dogma!

So there's this man who gets on the bus a few minutes after me in the morning. We have chatted before, as he is very friendly. Growing up in New York, I am usually pretty wary of people who talk to you while riding mass transportation, but he was nice and non-threatening, so I let him chat away. Today he sat next to me on the train downtown, after getting of the bus. Again, he was nice, and although I wanted to read my book, I was still receptive and polite.

As he was getting off the train at 34th street, he mentioned that he noticed that I like to read, since I always read on the bus. Then he handed me some reading material.

Ugh.

Now, I am not one to get preachy about religion. I firmly believe that this is a country where people are free to practice any religion, or not practice any religion, as they see fit. I was raised Catholic, and I truly like the customs and traditions of this faith. I do not want people to try to preach to me, to try to make me believe that what I follow is wrong, to tell me I am not saved because I don't believe this or I do believe that. Give me a break. I am an adult, an educated adult, and I can make up my own mind. These materials only cause me to shy away from learning about your beliefs, because it makes me feel that if you have to recruit followers you may not be on the right track at all. I am not trying to insult anyone, or anyone's beliefs. But I am asking to be left to my own mind to make my own decisions. I am very capable of seeking out information on other religions if I so desire.

/rant