new study group issue

[Garuda]

So I put an ad on craigslist recently for a local magic and occult study/discussion group. I have about 8 people now who are interested and a new person has contacted me to participate. Her name was include in her email and I looked her up on facebook. Well it is crystal clear from her profile that she is a Christian evangelist [rolleyes] . Everything about her page is Christian, all of her favorite authors are preachers and she graduated from a Christian university and well you get it...so I imagine that she wants to attend the discussion group and offer us salvation or possibly inform us that the devil is deceiving us or some kind of Christian brainwashed jargon.

I am not sure how to deal with this in a polite way. I live in the south and am constantly preached at by Christians who notice my jewelry or something and feel that they have the right to lecture me. I don't want to be hostile and I am even naïve enough to allow this woman to come here and participate so long as she behaves or comes from a place of just wanting to understand. I just doubt that this is her intention. I would like to address this calmly and without hostility if she tries to thump her bible in my living room. Christianity has a big enough platform that I shouldn't have to deal with them infiltrating my little group in an effort to disrupt it because of their personal belief system.

I was hoping to get some thoughts on how to handle this without playing into her hands and being mean so she can walk away with a smirk on her face, sure in the fact that she just exposed the devil's plan or some similar sort of insanity.

[RoseRed]

I don't know that I would have the meetings in my living room until I got to know people better first. But that's just me.

Two things come to mind here:

- Are you sure that that was her facebook page and not just someone with the same name? It does happen sometimes.

- From what you said she's either a bona fide thumper who's out to save your soul -OR- she puts on a good show for friends and family and really is interested.

I live in the South as well and I've come across a lot of people who put on the 'good show' while they secretly google and really do want to know if there's more out there than what they've been taught growing up.

I am in the broom closet where I live. I don't want to wake up to my house being burned down while my family is sleeping or find rattlesnakes in my car in the morning. I'm mostly considered 'a little flaky' and I like crystals, I enjoy sitting outside and soaking in the full moon light. My one sorta friend calls me Miss Moonbeam. That's about as far out of the closet as I get.

Depending on where you live and how Deep the South is there - advertising on craigslist could be dangerous if the wrong people come across your ad. That's why I wouldn't be bringing these people to my house right away. You're braver than I am - I wouldn't do it - not where I live. Maybe once I move back to civilization.

Have you considered doing a telephone interview with her and asking her directly? I mean, there's no need to be rude (and yes, I know - direct questions can be considered rude down there) but a simple direct conversation could possibly answer this question for you.

[Garuda]

Thank you RoseRed, yes I think there is a very small possibility that the profile may not be hers. The name is not very common and the profile is under that name and in my immediate area just as her email stated but until I see her in person I can't be 100% sure. I think what I am going to do is send a generic email out to everyone that has shown interest (we have all been corresponding via email for a few weeks already) with a request to please keep in mind the groups intended purpose of learning and discussing aspects of magic and the occult and have an honest interest in the subject matter without also having an ulterior agenda to be disruptive to the group with personal religious beliefs.

I think folks interested in the group would understand why it was sent considering where we live. As far as having it here in my house I think you are right and it may be best that at least the first meeting be held somewhere else just to weed out any religious fanatics that may want to burn me at the stake or worse, lecture me. At some point though I would like to have it here in a relaxed setting away from Christian eyes and ears. Anyhow I just hope to be able to get a few like minded people together peacefully and at the end of the day I have nothing against Christians so longs as they leave me be to follow my own truth.

[Asurendra]

Well said Rose Red, henceforth 'Miss Moonbeam.' I agree completely.

Speaking of the moon, I saw the most amazing thing last night when I returned from work at around 1:00 AM. The sky was a smooth, starless gray with a bright near full moon. Around the moon was a clear, white circle. The only visible body was Venus and she was in the in this white circle to the right of the moon. It was very moving. I had just been reading about the Tantric White Goddess Lady Sundari, the Black Goddess Kali Ma and Lady Bhairavi on the train so I felt I was witnessing something with this three-fold conjunction alone in the darkness.

What I was reading:
http://www.amazon.com/Inner-Tantric-Yog ... 0940676508

[RoseRed]

and it may be best that at least the first meeting be held somewhere else just to weed out any religious fanatics that may want to burn me at the stake or worse, lecture me.

LOL

at the end of the day I have nothing against Christians so longs as they leave me be to follow my own truth.

Now I would've ended that sentence at 'so long as they just leave me be.' And that goes for anybody. LOL



Asurendra - that sounds beautiful.