Of peer pressure and compulsion
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biggest ever abuse of religion, they will truly burn in hellOriginally posted by RETARDED_MORON:Since the beginning of this year, I have gotten to know a couple of friends whom I mingle well with – well enough to spend recess with and participate in group outings. All was fine until one of them invited me to her church service some time ago, which I eventually agreed to despite my initial hesitation.
To start off, I am not a religious person, nor am I interested in activities of faith or anything related to worshipping. My friend assured me that it would be fun to “get to know more people” and besides, they were going to watch a movie after that. I thought that I would give it a shot; I was not one to be a spoilsport anyway.
Obviously that was the biggest mistake of my life.
Service was disgusting, coma-inducing and highly absurd to say the least. I was drowning in the ocean of unwashed humanity who kept on singing, chanting and mumbling some gobbledegook which meant absolutely nothing. There was also a session called “healing” which I find inexplicably stupid. Some woman got on stage, testified that her back pains had miraculously disappeared during the “healing” and thanked the lord for curing her. What an idiot. Try curing cancer and make a cripple walk again; then I would be impressed.
What really pissed me off was when they started begging for money: “Even if it’s one dollar more than you’ve contributed last week, the lord is watching from above and he knows that you’re helping at your best.”
Hello? If I want to make a financial contribution towards a charitable cause, I would put my money in established reputable organisations to pursue my philanthropic deeds, not in some deceptive profit-driven association disguised under the clever label of a church.
Anyway, back to the point. Despite my subsequent refusal to attend service or cell group meetings, my friend kept on pestering me to show up, and it actually worked. I have already attended several cell group meetings against my will just to keep the friendship going.
Their pressure for me to participate regularly in their church activities is overwhelming. I kept on rejecting her, citing other plans, but she just pressed on and stuck to compelling me to join them. Now she is asking me to bring more friends along the next time I show up. She even wants to know the actual number of people I already have (zero), and she messages me on a daily basis just to persuade me to commit to church.
She is being horribly selfish. If she likes leading a life centred around church and interacting with other believers, then she should do so without forcing along somebody who is blatantly not interested. I hate church, and I like spending time with my other friends doing things which actually generate fun. In fact I rather do homework than to go to church. The fact that she is asking me to bring more friends along is puzzling – why would I want to subject my friends to such torture and consequently jeopardise our friendship? I already explained to her that I cannot (and in actuality do not want to) commit to church. I mean, what a way to destroy an otherwise promising weekend. So I get my Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays all occupied with something incredibly worthless such as worshipping? When does the fun start, or does it ever? The fact that church is a heavy commitment does not help one bit. I have a life, I need to unwind and I have ambitions which require much time and self-commitment. Why would I even waste my time on things which obviously do not add value to me as an individual, a student, a son or a citizen? Why can’t she be more understanding in this respect?
My last point is why are people from churches so mafia-like? Why can’t churches just be quiet and simple like every other house of worship, without all the extravagant commercialisation, preaching and coercive methods of increasing membership? Stop trying to be heroes and tell people where they should put their faith in. We can think. I am sick of people trying to convert me. They ramble ceaselessly about very ambiguous things regarding God, life, brotherhood and an inherent obligation to atone for our sins which Jesus died for, but when I start to challenge them to a debate on religion, they cannot even answer me. Go away, get lost, don’t preach and get a new cause. Believe in whatever you want but keep your mouth shut about it; I am sure anyone harassed by you annoying neo-mafia members would say the same. I know that once I become “one of them” (i.e. get baptised) I am never going to be able to escape future meetings. If I quit, I would be condemned as a traitor and be damned to hell.
I am really at my witÂ’s end when it comes to abstaining from church while not straining my friendship with her.
