Ending Blasphemy

On my way home tonight, I passed the movie theatre and had a small moment of escaping the inner workings of my own head when I got a little chuckle from the line up of 10 or so people protesting the movie The DaVinci Code. Signs reading things to the effect that if you love Jesus you won't see the movie and a plea to "Stop Blasphemy."

On the one hand, I have to admire people so empassioned my their beliefs that they are willing to stand along side the road to protest a movie. On the other hand, I find it ridiculous. Personally, I am tired of people so religious that they feel the need to try and impose their values, ideals and beliefs upon me.

After several emails too many from various people last week, I broke and composed the following email to the entertainment of several of my friends and the (fortunate) silence of several others:

Ah yes, thank you folks... it took several hundred emails, but the last few put me over the top... those lovely pictures of kids playing, sunsets sparkling and puppies licking kittens really sold me that Jesus is my only saviour after all and God is the only path to follow... I, thanks to your passing forward this breadth of knowledge, will also refute the DaVinci Code, I will boycott Disney and their evil, non-Christain ways... I will only see Mel Gibson movies no matter how much they suck. Thank you for your emails showing me the way... I was not aware that God was so American, and really, what a selling point for me!! I mean, knowing that Jesus and God are backing America--well, what a relief. Glad I got on board when I did. So, now that you have converted me, no need to forward me anything further... just get those who are still ramply wiling around in their own heathenness.

Of course, I still get pictures of puppies licking kittens, and I suppose I can live with that. But what I have a hard time palating is the assumption that I'm Christian, or that I've just lost my way. It doesn't occur to people that I'm comfortable with my spirituality because often times, they are too uncomfortable with it. The irony is, I do not impose my spirituality on anyone who doesn't ask me; so why should it be that people impose theirs upon me without consent? Have the Crusades not ended? Is the Inquisition still on?