Friday, March 20, 2009

Dolphins don't know Jesus

Not far south from Loreto the road goes next to the Sea of Cortez.

There is one particular parking area from where there is a majestic view.
One sees the sea and islands as one of the most beautiful vistas existing on earth.

No wonder that each time this spot is passed, a stop is made to enjoy the view and have lunch.

Some years ago luck had it that a group of dolphins were swimming by.
The parking area being high on the side of the mountain, it was magical and spectacular to see from above the beautiful animals swimming in the sea.
It was like being in a National Geographic magazine.

Yesterday this same parking area was reached for a simple lunch.
It was remembered how several years ago dolphins had come by and what an exceptional experience that had been.

A little later, when eating the apple and the pear, suddenly a large group of dolphins was spotted.
And this time about 100.
A very large group and more far away, but most spectacular nevertheless.
Immediately the binoculars were looked for to see the many dolphins in detail.
How exceptional, wonderful and beautiful this was.

Meanwhile a van had arrived with about 8 young people.
They had spotted the dolphins also.
Lacking a binocular, the young people, in their early twenties, soon moved closer to the Fuso Szulc hoping to get an opportunity to borrow them.

Of course the binoculars were shared.
And several of the young people had a close look of the 100 dolphins.

“I am from Cancun”, said one boy.
“And I am from Oaxaca”, said the other.
Then they needed to know where the owner of the binoculars was from.
But it was not a very nice conversation actually.
These boys were arrogant and over self-confident.
Like they were above any other human being.

And then this feeling about them found its explanation.
“We are missionaries”, they said.
“Missionaries?”
“Yes, missionaries, we are spreading the Word of the Lord”.

OK, fine.
Some take pictures, some spread the Word of the Lord.
What is the problem?

But then the most arrogant and ambitious boy made a bad mistake.
He asked: “Do you know Jesus Christ?”.

That question was not received very well.

First of all, it is a very stupid question.
Will there be people in Mexico who will have to answer:
“Jesus Christ? Let me see. No, I don’t think I ever heard of someone with that name”.

What makes the question more stupid is that behind it is the concept that one can know Jesus Christ in different ways.
And that the boy asking the question obviously wants to propagate his own way of knowing Jesus Christ.
So, whatever is the reply, it will just be used as an excuse to start the own propaganda speech.

There was therefore annoyance about this unrequested religious imperialism of the boy.
Especially in a situation with 100 dolphins swimming by in one of the most beautiful landscapes on earth.

He was bluntly asked:
“Why are you molesting me with your Jesus Christ?”.
A strong response to youthful religious enthusiasm but even a missionary must know that just everybody anywhere anytime cannot be bothered by private beliefs.

It is typical for missionaries, that as soon as they notice that the victim is not interested or even opposing, not one minute more is wasted on that unwilling person.
If there is no chance to have success the message they sell may even disturb their own convictions.
Because it is of course a justified question: why would you have the freedom to impose personal beliefs on other persons?
Isn’t this missionary business not in the first place simply a way for those people to make themselves feel fantastic and exceptional?

Even the unwilling victim’s binoculars couldn’t keep the missionaries close to the Fuso Szulc and they retreated quickly back to their van and their small religious world of indoctrination and dogmas.

Fortunately the dolphins were still swimming and playing in front of the Fuso Szulc in the Sea of Cortez.
Free and happy but then they don’t know Jesus Christ.




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2 comments:

Fred Wishnie said...

Loyal and ardent readers might have reason to expect a photo of "a majestic view. One sees the sea and islands as one of the most beautiful vistas existing on earth."

Too bad there wasn't a photographer around. :)

Fred

Anonymous said...

yes, pics will help illuminate all the posts!!

--raj