Imagine being religious and thinking magic is evil. Would you take your kids to a magic shop to look around?

I’d assume the answer would be “no,” but for some reason, the religious people we hear about in this story actually do take their kids to a magic store. I’m not sure if it’s just to insult the employees, or if they didn’t understand what the store sells before walking inside, or what, but the parents’ reactions to the magic tricks are pretty crazy.

Keep reading for the whole story.

The Magic Shop: “You’re gonna burn in hell, but entertain my kids first.”

We have a lot of religious crazies on our town.

One guy loves to sit on the street corner screaming at anyone who walks by that they’re gonna burn, or screaming awful words to any woman that walks by until the cops come and chase him off.

Another one just hangs around using religion to threaten people for things he wants (i.e. money or cigarettes).

Here’s how the conversation goes.

Him: “Hey can i bum a cigarette and a dollar?”

Shop Owner: “I don’t smoke, and i dont have a dollar. You also can’t sit in front of my store doing this.”

Him: “Forget you! You’re gonna burn you son of a gun! The judgement is coming for you and you’re gonna burn!!”

Every now and then, however, one of them comes into my shop.

Here’s an example of what happened when one family entered the store.

I was running the store one Sunday, and i had just opened when a family walks in with their three kids. I open with the pleasantries: “Hey guys. Hows it going? Ya’ll wanna see some magic we just got in?”

The kids light up. They’re excited. Then dad steps in…

Dad: “NO! We would not like to see any MAGIC! Because WE ALL KNOW THAT MAGIC IS THE TOOL OF THE DEVIL AND THOSE THAT PRACTICE THE DARK ARTS WILL BURN FOREVER IN THE FIERY PITS OF HELL COME JUDGEMENT DAY!”

He made sure to scream it loud enough so people outside of the shop could hear him ranting.

After looking at him in dead silence for a moment i turned around ignoring him and went right into showing his kids magic until he dragged them out of the store because he wasn’t getting enough attention.

Here’s another example.

A more recent incident happened just last week. A mother comes in with two kids and she’s talking to them as they walk in.

Mom: “You wanna see a magic show? Maybe they’ll show us a magic show. Wouldn’t a magic show be so much fun?”

I show them a good 30-45 minutes of magic, but the moment i mention the prices of the various tricks we have she interrupts me.

Mom: “Oh, no no no. We don’t want to buy any magic. Magic is the tool of Satan, and i don’t want my children being corrupted. Thank you for the show.”

This happens so much that it’s become the running joke of the shop that every trick we sell comes with a free Slayer CD, and sacrificial goat starter kit.

It makes me wonder why these families are walking inside the store at all if they think it’s so evil.

Let’s see how Reddit responded.

There is a big difference.

Another person wants to know more about this store.

This is what I’m wondering!

One person is impressed.

Magic is very different than anything that could be perceived as evil. Magic is a trick. It’s an illusion. It’s a skill. It’s not real.

The parents are crazy for taking their kids to this store at all if they think it’s evil. I’m honestly not sure why they would walk inside the door.

The salesman handled himself well under the circumstances.

Why would anyone go inside a store they think is evil?