How to deal with Pentecostals?

[Zelenius]

I honestly did not know just how fanatical, insane and pushy Pentecostals could be until a family member and his wife converted. He had been a Catholic his entire life, but now he claims the Catholic Church services are "cold" and "boring". He was very recently baptized into a Pentecostal church and has been raving like a lunatic about how amazing this church is. He has been pushing his new found faith on me and everyone else in the family(he seems not so much a "born-againer" as a person who has switched denominations, although he sounds an awful lot like a "born-againer").

I've had to deal with religious fanatics outside my family many times, but never had to deal with them in my family before. It is beyond annoying, as well as troubling, and even family members who are Catholic are deeply offended by my relatives recent behavior. I'm an atheist. He's never really acted "crazy" before, but I've long believed his very moody wife has serious mental issues, and she was likely the one who got involved in Pentecostalism first. She'd probably leave the house more to push her religion if she didn't have trouble walking and wasn't so sick. They're old and childless(luckily). I'm also worried that this church may even be a scam(granted, I see most religion as a scam), having watched the Peter Popoff exposes a number of times, as well as other Pentecostal/non-denominational charismatic preachers who make a ton of money from preaching nonsense to the gullible.

This relative doesn't even know I'm an atheist. Although we're not that close, I'm thinking of pretending I'm a religious Christian to avoid a confrontation, since he seems to be the type of person who would die of a heart attack if he learns I'm an atheist. Or at least he would get angry and work very hard to get me to go to his church to fix what he would almost certainly see as a terrible character flaw.

I've always been somewhat aware of Pentecostalism, how fanatical(and mentally ill) they often are, how they are on average uneducated and poor compared to other Christian denominations. But this is too much. Based on my readings, it seems there are a lot of people in the same boat as me, and not just non-believers but Christians of other denominations. What is the best way to deal with this situation? Feel free to share your experiences with Pentecostals, born-againers, or any other evangelical fanatics or charismatics.

 

[Darth Rotor]

I honestly did not know just how fanatical, insane and pushy Pentecostals could be until a family member and his wife converted. He had been a Catholic his entire life, but now he claims the Catholic Church services are "cold" and "boring".

My hypothesis: charismatic churches appeal to the generations baby boomer and newer, thanks to the "show" and "entertainment" aspects of the services. The generations that have grown up with TV stimulation, and now 24/7 info age stimulation, may be addicted to energy/content input.

That explains some of the appeal.

He was very recently baptized into a Pentecostal church and has been raving like a lunatic about how amazing this church is. He has been pushing his new found faith on me and everyone else in the family(he seems not so much a "born-againer" as a person who has switched denominations, although he sounds an awful lot like a "born-againer").

Aye, seen the same.

I've had to deal with religious fanatics outside my family many times, but never had to deal with them in my family before. It is beyond annoying, as well as troubling, and even family members who are Catholic are deeply offended by my relatives recent behavior.

No surprise, what he's done is a form of social rejection. That can hurt.

He's never really acted "crazy" before, but I've long believed his very moody wife has serious mental issues, and she was likely the one who got involved in Pentecostalism first. She'd probably leave the house more to push her religion if she didn't have trouble walking and wasn't so sick.

Well, at least they are going to the same church together ... home is where the heart is.

I'm also worried that this church may even be a scam (granted, I see most religion as a scam), having watched the Peter Popoff exposes a number of times, as well as other Pentecostal/non-denominational charismatic preachers who make a ton of money from preaching nonsense to the gullible.

How big is the church (people) and how big is the building?

Based on my readings, it seems there are a lot of people in the same boat as me, and not just non-believers but Christians of other denominations. What is the best way to deal with this situation? Feel free to share your experiences with Pentecostals, born-againers, or any other evangelical fanatics or charismatics.

How to deal with Pentacostals? One at a time, and if a family member, with patience if Pentacostalism isn't your cup of tea.

DR

 

[Denver]

Regardless of your opinion on his beliefs, he has a right to them, as you do to yours. If he's not hurting anyone (and is not personally bothering you), I think you should mind your own business.

 

[Fnord]

I usually just smile, nod my head, close the door and go on about my business.

 

[pgwenthold]

I usually just smile, nod my head, close the door and go on about my business.

Why should he have to?

Why can't the annoying pentacostal just shut up? He's the one that's annoying others.

