Goofy People

[SpaceYeti]

Over a decade ago, working at Subway (the sandwich place), An old man and a younger, though fully adult, lady who I presumed to be his daughter came in. It was like any other couple of customers, until they paid. I don't recall the entire conversation, but the two were Christians. They inquired into my belief, and I informed them I didn't have one to share. The old man said he presumed I was a Christian too, for the cross I wore. I don't know what happened to it, but he was talking about my sword necklace. I like swords, you see. I held it up for him to see, stating it was not a cross, but a sword. He agreed it was a sword, but also said it resembled a cross very much, and that he thought the resemblance wasn't merely coincidental. Contextual clues led me to believe he thought my sword was something of a sign from god about a future alteration of my beliefs, and then he invited me to his church.

Of course it's not a coincidence my necklace sword looked like a cross, it's a freaking sword! Swords have the same shape as crosses!

At the time, I didn't really know what to say to the guy, so I just said I'd consider his church. I was, in reality, wondering how he could presume a sword being shaped like a cross was somehow meaningful in a religious sense. If I weren't at work, I would have begun grilling him over his outrageously silly comment.

Who else has had a similar experience? It doesn't have to be religious or anything, as the religious aspect of it wasn't important to me, it was that he didn't realize swords were innately cross-like that threw me through a loop.

 

[redbaron]

Similar situation. Some lady convinced I'm an Apostle because she has a watch with the names of them on it, one of which I share name with (in pronunciation). I explained that I actually have a different name, but she was convinced that I was a sign of the second coming of Jesus.

She also smelled funny.

The second coming of Jesus:

Spoiler

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=sSiyA1cLTWQ#t=100s

 

[Chad]

Similar situation. Some lady convinced I'm an Apostle because she has a watch with the names of them on it, one of which I share name with (in pronunciation). I explained that I actually have a different name, but she was convinced that I was a sign of the second coming of Jesus.

She also smelled funny.

The second coming of Jesus:

Spoiler

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=sSiyA1cLTWQ#t=100s

She may have just been a deranged person. Many people are named after the Apostle actually in the west nearly all the apostles name rank as the top baby names. John, Simon, Peter, James, Andrew, Philip, Matthew, Thomas are all very common names the only uncommon names are
Judas (for odious reason), Bartholomew, and Thaddeus.

However, I not sure why Thaddeus isn't a common name I like it.

Anyways, I attack crazy it seems. Some of my longest friends have been with people that where consider by most (even me at times) to me mentally unstable.

I however, find them more fascinating to be around then your normal everyday people. I even dated a crazy chick once just because she was crazy. I found it interesting.

I am not sure but this my say something about my own mental stability. Then again maybe not. People sometimes think I am eccentric but I don't remember anyone actually telling me they thought I was crazy.

 

[Jennywocky]

Over a decade ago, working at Subway (the sandwich place), An old man and a younger, though fully adult, lady who I presumed to be his daughter came in. It was like any other couple of customers, until they paid. I don't recall the entire conversation, but the two were Christians. They inquired into my belief, and I informed them I didn't have one to share. The old man said he presumed I was a Christian too, for the cross I wore. I don't know what happened to it, but he was talking about my sword necklace. I like swords, you see. I held it up for him to see, stating it was not a cross, but a sword. He agreed it was a sword, but also said it resembled a cross very much, and that he thought the resemblance wasn't merely coincidental. Contextual clues led me to believe he thought my sword was something of a sign from god about a future alteration of my beliefs, and then he invited me to his church.

Of course it's not a coincidence my necklace sword looked like a cross, it's a freaking sword! Swords have the same shape as crosses!

At the time, I didn't really know what to say to the guy, so I just said I'd consider his church. I was, in reality, wondering how he could presume a sword being shaped like a cross was somehow meaningful in a religious sense. If I weren't at work, I would have begun grilling him over his outrageously silly comment.

Who else has had a similar experience? It doesn't have to be religious or anything, as the religious aspect of it wasn't important to me, it was that he didn't realize swords were innately cross-like that threw me through a loop.

