Religious Caches

[+The Pathfinder]

I'm still somewhat new at this, I have only found 9 caches to date.

 

Today I found a cache near me that was loaded with an uncomfortable amount of Christian material. It was an ammo box. The bottom side of the lid had a Christian slogan pasted on it. I counted 4 Christian items in the cache as well.

 

Reading all the logs on the cache shows that Christian items have not been placed in the cache by finders. It leads me to believe it was all put there by the hider. There is no indication of the content in the cache's description (If there was I probably wouldn't have even bothered with it).

 

My question is this: Is this terribly common and am I the only one who thinks this sort of content should be reserved for church, not geocaching?

[+briansnat]

There is already a thread that goes into this subject in detail. Just do a search on religion or christian, or jehovah witness.

 

"Life is a daring adventure, or it is nothing" - Helen Keller

[+Renegade Knight]

Nothing wrong with religiouse caches. My only desire is that if that's the theme they should be blantant about it.

[Dale_Lynn]

Would seem to me that the simple phrase on front of log book saying "Cristian theme cache" would explain it all...

 

Dale

 

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I'm Diagonally Parked, In A Parallel Universe.

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[+15Tango]

As long as it's just Christian phrases, etc. I don't have a problem with it, and I'm almost as non-religious as you can get. If there is something saying "worship my god or else", then it is somebody trying to force their beliefs on the cache hunter, but from your description, this is just somebody informing the finder of their beliefs, and not someone trying to force them on you. If you don't like what's in the cache, you can always take nothing and leave nothing, take something just to put it in another cache, or choose not to seek it at all. Happy cachin'!!! 15T

 

Think Globally, Act Locally

[Geo Quest]

quote:

---

Originally posted by The Pathfinder:

 

Today I found a cache near me that was loaded with an uncomfortable amount of Christian material.

---

 

Does anybody know what the difference between a "comfortable" and an "uncomfortable" amount of Christian material is? My suggestion to those who get an "uncomfy" feeling around caches containing Christian paraphenalia is to back away slowly. Walk, don't run to the nearest exit in an orderly fashion and the "uncomfy" feeling should soon pass. Either that or stop, drop, and roll. I can never remember which.

 

"There's no need to be afraid of strange noises in the night. Anything that intends you harm will stalk you silently."

[tatoeba]

Posted by GeoQuest:

 

quote:

---

Does anybody know what the difference between a "comfortable" and an "uncomfortable" amount of Christian material is? My suggestion to those who get an "uncomfy" feeling around caches containing Christian paraphenalia is to back away slowly. Walk, don't run to the nearest exit in an orderly fashion and the "uncomfy" feeling should soon pass. Either that or stop, drop, and roll. I can never remember which.

---

 

I have tried both. The second one works better. But you should run first some tests to know if you have reached the limit amount of Christian material you feel uncomfortable with.

 

www.Legendeo.org still in Beta!

[+leatherman]

 

Preparation, the first law to survival.

[Rubbertoe]

What about those caches that have an uncomfortable amount of McToys in them... or an irritating amount of keychains? Would you want them to have to be labeled as theme caches as well? What about a cache full of Cincinatti Bengals items... I know that would be highly offensive to me, a Browns fan.

 

In not making it a theme cache, the person who placed it allowed it to be a cache where people could come and trade items - if they wished - without having to remember to bring a themed item to trade for themed item.

 

If it was a christian themed cache, it might discourage people from hunting it if they didn't have something 'christian' to trade.

 

Just like someone has already said, if you don't like the cache contents, for whatever reason, you certainly don't have to take anything.

 

Just mark it as a find and go on your merry way.

 

- Toe.

 

--==< Rubbertoe's WEBCAM >==--

[Rubbertoe]

What about those caches that have an uncomfortable amount of McToys in them... or an irritating amount of keychains? Would you want them to have to be labeled as theme caches as well? What about a cache full of Cincinatti Bengals items... I know that would be highly offensive to me, a Browns fan.

 

In not making it a theme cache, the person who placed it allowed it to be a cache where people could come and trade items - if they wished - without having to remember to bring a themed item to trade for themed item.

 

If it was a christian themed cache, it might discourage people from hunting it if they didn't have something 'christian' to trade.

 

Just like someone has already said, if you don't like the cache contents, for whatever reason, you certainly don't have to take anything.

 

Just mark it as a find and go on your merry way.

 

- Toe.

 

--==< Rubbertoe's WEBCAM >==--

[+leatherman]

 

Preparation, the first law to survival.