 

[joobz]

When I was in Junior high, my best friend(pentacostal) invited me to his church group to play basketball. This was fairly common with most youth groups. Having gone to many similar events at catholic churches, greek orthodox churches, I didn't think much of it.

When we got there, we ended up having a "brief meeting" about the lord. This involved watching the video about how rock music was satan's music. (RUSH = Ruler's under Satan's Hand). I tried not to giggle as many people were very serious about this. Afterwards, we left to play basketball and then play music (Nobody seemed to mind when I played Metallica Riffs on the church guitar).

The next day, I started to receive phone calls from the youth minister involved. He invited me back for more services. I thanked him, but said I would not be able to attend. He then called me a week later, and my parents informed him I wasn't home. The following day he came to school during lunch and found me. I told him I was busy and had to go.

At this point I had to ask my friend and his family to please ask their youth minister to leave me alone. They laughed it off as this was a "new guy" who was a "little over zealous" in his "love of the lord". I laughed it off as it was "extremely creepy" and I didn't want to be by the "creepy guy".

 

[Foster Zygote]

The following day he came to school during lunch and found me.

Now that's really creepy, and completely out of line. If someone went to my son's school like that without at least asking my permission first, I would tell him that further attempts to contact my son would result in me contacting the police.

 

[joobz]

Now that's really creepy, and completely out of line. If someone went to my son's school like that without at least asking my permission first, I would tell him that further attempts to contact my son would result in me contacting the police.

My dad told the church exactly that on the phone. Actually, they were fairly angry with my friend's family over it.

 

[Flo]

I honestly did not know just how fanatical, insane and pushy Pentecostals could be until a family member and his wife converted. He had been a Catholic his entire life, but now he claims the Catholic Church services are "cold" and "boring". He was very recently baptized into a Pentecostal church and has been raving like a lunatic about how amazing this church is. He has been pushing his new found faith on me and everyone else in the family(he seems not so much a "born-againer" as a person who has switched denominations, although he sounds an awful lot like a "born-againer").

That's called "the zeal of the new converts". It is common with absolutely every single denomination of absolutely every single religion the World over.

New converts need to convince themselves they have made the right choice, and to prove their sincerity/zeal to their new pastor and community, and what better way than to openly and noisily reject their former faith/religion/community and to try to bring as many people as possible to their new one ?

 

[Radrook]

Tell him what you just told us.

 

[Darth Rotor]

Why should he have to?

Why can't the annoying pentacostal just shut up? He's the one that's annoying others.

It isn't a crime to ask, is it? He won't know he's being annoying until he asks.

If, however, the asking gets to be repetitive, then I get onto your bandwagon and suggest that the asker leave alone those who have already said "no thanks."

Of course, no salesman worth his salt takes no for an answer ...

 

[pgwenthold]

It isn't a crime to ask, is it? He won't know he's being annoying until he asks.

That's another approach, yes, that is an alternative to "smile, nod, and go about your business."

 

[Trent Wray]

On an oddly other end of this spectrum, I work with many Indian Pentecostals. They are, overall, very well educated and intelligent and not pushy about their faith. They are also usually polite and cordial, etc. However, I have noticed that when talking to them individually at any depth, an unbelievable racism comes up that is horrid (and it's not just a cultural thing I don't think, I think it's honestly exacerbated by their faith). IMO.

 

[SOdhner]

That's called "the zeal of the new converts". It is common with absolutely every single denomination of absolutely every single religion the World over.

No, it's just that the religions or people where that IS common are so noisy that it seems like a bigger problem than it is.

 

[Cainkane1]

I honestly did not know just how fanatical, insane and pushy Pentecostals could be until a family member and his wife converted. He had been a Catholic his entire life, but now he claims the Catholic Church services are "cold" and "boring". He was very recently baptized into a Pentecostal church and has been raving like a lunatic about how amazing this church is. He has been pushing his new found faith on me and everyone else in the family(he seems not so much a "born-againer" as a person who has switched denominations, although he sounds an awful lot like a "born-againer").

I've had to deal with religious fanatics outside my family many times, but never had to deal with them in my family before. It is beyond annoying, as well as troubling, and even family members who are Catholic are deeply offended by my relatives recent behavior. I'm an atheist. He's never really acted "crazy" before, but I've long believed his very moody wife has serious mental issues, and she was likely the one who got involved in Pentecostalism first. She'd probably leave the house more to push her religion if she didn't have trouble walking and wasn't so sick. They're old and childless(luckily). I'm also worried that this church may even be a scam(granted, I see most religion as a scam), having watched the Peter Popoff exposes a number of times, as well as other Pentecostal/non-denominational charismatic preachers who make a ton of money from preaching nonsense to the gullible.

