No good deed goes unpunished. New fundie adventure:

[bahramthered]

Yesterday I went to the libary. Being a nice day I decided to walk. Couple blocks away I spotted something laying beside the sidewalk. A wallet. I promptly picked it up and flipped it sideways. Seeing a thick greeness that could be only one thing I decided not to tempt myself by seeing how much was in there. (if it was ones I'd be impressed, if it was bigger bills...)

I opened it's side pockets to see if I could find a name, and low and behold I spotted the logo of a drivers license. So I had the address. Check the house numbers and discovered it was the one next door to the one standing in front of. About the smallest detour you could imagine, so seconds later I was knocking on the door.

It was opened just about when I started wondering if I could shove the thing through the mail slot and be on my way. I was confronted by a shirtless man who was a surprisingly good resemblance to the DMV picture on the license. I didn't look at the license past the pic but I'd guess 30ish.

(I'm getting to a point)

I say, "I found this on the sidewalk." and hold it out to him. He recoiled, I'm guessing because it was bright outside and his eyes hadn't adjusted enough to see it. A second later he takes it baffled, and looks at me confused. About then a little blond kid, his son as I'd learn soon enough, walks up to watch (maybe 7).

Deciding his confusion was how did I know where to bring it I just say, "License" and you just see understanding color his face. He says thanks and in a completely understandable reaction flips it open to see if his cards are there before he checks the cash. I could see his surprise it still had the wad of cash in there (and I unfortunately saw it looked like mostly $20).

Apparently realizing his good luck (as before he hadn't had time to process) his casual thanks was replaced with a much more enthusiastic thanks. He shook my hand and said I had to meet his wife, to prove there where still good people. Before I could protest I used the hand he was shaking to pull me inside. I figured why not he seemed nice enough and it seemed to be making both our days. Somewhere at this point he starts thanking god I found it. I decide to play nice and not say anything.

The "honey" he yells and promptly a blond woman appears from upstairs. He hands he the wallet and says what happened, thanking me the whole way through. She even hugs me. Everyone is all smiles.

It's getting embarrassing as dad starts lecturing the kid about honesty using me as an example while wifey is thanking me, and has me explain where I found the wallet.

And once again god gets thanked I came alone, this time from her. But she spots the annoyance on my face at that one word. She asks what's wrong. I try for a casual brush off, not a believer, didn't see god help retrieve the wallet(jokingly) ,gotta go. She says that's okay as long as I know god. My response was something like sure whatever. Long story short she keeps asking me questions about my religion, until I just decide to tell her and hubby I'm an Atheist. I don't think I was rude, I just went from the polite brush off to a direct answer.

The mood in the room just changed. Where before she was practically smothering me with a kind of clingy energy, now she was completely standoffish back straight, arms crossed around chest level. She was looking at me like a woman confronting a puppy who had made a puddle on the carpet. Even her nose wrinkled like she was smelling something disgusting.

Dad went from looking like he was about to invite me to dinner to looking like I was a freeloading relative who had just arrived unannounced with suitcases.

Deciding that now I could leave, without getting stopped for more thanks. I said bye. He did shake my hand and thank me again, but he just wanted me gone.

Lesson of the story? You tell me? From hero to zero answering what she wanted to know.

[thegodiknew]

That is fascinating.

I recently had a similar experience.

[Seppuku]

Thanks for the story, it's sad really but at least you proved that atheists aren't agents of satan with no moral fiber and aren't full of nothing but dishonesty. Although they may have bee disgusted by the fact you're an atheist, they cannot deny that you were honest and decent about it and you never know you might have impacted them, even if only a little. I'm glad so far that in the real world when I've admitted to being an atheist I've been met with tolerance, but I have been informed at a Christian debate I went to I got a few evil stares for being the atheist in the room...even though I was invited by the organiser.

[thegodiknew]

The response you got is as typical as it is frightening. People so married to the god concept that they lose even human decency toward someone that showed them a huge favor because a THOUGHT he holds. It reminds me of the movie "Invasion" with Nicole Kidman. If you show the wrong thought/emotion the assimilated/group think no-longer-humans attack you, driven instinctively to assimilate you.

