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Author Topic: Fill-er up on the Lord
Dan_raven
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So I'm driving the family out for the usual Saturday shopping routine when I pass the neighborhood gas station. Out of habit I look at the price.

There is a big sign.

"SPECIAL SALE PRICE TODAY: $2.39/gallon" That's 20 cents below the standard price.

I find a nice place to legally turn the car around, since it took me a few hundred yards to register what this means, and I went back to filler up.

Not only was the gas on sale, it came "Full Service" and I mean full service in a way that I have never seen it before. They filled my tank, washed my windows, and offered me salvation without me having to leave the car.

It seems a local church was on a Evangelical drive. They were having a big "Movie" night in a couple of weeks, so to spread the word, of Jesus and the Movie night, they made a deal with the gas station. They paid the difference in gas price, plus did the service at the pump, in exchange for preaching a service through my window.

I found it a bit creepy, though that may have been the minister/minister wannabe that was passing out tracts and preaching in my window.

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MightyCow
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I'll let Tom Cruise jump around and tell me aliens don't want him to take his prozac if it gets me cheaper gas.
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BlackBlade
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Madonna can try to sell me Kaballa bracelets and whatever she wants to as long as it gets me cheaper gas.

That minister definitely gets points for creativity in his proselyting.

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Noemon
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If someone proselytizing on the street offered you $2 to listen to their conversion attempt, would you go for that too?

I'd personally drive on to the next station, pay the going rate for gas, and not have to deal with the proselytizers.

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BlackBlade
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quote:
Originally posted by Noemon:
If someone proselytizing on the street offered you $2 to listen to their conversion attempt, would you go for that too?

I'd personally drive on to the next station, pay the going rate for gas, and not have to deal with the proselytizers.

How long is the conversion attempt? If its the 1-2 minutes it takes to fill up my car, sure I'll take their two bucks and listen to them talk.

edit: and the savings of 20 cents a gallon are more like $2.50 in my VW and something like $3 if its my parents Ford SUV.

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Noemon
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It doesn't take long to fill a tank, it's true (though I'd guess that the conversion attempt might last a little longer than the average fill-up, with windshield washing, tire pressure checking, and whathaveyou stretching it out a bit).

Even so, I wouldn't go for it. I really don't like it when people try to convert me to their religion.

I do think that this is a pretty clever way of getting people who wouldn't otherwise give them the time of day to listen to what they have to say.

[ July 29, 2007, 11:56 AM: Message edited by: Noemon ]

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rollainm
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"If someone proselytizing on the street offered you $2 to listen to their conversion attempt, would you go for that too?"

Assuming I had the free time and they weren't creepy to the point where I feared for my safety, sure, I'd do it.

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BlackBlade
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quote:
Even so, I wouldn't go for it. I really don't like it when people try to convert me to their religion.
Sounds like you don't like complete strangers trying to sell you on anything regardless of the price.
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ClaudiaTherese
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Oh, Noemon, you speak for me as well.

---

BlackBlade, I don't know about Noemon, but I have much much less objection to the kids on the corner who were trying to sell us lemonade from their yard on the route to the fireworks last night. [Wink]

Complete strangers, yes, and the price/cost ratio was simply outrageous, but the approach and context (that's important) was totally different, and it was totally welcome from my perspective.

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erosomniac
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not only would I drive away, that station would never receive my business again. Ech.
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CaySedai
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(If I were prepared - and that's a big IF) I would thank them and offer them a Book of Mormon.

It's only fair. [Big Grin]

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MattP
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I'd probably avoid it just because I'd feel awkward. If I was ambushed like Dan_raven and didn't know what I was getting into before I was actually there, I'd probably just smile politely and have a good laugh about it later.

I don't generally mind when someone tries to convert me to their religion as long as it's a two-way conversation rather than just bludgeoning me with scripture, doctrine, and platitudes.

Of course I just recently bought myself a scooter that gets 70 mpg and only holds 1.8 gallons. It wouldn't exactly been much of a savings. Also - no windshield. [Smile]

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Dagonee
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I might choose to roll up my window - I'm pretty sure they'd have to sell you the gas anyway if they had the price on those big signs.

But I doubt I'd actually mind.

