h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Good grief, az. Is this passionate affair with Noggin that you keep hinting at still on the boil? Best of luck to the pair of ya.

toxx

Well toxx, I don't see how referring to wicked Scrabble games hints at a passionate affair . . .

Noggin is still here on holiday, which is why I answered your question about anyone having seen him recently. Anyhow, he seems to be quite busy studying Spanish verbs atm.

He has access to the computer whenever he likes so I can only assume that the constant sunshine is doing something to his brain. So you might have to wait until he returns to gloomy old Wales before you hear back from him on the regular basis that you have become accustomed to.

Honest, it's not my fault!


az

We're definitely beginning to have our suspicions...



F

az

Hi Moth

I just lurve Mormons! They are much better educated than Jehovah's Witlesses, more convincingly sincere and (in my experience) young Americans.

So much fun to be had !

The best way to get them running to them thar hills is to educate yourself with a few interesting/uncomfortable arguments. Point your favourite search engine at 'biblical errancy' and do a little reading.

So armed you should be able to tie them up in knots on the doorstep.

I particularly like rainy days, so that while I stand in the warm with a lovely cup of coffee, they prove their devotion whilst tempting pneumonia.

If you think that this cruel consider the following:
1. You don't doorstep them whilst trying to force your philosophical propaganda down their throats.
2. They train for this, for years!
3. They seem to enjoy a good old ding-dong on the doorstep (I am never rude or discourteous to them).
4. If you torture them with logic or the truth you are reinforcing the message they have been fed about all Christians beign persecuted, so you are actually helping strengthen their faith.

Have fun!

Blessings,
Matholwch /|\.

Trainer of Mormon Missionaries for 3 decades.

Math

Honestly!

You are bad enough to be heathen. (That's a compliment.)

Would you like to join the Magpie Kindred? You eventually have to sleep in the yurt, but that can come later. You are pretty much a member already, being on Chants

Jez

--

Jez has studied and practised Anglosaxon heathenry and witchcraft for over thirty years and is a member of the Association of Polytheistic Traditions but cannot be a member of the Pagan Federation because the Three Principles are not in accord with the teachings of her tradition, nor do they represent the beliefs of her spiritual ancestors.
 
Association of Polytheist Traditions - http://www.wyrdwords.vispa.com/APT

"Agreed - the evangelical Anglicans I know are not fundamentalist at all. (Actually I can't really imagine a fundamentalist Anglican.)"

there most certainly are fundamentalist Anglicans. Their churches tend to be quite well populated and so rich by comparison with mainstream Anglicanism. They have banded together into a private club which threatens to refuse to pay 'the quota' (the large tax paid to the Diocese for the upkeep of the central CoE unless it becomes more right wing in its theology.

Tell them you gave at the office! No, seriously, JWs (and we have some in the family!) are quite easy, if you say persistently enough that you have already got your own beliefs and sorry, you're busy, they'll go away. Mormons in my experience, are much more persistent. The best thing is simply to say that you have your own beliefs sorted, thanks very much, and meanwhile, you have things to do. My father and my brother, used to invite them in, and tie them in knots, with debate, but that's not recommended unless you have (a) heaps of time and (b) enough Biblical familiarity to argue on their own terms...

The thing about Mormons I've noticed, Matholwch, is not the Bible - but the other extra-Biblical books they use. If you're not familiar with them, you can come unstuck! The first time I debated Mormons (in the 1970s) I was hung up on the fact that they were Americans, and we ended up debating gun culture and the death penalty!

Hi Jez

Me bad, me very bad, but I blame their God for infecting me with original mischief .

The Magpie Kindred huh? Well let's see I am already a member of:
The British Druid Order,
The Order of the Yew,
The Druid Network,
Chants',
Y Caer,
and
The Pengash.

Perhaps you would be so kind to e-mail me offlist and let me know more about this band of vagabonds?

Blessings,
Matholwch /|\.

Hi Della

Yes, they are the kings of making-it-up-as-we-go-along, ain't they?. This is what makes it so much fun.

JW's are so easy my wife actually feels sorry for them when they ignore the secret JW 'run away' signs chalked on the gate and wander up our path.

I must admit I rarely change into a bath towel and sprinkle myself with water before answering the door like I used to. There is something about a big hairy chest and small damp towel that really undermines their presence of mind .

Yes I am evil, but hey you already knew that .

Blessings,
Matholwch /|\.

SD Back from a sojurn to move house.

Malthowych

You are not alone,

My only sorrow with the JW's and to a lesser extent Mormons is that they dont tend to come back for a second chat with me.

I have an anecdote from my childhood though.

As a 11 year old I once answered the door to find some JW's on the doorstep. My father was at home, he was a member of the Freemasons and was rehearsing his words for a meeting that night.

I was on the doorstep for some considerable time arguing my points as I am won't to do, (I got it from my dad in the first place anyway.) After about an Hour of this Dad began to wonder what had happened to me and came looking, thee I was still arguing.

Dad enthusiastically joined in and launched into his well rehearsed and oft recited argument that the only reason to believe in god was that there was clearly a Devil in the world because there was so much evil to be observed just by switching onto the TV.

This argument went on for a further 20 minutes or so before my father looking at his watch realised that time was getting on.

Naturaly his somewhat negative view of the world the devil evil and god had convinced this poor JW that our souls were in mortal terror. However when my father said,

"I really must go and finish learning my ritual for tonight"

The look on the face of the JW changed from eagerness to save our souls to terror for their own, clearly deducing (incorrectly) that My father was a Satanist or some such.

The poor JW turned on their heels and fled with speed that would have put an Olympic sprinter to shame. I had to wait 9 years to encounter my next JW on the doorstep as they never came round our house again...... Can't thin why?

Math

No secret

The Magpie Kindred are all the people who I like and I hope like me

Most of them are pagan, but not all.

Some of them have slept in the yurt, but not all.

Most of them have been to my house, or I have been to theirs, but not all.

My Circle, my Kindred, my Hearth

Be welcome

Jez

Milady Jez

You do me great honour and as such I cannot refuse. Thankyou.

We shall have to arrange to meet at sometime soon, our meeting at the PaganFed conference was all too brief.

Many blessings,
Matholwch /|\.

Slimey b'ard.

Now Toxx, who is being the rotter?

Blessings all the same,
Matholwch /|\.

Hi SD!
"I really must go and finish learning my ritual for tonight"

What a great line! It could be delivered in so many different ways...

Sorry Math, but once that idea of "b'ard" had popped up, it was irresistible. On reflection, I don't suppose I'm the first it has occurred to.

toxx

Hi, toxxin...

Damn 'puter gave up the ghost again! Had to change the hard drive and the graphics card.


Alji