Sunday Muse Deconstructions
by Pat Darnell
Mormon, Muslim, Jesus Freak, Hare Krsna, and Gay are the most "visible" recruiters of "cause" in my lifetime.
There may be dozens more, but these pseudo-religious sects seem to be the most prevalent. Although these are usually not the most represented in a community, these minorities make a big stink about their beliefs and life styles.
Speaking from personal experience, as usual; how is it persons who feel one way may one day feel less that way, but do a bloody lot of damage along the way?
While these others try to persuade us that their "way" is the best course: it is my opinion this liberal use of fervor for a cause is misdirected on most of the population in the USA.
Mormons come directly to your door, two at a time. It is more for them than for you. Mormons say they send their youth, and new recruits, out to begin their missions. Jehovah Witness send new partners out for the same reasons. In all fairness, most denominations, Methodist, Presbyterian, and Baptist provide training and funding for similar Missionary service, but rather these more established religious sects send their young recruits to foreign lands.
Muslims use all means they can think of to atone their religion to modern, or secular, thought and action. Yet they have terrible anti-women sentiments that defy modern human rights thinking.
I actually had the delirious pleasure of side-stepping Hare Krsna [shaved heads wearing orange sheets] banging tambourines at the Houston Airport in my teenage years. During once a year vacations that my handsome Dad provided us kids, we were solicited by this mob. This was when Hare Krsna's wandered freely about the airport promenades. Then someone made it mandatory that all religious solicitors must be contained in outlined areas, with boundaries designated by airport authority.
That is when the Hare Krsna would reach across their line to try to grab me to sell me a George Harrison album, "for the cause." I never understood what the cause was, except to support the person selling me stuff so they could continue begging at airports. To each his own, I have said.
To provide some contrast, I would like to include the groups who have not tried in any way to recruit my support. In similar religious groupings -- Catholic, Orthodox Greek, Buddhism, Shamanic, Brahmanism, Judaism or Jewish -- especially not Orthodox Judaism -- Pagan Churches, and Nazi-like Arianism have not tried to recruit my sentiments. As a matter of fact those who practice these religions have actually run me off.
I might have been too normal, too straight, or too milk-toast Methodist for most these groups. Truth is I am so normal that I defy statistics. Therefore, if I haven't seen these other fervor driven cults and things cross my path, it is no wonder.
I am sure there must still be Voodoos, Cannibalism, Scarification Cults, Vicuñas, Air-benders, Teenage Ninja Mutant Turtles, and the like out there. Possibly some weird stuff in prisons exists beyond my experience... and then the whole illicit drug cultures ... must be millions of recruiters out there for Star Trekkisms... eh? What about kid show cults, and anchor women worships ... not to exclude all the porn and pseudo social internet rubbish. How about the Cult of the Whistle Blowers?
As one can see I need another long vacation; but let me reiterate my first observation. Certain groups in the minority stats, still try to recruit others to their "religious fervors." Yes? No? Maybe so? What does it matter?
It matters not much: because this is just a Report from the Middle where the men are Methodists, the women are strong, and the children are not required to go door to door -- and the dogs are trained to not waste barks.
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