17 replies to this topic

[Huff]

.......it makes me angry. Do they really think that I am so misguided that they need to ask the sky daddy to correct me? I find it highly offensive and I have finally begun telling them to keep their mythology to themselves and leave me out of it.

[Ungodly]

Hi Huff,

There are times when people say they are going to pray for me and it does annoy me, these are cases where it seems they are being smug or projecting a holier-than-thou attitude. This might happen when I have just let someone know that I am not a theist.

Some other times people say they will pray for me and I realize they are just trying to be kind in a way they think is best, for example when someone we love has died a person who believes in Invisible Sky Monster(s) might say they will pray for us because they think it will help to resolve our grief.

So many people suffer from religious delusions, and there is a wide variation in the range of false expectations they attach to praying to a fairy tale character that does not exist. I try to think about a person's intentions before taking offense, when I can.

If I believe somebody is being sarcastic or smug by saying they will pray for me, for example if they seem to think that praying will cause me to no longer be gay, I'll just say something like "Sure, because that'll work." For me being sarcastic is as easy as sitting in a chair, I often do both at the same time.

Nice to meet you Huff!

[Huff]

Sorry about posting on this particular forum, I kinda screwed that up, but I'm a rookie.

[Ungodly]

No worries, I moved it for you. We are glad you joined, and you don't have to be perfect until everyone else is perfect too.

[Joe Bloe]

If it's someone who doesn't know me, I inform them I'm an atheist.

If they know I'm an atheist and they still do it, I get ready for an argument.

And sometimes I just don't give a damn.

[Huff]

I don't want to be an ass, but I am sick and tired of Christians who assume that I need some sort of divine assistance and my first reaction is one of anger. I guess I need to calm down and take a slower, more studied approach. The problem is that most of these folks don't operate on any sort of intellectual level, if they did, they wouldn't be religious and the only thing they seem to respond to is anger. Of course that leads to other fallacious arguments involving anger, but that is another subject. I just have real trouble with the idea that anyone who is remotely rational can buy into the obvious contradictions that religion supplies and then jump to the conclusion that I need to join them.....

Regards,

Huff

[Joe Bloe]

I wrote a post about this very subject a long time ago, but haven't been able to find it here. I did mention the incident on another forum, however, and I was able to find it there: This is what I wrote:

I came back from the shops a few minutes ago and saw the caretaker of my building standing in the doorway. We said our usual polite hellos and then he thrust a hand-written pamphlet towards me. "Would you like to read a few words of encouragement from Jesus Christ?"

I told him I was an atheist and he said "Oh right."

But then he decided not to give up so quickly. "God bless you." he added as I headed up the stairs. I told him that I didn't need blessing from anyone and he responded with "Jesus loves you."

I turned back down the stairs and told him to stop being a smart aleck and he went into stupid Christian mode. The "argument" went something like this:

"Jesus loves you"
"I'm not interested"
"Jesus loves you"
"Don't get smart with me"
"Jesus loves you"
"If you don't shut-up..."
"Jesus loves you."
"Right you cunt, I'm gonna make your life a fucking misery..."

Well that sent the caretaker scurrying back into his apartment, but I failed the test didn't I?

So yes, Huff, I know exactly how you feel ... and welcome to the forum by the way. It's good to hear from you.

[When I said "I failed the test", I was joking about the fact that I lost my cool when I should have remained calm and dignified.]

[Ungodly]

I lost my cool when I should have remained calm and dignified.

In all fairness you did make a sincere effort to be reasonable with the Jeebustard, he obviously was being a jerk, in Jeebus' name, of course.

[Storybook]

Hi Huff, welcome to this forum.

Joe, that guy telling you "Jesus loves you" was being an asshole. That is the sort of condescending behavior from religious people pisses me off.

If someone is sincere in wishing me well then I don't mind that. I guess it depends on the circumstances, the intent and how it is done.

[Cherry]

If someone is sincere in wishing me well then I don't mind that. I guess it depends on the circumstances, the intent and how it is done.

One can always wish well without god.

[deathislife]

I remember I once went off on a Christian who said they'd pray for me. They implied that my parents should be ashamed for raising me because I was an atheist. Yea, I wasn't happy with that.

And welcome, Huff. I hope you post and enjoy your time here, as I know I do.

