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I don't recall reading anywhere where the OP suggested defecating on the Bible (I am still checking on that one). I agree the brother did not have to give him anything, the brother was supposed to send one thing I believe at the OP's request and decided to get cute and send something additional. The OP did not ask for the additional favor, but I agree the ties should be severed.
He did say maybe he should poop on it.
Anything that someone who is a family member or friend gives me, I will accept graciously. I have gotten all kinds of things I didn't want/couldn't use/didn't need. I'm not a collector of stuff and I don't like clutter and I don't like random stuff that people give you that you don't know what to do with. Usually I think of someone who would appreciate it and give it to them. Not as soon as I receive it, but after a while. I still appreciate that they thought of me and gave me a gift, though.
It's obvious you're not "close" especially since you said ...you're just tolerating him.
So who cares? If you guys were "close" or even friendly you could call and laugh about it.
So throw it out or give it away. And STOP accepting packages if you feel it's "unwanted contact".
I don't waste energy on other people's agendas.
Did you miss the part where he said his brother had to send him something and put the bible in along with it? You quoted it. Go re-read it. Then read further along the thread, to see where the package he requested had to do with some paperwork. Nowhere in there is a license to proselytize, directly or indirectly.
My in-laws gave us a beautiful large keepsake family Bible, which I treasure, although I must admit I do not read it. They have also given me numerous books, tracts, and other religious literature over the years. I haven't read those either. They gave our daughters books of Bible stories...which I did read to them...but the kids just considered them "stories", no different than Goldilocks and The Three Bears. My mother-in-law thought I should have them memorize Bible verses at a young age. She was not really happy that our family was raised "unchurched", and no one in my family has had the "religious conversion" which I am sure they were hoping for, but we were not rude about it. I have the books, and they are still on my self.
Really irritating is when chit-chatting with my father-in-law about current events or whatever, he will make some correlation to whatever we are talking about in the Bible or some other religious book and he'll get it out and expect me to read it...
To the OP, as far as your brother sending you an unsolicited Bible, don't mention it or acknowledge it unless he asks you specifically. Then just say, "Thank you."
I have took bibles from well meaning people, it means more to them than me. The thing I will not do is let religious peddlers off the street take up my time. I didn't invite them in any way to my house or yard and I will tell them to leave.
It seems to be a big unwritten plus in churches to get new people in them or someone involved they can brag about having given religious sight too and make their lives worth living. Yet those same people will step over a bum on the sidewalk, drive past someone needing help, break the commandments every week, but will be sitting in the church every Sunday for the other members to see them.
It's even worse with the secular crowd. They generally don't give a crap about anyone else. It's why so many churches, homeless shelters, orphanages, women's shelters, soup kitchens, pantries for the poor, etc, etc were founded by religious groups and/or churches. The biggest homeless shelter in Houston is Star Of Hope Mission. Our major hospitals were founded by religious groups. St. Joseph's hospital was founded by the Sisters Of Charity and most funding came from the Catholic church. St. Luke's was founded by Episcopalians and Presbyterians in the Houston area and funded by those churches. We have Houston Methodist. Memorial Hermann hospital was started by Reverend Dennis Pevoto.
The pastor of a local church here in the Houston area was contacted by a homeless shelter saying they were in need of shoes. At the very next set of services, the pastor told his congregation of the need and asked them to remove the shoes they were wearing at that moment and bring them to the stage. I've never seen or heard of this happening at a political rally, rock concert or comic con.
If you want to believe the crap your pedaling, "religion is just for show", you're free to go about that. My guess is that you've never taken off the shoes you were wearing to give to the homeless.
It's okay to have one...it's even okay to be proud of it.
But, please, do not display it in pubic and do not shove it down my throat.
Thanks.
And, just for the record...I do not need a religion to inform me the right thing to do...to be kind, courteous and compassionate. I do not need some promised reward after I die to go to a fictional city of gold in the sky, and I sure as heck do not need to be threatened with being thrown into a lake of fire for all eternity if I don't act in a kind, courteous, and compassionate way.
It's okay to have one...it's even okay to be proud of it.
But, please, do not display it in pubic and do not shove it down my throat.
Thanks.
And, just for the record...I do not need a religion to inform me the right thing to do...to be kind, courteous and compassionate. I do not need some promised reward after I die to go to a fictional city of gold in the sky, and I sure as heck do not need to be threatened with being thrown into a lake of fire for all eternity if I don't act in a kind, courteous, and compassionate way.
Who displayed it in public to the extent of offending you? Who shoved it down your throat? Are you being dramatic or do you need therapy for such a horrific event? Oh, and the penis reference is VERY telling.
But, please, do not display it in pubic and do not shove it down my throat.
......
I do not need a religion to inform me the right thing to do...to be kind, courteous and compassionate.
Considering this post , I think you DO need something to help inform you about being courteous.
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