A Tombstone in someone's yard I saw today

[Hellisreal]

Perhaps they bought this:

Make Your Own Tombstone Prop Kit

Could be! Looks just like it too, the detailing is the same.
Thanks!

 

[Hellisreal]

I will consider your thoughts. But, I disagree with you totally.

Melensdad- I also disagree with you as well.

Whatever Maybe they are athiests or some other non-believer and really don’t give a darn what Christians think. I believe that’s their right as Americans. Especially when it’s in their own yard.

Leave them alone. Either they are non-believers who don’t really care what you think or they are uber-Christians who will try convert you to their over-zealous beliefs.

Kim

 

[nkmeck]

The name on the Tombstone?

GOD

Yes! GOD.

Okay, this house is about a block away from mine. They are new people in the area, and I think they moved in less than a month ago (could be a month) and, I dont usually go past this block, but there is some construction around here so I had to go out of my way a block to get to where I was going.

So, I had a couple of thoughts and was going to toss them around here first.
I am really unsure if any of my thoughts are good ideas, or morally the best as a Catholic.

first thought was bring over some muffins as a welcoming gift with a little card inside that says if you have any questions about Christianity, please feel free to give me a call.

Then I thought that would be wrong, because I never intended on giving them a welcoming gift to begin with so its a fradulent premise to go, and for me to “bribe” someone with muffins is insulting, especially if they are wondering if I am only giving them muffins to give testimony.

Second thought was to go that route (again- this would not be the direction I would go but my mind is working on how can I speak to this family…)
with my child trick or treating, and introduce myself, give my name and number and then, hope something connects from there…

Third thought I had was- skip it altogether, let them spew their hate, and not even try.

Any ideas?

Hope this is the best section for this question.

You could dig a six foot hole in front of the Tombstone, and ask them to come out and look at it, and simply say “Hey look!!! The tomb is empty. AGAIN!!! Just like Easter Sunday.”

 

[Wolseley]

The name on the Tombstone?

GOD

Yes! GOD.

Okay, this house is about a block away from mine. They are new people in the area, and I think they moved in less than a month ago (could be a month) and, I dont usually go past this block, but there is some construction around here so I had to go out of my way a block to get to where I was going.

So, I had a couple of thoughts and was going to toss them around here first.
I am really unsure if any of my thoughts are good ideas, or morally the best as a Catholic.

first thought was bring over some muffins as a welcoming gift with a little card inside that says if you have any questions about Christianity, please feel free to give me a call.

Then I thought that would be wrong, because I never intended on giving them a welcoming gift to begin with so its a fradulent premise to go, and for me to “bribe” someone with muffins is insulting, especially if they are wondering if I am only giving them muffins to give testimony.

Second thought was to go that route (again- this would not be the direction I would go but my mind is working on how can I speak to this family…)
with my child trick or treating, and introduce myself, give my name and number and then, hope something connects from there…

Third thought I had was- skip it altogether, let them spew their hate, and not even try.

Any ideas?

Hope this is the best section for this question.

Maybe you could put up several tombstones in your yard, and label them “Marx”, “Freud”, “Darwin”, and so on.

 

[Hellisreal]

You could dig a six foot hole in front of the Tombstone, and ask them to come out and look at it, and simply say “Hey look!!! The tomb is empty. AGAIN!!! Just like Easter Sunday.”

If it were legal for me to do this- you bet I would do it!
What a great response!

 

[Hellisreal]

Maybe you could put up several tombstones in your yard, and label them “Marx”, “Freud”, “Darwin”, and so on.

Another good one. Lots of good ideas here.

I drove by that house again this morning and the wind had knocked it down, along with their blow-up skeleton by their door. It must have happened after they left for work, (its been really windy here lately) so at least for now, its out of commision so to speak. I know I should not be so concerned about what they are doing, but I am intrigued by them now.

If money was no object, I would have a large Crucifix in my front yard and have tombs all over opening up just like scripture tells us happened…
matt 27:51-53

If this is their Halloween idea, I cringe to think what they may do at Our Savior’s Birthday…

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

The name on the Tombstone?

GOD

Yes! GOD.

Okay, this house is about a block away from mine. They are new people in the area, and I think they moved in less than a month ago (could be a month) and, I dont usually go past this block, but there is some construction around here so I had to go out of my way a block to get to where I was going.

So, I had a couple of thoughts and was going to toss them around here first.
I am really unsure if any of my thoughts are good ideas, or morally the best as a Catholic.

first thought was bring over some muffins as a welcoming gift with a little card inside that says if you have any questions about Christianity, please feel free to give me a call.