[mram]

Didn't you know that EVERY single good thing you have ever done or ever will do is the direct responsibility of gawd? If you just by accident stub your big toe on a coffee table then it's Satan. However, if you don't become rich or do run across hard times then it's because you're a lazy damned liberal and neither gawd nor Satan has any influence. It's ALL Obama's fault (or some other liberal plot, conspiracy type gibberish..)
That makes me wonder about your "personal relationship" with jesus. I always thought he was sent to save ALL of mankind instead of being some mythic being we could go buy at Walmart. If he's such a public figure than why the "personal" thing? We could never have a public jesus or taxes would have to pay for him and we all know taxes can't pay for churches or they couldn't possibly pay their fair share.., etc.... (Yeah, I know..sort of off the subject)
When you do good deeds as far as i know, and correct me if I'm wrong, you are under no obligation to give credit to imaginary beings.. On the other hand the Bushco's might have slipped that into law when nobody was looking.

[Sniomhaiche]

You're a good man, bahramthered. Who knows? Maybe you will be instrumental in getting this family to at least start questioning why they believe what they believe. 

[bahramthered]

thegodiknew: That's typical. Believers can rationalize anything away. Fundies are the worse. But how do you go from heaping praise on someone to so cold? This was even more impressive since it was like flipping a light switch.

I do agree with your group think idea, but the difference in reality is microscopic, at least in this context. I doubt I'd have gotten this response if I was from a rival christian group, a jew, or even a muslim. Heck The FSM might have gotten a warmer response.


Seppuku: I doubt I proved anything to them. If they tell the story to anyone I doubt they'll ever mention how the event ended. Heck I could be a satanic spy who used a stolen wallet to try and gain their trust. When they realized what I was doing they rightly threw me out.


Mram: With you. You sum many of my opinions of fundies up nicely.


Sniomhaiche: Doubt everything you said. From the minute I was "shunned" I was wondering how much fun I could have had with that wallet. When I found the damn thing I made sure I didn't look how much was in it. I was kinda proud of ignoring that temptation. Now I'm wondering how much I could have got for the credit cards. I don't think a good man would be so petty. Then again I'm still annoyed. If it magically appeared in front of me right now I think I might still return it. By mail. Or maybe by tossing it to a cop.

But on the other side, I think I heard the kid (k something. Kevin?) ask what an atheist was after I told mom. Think they shushed him. You know; forbidden subjects and all.

[Hermes]

Bahramthered, you experienced ingrained bigotry.  Something that can take generations to purge.  Meanwhile, with your presence, they felt cheated, confused, and insulted when you weren't as they supposed.  Their good Samaritan wasn't God fearing, but godless.  Why didn't you tell them, or wear a badge, paint your face, or have a thick accent so they could categorize you right away?  If you wore your 'defect' elsewhere, and more obviously, they would have shown you a more plastic front to begin with, or would have jumped right to being rude for your good deed.  If they shed some of that, you unfortunately won't see it as it could take days to months.

I've found money -- stray bills -- and kept it without a care, yet I've also returned lost items when it was possible, automatically and with no less worry as with the stray bills.

[thegodiknew]

thegodiknew: That's typical. Believers can rationalize anything away. Fundies are the worse. But how do you go from heaping praise on someone to so cold? This was even more impressive since it was like flipping a light switch.

I do agree with your group think idea, but the difference in reality is microscopic, at least in this context. I doubt I'd have gotten this response if I was from a rival christian group, a jew, or even a muslim. Heck The FSM might have gotten a warmer response.

You know that is a good point. If a Muslim or a Mormon or a Jew or even a run of a mill non-christian was at the door they might switch into friendship evangelism mode, but let an atheist identify himself and the response is like a Satanist with a severed head was standing in the door. Probably only other group to be treated like that are Wiccans and witches. But the bibles treatment of the two groups is miles a part: 

"The fool sayth in his heart there is no god."
So according to the bible atheists amount to the village idiots, where witches have, 
"Suffer not a witch to live," hanging as an open ended death penalty over their heads.

 

[kin hell]

Athesist style 1
Theist    style 0


Well done all round bahram, sad to hear of their behaviour, but can't say I'm surprised.

[MrFriday]

Wow! That is one of wierdest things I've heard in a long time. Somebody in the internet age actually going to the library.