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King of Men
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I would take the gas and heckle the preacher.
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lem
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quote:
If someone proselytizing on the street offered you $2 to listen to their conversion attempt, would you go for that too?
That is not a good analogy because you are asked to do something you normally wouldn't do to listen. A better analogy would be if there were two bus stops about a block apart and one was offering free fare if you listened to a message while you waited and the other one made you pay 2 bucks to go to your next stop while you waited undisturbed.

It is creative. I would probably just pay the two bucks.

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Alcon
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I'd probably take the gas and give the preacher a science lecture after listening to exactly half the time it takes to fill up the tank. It's only fair [Big Grin]
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TomDavidson
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I would graciously accept the gas and the sermon, but would ask them to pass along to God that I'd prefer that He provide us with a few more domestic oil wells or something over the medium-term.
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Shawshank
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I'd just pay the lower discount price and thank them for their interesting idea- and mention about it might help out people with lower income brackets and in particular. Thank them and be on my way.

I think it's a good idea for a ministry- only I think if I were doing it- I would tell them what group I was with and that was it. Just saying- were from This and That Church what quality gas do you want? I think that would have been much more effective.

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Mucus
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In some indirect sense you're already paying for it, so you might as well.

(In the extremely loose sense that whomever contributed the money may have claimed it as a tax deductible charitable donation which means that they paid less tax, and thus you would have paid more tax than had their been no donation)

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Andrew W
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quote:
I would take the gas and heckle the preacher.
quote:
I'd probably take the gas and give the preacher a science lecture after listening to exactly half the time it takes to fill up the tank. It's only fair
And people wonder why some people think atheists can be right cocks. I get it, you don't like being preached at, big whoop, neither do I - but I doubt I'd be rude to anyone if they were polite to me (and nothing's been said to indicate they were anything but that) - and if I felt drawn into giving a lecture on science for half the time - then I'd refund half of their 20c contributions to my gas bill.
Chips, shoulders, etc.

AW

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Dan_raven
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You know, if they would have had a sign saying, "Church Sponsored Gas Sale" I would have been happier about it. It did seem a bit of an ambush.

Part of that may have been my fault. I did give him the "Politely interested" appearance, and he took that as "Actually interested." What was probably normally a small "Sponsorship" comment and invite to their "Movie Night" came out as a full range conversion because I was polite.

Still, the idea that if you go to church you need a science lesson seems more than a bit uninformed to me. There are many devout Christians who understand, exemplify, and push the boundaries of Science. Despite what you may think, and what some of the most rabid of Fundamentalist Christian Televangelists may preach, Science and God can exist together. Even Science and organized religion can be friends.

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Scott R
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Our neighborhood is right across the street from a fairly big Christian church of indeterminate affiliation.

Members of the church were bagging groceries and handing out $20 gift certificates at the local supermarket. No sermoning.

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MightyCow
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quote:
Originally posted by Andrew W:
And people wonder why some people think atheists can be right cocks. I get it, you don't like being preached at, big whoop, neither do I - but I doubt I'd be rude to anyone if they were polite to me (and nothing's been said to indicate they were anything but that) - and if I felt drawn into giving a lecture on science for half the time - then I'd refund half of their 20c contributions to my gas bill.
Chips, shoulders, etc.

AW

I don't get the connection between wanting equal time and being a right cock happens. What about the unexpected sermon makes it polite, but the unexpected rebuttal is rude?
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BlackBlade
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quote:
What about the unexpected sermon makes it polite, but the unexpected rebuttal is rude?
Rebuttals to sermons or proselyting are only unexpected to the minister/missionary on their first day for about 5-10 minutes [Wink]

edit: if that.

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erosomniac
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quote:
You know, if they would have had a sign saying, "Church Sponsored Gas Sale" I would have been happier about it. It did seem a bit of an ambush.
Exactly.
I don't really mind the preachers - I'd find it annoying, but it's a clever idea. The fact that the gas station decided it would be okay to advertise their SUPER LOW PRICE without telling me that I'm going to get preached at while my gas is pumped is what angers me. If they'd even had a notation "Brought to you by the Church of _______" or similar, I'd have had some minimal warning.

It's like those annoying time share pitches - except that with this preaching gas station, you don't know in advance what to expect.

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Belle
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I think it's a fantastic idea but I agree, some notice about how it was sponsored by a church would be appropriate.

My daughter is in band camp this week, and we're told that most of the time lunch is provided. We're also told it's by local church youth groups who come feed the high schoolers and get to spend an hour with them talking to them during lunch, inviting them to youth groups, preaching to them I guess you'd say but it's not organized - there's no podium and no microphones.

