Protestant get-togethers?

[LaramieHirsch]

Okay,

Yesterday, the wife and I attended a get-together at a friend's house to celebrate his birthday and anniversary with the wife. 

What was it like?

Well, we got there, there was lots of food.  We ate it--and then BOOM--the entire evening turned into a Protestant Bible study. 

I hate at-home Protestant Bible studies.  Not everyone there was that denomination, yet they pulled out the guitar and talked bible...and talked bible...and talked bible...for two or three hours.  A crumby birthday/anniversary if you ask me!

So basically, yesterday we drove for 30 minutes to a place where we ate real quick, had to sit in the kitchen and be quiet for two or three hours so that the preacher could talk, then we went home. 

What other things about the Protestant Bible-thumping experience can I tell you to...convey...what it was like, and why I converted from it...

The 20-something filipino bible-self-educated preacher who loved singing and playing the guitar loved to talk, and talk, and talk, and take command of the social event--so that no one could speak or anything.  And his wife loved to monopolize the floor.  And the children were made to go outside, and their daughter had a great time teaching the bible to the other kids; the kids clearly didn't care about the preacher's daughter's bible talk...because it was a party.  Or at least, it was supposed to be. 

And what in the world is a Filipino doing being a Protestant anyway?  What?  The Catholic country of the Philippines needs to be saved from itself?  I'd like to see those Protestant missionaries go to Mindinao (south Philippines).  There's PLENTY of people (muslims) who aren't a Christian of any kind. 

The whole affair reminded me for the umpteenth time why I left Bible-Thumping land and became a Catholic.  I swear--for Protestants, the truth of God depends on whichever idiot is talking at the time.  Church differs from church, depending on the preacher and his inclinations.  Thank Allah they didn't ask me for MY testimony!  I would have embarrassed everyone!

(anger rising)

So, my wife doesn't understand the devious nature of such Protestant get-togethers.  At home parties turned into bible studies.  Church lock-ins.  Picnics.  Church camp (great place to get high and laid, incidentally [not condoning, just pointing out irony here]).  Things like that.  She tells me that I "have to respect what they believe," and keep quiet.  For the most part, I wasn't saying anything at that party.  Anything I said, I said to her.  It made her so mad to see me riled up.  She said, "Next time, I just won't bring you."

So...I guess she'll one day become Baptist with them? 

[LaramieHirsch]

....or am I just being an insensetive intolerant jerk?

[miss_fluffy]

That's exactly the style of proselytizing that causes people to make fun of Christians and feel contempt towards them.  I'd be mad too.  Actually, I would have left, and not put up with 3 hours of it.

[Jitpring]

I fully agree with miss fluffy. I would have left once I saw clearly that the "party" was only a pretense for the presentation of heresy. Of course, this is easier said than done. Anyway, I feel your pain. Too bad your wife just doesn't get it.

[Mhoram]

Ugh, that's just gross.  It'd be just as gross if a Catholic invited a bunch of non-Catholics to a party and then turned it into a 3-hour catechism class.  The problem isn't that they wanted to celebrate with a bible study meeting (though that's weird enough); the problem is that they lied to you and used a bait-and-switch tactic to get you there.

Having said that, it'd be better not to show your wife your anger, as it sounds like it made her focus on your anger and feel a need to defend them from it.  Women worry a lot about male anger, and very often think we overdo it.  Try instead to be aloof; take pity on them for their wrong beliefs and their need to trap people into listening to them.  That way you could take your leave after 30 minutes, and she could see it as a principled stand you're taking for both of you, and not an angry overreaction.  Easier said than done, I know.  But you don't want her going without you next time and having a great time thinking about how much nicer it is without you there glowering.

[StrictCatholicGirl]

How many of these get-togethers do you attend? Is this the first time it happened? I would mark down the date of his birthday/anniversary and make plans to be "out of town" next year.

[ResiduumRevertetur]

My brother and his friend used to do something similar to me. They'd say, We're going to stop by and hang out, okay?

Okay.

We have a movie, could we pop it in the machine?

Sure. What's it called?

The Secret. It's really good.

Come to find out, The Secret is some new-age mumbo-jumbo that I can't believe I was stuck watching for more than 5 minutes. Then his friend would call me and say, I don't know a thing about ordering from Amazon.com, could you order me some things?

Sure.

Okay. Can you look for Eckhart Tolle? ( ) Look through all the things for him and let me know what's there. Thanks, you're great.

Then they would come by and be in the middle of an "argument". It would be something like, He says that there's no support in the bible for any kingdom of heaven anywhere but on earth. Now, I know there is, but I just can't find it. Can you help me find that passage to show him he's wrong?

I said, No, I wouldn't look for it. All I had to say to them about that was the good thief sure got ripped off if that were so.  That was about the time I caught on to the trick. (I'm slow)

So then I decided to print out some Fisheaters apologetics and give it to him. He called it stupid, religious crap.

I said, I love you--but in the future you will be searched at the door.   

 Actually, I was finally Confirmed shortly thereafter and he hasn't spoken to me since. Pretty sad.

[DrBombay]

Your problem is, you need to take a firmer hand with the wife.  After about 5 minutes, you should have stood up, headed toward the door, stopped about halfway there, looked back at her and said, "Are you coming?" and then kept going.  She would've gotten the message, and known who wears the pants in the family.

Women are a lot like dogs.  They just need to be whacked on the nose with a rolled up newspaper once in awhile and they'll learn.  Metaphorically speaking of course. 

[TraceG]

Shoulda just posed the question which Church compiled the Bible and left

[traditionalLUTHERANmom]

Ugh prods...

I agree with everyone else that is total garbage. It's the old prodo bait and switch. I would have scarfed the food and then when the heresy starts spewing forth I'd say "wow it's getting late" (if it's night time) if not I'd say "well we have to be going I have important things to do at home before tomorrow comes around."  ;D

 I'm not going to say anything but "sometimes your right" to the poster that said "women are sometimes like dogs they need a whack on the nose sometimes".-when they start trying to stick up for heresy against their Catholic husband, for sure. Your wife hanging out with these people...nothing good can come of it. I would definately put my foot down and inform her that the heretics have to go. 

Tradmom