Comments on: In the name of God http://reluctantmemsahib.wordpress.com/2008/05/05/in-the-name-of-god/ the diary of wife, mother and failed domestic goddess in Africa Wed, 23 Dec 2009 23:57:04 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Cairogal http://reluctantmemsahib.wordpress.com/2008/05/05/in-the-name-of-god/#comment-3016 Cairogal Tue, 13 May 2008 15:25:57 +0000 http://reluctantmemsahib.wordpress.com/?p=501#comment-3016 I was raised w/ the same idea-you don't discuss religion w/ strangers, and it is a very private matter. I, too, have ended up beside a missionary on a 13 hour flight from Skiphol to Seattle. Twenty minutes into the flight he asked, "So, do you believe in God?" I tried to put him off w/ the idea that it was a personal question. He pursued! I actually had to get rather nasty in order to shut him up. He had the nerve to tell me that my version of spirituality was rather self-righteous. I was raised w/ the same idea-you don’t discuss religion w/ strangers, and it is a very private matter. I, too, have ended up beside a missionary on a 13 hour flight from Skiphol to Seattle. Twenty minutes into the flight he asked, “So, do you believe in God?” I tried to put him off w/ the idea that it was a personal question. He pursued! I actually had to get rather nasty in order to shut him up. He had the nerve to tell me that my version of spirituality was rather self-righteous.

]]> By: reluctantmemsahib http://reluctantmemsahib.wordpress.com/2008/05/05/in-the-name-of-god/#comment-2989 reluctantmemsahib Fri, 09 May 2008 05:02:56 +0000 http://reluctantmemsahib.wordpress.com/?p=501#comment-2989 thanks for reading India J. yup, loud shouting usually in a bid to distract from something they'd rather we didn't know about. and you're absolutley right: charity has nothing to do with religion, just as being a ''good'' person doesn't have to. thanks for reading India J. yup, loud shouting usually in a bid to distract from something they’d rather we didn’t know about. and you’re absolutley right: charity has nothing to do with religion, just as being a ”good” person doesn’t have to.

]]> By: India J http://reluctantmemsahib.wordpress.com/2008/05/05/in-the-name-of-god/#comment-2982 India J Wed, 07 May 2008 21:20:19 +0000 http://reluctantmemsahib.wordpress.com/?p=501#comment-2982 Hi, love your blog...and the name...well, what can I say..? The reluctant mensahib in our family was my mother... I had to leave Africa prematurely, unfortunately (that's another story...) as a teen... I couldn't agree more with you - Religion, Politics and Money are definately not matters to be discussed over dinner lest you offend (or be offended) - everyone is free to belief what they like, they have no right to ram it down your throat..! In my experience, those who shout the loudest (the zealots) quite often have the most to hide (or as fowhollowjewelry above says : "those that wear their religion on their sleeves have a lot of dirt on their elbows"). The Press is full of examples of the holier-than-thou getting caught "with their pants down" and worse..! Lastly, true charity has nothing to do with religion - I've been involved with several charities over the years (including an NGO I set up with family and friends) and, in my experience, the desire/need to help others is above Religion, Politics, Nationality, Wealth...etc - Thank God ! Hi,
love your blog…and the name…well, what can I say..?

The reluctant mensahib in our family was my mother… I had to leave Africa prematurely, unfortunately (that’s another story…) as a teen…

I couldn’t agree more with you – Religion, Politics and Money are definately not matters to be discussed over dinner lest you offend (or be offended) – everyone is free to belief what they like, they have no right to ram it down your throat..!

In my experience, those who shout the loudest (the zealots) quite often have the most to hide (or as fowhollowjewelry above says : “those that wear their religion on their sleeves have a lot of dirt on their elbows”).
The Press is full of examples of the holier-than-thou getting caught “with their pants down” and worse..!

Lastly, true charity has nothing to do with religion – I’ve been involved with several charities over the years (including an NGO I set up with family and friends) and, in my experience, the desire/need to help others is above Religion, Politics, Nationality, Wealth…etc – Thank God !

]]> By: nuttycow http://reluctantmemsahib.wordpress.com/2008/05/05/in-the-name-of-god/#comment-2979 nuttycow Wed, 07 May 2008 10:57:03 +0000 http://reluctantmemsahib.wordpress.com/?p=501#comment-2979 And that, RM, is another reason why you're a much better blogger than I am. You get out there and experience things like strange ministers trying to convert you on planes. I fall asleep :) And that, RM, is another reason why you’re a much better blogger than I am. You get out there and experience things like strange ministers trying to convert you on planes. I fall asleep :)

]]> By: H is for Hydrant, Hose-pipes and lots and lots of Hot Water « Reluctant Memsahib http://reluctantmemsahib.wordpress.com/2008/05/05/in-the-name-of-god/#comment-2978 H is for Hydrant, Hose-pipes and lots and lots of Hot Water « Reluctant Memsahib Wed, 07 May 2008 08:56:35 +0000 http://reluctantmemsahib.wordpress.com/?p=501#comment-2978 [...] Reluctant Memsahib the diary of wife, mother and failed domestic goddess in Africa « In the name of God [...] [...] Reluctant Memsahib the diary of wife, mother and failed domestic goddess in Africa « In the name of God [...]

