A small personal dilemma.. (in Off-topic)

So I have to ask this question to you guys as I like to consider you like a second little family of mine, as this just happened to me today and I am still flabbergasted at the very thought of it.

What would you say to some holy-er-then-thou two faced hunk of turd, who happens to be church friends with your parents, Who writes you a letter telling you that Jesus forgives you and is waiting for you with open arms. This man knows nothing about you, nothing about what you believe in, nothing you are currently struggling with in life, nothing what so ever.

But you.. you are an anti-theist (Yes inspired by the late and great Hitchen's) and an adamant one to the highest degree one could ever possibly be. Not only that BUT you also know about terrible things this man has said about your family in the past, behind their backs, information which was relayed to you by way of a life long best friend who worked for this man for a very short amount of time.

I bring this up, because I'm feeling very conflicted. The better half of me says let it go, forget about it, move on with your life. The slightly worse half of me wants to, kindly I might add, tear this guy a new place to push his waste out of. Not by violence of course, but by words in a response letter.

Honestly not only am I deeply deeply offended at the letter itself and what it implies, I'm offended he had the gall to even ask my father to give it to me for him, knowing what he has said and what he truly thinks about my father behind his back.

Fellow CBers... What would you do?

Let it go.

Not much good comes out of starting turmoil.

The only thing to consider is letting your parents know, via a simple conversation what you have been told about this "two faced hunk of turd".

But as far as responding to him, do not do it.

Sounds like he is trying to elicit a reaction. I say don't give him the pleasure and just ignore him and it.

Being ignored usually bothers people more. Especially attention seekers.

In short stick to your guns. and dont waste your breath, that is just more fuel for them to want to recruit you as youve lost your way.

personally ive received hand written letters, with my name and address on the envelope, its creepy but its their way to attract numbers through what seems as an earnest approach. in return ive searched free stuff online and used their address, they might of got a few nice samples but ive forever smeared their address upon the internet.

Just let it go, this is coming from someone who has been in the exact opposite situation of you.

Laugh, laminate the letter, keep it, and look back on it in years to come gaining warmth at the memory.

;)

Yeah that too, then if they ever stop believing, probably not likely; but if they ever did, it'd be hilarious to show the letter to them.

After you've scanned it, set up a website, and posted it online. ;)

Send him this: http://i.imgur.com/YmPhR.png

Thanks guys, for some reason I just needed to hear it from someone else. I knew I should just ignore it from the get go, but I will not lie and say that it did not make my blood boil just a bit while I was reading it.


I'm not usually one to get up in arms over something, nor do I get offended easily, but this was just one of those things that crossed a line for me due to my feelings about this man prior to this letter to begin with.

As for the suggestion to laminate it and save the letter to look back on after the years have passed and laugh at it. I think I might go ahead and do just that. Seems rather therapeutic when I think about it.

LB thank you for that, that made me laugh and I'm saving that for future reference.

Honestly I do appreciate all your replies, I really do, they've helped me calm myself down quite a bit and realize that I should indeed stick to my gut and take the high ground and just let it go.

Considering that this person had to go through a family member to reach you, it's safe to say you can live your life without bumping into this person again. If that's the case, then I'll echo everyone before me and say "let it go in silence."

But if he happens to bump into you at a social function, and HE brings up the letter, as kindly and as genuinely as possible thank him for the letter and let him know that you forgive him for his past transgressions. Then hug him. For too long.

No explanation, no argument, just awkwardness.

I like Demigod's the best.

Hahaha Demi, most likely I will never bump into this man again. However in the off chance I do, and he does bring up the letter himself, I will follow your suggestion to the T. It just seems like a very fitting thing to do.

This post reminds me of an article I just stumbled across today:
Church Sign: God prefers kind Atheists over hateful Christians

There is one thing you can do to make yourself feel better.

Sit down and write a letter to this person. Write it as nasty as you want it to be. Then fold it up and a couple days later read it, then tear it up and throw it away.

This sort of lets you get rid of your anger at this person in the form of a letter that will never get mailed.

That's a good suggestion Ranger, thank you. It's something I used to actually do when I was a young teenager and would get pissed or upset at different people in my life, but never wanted to actually let them know how I felt for fear of ruining the relationship between myself and the person.

Not that I care about this person in particular in the slightest, but it is still a very good way to get my true feelings off my chest and out of my head.

Apparently Ranger doesn't understand how alcohol works. Don't go drinking with the guys, or that baby's getting mailed with a tequila-scented kiss.

What demi said but with a,"Bless your heart!"

This actually works very well.