[Huff]

My discussion with the well wisher continues...the latest tactic goes something like this...........
"Well, If you won the lottery and learned a fool-proof way to win the lottery would you not want to tell those who matter to you?"

My reply was......ok, lets say I buy an imaginary lottery ticket that pays off and I win a million imaginary dollars. Is it then ok for me to endlessly regale you with the story of my imaginary good luck and insist that you, too buy the imaginary lottery ticket?


I wish I were more clever.

Regards,

Huff

[Ungodly]

Hi Huff,

If you have already indicated to this carbon based unit that you are not interested in hearing about his baseless delusions and yet he persists in annoying you, in Jeebus' name, it might be time to take the gloves off.

If I were in your shoes I might say something like "Your Invisible Sky Monster would have to exist before I would be interested in hearing about it" and that would just be me warming up.

It's one thing if a person who harbors silly ideas tries to be nice in an oddball way that a rational person does not find interesting, but if someone starts harassing you on behalf of a children's horror fairy tale character that is something entirely different.

You could even escalate by saying something like "Come talk to me once you learn something about logic and evidence" or "If I want fairy tales I'll make up my own, thank you".

It sounds as if you have exhausted your patience with this unit and whatever you might say now would be justified.

[Joe Bloe]

I used to ask deadpan questions about the miracles:

When Jesus walked on water, do you reckon he stayed right on top of the water, or did his feet sink in a bit?
Whatever answer is given >>> Show me in the bible where it says that.

If the answer is "I don't know", then ask if that's the only thing they don't know, or are there lots of things they don't know about the bible?

Jesus chased ten demons out of Mary:
What's the maximum number of demons a human body can carry at one time?
How did JC know they were there - could he see them, or was he just guessing?
Do they always cause illness, or are some of them benign?
Whatever answer is given >>> Show me in the bible where it says that.

Sometimes the Christian will say the story is symbolic, metaphoric, or an analogy.
Always ask: What does it symbolise? Metaphor for what? Analogous to what?

Always polite, always deadpan, always ready with the next question, always asking for biblical verification.
You'll find conversations with the Christian getting shorter and shorter.

[Huff]

Those are great, I appreciate the use of your material.
Truth be told, I am beginning to enjoy going round and round with this guy. I don't dislike him, he means well and can't seem to help himself. Even though I know it's borderline masochistic, I keep egging him on, I guess. The most interesting part of the whole thing is that since this dialog has been going on for a week or so now, I am getting support from unexpected quarters. I didn't realize how many people there are out there who don't buy into religion, they just don't usually have the balls to say anything to the zealots.

Regards,

Huff

[Ungodly]

I didn't realize how many people there are out there who don't buy into religion, they just don't usually have the balls to say anything to the zealots.

Yes, there is a lot of that going on, I believe. I think there are also lots of people who think discussing religious silliness is unimportant and a waste of time. That may be a reasonable PoV until the faithful start flying jumbo jets into skyscrapers or invading oil rich countries while claiming their invisible friend said they should.

Unfortunately many people ignore the acts of destruction that are legitimized by the various brands of religious delusions and just take a "meh" attitude of indifference or mild disdain. I believe they would serve their own interests better if they were more vocal about being free from religious afflictions. I also think it would be in the interest of rational people to withhold support and votes from political leaders who use religion as a blunt force trauma device *cough*Republicans*cough*.

I disagree somewhat with people who are religious yet still manage to behave in a civil and decent way, but it is those who loudly use their religion to justify bigotry, racism, militarism, xenophobia and other forms of dogma with whom I have sharply defined differences of opinion.

[Storybook]

I wish I were more clever.

Regards,

Huff

Huff, I thought what you said was pretty good.

Sometimes the Christian will say the story is symbolic, metaphoric, or an analogy.
Always ask: What does it symbolise? Metaphor for what?

I've had a christian tell me the story was a metaphor and so I said, "Was Jesus a metaphor too? How do you know what is fact and what is metaphor in the buybull?"

[Sammie Jo]

If someone is sincere in wishing me well then I don't mind that. I guess it depends on the circumstances, the intent and how it is done.

I feel the same way, just depends on who it is, the tone of voice and if they keep on rambling, but they should NEVER, EVER try to put some bullchit literature into my hand, that lights the fuse and they have 5 seconds to vacate the area before the explosion.