So, Halloween...I love it, my wife loves it, and our daughter love it best of all.
We had a very nice time. Wifey hung out at the house, distributing candy and good cheer. The daughter and I had a grand time trick-or-treating with some friends and neighbors. Corbin (our Frenchie) had a great if exhausting time cruising around the neighborhood with us dressed as a pumpkin, soaking up all the attention provided by kids and adults enchanted by the darling little guy.
We chatted with fellow treat-or-treaters, caught up with neighbors, saw classmates...it was like a mobile cocktail party. The daughter netted a LOT of candy.
We also found 3 pamphlets of religious propaganda.
:(
Let me be clear on this.
I don't have a problem with faith - faith is a good thing.
I don't have a problem with organized religion, in and of itself, although I'll readily admit that my own tastes run to less rather than more organization.
I don't have a problem with people espousing their religious theories or ideals within a forum among adult peers.
I DO have a problem with folks foisting there spiritual quirks and worldviews onto children by piggybacking onto a holiday unaffiliated with their faith.
If you don't like Halloween for whatever reason, be it religious, moral, or dental, that's fine.
Turn your exterior lights off, decline to decorate, whatever. Please do not take the opportunity to whore out your chosen flavor of righteous eloquence.
If parents want their children to share your views, they'll bring them to your church, temple, mosque, hall, or hallowed grove of ancient oaks.
Let me put it another way. This type of sharing is not welcome. Guess what, folks? Most people, churchgoers and non-churchgoers alike are aware of the options out there. We don't need pocket bibles or "come to our Church, we have cake!" leaflets slipped into our children's treat bags to realize this.
Your faith is right for you.
It is arrogant and presumptuous to assume that your faith is right for complete stranger.
Yours in felicity if not faith,
B.
1 comment:
Aidan and his cousins recieved only one such bit of aimed propaganda- very subtle, so I couldn't take any offense at all. A little clear ziplock goodie bag with a packet of Fishes & Loaves crackers (no Jesus Hearts You logo or anything, just the name, ingredients and manufacturer. tasted like Communion wafers tho..), a Reeses cup, and a pog-shaped Jesus-is-a-real-nice-guy magnet. No pamphlets, no Jack T. Chick booklets.
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