I had these experiences all the time when I was in the church, it was what drove me crazy because you couldn't question it without looking "divisive."

I probably mentioned this one here before, but it's the closest one I personally experienced to your example: My ENFP friend was the youth pastor/assoc pastor, and we went as part of a group to a Scott Tomlin worship concert in the area where he had his friend Lou Giglio preaching, and Giglio went on this crazy spiel about laminin. I mention my friend [who I wasn't standing next to at the time] because when Lou was talking, I was just thinking, "this is such BULLSHIT," and at the same time, "I bet my friend is just eating this up." And what do ya know, but the first thing out of his mouth as "something amazing!" when I talked to him afterwards? Sigh.

I found some coverage of the issue here at Scopes, with Giglio specifically mentioned, for your enjoyment:

http://www.snopes.com/glurge/laminin.asp

Scopes even goes as far as mentioining that one could say laminin could look like a sword (!) in the diagram... bwa ha ha, before showing pictures of what laminin actually looks like by photo.

I can't begin to say how annoyed this kind of "amazing serendipity inherent in God's plan" left me.

It's a freakin' cross. Things cross each other. What, baskets are a sign of Jesus now? Tree roots? And why aren't they indicative of other things, besides a cross, that have crossed elements?

Yes, the cross can hold personal significance, and one might see its image in various things if they cross. That's fine. But to blow it up as some kind of objective proof of something [like God] is ridiculous.

 

[Chad]

I had these experiences all the time when I was in the church, it was what drove me crazy because you couldn't question it without looking "divisive."

I probably mentioned this one here before, but it's the closest one I personally experienced to your example: My ENFP friend was the youth pastor/assoc pastor, and we went as part of a group to a Scott Tomlin worship concert in the area where he had his friend Lou Giglio preaching, and Giglio went on this crazy spiel about laminin. I mention my friend [who I wasn't standing next to at the time] because when Lou was talking, I was just thinking, "this is such BULLSHIT," and at the same time, "I bet my friend is just eating this up." And what do ya know, but the first thing out of his mouth as "something amazing!" when I talked to him afterwards? Sigh.

I found some coverage of the issue here at Scopes, with Giglio specifically mentioned, for your enjoyment:

http://www.snopes.com/glurge/laminin.asp

Scopes even goes as far as mentioining that one could say laminin could look like a sword (!) in the diagram... bwa ha ha, before showing pictures of what laminin actually looks like by photo.

I can't begin to say how annoyed this kind of "amazing serendipity inherent in God's plan" left me.

It's a freakin' cross. Things cross each other. What, baskets are a sign of Jesus now? Tree roots? And why aren't they indicative of other things, besides a cross, that have crossed elements?

Yes, the cross can hold personal significance, and one might see its image in various things if they cross. That's fine. But to blow it up as some kind of objective proof of something [like God] is ridiculous.

Its fun to study church history because in the early age of the Church the was seen as a sign of evil. It was the tool man used to kill Christ. This is why a few early marders actually refused to be crucified right side up on crosses. The insisted on being crucified upside down because they believed the image of the cross and cross in general to be scareligious.

Oh have times changed.

 

[Jennywocky]

Its fun to study church history because in the early age of the Church the was seen as a sign of evil. It was the tool man used to kill Christ. This is why a few early marders actually refused to be crucified right side up on crosses. The insisted on being crucified upside down because they believed the image of the cross and cross in general to be scareligious.

Oh have times changed.

Well, what I find is that there's more focus on the subjective experience and feelings, and less interest in gathering and framing known across a big-picture perspective. I do find some people that at least study their Bible and church history, but other things outside of that area get ignored/shunned, so there's not a lot of cross-cultural perspective involved that could help put all that information in context and challenge interpretation.

At least today there's not a strangehold on the information, culturally and techologically; there's a lot of options out there to discover and cross-check new data.

 

[NewKid]

I can see a sword being attractive to a religious zealot. They have a long history of using them.

 

[SpaceYeti]

I can see a sword being attractive to a religious zealot. They have a long history of using them.