 

[Seppuku]

Wow! That is one of wierdest things I've heard in a long time. Somebody in the internet age actually going to the library.

 

I still go to the library too - it's a great place to go to work when you want peace, as it's easy to work in there without too many distractions (though the other day the kids in there were especially noisy), whilst it's easy to google things, books are much nicer to read and well lets be honest, when you're doing work on your computer, it's so easy to be distracted by the wonders the internet offers. For example I am doing work now, yet I am for some reason replying to this thread.

[deconvertedone]

Wow! That is one of wierdest things I've heard in a long time. Somebody in the internet age actually going to the library.

 

That's a good one Mr. Friday.  I volunteer at my local library (very small) and I would say 90% of the people that come in do so just to use the internet!  The other 10% have a 4-H meeting.

[bahramthered]

Wow! That is one of wierdest things I've heard in a long time. Somebody in the internet age actually going to the library.

 

I still like real books and they're free there and they're easier to read in bed than than a laptop (or so I keep telling myself). Of course the place is overrun with people using the computers for the internet...

[MrFriday]

Wow! That is one of weirdest things I've heard in a long time. Somebody in the internet age actually going to the library.

 

I still like real books and they're free there and they're easier to read in bed than than a laptop (or so I keep telling myself). Of course the place is overrun with people using the computers for the internet...

I know what you mean. I still like libraries too and I have my own library of a few hundred books. But I've seen many small libraries closed down recently and, as you implied, many of them are becoming little more than internet cafes. As for reading in bed, you can't beat a "Kindle 2."

[mram]

The Irving Library limits people to 10 minutes with no library card. With the card a whopping 20 minutes.. If I can't use the net 10 minutes or 20 isn't going to make that much difference. i think they just don't really want people to actually do any research online. They might discover .....THIS demoniacally possessed site.. OH NOOOOO!

[ksm]

I've known people who would not normally talk about religion in public at all, suddnenly find themselves unable to drop the subject upon finding that I am an atheist.

[Cynic]

It always amuses me how someone who doesn't worship a child killer can be considered immoral while someone who does has "family values"

[Snowflake]

What an alarming story.  I suppose those people believe morality is not possible without theism?  Of course, in your case it was - a good deed was possible.  So the fact that you are an unbeliever, well, I suppose their minds are still trying to process that!

Regardless, you did the right thing, and that is commendable.  If only more people, whatever belief system (or lack thereof!) they posses, would act the same way, I think we would all be better off.

[uncle viking]

Christianity has a built-in safeguard that prevents people from questioning the logic/overall reality of their beliefs:  It is a sin to even examine the question!  Once I finally was able to really look at what I used to believe. it slowly crumbled away.  Some people (my parents, for example) Never get to that place.  It is surprisingly effective.  Now when I hear someone say "We just have to occupy the land until Jesus returns" it sounds so ridiculous.  I wonder what took me so long to come to this realization. I am a fairly intelligent person, and I cringe to think of the self-righteous things I have said to people to "save their souls"

[Hermes]

Bahramthered, your story is making it's way a little around the blogospere;

WWGHA blog
http://whywontgodhealamputees.com/blog/?p=597

Finding a Wallet on the Ground…
http://friendlyatheist.com/2009/07/04/finding-a-wallet-on-the-ground/



[ apologies if this has been mentioned ]

[bahramthered]

Wow. Never thought I'd be a celebrity... Wait! They don't even mention my name! I'm being ripped off!!! Now I don't get to go one Oprah and O'Reily... On second though I'm cool with that.


-If anyone else knows where this is posted I'd love to know.

[Cycle4Fun]

I was at a wedding recently in the middle of corn and wheat country.  Standing in line for dinner, my cousin of 16 or 17 was shocked to discover that her cousin who has an excellent education, good morals, and whose behavior is much better than the others his age attending the celebration is an atheist.  Her response was, "Really?"  Like it was impossible to believe I could be an atheist.

