Ok, so yesterday I owe the rent and because it's a holiday iv'e only got a grand instead of $1400, totally my fault, I should have got the money out on Saturday, but it's not a problem, the money's there.
So I go round to see the owner and hiswife (who are religious nuts) and they invite me in, at which point I explain I've only got a grand but can make the rest up with a check or they can wait until today for the extra $400 cash. This is the good bit:
The owners wife looked me squarely in the eye and says: 'We're blessed and that blessing has come from God and I want to pass that blessing onto you by saying forget the rest of the rent this month, we'll accept what you've given us and as long as you're willing to thank god for this gift we'll call iteven.'
I couldn't beleive it. I'm an atheist, I've no interest in any sort of religion and don't beleive a word of it, but I certainly respect a persons right to beleive in it if that's what makes them happy, so there I am, mouth wide open thinking: 'Wtf is this all about.'
But she was serious. She told me to go home and when I had a quiet moment to reflect on the gift of God....which I did, and then realised I was wasting my time because I don't beleive he's there, so what would be the point of thanking bthe gift of something you don't beleive in?
Anyway, that's the story, my question is this: Is religion so powerful it can persuede someone to give somebody else a $400 bribe just to try to get them to think about religion or was my $400 exactly what she said it was....a gift from the Lord? I think my point is I feel bad for not actually entertaining the thought that God can actually exist...which was the reason she gave me the money anyway, to do just that.
Signed
Confused, Los Angeles.
So I go round to see the owner and hiswife (who are religious nuts) and they invite me in, at which point I explain I've only got a grand but can make the rest up with a check or they can wait until today for the extra $400 cash. This is the good bit:
The owners wife looked me squarely in the eye and says: 'We're blessed and that blessing has come from God and I want to pass that blessing onto you by saying forget the rest of the rent this month, we'll accept what you've given us and as long as you're willing to thank god for this gift we'll call iteven.'
I couldn't beleive it. I'm an atheist, I've no interest in any sort of religion and don't beleive a word of it, but I certainly respect a persons right to beleive in it if that's what makes them happy, so there I am, mouth wide open thinking: 'Wtf is this all about.'
But she was serious. She told me to go home and when I had a quiet moment to reflect on the gift of God....which I did, and then realised I was wasting my time because I don't beleive he's there, so what would be the point of thanking bthe gift of something you don't beleive in?
Anyway, that's the story, my question is this: Is religion so powerful it can persuede someone to give somebody else a $400 bribe just to try to get them to think about religion or was my $400 exactly what she said it was....a gift from the Lord? I think my point is I feel bad for not actually entertaining the thought that God can actually exist...which was the reason she gave me the money anyway, to do just that.
Signed
Confused, Los Angeles.