It's our option to participate, we can send lunch for our kids, but if we want to take advantage of the free food we know the churches will have representatives there talking to the kids. I'm fine with it, of course, and I appreciate what the churches are doing. No one is pressured to do anything and it's really more of a meet and greet, but every child and parent knows up front what is going on. That way they can decide to participate or not. I get what Dan is saying, that he doesn't mind but dislikes being "ambushed" as he calls it. Completely understandable.

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Alcon
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quote:
Still, the idea that if you go to church you need a science lesson seems more than a bit uninformed to me. There are many devout Christians who understand, exemplify, and push the boundaries of Science. Despite what you may think, and what some of the most rabid of Fundamentalist Christian Televangelists may preach, Science and God can exist together. Even Science and organized religion can be friends.
Sorry Dan, I didn't mean to imply that religious = not scientific. Science is just the closest thing I have to a religion -- it's what I devote my life to -- so if I'm gonna give a lecture on something in response it's gonna be science. Heck, lecture... if they're versed in science it'd probably turn into a discussion of how science and religion can fit together (and end up holding up the pump [Big Grin] ).
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romanylass
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It's creepy, but I'd pretend to listen for the cheaper gas.

If the nut on the street wanted to preach to me though, $2 isn't enough. he'd have to buy me a frappuchino.

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rivka
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quote:
Originally posted by Noemon:
I'd personally drive on to the next station, pay the going rate for gas, and not have to deal with the proselytizers.

Me three.
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Nathan2006
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I would agree with AW.

Sorry, but it just seems a lot more rude to me to preach back at a person you know you have no chance of converting. At least he knows there's a chance you might be interested. You know whatever you're going to say is going to (a). fall on deaf ears, or (b). offend or hurt the poor guy.

That being said... In theory, trying to convert him back is amusing. Kind of funny to think about.
Horrible, but funny. One of those things you discuss with people, but you never actually do.

But, seriously, you are lacking in some social skills if you need people to wear 'religon-tags' so you can be more prepared before you talk to them. [Roll Eyes] (And yes, this is an exaggeration of what somebody has said. Nobody has ever specifically mentioned 'religon-tags'.)

But, that being said, I would prefer to be notified in advance whether or not I'll be preached to. And, because of the super-awkwardness that such a situation would merit, I would rather know what I was getting into.

But, that's my personal preference. I don't find it unreasonable of them not to 'warn' me. I just appreciate their going out of their way to warn me those times they do.

Quite honestly, the people at the gas station should have just said "Hey, we're having a movie night soon. You ought to check it out." And if somebody's interested, give him directions to the church.

And, by God, tell him it's a church, lest he start convulsing in terror when he drives up and sees the steeple. That could be dangerous!

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Mucus
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No one suggested preaching back. Some have suggested heckling and delivering lectures on science, but to believe that the science is a religion is an innocent fallacy at best, dangerous at worst.
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guinevererobin
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Interesting advertising campaign. I'd appreciate the gas savings a whole lot more then I usually appreciate the random door-to-door proselytizing and such, but I definitely think they should have been more upfront about it before people pulled in. maybe if they just said at the begining, "Hi, we're from the church of so-and-so and we would like to talk to you about such-and-such, if you don't mind", it wouldn't be so bad either - as long as people can opt out.

I generally find people trying to sell me on their religion annoying, but at least it's nice they want to save my eternal soul - and if that comes with cheap gas, booya.

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Nathan2006
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Mucus, everybody knows that science is of the devil, and that it's the reason that babies are aborted and gay people are getting married. <Shudder>

And everybody knows that the antichrist will come back wearing a lab-coat with 666 written on his forehead.

Geesh. If science isn't a religon, I don't know what is.

<Removes tongue from cheek>

Seriously, though, 'convert' can refer to changing from any belief, and isn't limited to religion. It just has religious connotations.

Sorry if I wasn't clear.

The idea of 'lecturing' back at the poor bright-eyed, twenty-something, church volunteer who is servicing your car is pretty funny. In theory. (Again, I exaggerate. Nobody has mentioned the age of the evangelical gas-pumper... Or his eyes.)

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King of Men
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Generally, atheists refer to converting away from religion as 'deconverting', reflecting that nobody is born religious - you have to be socialised into it.
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Mucus
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To clarify, I had a bigger objection to the word "preaching" rather than "convert" but whatever.
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