Several things completely off topic.  This could have been a drama filled wedding.  The bride is my favorite cousin in my dad's side of the family.  Which is why I attended the wedding despite the 1,100 mi. of travel.  She is a former Jehovah's Witness.  I have no idea of her religious beliefs now, nor do I really care as long as she is out of that mental trap.  Dad and Mom still are witnesses as well as some of the older kids, but not all.  When someone leaves the church they are supposed to be disowned by the rest of the community.  Mom and dad haven't done this completely.  The father of the bride was seriously debating walking his daughter down the isle.  The dad walked his daughter down the isle and attended the wedding anyway, while the mother sat in the truck outside the church.  That was the only drama in what could have been a very dramatic wedding and what is a very drama filled family.

I was also shocked at the complete lack of respect for the couple getting married.  I consider shirt and tie to be bare minimum dress for men and dress slacks and blouse to be minimum for women.   Suit, tie, or dress are preferred.  Even if it is a sunny day in the mid 80's.  Deal with it men.  This is coming from a 25 year old man who according to several of his girl friends recently learned to dress himself.  On this occasion you just have to ask yourself, "What do you think the bride wants you to wear on her wedding day?"  The answer is never cargo shorts and polo shirt.  It is only jeans with a tucked in western shirt when it is a western themed wedding, which this was not.

The bar experience was interesting as well.   I walk in to live music (surprising descent cover bands) with some of the bride and grooms friends and family the night before the wedding.  I was instantly pegged as the only city boy in the entire town.  Despite wearing the same clothes I just traveled 1,100 mi. in, between my hair style, the cut of the jeans, and the style of my button up shirt, I was definetly not from the Midwest.  It wouldn't have been more obvious if I spoke Chinese.  Everyone also drinks Busch Lite.  I hope you've never had the misfortune to sample Busch Lite, but I think bitter Cheerio flavored vinegar does it justice.

[velkyn]

I hope you've never had the misfortune to sample Busch Lite, but I think bitter Cheerio flavored vinegar does it justice.

amen brother!  I need to drink a real beer when I get home to get that taste out of my mind.

[Procrustes]

Same thing as racism and all other isms.  Just with a religious twist.  They're religiousists.  If you don't meet their religious standards, you're less than nothing, regardless of your behavior.  Sit to the back of the bus, please, and use the other water fountain.  No, you can't vote (at least that's what they'd lobby for if they could), and you certainly can't run for office (it's law in many states!). 

Guess we'll have to lobby Congress to get a constitutional amendment passed to protect our right not to be discriminated against based on our religious preference.


Oh, wait....

[Seppuku]

I didn't know you were called Bob bahramthered.  

Not that I'm mocking you for it, 'Bob' is an awesome name, like 'Steve'.


Apparently you're a koala as well. (Hermes' second link)

[Ashe]

That must have been uncomfortable. But you know what, I'm glad it happened. Not their reaction to you, but that you found the wallet and returned it and happened to be an atheist. I think it's good for any religious person with an aversion to atheists to face an atheist who has done something moral. I doubt that this instance changed any hearts, but it was a good reminder that yes, atheists can do good things too.

[IAmFirst]

The people you returned the wallet to may have been MORE surprised that you actually returned something that didn't belong to you AND you are an Atheist, or (to most people) one without morals.   

I have been told by some that I really worship the devil, and that atheism is just a front for satanism.

You did very well! Keep up the humanity!   

[bahramthered]

Thanks for the support everyone.

But I don't think I'm going out in public anymore. In one week I had three encounters with fundies. I think I'll post them later but for now I gotta run.

[Tealeaf]

Shining example of religious brainwashing once again destroying decency among people and creating walls.

Anybody else thinking of the 7 year old kid? I REALLY hope that experience sticks with him and he grows up to reject his parents' bullshit to their faces and call them out on how horribley they treated you.

This kind of selfish, idiotic brainwashing is just blood boiling! Just think....you could have kept that money and not had to deal with those assholes! But instead you chose to do the honest thing, BECAUSE YOU KNOW YOU WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF IT WERE THE OTHER WAY AND THAT THE OWNER (SHOULD) APPRECIATE IT, and this is how you are repaid?!

I've found wallets numerous times. Often while on the job making my $9.25 an hour busting ass in the -20 degree wind and snow. I once found a wallet/case thing with all of someones ID, about 4 credit cards and over $400 in cash. Could have kept it all.... But I instead used the ID to have the person cantacted.

Why did I do that?