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Hypothetical: The New Neighbor

Ironhold

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Hypothetical.

A transfer at your company of employment takes you to a new city.

You regard yourself as quite fortunate that one of your new neighbors, Chad, is a rather upstanding fellow. He's fairly personable, he has a steady work-from-home job that gives him the time to help you discover the town you're now in, and he's generally a pretty quiet neighbor. He and his fiancee Stacey are working on choosing a date for their wedding, at which point she'll be moving in with him since his house is pretty large.

Other neighbors you meet explain that this is how Chad is: he's positive, upbeat, and generally pretty chill. Not only that, but it's thanks to him that the neighborhood is as peaceful as it is: five years ago someone tried to break into Chad's house, and it ended with Chad kicking the someone in the face hard enough to knock them unconscious. There haven't been any break-in attempts since.

Thing is, Chad's Mormon. It became apparently pretty quickly the first time you came over after you moved in given some of the decor in his house. But Chad is willing to respect your beliefs; he'll talk to anyone who he feels is sincerely wanting to know, and he leaves it at that.

Well, the minister over your new congregation isn't too keen on things. As far as your minister is concerned, if you aren't actively working to "save" everyone on your block then you're not doing your job. The minister finds it particularly odious that you're friends with someone they regard as a "heretic", and one day essentially tries to order you to stop being friends with him. Since then you've noticed an uptick in fire & brimstone sermons, and you've also noticed the minister buying case lots of pamphlets and other materials to distribute.

How do you react to all of this?
 

Caliban

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I don't attend religious services so I wouldn't have that pastor problem, but I'm as likely to be friends with Chad as I am anyone else. It doesn't matter what a persons religion, race, or orientation is; they are all humans like me. I wouldn't care. He would probably made a great addition to the neighbor watch.
 
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2PhiloVoid

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I don't know. Go and "save" your new minister ... ?
 
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Silmarien

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Find a new church. Would also wonder how he found out what my neighbor's beliefs were in the first place and if I should be looking into getting a restraining order.
 
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Chesterton

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Thing is, Chad's Mormon. It became apparently pretty quickly the first time you came over after you moved in given some of the decor in his house.
OT: Do Mormons have some distinctive decor?
How do you react to all of this?
I can't imagine that happening where I'm at but if it did I guess I'd have to just ignore the minister.
 
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Tigger45

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I've lived in Utah most of my life and have had pastors like that and no longer attend that type of church if that answers your question.
 
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cvanwey

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Unfortunately, this is one of the pitfalls of religion in general. It makes, what would ordinarily be a 'normal thinking' and/or 'respectful' individual, instead maybe do things they would not normally do.

He/she prolly earnestly thinks they are 'saving' you. Or, at least, trying to save others. It's hard to 'deal' with people of this 'nature.' Virtually nothing of reason will get through to someone, as you described.

In the states, we have freedom of speech. Hence, if this person is merely spreading words and pamphlets, there may not be much you can do?

If others decide to follow him, and reject "Chad", then I guess they are not worthy of 'Chad's' friendship to begin with
 
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