[Rubbertoe]

quote:

---

Originally posted by leatherman:

Is that a toe jam collection?

---

No... she was trying to determine if the big blue candle I brought home was scented.

 

It isn't. It is one of those crappy dollar store candles. Plain white, non-stinky, and coated with only a thin layer of blue wax. It would look like crap if I actually burned it.

 

Those ARE my toes nearby, though.

 

But anyway...

 

- Toe.

 

--==< Rubbertoe's WEBCAM >==--

[Rubbertoe]

quote:

---

Originally posted by leatherman:

Is that a toe jam collection?

---

No... she was trying to determine if the big blue candle I brought home was scented.

 

It isn't. It is one of those crappy dollar store candles. Plain white, non-stinky, and coated with only a thin layer of blue wax. It would look like crap if I actually burned it.

 

Those ARE my toes nearby, though.

 

But anyway...

 

- Toe.

 

--==< Rubbertoe's WEBCAM >==--

[LadyFoxtail]

If you found a cache loaded with satanic or wiccan items, would you be uncomfortable?

 

I think, if you are going to put items in that denote a touchy subject, then post it in the description. Just a little common courtesy.

 

Card carrying member of the club who would have me as a member.

[+crashmore]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Lady Foxtail:

If you found a cache loaded with satanic or wiccan items, would you be uncomfortable?

 

I think, if you are going to put items in that denote a touchy subject, then post it in the description. Just a little common courtesy.

 

Card carrying member of the club who would have me as a member.

---

 

Wouldn't bother me a bit. I figure to each his own. I would however be iritated if folks were using their religious recruitment stuff as the items they're trading with. That would just be tacky. If they're just leaving it for folks to read if they want to who cares. When I see this type of stuff I typically leave it be. I don't go out of my way to remove it or 'Sterilize the cache' as some have put it. I don't see it as that big of deal.

 

If a cache had a religious theme it also wouldn't bother me as long as it was stated as such in the description. Afterall no one forces us to hunt every cache.

 

-------------------------------------

Hope is the destination that we seek.

Love is the road that leads to hope.

Courage is the motor that drives us.

We travel out of darkness into faith.

 

-=The Book Of Counted Sorrows=-

[wasmith]

Everybody's got to believe in something. I believe I'll have another beer....

 

[This message was edited by wasmith on September 09, 2002 at 01:29 PM.]

[+bigredmed]

As this is a central part of all the religions that don't believe in sacred car-bombs, it shouldn't offend anyone here.

 

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

 

All you need to do is to place caches and contents for cache-trades that you would want to find. How many fundamentalists would really groove on finding a Muslim cache at the end of a 2 mile hike in 100 degree weather? None.

 

All of us are doing this hobby for fun. All of us have been at the end of that 2 mile hike, only to find McToys, Mormon/JW/pentacostal writs, or other geotrash. None of us like it.

 

If we all start leaving items that we would want to find, then we will have a sustainable hobby.

 

By appointment to the Court of HRM Queen Mikki I.

[+Alan2]

I'll second that! Let me know when you hide a gold doubloon.

 

Alan

[gsteele]

I think that is what is so cool about this hobby. It’s the surprise of what you’ll find.

[Priebe's Pride]

So you found a religious cache in an ammo box? Does that strike you as an oxymoron? If it makes you uncomfortable, leave your log, and then the scene.

[+ApK]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Priebe's Pride:

So you found a religious cache in an ammo box? Does that strike you as an oxymoron

---

 

Oxymoron? You're joking...do the words "Crusade" and "Jihad" mean anything to you?

Religion may be the source of more war and suffering than anything else in human history.

 

"Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition"

[+Gary and Mary Adventurers]

I seek caches because they are there, not because of what IS there. When I find a cache that does not have anything I am interested in, I either take nothing, or take something and leave it at my next find. If I were to be "uncomfortable" leaving it I would not take it.

Enjoy the Adventure Dont sweat the little things.

 

Gary and Mary

[NightHiker]

Why be so afraid of God and religion? If you're not a believer then don't exchange for the "religious" items, there must be something else in the cache to trade.

 

If you're afraid you might be converted by simply being near the literature, then you're not as anti-religious as you think.

 

If you simply geocache for the fun of being outdoors, exercise and to increase your personal found count then it shouldn't matter what you find. I've seen that many people only sign the log book and very rarely exchange anything.

 

Let's just relax and have fun.

