Day 75

So the Jehova's Witness came to my door again. I've had something of a love/hate relationships with these folk. On the one hand, it does annoy me that they feel the need to go around campaigning for their religion. I do like the principle of keeping one's faith to oneself, and generally not soliciting people like it was life insurance.

But on the other hand, has anyone actually read the stuff they believe? I've read two entire JW books to this date, albeit fairly small books with a lot of pictures, and these people believe some pretty intense stuff. Essentially the apocalypse is on its way, quite possibly in our lifetimes, and anybody who hasn't checked "become a Jehova's Witness" off their to do list by the time it happens is in some really, really deep trouble. Those who did convert in time, however, have all sorts of great stuff to look forward to: essentially the garden of eden will be restored on Earth for all the JW's and their dead relatives to bask in for eternity. All violence, death and disease will disappear, and everything will be just peachy. Of course, being a JW in belief isn't enough, you must also make sure to avoid choosing to be gay, black, or to celebrate your own birthday. Also, the aptly named "Watchtower" church needs your money. Lots of it.

If I actually believed this stuff I might be very inclined to knock on a few doors and let people know what's going to happen. In fact, I'd probably treat the issue with a kind of Al Gore-esque hysterical alarmism.

Of course this heaven-on-earth paradise, incidentally, entails a complete end to violence against, and between, animals. Carnivores will cease to be, and as the JW's predict, "Man's loving dominion over animals will again be a reality." Above this (in one of their books) is a rendition of a small child hugging a fully grown tiger.

In a weird way I admire the consistency of the belief system. Not that it's consistent with reality or anything even near to reality, but it is, at least by the looks of it, consistent with itself.


Anyway. This morning I took on an entirely different strategy with the religious salespeople. I tred to explain that there was no coincidence in the fact that I look startlingly similar to the picture of Jesus on the front cover of their pamphlet.



They didn't find this nearly as amusing as I did.

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