Comments on: Daniel Berman Is Our Hero (and yesterday’s contest winner)

By: Orange

Orange — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 14:40:00 +0000

I think Nikki said what I meant much better than I did. So, thanks to Nikki and apologies if my message was misconstrued.

By: pop pop

pop pop — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:23:00 +0000

I had a subway preacher yelling on a crowded 2 train once while my parents were in town. He was describing hell, loudly for the whole train, basically into my mom’s ear. My mom is a religious person, but she couldn’t stand the violent yelling. My dad politely asked him to stop. The guy got louder. My dad asked him to at least move so my mom wouldn’t go deaf. The guy asked him why he hated Jesus and why he wanted to keep everyone else on the train from going to heaven. My dad eventually got the guy to move down a door, where the people ended up giving my dad the stink eye for sending them the obnoxious preacher.

By: Shasta

Shasta — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 21:50:00 +0000

Well, in my experience, I’ve never encountered a “street preacher” who spoke about the Lord in peace and love. It has always been in hate screaming to people that they are sinners, that they’re fornicators, that they’re going to hell. Yes, they are probably mentally disturbed, but at least if you’re on the street you can walk past. On public transportation, you are a captive audience, to say the least. So, I salute Daniel. If you leave out the Jesus aspect, it bothers me when anyone makes a ruckus on the El.

By: nikki

nikki — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 21:49:00 +0000

I made the assumption, Heather Dawn, based on the idea that most sane people refrain from proselytizing at the top of their lungs on the subway. I never said that people must be crazy if they’re Christian nor did I attempt to denigrate the religion.

On the flip side, I do have the right to feel frustrated by someone loudly proclaiming that I’m going to hell because I don’t harbor their beliefs. You have every right to speak for it, and I have every right to speak against it. Personally, I don’t think raving on the bus or subway is the most effective way of ingratiating yourself to potential converts. I’m not sure if you’ve ridden public transport over long periods of time in large cities, but when you use it to get to work every morning and you have to deal with situations like that constantly, it’s nerve fraying. And we, after all, are only human and therefore imperfect.

By: Zack Woodson

Zack Woodson — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 21:36:00 +0000

Go to Saudi Arabia and “share” your stupid stories, then, Heather. Let New Yorkers just get to their jobs in peace.

By: Heather Dawn

Heather Dawn — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 20:21:00 +0000

Actually, Orange, the “light shining” is a reference to letting your life show your faith. We are actually instructed not to put our light (lamp) under a bowl, but to let it shine for all men to see (Matthew 5:15-16). We are also called to go into the world, making disciples of every nation (Matthew 28:19-20). The Bible commands us to share our faith with others.

There are people who don’t want to hear it, but that doesn’t make it any less important for us to share.

By: Orange

Orange — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:28:00 +0000

Loved this story–it cracked me up! I think it’s wonderful that some people have religion they are so passionate about, but I don’t understand the need to press their views on everyone else. The light is supposed to be shining from INSIDE.

@ Sheldon Siegel–still giggling. :)

recaptcha: Final Inc.
hehe–sounds like a good name for a religious corporation…

By: Heather Dawn

Heather Dawn — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:25:00 +0000

So, nikki, is the guy mentally ill because he was talking aloud on the subway, or because he was talking about Jesus? Just wondering, because if it’s the latter, I need to get myself checked out by a professional.

Sheldon? Touche.

By: Sheldon Siegel

Sheldon Siegel — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 16:56:00 +0000

Great story! And ironically, both of you were kind of telling the same story.
I mean Jesus came back from the dead too. :-)

By: nikki

nikki — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 16:28:00 +0000

I think this story is great. I can pretty much guarantee those concerned about it, that the “preacher” was NOT doing it to try and help people or teach people about his God. More than likely the man wasn’t even aware of what he was saying and was just doing it to irritate everyone. Riding public transportation every day you encounter mentally ill individuals constantly and compassion can carry you only so far some days. There comes a time where you just let loose with an equal amount of crazy. Nicely done.