Ok - this is a bit strange.

We have new neighbors moving in across the street. I decide to go over & introduce myself. The guy's in his garage & I walk over and say "Hi! My name's Kim. Welcome to the neighborhood," as I extend my arm to shake his hand. He goes "Hi. Thanks. I don't shake hands" and as he starts backing up, he says "it goes against my religious beliefs".

Now, I'm all for religious freedom and such - but what religion does not condone shaking hands?

 

Wow...that's gonna be a fun house to T.P.

[Sorry, couldn't resist ...*I'll* shake your hand ]

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by JerseyGirl
Ok - this is a bit strange.

We have new neighbors moving in across the street.

 

He's probably Orthodox Jew

 

Perhaps he is Muslim? If I'm not mistaken, some Muslims may prefer not to shake hands with the opposite sex. (Someone please correct me if this is not accurate.)

 

i vaugly remeber hearing about some crazy religion that doesnt shake hands. odd.

 

Oops I should have written more. Strict Orthodox Jews, prohibit shaking women's hands, it's one of many ways in which the Orthodox separate the sexes. The original reasoning if I remember right was that contact between the sexes should not arouse erotic impulses.

 

isn't "Jahova's (SP?) Witness" like that?

 

Damn is no one listening to me. There was an article in the NY Times awhile back about it that was a big debate. Here I found something about it.

http://yucs.org/~dwallach/serious/ethic.htm

 

still sounds like religion over humanity...