[Boatless]

When my son and I go out to find a site, our goal is to find the site. If we were in it for the valuable goodies inside, I would have given up long ago.

 

Didn't I read that you can "take something-leave something" or "Take nothing at all"?

[BassoonPilot]

quote:

---

If we all start leaving items that we would want to find, then we will have a sustainable hobby.

---

 

I'm always hoping to find the perfect bassoon reed, but if I start leaving bassoon reeds in caches, people will start whining for their McToys in no time flat.

[BassoonPilot]

quote:

---

If we all start leaving items that we would want to find, then we will have a sustainable hobby.

---

 

I'm always hoping to find the perfect bassoon reed, but if I start leaving bassoon reeds in caches, people will start whining for their McToys in no time flat.

[+ApK]

quote:

---

Originally posted by BassoonPilot:

I'm always hoping to find the perfect bassoon reed, but if I start leaving bassoon reeds in caches, people will start whining for their McToys in no time flat.

---

 

I found a guitar slide once. I'd bet that anyone who didn't know what it was would look at it and say "who would put this piece of scrap metal in the cache?!"

 

ApK

[+ApK]

quote:

---

Originally posted by BassoonPilot:

I'm always hoping to find the perfect bassoon reed, but if I start leaving bassoon reeds in caches, people will start whining for their McToys in no time flat.

---

 

I found a guitar slide once. I'd bet that anyone who didn't know what it was would look at it and say "who would put this piece of scrap metal in the cache?!"

 

ApK

[+Believer]

I think it's a wonderful thing to open a cache & find something of this nature. I myself plan to place a Christian cache at some point.

 

God bless!

 

Believer

[+Scott Johnson]

It's not the destination (the contents of the box) but the journey to the cache. Personally, I prefer just a notebook to sign and not bother with the trading of do-dads. Personally, I am not worried I might be corrupted by seeing a bible or porn in a cache. I am here for the hike and nothing more.

 

To each his own.

[North1000]

What is the big deal? You found a cache with christian items in there. They are not going to hurt you, they won't bite and you won't get sick by being near them. As for reserving them for church, last time I checked we still do have a freedom of speech and religion. You could have just signed the log book and enjoyed the game like the rest of the geocachers of the world and stop religion bashing.

[+Mudfrog]

Originally posted by bigredmed:

quote:

---

Don't leave it and it won't be there

 

As this is a central part of all the religions that don't believe in sacred car-bombs, it shouldn't offend anyone here.

 

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

 

All you need to do is to place caches and contents for cache-trades that you would want to find. How many fundamentalists would really groove on finding a Muslim cache at the end of a 2 mile hike in 100 degree weather? None.

 

All of us are doing this hobby for fun. All of us have been at the end of that 2 mile hike, only to find McToys, Mormon/JW/pentacostal writs, or other geotrash. None of us like it.

 

If we all start leaving items that we would want to find, then we will have a sustainable hobby.

---

 

Sounds good at first but as we can all see, the person that hid the cache in the first place put all the stuff that he would want to find in it. How about it, can anyone think of one single item that you can put in a cache that wont, sooner or later, offend someone?

 

Its neat seeing what surprises might be found in a cache but finding it in the first place is the most fun

[+Mudfrog]

Originally posted by bigredmed:

quote:

---

Don't leave it and it won't be there

 

As this is a central part of all the religions that don't believe in sacred car-bombs, it shouldn't offend anyone here.

 

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

 

All you need to do is to place caches and contents for cache-trades that you would want to find. How many fundamentalists would really groove on finding a Muslim cache at the end of a 2 mile hike in 100 degree weather? None.

 

All of us are doing this hobby for fun. All of us have been at the end of that 2 mile hike, only to find McToys, Mormon/JW/pentacostal writs, or other geotrash. None of us like it.

 

If we all start leaving items that we would want to find, then we will have a sustainable hobby.

---

 

Sounds good at first but as we can all see, the person that hid the cache in the first place put all the stuff that he would want to find in it. How about it, can anyone think of one single item that you can put in a cache that wont, sooner or later, offend someone?

 

Its neat seeing what surprises might be found in a cache but finding it in the first place is the most fun

[crash23]

I believe I found this same cache while visiting MI this weekend. In fact, my girlfriend and I placed her travel bug in the cache. I was at first put off by the amount of religious material in the cache. If it was the hiders doing, I would prefer that they mention this in their description of the cache. If I want to learn about religion, I know where the churches are. I don't really need to go hunt for religious flyers in the woods. That said, I like the fact that geocaching is a very open sport that includes very diverse people. But, let's not take advantage of that by trying to push our adgendas on others.

