Atheists: How do you feel when someone prays for you or makes some other nice religious gesture? Guilty? Awkward? Annoyed? Honored? Loved?
36-40, F
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bijouxbroussard · F
I’m not religious, but it depends on the context. When I’m in pain, and someone who doesn’t know I’m not religious says they’ll "pray" for me, I’m not upset, I know they mean it compassionately, and I accept it as such. But if someone is arguing that I should believe (and I generally try to avoid such disputes) and conclude by saying, "I’ll pray for you," that I see as condescending. 🙄
DrWatson · 70-79, M
@bijouxbroussard The latter even occurs between Christians. If Christian A and Christian B do not see eye to eye on things, and Christian A says "I will pray for you, that God will show you the errors of your ways and you will repent", that can be "spiritual abuse". It is right up there with emotional abuse and sexual abuse. It can be used quite effectively by cult leaders who try to keep their members in line.
robertsnj · 56-60, M
@bijouxbroussard
While they will pray that we (atheists) find Jesus in the back of their mind they know we will ask for evidence. People who say by contrast that they are not religious are often perceived (and often correctly) as hoping or wishing there was a God or in the spiritual but not religious category which from a metaphysical standpoint. This position makes them not that far off from a believer and more importantly a Christian believer.
On a sidenote while you don't hold their religious views many Christians have the hope and doubt and questions thing going on--in that way many people who take the positions as not religious (or in the current political spectrum labelled as
I see as condescending
You are red meat to Christians. I hope I don't offend you too much but....The rest of us on here hold a position of non-belief. You just said might or maybe by saying you are not religious but stopping short of I am an atheist or I don't believe in God. While they will pray that we (atheists) find Jesus in the back of their mind they know we will ask for evidence. People who say by contrast that they are not religious are often perceived (and often correctly) as hoping or wishing there was a God or in the spiritual but not religious category which from a metaphysical standpoint. This position makes them not that far off from a believer and more importantly a Christian believer.
On a sidenote while you don't hold their religious views many Christians have the hope and doubt and questions thing going on--in that way many people who take the positions as not religious (or in the current political spectrum labelled as
Nones
) have commonality with a lot of Bible thumpers even if that feels foreign to hear for you (and others who belong to the I am not religious crowd)