Why do they do it? I mean, in addition to being PAINFULLY EMBARRASSING, their actions, however well-intentioned, can’t help but damage their cause.
After all, how likely are you to be converted by someone standing in Cornmarket, bible in hand, shouting out the word of God, going on and on about the fires of Hell and the mercy of Christ while all the time looking like the kind of individual who either is, or should be, on some kind of police register?
My reaction to seeing these high street evangelists never alters; it is as instinctive as snatching my hand away from a lit blowtorch – it’s immediate, sudden, and driven by primal fear. I just want to curl up and die.
I have no problems with people wanting to spread the word of their faith; in fact, I consider it admirable, but dammit, there’s a time and place (Sunday, church).
And let’s not forget, a manner too (gently, pleasantly, and with no drooling or rolling of eyes).
But as so many of these pavement preachers act as if they’re rehearsing for committal under this country’s Mental Health Act, are they really the best advertisement for what a life with the Lord can do?
I’m sure they mean well, but spouting religious cliches outside WH Smith to an audience hell-bent on making the most of their lunch-breaks is only going to annoy, irritate and anger.
So please, if you are a wannabe saver of souls, go door-knocking or leaflet dropping by all means, but just stop and think for a second before verbally assaulting the innocent (albeit sinful) shoppers of Oxford by asking yourself this one question: Am I George Clooney or Penelope Cruz?
If the answer is ‘no’, chances are you’ll be not only wasting your time (because who are you going to attract?), but everybody else’s too.
lCongratulations to those cyclists confronted with road works on the High Street this week.
Instead of doing what motorists typically do when confronted by either a red stop light or a long tailback (which is apply the brakes and wait), they’re now mounting the pavements in their droves, pedalling sometimes three abreast as they attempt to push pedestrians into the path of on-coming buses or squash them against the temporary railings.
Personally, I’m all for setting up some kind of pedestrian, mums-with-prams, OAP vigilante group to seek out and shame these ignorant riders (particularly as the police really don’t seem interested).
Or better still, organise a pedestrian go-slow; where we walk five or six deep along the most commonly used pavements, especially during drive time, forcing these bicycle-clipped bandits back onto the road...
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