]]> By: Expatmum http://reluctantmemsahib.wordpress.com/2008/05/05/in-the-name-of-god/#comment-2976 Expatmum Wed, 07 May 2008 02:32:13 +0000 http://reluctantmemsahib.wordpress.com/?p=501#comment-2976 Just watched "In Bruges" in my hotel room in Montreal last weekend. Started off slow but what a great black comedy, and Colin Farrell was fab. I was going to comment on the religious stuff, but as a lapsed Catholic desperately trying to raise funds for a school in rural Ghana, it's just too complicated! I do hope that I'm making a difference as I'm focusing purely on one school instead of giving money to an organisation that has a lot of employees (payroll) and spreads it far and wide. At least I know where this is going and what it's doing. Just watched “In Bruges” in my hotel room in Montreal last weekend. Started off slow but what a great black comedy, and Colin Farrell was fab.
I was going to comment on the religious stuff, but as a lapsed Catholic desperately trying to raise funds for a school in rural Ghana, it’s just too complicated! I do hope that I’m making a difference as I’m focusing purely on one school instead of giving money to an organisation that has a lot of employees (payroll) and spreads it far and wide. At least I know where this is going and what it’s doing.

]]> By: reluctantmemsahib http://reluctantmemsahib.wordpress.com/2008/05/05/in-the-name-of-god/#comment-2974 reluctantmemsahib Tue, 06 May 2008 13:12:10 +0000 http://reluctantmemsahib.wordpress.com/?p=501#comment-2974 oh bugger nutty, that's what i should have done. mind you, then i've had had nothing to say on this? Roberta, that is screamingly funny. i loved that. oh bugger nutty, that’s what i should have done. mind you, then i’ve had had nothing to say on this?

Roberta, that is screamingly funny. i loved that.

]]> By: Roberta http://reluctantmemsahib.wordpress.com/2008/05/05/in-the-name-of-god/#comment-2973 Roberta Tue, 06 May 2008 12:51:57 +0000 http://reluctantmemsahib.wordpress.com/?p=501#comment-2973 My father, in his later years became a Methodist Minister. Before he could complete the application, the Bishop had a meeting at our home. Dad had to go upstairs for some paperwork, leaving my mom with the Bishop. The conversation went this way: "So, how do you feel about becoming a minister's wife?" "This is HIS gig, I don't have big enough hair to be a preacher's wife." HA! My father, in his later years became a Methodist Minister. Before he could complete the application, the Bishop had a meeting at our home. Dad had to go upstairs for some paperwork, leaving my mom with the Bishop.

The conversation went this way:

“So, how do you feel about becoming a minister’s wife?”

“This is HIS gig, I don’t have big enough hair to be a preacher’s wife.”

HA!

]]> By: nuttycow http://reluctantmemsahib.wordpress.com/2008/05/05/in-the-name-of-god/#comment-2972 nuttycow Tue, 06 May 2008 12:30:12 +0000 http://reluctantmemsahib.wordpress.com/?p=501#comment-2972 Hey RM - glad you're back safely. The journey sounds like a nightmare. I'm afraid I have very little time for missionaries. My views are my own and them quoting Bible references at me is very unlikely to change them. You're far more polite than I am though - I would have just pretended to be asleep! Hey RM – glad you’re back safely. The journey sounds like a nightmare. I’m afraid I have very little time for missionaries. My views are my own and them quoting Bible references at me is very unlikely to change them. You’re far more polite than I am though – I would have just pretended to be asleep!

]]> By: reluctantmemsahib http://reluctantmemsahib.wordpress.com/2008/05/05/in-the-name-of-god/#comment-2971 reluctantmemsahib Tue, 06 May 2008 08:50:28 +0000 http://reluctantmemsahib.wordpress.com/?p=501#comment-2971 Thanks Mr Sherman - it wasn't so much his opinions on Africa that irritated me - everybody is entitled to an opinion though I didn't feel his was terribly informed - it was his energetic determination to thrust religion upon me that irked! foxhollow - i think your gran and mine might have had a blast together! My gran was a catholic and went to mass when she wasn't feeling cross with God/the pope/Catholic church in general. When she was, feeling cross, she used to succumb to glorious rants! blackmzungu - I so agree. EDUCATION, EDUCATION, EDUCATION. If that was implemented more broadly, everything else would have greater impact including Aids and malaria awarness programs. Sustainable poverty alleviation can only be afforded with education. Thanks Mr Sherman – it wasn’t so much his opinions on Africa that irritated me – everybody is entitled to an opinion though I didn’t feel his was terribly informed – it was his energetic determination to thrust religion upon me that irked!

foxhollow – i think your gran and mine might have had a blast together! My gran was a catholic and went to mass when she wasn’t feeling cross with God/the pope/Catholic church in general. When she was, feeling cross, she used to succumb to glorious rants!

blackmzungu – I so agree. EDUCATION, EDUCATION, EDUCATION. If that was implemented more broadly, everything else would have greater impact including Aids and malaria awarness programs. Sustainable poverty alleviation can only be afforded with education.

]]>