Kind of a low blow, dude.

 

[Chad]

I can see a sword being attractive to a religious zealot. They have a long history of using them.

I am both a religous person and I love sword.

But two things.

1)I am not a religious Zealot.

2)My interests in swords is related to my interest in the history of medieval and Asian warfare.

 

[BigApplePi]

This has nothing to do with being goofy or mistaking a sword for a cross. Their eyesight was a good as yours. It's a question of motive. They wanted to see if you were a member of their club. Why not talk to a fellow clubby? You could tell them you were an atheist or a Muslim if you dared. Or you could find another way to tell the truth without demeaning either of you. What that would be would be up for discussion, cuz I wasn't there.

 

[BigApplePi]

I had these experiences all the time when I was in the church, it was what drove me crazy because you couldn't question it without looking "divisive."

Hey Jenny. Not sure where you'd ultimately like to go with this. Ardent club members want more fellows so they can gather more around themselves. I just act dumb, which is what I am. I am interested in their interest so if I can, I ask them about themselves. They quickly forget about their desire to recruit or assumption you are already in the club but a weak member. If I find myself in the middle of a club I don't like, I try to get away as soon as I can. Let them remain friendly. They have no claim on me. I'm entitled not to join.

As long as I don't put up an opposition by lauding another club, they should remain friendly toward me and have no grounds for hating me or making me feel uncomfortable other than wanting me as a member of a club I can't see joining.

 

[SpaceYeti]

This has nothing to do with being goofy or mistaking a sword for a cross. Their eyesight was a good as yours. It's a question of motive. They wanted to see if you were a member of their club. Why not talk to a fellow clubby? You could tell them you were an atheist or a Muslim if you dared. Or you could find another way to tell the truth without demeaning either of you. What that would be would be up for discussion, cuz I wasn't there.

The point of the story wasn't that the guy thought it was a cross. I understand how it would look like a cross. In fact, I'd go so far as to say it was a cross, simply not the kind he thought it was (or at least said he thought it was). What I thought was silly was that he intoned that it resembled a cross for less than mundane reasons. Things like this aren't even that uncommon. Spiritual people see signs in coincidences all the time. The thing is, here, the resemblance wasn't a coincidence, as (typical broad) swords and crosses are the same shape. I would have to go out of my way to find a necklace with a sword on it wherein the sword didn't resemble a cross.

 

[Duxwing]

The point of the story wasn't that the guy thought it was a cross. I understand how it would look like a cross. In fact, I'd go so far as to say it was a cross, simply not the kind he thought it was (or at least said he thought it was). What I thought was silly was that he intoned that it resembled a cross for less than mundane reasons. Things like this aren't even that uncommon. Spiritual people see signs in coincidences all the time. The thing is, here, the resemblance wasn't a coincidence, as (typical broad) swords and crosses are the same shape. I would have to go out of my way to find a necklace with a sword on it wherein the sword didn't resemble a cross.

Solution: Get a big tattoo of a sword on your chest and wear a scoop-neck shirt.

-Duxwing

 

[StormCrow]

I have a story somewhat similar.

I started a new job where I spent most of my time in a computer lab where an older Jewish gentleman kept reminding me of upcoming Jewish events, holidays, etc. Each time I would smile and nod my head all the while wondering why he was telling me all of this. Not only am I an atheist, but I also come from a family of white anglo-saxon protestants, so my confusion was two-fold.

One day, sensing I wasn't quite following, he point-blank asked if I was Jewish? "No", I replied politely. He looked puzzled and asked if a parent, grandparent, or close relative was Jewish. Again, I smiled and answered, "No". He smiled and never updated me on Jewish happenings again.

This puzzled me for months, until one day I think I figured it out. At some point in my lifetime I picked up the habit of saying, "Oy vey!" after I sneeze. "Oy vey" is a Yiddish exclamation of dismay or exasperation. I'm sure I absorbed it from hours of television watched as a child. I've been doing it so long that I don't realize it when I do. This must have been the indicator that made him think me Jewish.