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Being the ex-supplier of some churches in the west end of the island, I can tell you some pastors are only interested in making money out of the members. To put it simply, those churches are commercial organisation in disguise. Far from true christianity doctrine.Originally posted by RETARDED_MORON:You are absolutely right. CHC is impressively skilful at brainwashing simple-minded impressionable youths, and I am tired of them already. I guess I will just make clear to her that I am seriously not into joining the mafia. -
give her a taste of her own medicine. pretend to be buddhist or taoist and keep inviting her to go with you to the temple to pray every weekend
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if muslim how?Originally posted by Fucking Bitch:give her a taste of her own medicine. pretend to be buddhist or taoist and keep inviting her to go with you to the temple to pray every weekend 
ask her not to eat pork
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Go to church for a reason and the reason to be a better person and hope they understand and not force hahaha what's e use of forcing people to donate just to make e church bigger why not take e money to make e world a better place?? so what if ur church looks good when everyone goes there just for social outings and gathering, the real meaning of god is than lost already man. . . . hope some churches will somehow someday change their mindset and share rather than prove their power
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i have this fren who is a devoted christian..
he liked this girl ALOT.. then i ask him what is stopping him?
he said that he NEeds to get the approval from his cell group leader before he can commit to a relationship..
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Originally posted by isosceles:i have this fren who is a devoted christian..
he liked this girl ALOT.. then i ask him what is stopping him?
he said that he NEeds to get the approval from his cell group leader before he can commit to a relationship.. hilarious, but true. -
[quote]Originally posted by isosceles:
[b]i have this fren who is a devoted christian..
he liked this girl ALOT.. then i ask him what is stopping him?
he said that he NEeds to get the approval from his cell group leader before he can commit to a relationshp..
Ridiculous.
Sounds more like a cult. -
aiyah its only the CHC ppl.better stay away.
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I suspect many young teenagers that are baptised dun even really understand their religion well,i.e they hav no idea the history behind christainity and the intimate relation it had wif judaism and islam. Yet they spend hell lot of time trying to convert others when they do not even hav basic knowledge of their religion. What they hav wif them is only blind faith and a brainwashed mind that only knows how to condemn others(even frens) that do not share the same faith wif them...Originally posted by RETARDED_MORON:Since the beginning of this year, I have gotten to know a couple of friends whom I mingle well with – well enough to spend recess with and participate in group outings. All was fine until one of them invited me to her church service some time ago, which I eventually agreed to despite my initial hesitation.
To start off, I am not a religious person, nor am I interested in activities of faith or anything related to worshipping. My friend assured me that it would be fun to “get to know more people” and besides, they were going to watch a movie after that. I thought that I would give it a shot; I was not one to be a spoilsport anyway.
Obviously that was the biggest mistake of my life.
Service was disgusting, coma-inducing and highly absurd to say the least. I was drowning in the ocean of unwashed humanity who kept on singing, chanting and mumbling some gobbledegook which meant absolutely nothing. There was also a session called “healing” which I find inexplicably stupid. Some woman got on stage, testified that her back pains had miraculously disappeared during the “healing” and thanked the lord for curing her. What an idiot. Try curing cancer and make a cripple walk again; then I would be impressed.
What really pissed me off was when they started begging for money: “Even if it’s one dollar more than you’ve contributed last week, the lord is watching from above and he knows that you’re helping at your best.”
Hello? If I want to make a financial contribution towards a charitable cause, I would put my money in established reputable organisations to pursue my philanthropic deeds, not in some deceptive profit-driven association disguised under the clever label of a church.
Anyway, back to the point. Despite my subsequent refusal to attend service or cell group meetings, my friend kept on pestering me to show up, and it actually worked. I have already attended several cell group meetings against my will just to keep the friendship going.
Their pressure for me to participate regularly in their church activities is overwhelming. I kept on rejecting her, citing other plans, but she just pressed on and stuck to compelling me to join them. Now she is asking me to bring more friends along the next time I show up. She even wants to know the actual number of people I already have (zero), and she messages me on a daily basis just to persuade me to commit to church.
She is being horribly selfish. If she likes leading a life centred around church and interacting with other believers, then she should do so without forcing along somebody who is blatantly not interested. I hate church, and I like spending time with my other friends doing things which actually generate fun. In fact I rather do homework than to go to church. The fact that she is asking me to bring more friends along is puzzling – why would I want to subject my friends to such torture and consequently jeopardise our friendship? I already explained to her that I cannot (and in actuality do not want to) commit to church. I mean, what a way to destroy an otherwise promising weekend. So I get my Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays all occupied with something incredibly worthless such as worshipping? When does the fun start, or does it ever? The fact that church is a heavy commitment does not help one bit. I have a life, I need to unwind and I have ambitions which require much time and self-commitment. Why would I even waste my time on things which obviously do not add value to me as an individual, a student, a son or a citizen? Why can’t she be more understanding in this respect?