Then I thought that would be wrong, because I never intended on giving them a welcoming gift to begin with so its a fradulent premise to go, and for me to “bribe” someone with muffins is insulting, especially if they are wondering if I am only giving them muffins to give testimony.

Second thought was to go that route (again- this would not be the direction I would go but my mind is working on how can I speak to this family…)
with my child trick or treating, and introduce myself, give my name and number and then, hope something connects from there…

Third thought I had was- skip it altogether, let them spew their hate, and not even try.

Any ideas?

Hope this is the best section for this question.

Obviously it was put there for everyone to see. Knock on the door (during daylight hours, maybe with someone else) and simply ask what does that mean?

 

[Hellisreal]

Obviously it was put there for everyone to see. Knock on the door (during daylight hours, maybe with someone else) and simply ask what does that mean?

I was wondering about that when others were telling me they could be christians, to see if that theory was being employed in this case.

The only way to know is to ask I guess, yet- I need to be ready for the response either way.

 

[Bennie_P]

If I was their across the street neighbor, I couldn’t help but put up a tombstone that reads “Nietzsche”.

perfect

 

[CB_Catholic]

They probably put it up there hoping for a reaction. I wouldn’t give them one.

 

[MSParrott]

You could dig a six foot hole in front of the Tombstone, and ask them to come out and look at it, and simply say “Hey look!!! The tomb is empty. AGAIN!!! Just like Easter Sunday.”

That is awesome!

What is wrong with society that they feel they need to make a “statement” by doing something so blasphemous? I agree that there must be some kind of hurt behind it, but it just blows my mind that people can be so cruel and nasty. I probably need to grow some “thicker” skin, but things like this really rub me the wrong way. :nope:

 

[Em_in_FL]

You could dig a six foot hole in front of the Tombstone, and ask them to come out and look at it, and simply say “Hey look!!! The tomb is empty. AGAIN!!! Just like Easter Sunday.”

I was going to mention something similar… like putting a small sign next to it saying “Yeah he died… but the tomb is now EMPTY!”

 

[Cathryn]

A statue of the Blessed Mother in your yard year round would probably do the most good. Maybe other Catholics in your neighborhood would do it also and they would be surrounded.

Last time I was back east I saw quite a few yards with statues of the Blessed Mother.

 

[Jason_Hurd]

MUFFINS!!!

DO it!!! Although, honestly, I’d omit the christianity bit, just because it will look TO THEM like a bribe. I’d just be a good neighbor. Good friend, the best thing chrisitanis can do is be a good witness. Then when they ask you about your hope, your kindness, then explian away! So many doors can be opened through friendship

This is absolutely the best answer so far. Actions speak louder than words, and responding to the tombstone affair with love and friendship is definitely the Christian way to live your life. I’ll bet once they find out you’re Catholic, they’ll even be embarrassed about the whole thing. I have found that when people make these outrageous statements and throw blasphemy around like it’s nothing, very often they are attracted to our faith deep down and their lack of experience with religion means they lash out, kind of like a little boy who really likes the little girl who sits in front of him in school but laughs at her and puts her down because he doesn’t know how to approach her. I hope your friendship does indeed ‘open some doors’ for this family. Good luck!

 

[quiet52]

No easy answer to this one.

One approach would be to ignore your neighbors down the street – shake the dust off your sandals kind of mentality.

Another approach would be to remember “they will know we are Christians by our love,” and that we’re to preach the gospel everywhere (and sometimes with words, as St. Francis of Assisi said).

People have a hard time believing in and knowing God without knowing love. In fact, the word “religion” comes from the same word as “relationship” – “religare” – to bind together. In other words, God, who is Love, wants us to be in relationship with Him and with others. Perhaps your new neighbors are skeptical about friendship, neighborliness, love for various reasons.

Perhaps if you’re walking by and they’re outside, you can welcome to the neighborhood, exchange names – and then just say “because of your tombstone, I’ve been wondering if you’re atheists.” They can choose how to continue the conversation. If they just say “yep,” you might mention in a non-hostile tone that the tombstone is offensive to many in the neighborhood, but that you hope they’ll get to know some of the good people “around here” and to please call on you if they need anything.

 

[Leopard]

You could dig a six foot hole in front of the Tombstone, and ask them to come out and look at it, and simply say “Hey look!!! The tomb is empty. AGAIN!!! Just like Easter Sunday.”

Vandalizing someone else’s home is not a good response.