Questions about your religion from strangers

[Oldgringo]

OP's question has been removed from its actual context.

Let me see....... the guy has left a trail of bleeding bodies behind him while shouting aloha snackbar, all this is in plain sight (this is a mall), he's got a knife in his hands and a crazy look on his face, and his hands are covered with blood, and he asks me what religion I am?

Nearly every word of dialog uttered by Raylan Givens facing a bad guy during all 6 seasons of "Justified" come to mind.

Seriously though, in that situation, I doubt I'd answer the question. I'd just get ready for what I think is coming next.

Now...... in a normal kind of social interaction? I'd answer that question all day long and look forward to the conversation. I'm always willing to talk about my own faith, and to learn the other's spiritual condition. I took part in some evangelizing in a Grapevine coffee shop just yesterday morning, to a young South African couple. It was a wonderful and memorable exchange. What sweet people.

We really enjoyed all 6 seasons of "Justified". I don't recall anybody asking Raylan where or if he went to church. Raylan was a bad guy but he wasn't near as bad or, as all knowing, as is Ray Reddington. For that matter, no one has asked Red either.

[yerasimos]

As other posters have stated earlier in this thread, there is a wide breadth of context when a stranger enquires about one's own religion.

Here in America, my general response would be something along the lines of, "Mind your own biscuits, and life will be gravy." Or maybe a general statement about how I dislike cults and cult-like behavior.

If, hypothetically speaking, I found myself somewhere else, the totality of the circumstances would have to be considered for the best outcome; mentioning biscuits/gravy and cults may not be the best play.

[twomillenium]

twomillenium,

What religion are you?

That's a very personal question isn't it?

For me, that's the point of this thread, not blasting away at the questioner, but finding such a question one that raises my hackles...

I guess though, this whole scenario is moot for me as I've never encountered any random stranger asking me personal questions as I guess I don't appear very approachable for such a question.

I might if asked about my religion, ask in turn which caliber they prefer and stand back to witness their response.

I am a Christian, and I am not ashamed of my beliefs and my relationship with God and my Savior Jesus Christ. If you would like to know more PM me and I will gladly share.

[a.nonimous]

that is the story that made me realize that yes, I do need to carry everywhere..... what kind of a nut thinks its a good idea to stab people in a mall?????? (referring to the news story from sept 17 2016 Minneapolis) the realization that it can happen anywhere at any time is pretty scary. What is also scary is the anti gun attitude that gives criminals more rights than law abiding citizens but I guess that it just something we have to deal with unless the current political climate changes.

so in answer to the question, if someone were to walk up to me and ask me my religion- hand in pocket on weapon (just in case) a whole lot more situational awareness and as much distance as I can get seems like a pretty good plan-- yes I would consider that a threat. With what is going on in the world, it would be naive not to.

[Liberty]

that is the story that made me realize that yes, I do need to carry everywhere....

Problem is that the mall was a gunfree zone.

[Bitter Clinger]

With any luck I will be wearing my hat with this patch when I am asked:

[The Annoyed Man]

With any luck I will be wearing my hat with this patch when I am asked:

Well there you go! And you should have a "Never Again!" patch right below it.

[The Annoyed Man]

that is the story that made me realize that yes, I do need to carry everywhere....

Problem is that the mall was a gunfree zone.

Yeah, otherwise the terrorist might have brought a gun to his knife fight!

[Jusme]

A man approaching me carrying a knife in a mall, doesn't get to ask me any questions. With the possible exception on where to buy a sharpener. But my answer will come over the sights of my pistol. Any other questions will be met with the demand to drop the knife, before the loud noises start.

[anygunanywhere]

There is a time to process your faith when asked by a stranger and that time should be easily differentiated from the time when your self preservation instincts and reaction needs to take over.

[bblhd672]

The answer/response depends entirely upon situation and context. A jihadist carrying a bloody knife while people are screaming and fleeing is going to get a different response than someone politely asking the question.

[Soccerdad1995]

OP's question has been removed from its actual context.

Let me see....... the guy has left a trail of bleeding bodies behind him while shouting aloha snackbar, all this is in plain sight (this is a mall), he's got a knife in his hands and a crazy look on his face, and his hands are covered with blood, and he asks me what religion I am?

Nearly every word of dialog uttered by Raylan Givens facing a bad guy during all 6 seasons of "Justified" come to mind.

Seriously though, in that situation, I doubt I'd answer the question. I'd just get ready for what I think is coming next.

Now...... in a normal kind of social interaction? I'd answer that question all day long and look forward to the conversation. I'm always willing to talk about my own faith, and to learn the other's spiritual condition. I took part in some evangelizing in a Grapevine coffee shop just yesterday morning, to a young South African couple. It was a wonderful and memorable exchange. What sweet people.

If the question is what would I do if I saw a guy shouting that slogan carrying a knife and with blood on his hands, then you don't need to specify what he might ask me. He wouldn't get the chance to say anything unless I happened to be taking a nap at the time.

[suthdj]

I belong to the religion of gun powder & lead, wanna hear my sermon?

[LucasMcCain]

twomillenium,

What religion are you?

That's a very personal question isn't it?

For me, that's the point of this thread, not blasting away at the questioner, but finding such a question one that raises my hackles...

I guess though, this whole scenario is moot for me as I've never encountered any random stranger asking me personal questions as I guess I don't appear very approachable for such a question.

I might if asked about my religion, ask in turn which caliber they prefer and stand back to witness their response.

I am a Christian, and I am not ashamed of my beliefs and my relationship with God and my Savior Jesus Christ. If you would like to know more PM me and I will gladly share.

Our relationship with Christ is not meant to be private. We are clearly commanded to make it public and share it with others. Those of us who were brought up in the church probably learned a song called This Little Light of Mine which puts the concept in very simple terms.

My reaction to someone asking about my religion is an open and friendly conversation. Now, just as a hypothetical, if I were asked by what is clearly a group of muslims, I would enter that conversation much more cautiously, but I don't think that even then one should automatically assume it is a threat to one's well-being, absent other factors.

[karder]

I would not be concerned about a question regarding my religion. I would certainly think that my general threat assessment skills would peg a guy about to go on a stabbing spree, whether he asked me a question or not. As others have said, context makes a big difference.