This relative doesn't even know I'm an atheist. Although we're not that close, I'm thinking of pretending I'm a religious Christian to avoid a confrontation, since he seems to be the type of person who would die of a heart attack if he learns I'm an atheist. Or at least he would get angry and work very hard to get me to go to his church to fix what he would almost certainly see as a terrible character flaw.

I've always been somewhat aware of Pentecostalism, how fanatical(and mentally ill) they often are, how they are on average uneducated and poor compared to other Christian denominations. But this is too much. Based on my readings, it seems there are a lot of people in the same boat as me, and not just non-believers but Christians of other denominations. What is the best way to deal with this situation? Feel free to share your experiences with Pentecostals, born-againers, or any other evangelical fanatics or charismatics.

Try discussing things other than religion with him. If you tell him you're an atheist he might physically attack you.

 

[Cainkane1]

On an oddly other end of this spectrum, I work with many Indian Pentecostals. They are, overall, very well educated and intelligent and not pushy about their faith. They are also usually polite and cordial, etc. However, I have noticed that when talking to them individually at any depth, an unbelievable racism comes up that is horrid (and it's not just a cultural thing I don't think, I think it's honestly exacerbated by their faith). IMO.

many fundamentals feel that african ancestried peoples have the curse of cain. Are these people who from India prejudiced against black people?

 

[Fnord]

Why should he have to?

Counter-question: Why should anyone who is annoying to someone else be forced to shut up?

Why can't the annoying pentacostal just shut up? He's the one that's annoying others.

Believe it or not, some people actually welcome and enjoy pentacostal evangelism.

 

[pgwenthold]

Counter-question: Why should anyone who is annoying to someone else be forced to shut up?

Because they are annoying.

Given the question of who should shut up,

1) annoying person
2) not annoying person,

why is it even a question?

 

[Foster Zygote]

Because they are annoying.

Given the question of who should shut up,

1) annoying person
2) not annoying person,

why is it even a question?

Annoyance is rather subjective, though. No matter what you say, someone is sure to be at least annoyed by it.

 

[ExMinister]

I honestly did not know just how fanatical, insane and pushy Pentecostals could be until a family member and his wife converted. He had been a Catholic his entire life, but now he claims the Catholic Church services are "cold" and "boring". He was very recently baptized into a Pentecostal church and has been raving like a lunatic about how amazing this church is. He has been pushing his new found faith on me and everyone else in the family(he seems not so much a "born-againer" as a person who has switched denominations, although he sounds an awful lot like a "born-againer").

I've had to deal with religious fanatics outside my family many times, but never had to deal with them in my family before. It is beyond annoying, as well as troubling, and even family members who are Catholic are deeply offended by my relatives recent behavior. I'm an atheist. He's never really acted "crazy" before, but I've long believed his very moody wife has serious mental issues, and she was likely the one who got involved in Pentecostalism first. She'd probably leave the house more to push her religion if she didn't have trouble walking and wasn't so sick. They're old and childless(luckily). I'm also worried that this church may even be a scam(granted, I see most religion as a scam), having watched the Peter Popoff exposes a number of times, as well as other Pentecostal/non-denominational charismatic preachers who make a ton of money from preaching nonsense to the gullible.

This relative doesn't even know I'm an atheist. Although we're not that close, I'm thinking of pretending I'm a religious Christian to avoid a confrontation, since he seems to be the type of person who would die of a heart attack if he learns I'm an atheist. Or at least he would get angry and work very hard to get me to go to his church to fix what he would almost certainly see as a terrible character flaw.

I've always been somewhat aware of Pentecostalism, how fanatical(and mentally ill) they often are, how they are on average uneducated and poor compared to other Christian denominations. But this is too much. Based on my readings, it seems there are a lot of people in the same boat as me, and not just non-believers but Christians of other denominations. What is the best way to deal with this situation? Feel free to share your experiences with Pentecostals, born-againers, or any other evangelical fanatics or charismatics.

I have not heard this before. Do you have data to back that up? I'd be curious to see it.

You didn't say how long this has been going on. Maybe he's just excited over finding this church he's so crazy about and will stop once the "newness" has worn off.

If not, and you don't want to just avoid him, you might try telling him that since he's already told you about the church, you'd like to change the subject.