"Banana"

Actually that's my answer to most questions.

I'm sure that your quick reply keeps 'em guessing. And it shows that you have a good sense of humor...

The representative from the EU census stereotyped you. Did that enrage you?

(Carlin listeners will appreciate this, more than others)

I tell them I am a Sun worshipper. But, I pray to Joe Pasci.

If a person knows me, they know my religious affiliation. If they don't, it's none of their damn business.
BUT, I am never without at least one Sigil of Baphomet showing.

If a person saw the Sigil of Baphomet and still asked you what religion you were, they would be considered ignorant (in my humble opinion).

I have a Baphomet tattooed in the center of my chest surrounded by devils and most people are not aware of its meaning. I stayed in the hospital for a week or so and even the doctors asked what it was.
You would be surprised how many people (educated or not) are ignorant of its meaning.

Amen.



No one asks me. At least I don't think they have; I seem to have developed Papa Shade's selective deafness.

Gotta say, the way you phrased it is kind of creepy. Like asking which side of the bed one prefers to sleep on... but with slightly more sinister undertones. I mean, I don't know why anyone would ask that, in that way, unless they were planning my funeral.

So, imagining myself in that situation makes me twitchy. I'd have a strong urge to channel my inner Crispin Glover.

It wasn't my intent for the original question to sound "ultra-creepy;" I was simply foreshadowing an experience that I recently had with a military chaplain. I have to admit though, the fact that you found the question somewhat creepy is kind of cool.

Also, that's one hilarious scene and I've never seen the movie. What is the title of the movie that goes with that clip?

I understand. I didn't think you were being creepy, you were just asking about what one would do or has done in that situation. I do think the question is creepy. Before I remember that people are usually just insufferably nosy I assume they ask a question for a legitimate reason. Like asking what your religious preference is for burial services.

Um. I guess there are non-creepy interpretations though. Like, whether or not you want your kid circumcised. Or if you require a kosher meal on the airplane. That sort of thing.

I don't like personal questions in general though. With obvious exceptions, people usually are just being nosy. I always want to either not hear them, change the subject or willfully misunderstand.

If I'm trying to actually avoid a question though I don't get cute. I just say something that, based on my audience, I gauge as conversation-ender. Nothing piques peoples' interest more than being secretive or mysterious. Cliffhanger 101. And telling someone you're a Satanist is never a conversation-ender.

The movie is Bartleby, inspired by the Melville story. I liked it but I'm totally biased. I adore Crispin Glover.

I'm the same, my dog tags say 'NRE' (No Religious Affiliation) and whenever asked on paperwork I simply put that. In the Canadian Forces Satanism isn't recognized but if it was I would probably list it on my dog tags, it's not something I hide, several military buddies know I'm a Satanist but if some random individual came up and asked I'd most likely tell them it's none of their business.

And the truth is, no one really cares. It's like going to the hospital. You go to the emergency room, they ask your religion. Why? in case you croak...or Rev. Smiffy has been hired to visit sick folks. No one is looking for stimulating conversation.

Do they really ask that in ERs in the US?

I understand asking in a health facility if the situation indicates that death is a possibility, but otherwise, that would never happen here (in Canada).

Related to the original post, it is also very rare that people ask in polite conversation. It is like asking someone's age or sexual orientation; only a rude person would dare act so familiar with a virtual stranger.

It can happen, but it is not usual.

No one is looking for stimulating conversation. [/quote]

Well, that didn't work as expected. Still trying to figure out how to get a quote text-box into my post.

However, Warlock Roho_the_Rooster said this, "No one is looking for stimulating conversation."

And perhaps that's true. Quite often "proselytic" people will ask that, or a similar, question not for stimulating rational discussion, but as a springboard into their "convert or burn" speech.