 

I think the Pink Lightning bug is still in the cache if someone would like to rescue it and send it on it's way back to MA.

[+briansnat]

quote:

---

I think it's a wonderful thing to open a cache & find something of this nature. I myself plan to place a Christian cache at some point.

---

 

Just make sure if it's a themed cache, you let people know that on the cache page.

 

"Life is a daring adventure, or it is nothing" - Helen Keller

[+ApK]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Mudfrog:

that you can put in a cache that wont, sooner or later, offend someone?

---

 

I was going to say "money" but some Where's George purists have apparently taken offense at that, too!

 

ApK

[Dinoprophet]

When people complain about religious items in caches, they should keep in mind that things like dreamcatchers, prayer flags/bells, and mojo bags are also religious in nature. No one that I've seen is calling for a ban on those items. Nor should they.

 

[thetaylors]

Wasn't it Patrick Henry that said, "I may not agree with what you have to say, but I will fight to my death to preserve your right to say it." or something like that.

[+majicman]

This has already been discussed at great length(and satirized even better IMHO!)

 

http://opentopic.Groundspeak.com/0/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=1750973553&f=3000917383&m=2610906494&r=2290972594#2290972594

 

--majicman

 

BigSig rules to live by:

 

3.) NEVER get "off-topic." These threads are ALL far too serious for that!

[+seneca]

quote:

---

Originally posted by thetaylors:

Wasn't it Patrick Henry that said, "I may not agree with what you have to say, but I will fight to my death to preserve your right to say it." or something like that.

---

 

Yeah, something like that....

 

You may not agree with what I say, but I will defend, to your death, my right to say it!(it's a Joke, OK!)

[+ApK]

quote:

---

Originally posted by thetaylors:

Wasn't it Patrick Henry that said, "I may not agree with what you have to say, but I will fight to my death to preserve your right to say it." or something like that.

---

 

'I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.'

[Attributed to Voltaire]

 

'Give me liberty or give me death' --Patrick Henry

 

'Gimme a break' --Nell Carter

 

ApK

[+d0ngle]

Ok, maybe I got pulled in by a troll on this one, but I've found a cache once (one I *didn't* log) that had an uncomfortable amount of marijuana in it. As a non-participant in such, I was offended. I would have been even more offended if my kids were with me, and I had to explain to them what it was. As it was, I simply replaced the cache and walked away.

 

Afterward, I started thinking about it. If some law enforcement official were to find the cache, it now has my fingerprints all over it. So I propose that any cache that contains illegal or controlled substance needs to be flagged both on the website, and with a 6-foot-tall neon sign over the cache itself, flashing "WARNING: CONTAINS DANGEROUS DRUGS!"

 

If you can't handle some tracts and such, just walk away. Part of the fun here is not knowing what you'll find...

[+BrownMule & Jackrabbit]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Scott Johnson:

It's not the destination (the contents of the box) but the journey to the cache. Personally, I prefer just a notebook to sign and not bother with the trading of do-dads. Personally, I am not worried I might be corrupted by seeing a bible or porn in a cache. I am here for the hike and nothing more.

 

To each his own.

---

 

I agree with Scott. Who cares what's in the cache. Yes I like a well stocked and organized and clean cache just like everybody else but it's the seek and the find that turns me on. I don't care if it contains christian materials or satanic stuff as long as I find it. I personally like caches that are placed in scenic areas so that I can enjoy nature as I hike.

 

ENJOY THE OUTDOORS

[+lohroffc]

A couple of weeks back I placed my first cache and I considered placing a cache of strictly "Christian" material. I would also have been advertised that way. However, when reading the Geocaching rules, I ran across the following line:

 

"Solicitations are also off-limits. For example, caches perceived to be posted for religious, political, or social agendas will not be listed. Geocaching is supposed to be a light, fun activity, not a platform for an agenda."

 

so I decided against it. You can find this statement on this page:

 

http://www.geocaching.com/articles/requirements.asp

 

I know of people in my area that place a Christian tract in caches when they find them. As I recall, they take something, leave something AND leave the tract. I don't believe this violates the above statement, but a cache with a Christian theme would be.

 

dyslexics of the world, untie.

[+Siberian Cacher]

I know that would be highly offensive to me, a Browns fan.

 

A fellow Browns fan. No I know geocaching is for me.