Today, someone knocked on my door. When I answered the gentleman told me he and his friend were visiting today because a lot of people blame God for what is going on in the world today. I asked him If by God he meant a deity that lives in the sky, and he said “yes, I am talking about God.” He asked me if I believe in God and I said I am science based for which he proceeded to tell me science is supported in the Bible. He was such a nice gentleman that I didn’t have the heart to send him away so I stood there and listened. How do you handle it when approached by a religious person? This fellow seemed to be able to manage that I was a non-believer, but I know some who become very upset when I have told them that.
© 2026 – SoulSequel
7 responses to “do you consider yourself a religious person? How do you deal with religious people?”
Being a non-believer, you represented an empty slate to the religious men. They could write whatever they wanted to teach you on this empty slate.
I have had religion all of my life, but have not always believed in God. I was raised on the Church of Religious Science until Mom married a Jew. Then I tried to convert to Judaism, but I am not good at it. My Grandma tried to teach me about the Baha’i Faith, but I just did not catch on. At 33, after Grandma died, there were Baha’is all around me in my life. Everything Grandma had tried so hard to teach me just fell into place. I became a Baha’i.
At first, I was intoxicated by the Baha’i Faith and jumped into it with all of my heart. I travel taught. I went to Iran and Russia to teach the Baha’i Faith. I took all the Ruhi courses and would teach the Baha’i Faith wherever I lived. I enjoyed the life and being Baha’i. I worked with the Los Angeles Baha’i Youth Workshop. My life centered around the Baha’i Faith. Yes, I would say that I was very religious. When little Rainn Wilson grew up and started SoulPancake, I got on the forum with the fun and excitement of making even more friends that were Baha’i.
Then, I met and fell in love with EmeryPark ( who is now Immortal Pirate.) I would drive between Los Angeles and Phoenix, spending two weeks at my house and his house. When the Baha’is learned that I was spending weeks living with Immortal Pirate, they did not approve of sleeping with him without being married to him. They gave me the “talk” to give him up. I made my choice and stayed with Immortal Pirate. I STOPPED going to anything Baha’i.
Little by little,the facts I used to know so well and teach to others, just seeped out of my memory. I chose Immortal Pirate and the Baha’i Faith lost it’s meaning in my life.
When I moved here to Phoenix, I did not look up the Baha’is in this city. However, they found me and I explained that the “talk” the Baha’is in California had given me made me stop going to anything the Baha’is did. They assured me that they understood the relationship between Immortal Pirate and I. So, I started to go to the meetings and got involved again. They asked when we are going to get married and I said, “Never”. This is when they all got together and decided that they needed to give me the “talk”.
I resent that they all got together and decided that I needed to be “talked to”.
I told them that they needn’t bother calling me on the carpet for this “talk” because I am not going to marry Immortal Pirate, but I WILL be living with him for the rest of our lives together. If they make me choose, I choose Immortal Pirate.
Once I made that choice, all of the knowledge of the Baha’i Faith simply vanished from my mind. Two Mormon ladies came to our house and asked me to describe what the Baha’i Faith was all about. I was tongue tied and realized that I have let it all go. I could not tell them the smallest things that I used to know so well. I used to teach it, and now it is all gone.
Am I religious? I believe in God and Jesus. I still believe that science and religion go hand in hand. I still believe that if aliens from outer space landed here, they would be surprised to find mankind fighting over land space, borders, hair texture, skin colors, and whose God is the real God. They would wonder why we made weapons and bombs to fight each other with. They would wonder why we fight over whose leader is the best leader. I think they would go back inside their UFO space ships and install door locks to keep us out. Then they would fly away to places man has never gone before.
@ladybarbara sooo much truth in your last paragraph. I was raised catholic and attended church for about 35 years. Then one day all the stories just didn’t make much sense anymore and I started reading up more on evolution. In any case, the people who came to my door were very nice. We ended up agreeing to disagree when they left. I just find it interesting how we are all so different. I think its nice when we can get along despite our differences.
No. Last person who showed up invited me to some church or to talk or something. I told him that it didn’t really matter since I wasn’t a believer. I told him, “Nothing against you, I like you, but I’m not interested.” It has been the one time I spoke out about that to people who come to your door. Other times, I just let them talk. I usually just let people talk even when I don’t care for what they are saying. I’m just not huge on debating in person or potentially causing conflict.
@yin Intriguing! I did let this gentleman talk yesterday, as well. I think it had something to do with his disposition. Seemed like a nice guy. Nice, but wayward imho. I am not trying to prove God does not exist, but I don’t personally think the notion of a god makes any sense, so the burden of proof lies with him.
@Scarlett2 Exactly. I mean, if the person wants to ask questions and get personal on my beliefs, I most likely won’t lie to them, but I don’t feel like going out of my way to just kick dirt up in a situation that doesn’t need it. I have nothing to prove in those moments and a debate then will do nothing really. It’s just pointless.
I am not “religious” but I am spiritual. I believe in God and Jesus. I believe in the power of the Holy Spirit and prayer. Am I a pious man, no. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”…
@immortal_pirate what do you believe prayer does?