My last point is why are people from churches so mafia-like? Why can’t churches just be quiet and simple like every other house of worship, without all the extravagant commercialisation, preaching and coercive methods of increasing membership? Stop trying to be heroes and tell people where they should put their faith in. We can think. I am sick of people trying to convert me. They ramble ceaselessly about very ambiguous things regarding God, life, brotherhood and an inherent obligation to atone for our sins which Jesus died for, but when I start to challenge them to a debate on religion, they cannot even answer me. Go away, get lost, don’t preach and get a new cause. Believe in whatever you want but keep your mouth shut about it; I am sure anyone harassed by you annoying neo-mafia members would say the same. I know that once I become “one of them” (i.e. get baptised) I am never going to be able to escape future meetings. If I quit, I would be condemned as a traitor and be damned to hell.
I am really at my witÂ’s end when it comes to abstaining from church while not straining my friendship with her. -
Oh come on, this is just a small case man. Don't like it, don't go lar. Not as if u got only one friend. I will rather lose this kind than maintaining cos its a waste of my time.
I got one of my gd friend telling in my face y am I worshiping the 'dua pei gong'?? It jst like a piece of wood whereas the jesus was already discover it true existance by some dun noe wat ppl. To me, I just laugh at it and was thinking he was trying to tell me a joke. Some time I will also use my religion as a joke to counter his belief...to lighten up the tension cos he is my gd friend.
I also have friends telling me that she will not pass me some information if I don't go to the church with her. I laugh at it and tell her its ok, I can live without them.
Till now there are still my friend and I still don't go to church with them.
Summary: Don't get bother by such a small issue, make ur own decision. They can't force u to do anything. -
Where is Mc2? He should be able to give good advice.
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i suspect the gal is not a christian, thats why need that sort of "approval"Originally posted by isosceles:i have this fren who is a devoted christian..
he liked this girl ALOT.. then i ask him what is stopping him?
he said that he NEeds to get the approval from his cell group leader before he can commit to a relationship..
The church deems non christians as followers of satans
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Quite a disturbing account...Originally posted by RETARDED_MORON:Since the beginning of this year, I have gotten to know a couple of friends whom I mingle well with – well enough to spend recess with and participate in group outings. All was fine until one of them invited me to her church service some time ago, which I eventually agreed to despite my initial hesitation.
To start off, I am not a religious person, nor am I interested in activities of faith or anything related to worshipping. My friend assured me that it would be fun to “get to know more people” and besides, they were going to watch a movie after that. I thought that I would give it a shot; I was not one to be a spoilsport anyway.
Obviously that was the biggest mistake of my life.
Service was disgusting, coma-inducing and highly absurd to say the least. I was drowning in the ocean of unwashed humanity who kept on singing, chanting and mumbling some gobbledegook which meant absolutely nothing. There was also a session called “healing” which I find inexplicably stupid. Some woman got on stage, testified that her back pains had miraculously disappeared during the “healing” and thanked the lord for curing her. What an idiot. Try curing cancer and make a cripple walk again; then I would be impressed.
What really pissed me off was when they started begging for money: “Even if it’s one dollar more than you’ve contributed last week, the lord is watching from above and he knows that you’re helping at your best.”
Hello? If I want to make a financial contribution towards a charitable cause, I would put my money in established reputable organisations to pursue my philanthropic deeds, not in some deceptive profit-driven association disguised under the clever label of a church.
Anyway, back to the point. Despite my subsequent refusal to attend service or cell group meetings, my friend kept on pestering me to show up, and it actually worked. I have already attended several cell group meetings against my will just to keep the friendship going.
Their pressure for me to participate regularly in their church activities is overwhelming. I kept on rejecting her, citing other plans, but she just pressed on and stuck to compelling me to join them. Now she is asking me to bring more friends along the next time I show up. She even wants to know the actual number of people I already have (zero), and she messages me on a daily basis just to persuade me to commit to church.
