any bible paper. you're just tryin' to be cool

[chief]

um, not related to the movie Avatar...just a similar belief in that everything is connected and all living things hold a unique spirit that can be tapped into if you are quiet enough to listen. In other words, all life is sacred, and that humans hold no more value than a dragonfly.

Yep, pretty much what I thought. More power to you, but be careful about tapping into living things, some tap back.

[DrRichardCranium]

What amazes me is most of the worlds conflicts are the result of religious ideology. So, I'm going to start carrying a small pocket edition of the US Constitution in my pack.

Not really.None of the major wars for the last four centuries were over religion. Earlier wars may have been onllly superficially about religion, but were actually about something else. And some of the most anti-religious regimes during the 20th century were also slaughtering people by the millions. It is clear then, that things do not become all la de da when you take religion out of the confllict. People still find reasons to kill.

[Blissful]

humans hold no more value than a dragonfly.

Really.

wow....

You can put a human being ie your mother, father, sister, good friend, soldier in arms, fellow hiker on par with an insect.

Guess I see my family and friends worth my love and attention. I have no such love for a mosquito or deer tick or a dragonfy, thank you.

[yari]

...and people still debate something they WILL NEVER BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND.... The human race is no where near evolved enough to comprehend the vastness of spirit and being. I don't wish to hear bible and god talk just as I don't want to hear a used car salesman or an advert for tampax/viagra. It's all annoying and is a waste of my time.

I have to agree, very annoying, so I tune it out. If someone insists on trying to engage me in religious discussion when I don't care to hear it I tell them I am a post-theist. In other words, I find the discussion of "is there a god" no longer relevant. Upon hearing this a woman told me I was going to hell. My reply, "Hell? In Michigan? No way I can hike there, I only have a three day weekend." End of discussion.

[yari]

Really.

wow....

You can put a human being ie your mother, father, sister, good friend, soldier in arms, fellow hiker on par with an insect.

Guess I see my family and friends worth my love and attention. I have no such love for a mosquito or deer tick or a dragonfy, thank you.

You may love them however, just because you do does not give them more intrinsic value than the insects. One of the most arrogant aspects of humanity is valuing itself over all other forms of life when we have been more destructive to all life than any other living being.

[carpediemkath]

I did my first big section of the trail (Springer to NOC) this spring and I was surprised by all the witnessing and preaching on the trail. I was expecting more open-minded people and was surprised by the religious intolerance. Ie "my religion is right and your's is wrong; therefore you're going to hell. Unless you believe what I say and change your sinning ways."
I get it that many hikers are very young and are trying to figure out who they are and what they believe. But there's a difference between the open exchange and exploration of ideas, and the intolerant witnessing that I experienced on the trail. I was unable to find a way to shut it down without seeming rude myself, but I considered it really rude for someone to monopolize my rest day or lunch break with their witnessing. That's something that I need to work on--find a way to stop a tiring religious lecture before it takes up my entire rest break.

[Spokes]

Not really.None of the major wars for the last four centuries were over religion. Earlier wars may have been onllly superficially about religion, but were actually about something else. And some of the most anti-religious regimes during the 20th century were also slaughtering people by the millions. It is clear then, that things do not become all la de da when you take religion out of the confllict. People still find reasons to kill.

Yeah, really. Religion-based wars............ to name few.

[Spokes]

Not really.None of the major wars for the last four centuries were over religion. Earlier wars may have been onllly superficially about religion, but were actually about something else. And some of the most anti-religious regimes during the 20th century were also slaughtering people by the millions. It is clear then, that things do not become all la de da when you take religion out of the confllict. People still find reasons to kill.

Yeah, really. Religion-based wars............ to name few.

[Bronk]

Saw numerous brand new bibles left in the GA shelters this spring.

Bibles make GREAT firestarters. I probably burned a couple dozen of them on my hike...in fact I burned about 10 of them one snowy morning near the end of May just outside Pearisburg.

Funny thing, I was walking back from Walmart to the Rendezvous in Pearisburg and some lady stopped and offered me a ride...I wasn't hitching, just walking with my grocery bags...she proceeded to tell me she had lived there all her life but had never set foot on the trail...asked me what I thought it took for me to have walked so far...I said "a strong mind." She then proceeded to argue with me about how she thought that faith was the most important thing...this from a lady whom had never set foot on the trail...