She is being horribly selfish. If she likes leading a life centred around church and interacting with other believers, then she should do so without forcing along somebody who is blatantly not interested. I hate church, and I like spending time with my other friends doing things which actually generate fun. In fact I rather do homework than to go to church. The fact that she is asking me to bring more friends along is puzzling – why would I want to subject my friends to such torture and consequently jeopardise our friendship? I already explained to her that I cannot (and in actuality do not want to) commit to church. I mean, what a way to destroy an otherwise promising weekend. So I get my Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays all occupied with something incredibly worthless such as worshipping? When does the fun start, or does it ever? The fact that church is a heavy commitment does not help one bit. I have a life, I need to unwind and I have ambitions which require much time and self-commitment. Why would I even waste my time on things which obviously do not add value to me as an individual, a student, a son or a citizen? Why can’t she be more understanding in this respect?
My last point is why are people from churches so mafia-like? Why can’t churches just be quiet and simple like every other house of worship, without all the extravagant commercialisation, preaching and coercive methods of increasing membership? Stop trying to be heroes and tell people where they should put their faith in. We can think. I am sick of people trying to convert me. They ramble ceaselessly about very ambiguous things regarding God, life, brotherhood and an inherent obligation to atone for our sins which Jesus died for, but when I start to challenge them to a debate on religion, they cannot even answer me. Go away, get lost, don’t preach and get a new cause. Believe in whatever you want but keep your mouth shut about it; I am sure anyone harassed by you annoying neo-mafia members would say the same. I know that once I become “one of them” (i.e. get baptised) I am never going to be able to escape future meetings. If I quit, I would be condemned as a traitor and be damned to hell.
I am really at my witÂ’s end when it comes to abstaining from church while not straining my friendship with her. 
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The forceful and aggressive way your friend goes about broadcasting her religion reminds me of my ex HOD.
To be fair to Christians, not all of them are like that.
http://buddhism.sgforums.com/?action=thread_display&thread_id=215567 -
Just break up the friendship. She is not doing any constructive but rather, destructive things to your life. Don like, Don go lor!
Join the buddhist clan. much better. -
Been to CHC once..
Never again.. -
hey, i have a friend who try to convert me before. i followed her to church a few times. i shall spare u the glory details of my visits, but the bottomline is that a religious life is not for me. I told her about my feelings towards religion and she accepted it. i am glad to say we are still friends, or at least i hope we still are. maybe u just need to tell ur friend about ur feelings.
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don go there plsOriginally posted by d3sT1nY:Been to CHC once..
Never again.. -
never ever do it againOriginally posted by d3sT1nY:Been to CHC once..
Never again.. -
what's CHC? from SgForums, i learnt that CHC is similar to a terrorist organisation.
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I have a strong stand against religions, more Christianity among the rest.
And yes, it indeed gets very irritating when christians (used as a general term; can refer to protestants, methodists, catholics, christians, whatever) starts running up to you, and "inviting" you to their church.
I visited one once, and I stood right up when the pastor was talking, and asked him a simple question, "What makes the Bible fact, and not fiction?"
He, and the others, stared right at me, as if I was some demon, or what. Needless to say, I got a whole bullshit about how it's "inspired by God", "penned by men of God", "a book of truth".
And if anyone is offended by this, too bad.
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All that said, I think this friend of yours is really overzealous in trying to "spread" his / her beliefs.
Such a way of thinking would definitely be a factor for more misunderstandings later on.
I think it's better for you to just get her out of your life. -
Since the beginning of this year, I have gotten to know a couple of friends whom I mingle well with – well enough to spend recess with and participate in group outings. All was fine until one of them invited me to her church service some time ago, which I eventually agreed to despite my initial hesitation.
Be reminded... We DO NOT FORCE you to believe....You want to Believe in other things Go ahead...Not all Christians are the ones who forces people to believe...
To start off, I am not a religious person, nor am I interested in activities of faith or anything related to worshipping. My friend assured me that it would be fun to “get to know more people” and besides, they were going to watch a movie after that. I thought that I would give it a shot; I was not one to be a spoilsport anyway.
Obviously that was the biggest mistake of my life.
Service was disgusting, coma-inducing and highly absurd to say the least. I was drowning in the ocean of unwashed humanity who kept on singing, chanting and mumbling some gobbledegook which meant absolutely nothing. There was also a session called “healing” which I find inexplicably stupid. Some woman got on stage, testified that her back pains had miraculously disappeared during the “healing” and thanked the lord for curing her. What an idiot. Try curing cancer and make a cripple walk again; then I would be impressed.
What really pissed me off was when they started begging for money: “Even if it’s one dollar more than you’ve contributed last week, the lord is watching from above and he knows that you’re helping at your best.”
Hello? If I want to make a financial contribution towards a charitable cause, I would put my money in established reputable organisations to pursue my philanthropic deeds, not in some deceptive profit-driven association disguised under the clever label of a church.
Anyway, back to the point. Despite my subsequent refusal to attend service or cell group meetings, my friend kept on pestering me to show up, and it actually worked. I have already attended several cell group meetings against my will just to keep the friendship going.
Their pressure for me to participate regularly in their church activities is overwhelming. I kept on rejecting her, citing other plans, but she just pressed on and stuck to compelling me to join them. Now she is asking me to bring more friends along the next time I show up. She even wants to know the actual number of people I already have (zero), and she messages me on a daily basis just to persuade me to commit to church.
She is being horribly selfish. If she likes leading a life centred around church and interacting with other believers, then she should do so without forcing along somebody who is blatantly not interested. I hate church, and I like spending time with my other friends doing things which actually generate fun. In fact I rather do homework than to go to church. The fact that she is asking me to bring more friends along is puzzling – why would I want to subject my friends to such torture and consequently jeopardise our friendship? I already explained to her that I cannot (and in actuality do not want to) commit to church. I mean, what a way to destroy an otherwise promising weekend. So I get my Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays all occupied with something incredibly worthless such as worshipping? When does the fun start, or does it ever? The fact that church is a heavy commitment does not help one bit. I have a life, I need to unwind and I have ambitions which require much time and self-commitment. Why would I even waste my time on things which obviously do not add value to me as an individual, a student, a son or a citizen? Why can’t she be more understanding in this respect?
My last point is why are people from churches so mafia-like? Why can’t churches just be quiet and simple like every other house of worship, without all the extravagant commercialisation, preaching and coercive methods of increasing membership? Stop trying to be heroes and tell people where they should put their faith in. We can think. I am sick of people trying to convert me. They ramble ceaselessly about very ambiguous things regarding God, life, brotherhood and an inherent obligation to atone for our sins which Jesus died for, but when I start to challenge them to a debate on religion, they cannot even answer me. Go away, get lost, don’t preach and get a new cause. Believe in whatever you want but keep your mouth shut about it; I am sure anyone harassed by you annoying neo-mafia members would say the same. I know that once I become “one of them” (i.e. get baptised) I am never going to be able to escape future meetings. If I quit, I would be condemned as a traitor and be damned to hell.
I am really at my witÂ’s end when it comes to abstaining from church while not straining my friendship with her. Crying or Very sad
Yes about certain cell groups... You are not the only Person that is affected... You should know there are a lot of type of Christians...As being a Catholic...I also must say that certain other forms of Christians did once pressure my friends and family into joining their group... And if you didn't join...Sometimes all sorts of remarks comes at you.. But i think the only advice is to be Tolerant and just let go...
So take it easy yea... Don't let one bad apple Spoil the image of others.... -
I am catholic and I get told by those churchless cell groups that I am satanic because I worship mary. To be rid of the sin , I have to go join them. Win already lor .......Originally posted by binarynwitz:I have a strong stand against religions, more Christianity among the rest.
And yes, it indeed gets very irritating when christians (used as a general term; can refer to protestants, methodists, catholics, christians, whatever) starts running up to you, and "inviting" you to their church.
I visited one once, and I stood right up when the pastor was talking, and asked him a simple question, "What makes the Bible fact, and not fiction?"
He, and the others, stared right at me, as if I was some demon, or what. Needless to say, I got a whole bullshit about how it's "inspired by God", "penned by men of God", "a book of truth".
And if anyone is offended by this, too bad.
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All that said, I think this friend of yours is really overzealous in trying to "spread" his / her beliefs.
Such a way of thinking would definitely be a factor for more misunderstandings later on.
I think it's better for you to just get her out of your life.
However leh .....I tell them that if I am satanic , they are just as satanic .. since we all believe in one god , and throw in the sedition act for them to relish. -
juz tell her u're not interested la. if she's a real friend she'll respect ur decision right?