What do you do when a religious-type "blesses" you

I give them an honest thank-you. Why would I be anything other than thankful?

[QUOTE="SPYDER0416"]

[QUOTE="theone86"]

So it's not pretentious to broadcast your own beliefs to everyone by telling them you'll pray for them, but it IS pretentious to bring to those people's attention that their beliefs are not the only ones on the face of the earth?

theone86

What is pretentious to me is twisting a small obviously meant to be nice phrase, and acting like a jerkwad.

I have no problem with ANYONE expressing their beliefs, I consider myself somewhat of an apatheist (look it up, Bill Maher is one, I also don't really like Bill Maher, but I guess we share similar beliefs), but I think anyone who has the nerve to insult others or look down on others are pretentious.

An Atheist who has to flip the hell out over a "bless you" because of some longstanding grudge over a religion that hasn't done anything to them and brings meaning to the lives of others, is as bad as a religious jerkwad who leaves a fake $20 to try and convince random people to become Christian. You won't get them to convert, its angering, annoying, and its NOT how you should react in a civilized society when someone is legitimately being nice to you in a socially accepted manner. That is how someone with antisocial personality disorder reacts just because he disagrees with the particular way someone was kind towards them with a turn of phrase.

I don't think that saying "I'll pray for you" is meant to be nice, I think it's meant to be arrogant and self-righteous. If someone deserves to be insulted, I consider it my duty to insult them. If someone acts as if their beliefs are the only ones on the face of the planet, I'm going to humorsly illustrate how they aren't. If they don't wish me to do that then they shouldn't have acted that way in the first place.

I'm not talking about bless you. That's not even what the TC was talking about, that's the way a certain poster has re-framed the discussion in order to make things go in his favor.

Religion has done plenty to me, I think I'm far more amicable towards Christianity than it deserves.

I'm not trying to convert anyone. How is humoursly making light of religious diversity the same thing as stiffing a waiter to try to convert them?

You are seriously the wrong person to be preaching such a message.

[QUOTE="theone86"]

[QUOTE="PS2_ROCKS"] They aren't trying to be pretentious, they're being courteous. You're being pretentious by trying to downplay their beliefs. SPYDER0416

I think you're just repeating the same contradiction I was originally higlighting, when a religion person broadcasts their beliefs it's courteousy, but when an atheist does it it's pretention.

Of course not, if someone says you are being pretentious for expressing your beliefs in a non hostile manner, then I'd say they're the ones being pretentious. You have every right to believe what you want, and no one should have a problem with that.

I personally just don't think its right to downplay the beliefs of others is all, and saying bless you or I'll pray for you is as far away from that as possible. If a satanist said "I'll dedicate my next sacrifice to Satan to you", then its a nice gesture, MUCH more hardcore then bless you, but I would thank the person and be on my way. NOT act like a jerk about how wrong he is and how much I care about how wrong he is and blah blah blah, is all.

I don't think saying "I'll pray for you" is non-hostile, especially not when you're saying it to someone whom you know is an atheist or whom you don't know is a Christian. I think it's a specifically confrontational act meant to push their beliefs. I don't go around saying "I'll consult the scientific community to request they develop a method to save you." At any rate, it's at least as confrontational than me assuming they're talking about Zeus or Thor and letting them know that.

I've only been "blessed" when I did all the church stuff I had to do when I was younger (reconciliation, confirmation, first communion)

Except for the time when I gave money to the spinal injury foundation man, I always give him money and he always says bless you and things like that. Not that I mind, it's for a good cause. I always say "That's okay" because I just gave him money.

Given that I have self confidence, a backbone, and a pair, I'm not really bothered. They can give me Zeus's blessing or swear on Odin's good eye for all I care.

[QUOTE="theone86"]

[QUOTE="SPYDER0416"]

What is pretentious to me is twisting a small obviously meant to be nice phrase, and acting like a jerkwad.

I have no problem with ANYONE expressing their beliefs, I consider myself somewhat of an apatheist (look it up, Bill Maher is one, I also don't really like Bill Maher, but I guess we share similar beliefs), but I think anyone who has the nerve to insult others or look down on others are pretentious.

An Atheist who has to flip the hell out over a "bless you" because of some longstanding grudge over a religion that hasn't done anything to them and brings meaning to the lives of others, is as bad as a religious jerkwad who leaves a fake $20 to try and convince random people to become Christian. You won't get them to convert, its angering, annoying, and its NOT how you should react in a civilized society when someone is legitimately being nice to you in a socially accepted manner. That is how someone with antisocial personality disorder reacts just because he disagrees with the particular way someone was kind towards them with a turn of phrase.

the_plan_man

I don't think that saying "I'll pray for you" is meant to be nice, I think it's meant to be arrogant and self-righteous. If someone deserves to be insulted, I consider it my duty to insult them. If someone acts as if their beliefs are the only ones on the face of the planet, I'm going to humorsly illustrate how they aren't. If they don't wish me to do that then they shouldn't have acted that way in the first place.

I'm not talking about bless you. That's not even what the TC was talking about, that's the way a certain poster has re-framed the discussion in order to make things go in his favor.

Religion has done plenty to me, I think I'm far more amicable towards Christianity than it deserves.

I'm not trying to convert anyone. How is humoursly making light of religious diversity the same thing as stiffing a waiter to try to convert them?

You are seriously the wrong person to be preaching such a message.

You'll forgive me if I don't put much stock in the opinion of someone who seems to consistently misunderstand my argument.

[QUOTE="SPYDER0416"]

[QUOTE="theone86"]

I think you're just repeating the same contradiction I was originally higlighting, when a religion person broadcasts their beliefs it's courteousy, but when an atheist does it it's pretention.

theone86

Of course not, if someone says you are being pretentious for expressing your beliefs in a non hostile manner, then I'd say they're the ones being pretentious. You have every right to believe what you want, and no one should have a problem with that.

I personally just don't think its right to downplay the beliefs of others is all, and saying bless you or I'll pray for you is as far away from that as possible. If a satanist said "I'll dedicate my next sacrifice to Satan to you", then its a nice gesture, MUCH more hardcore then bless you, but I would thank the person and be on my way. NOT act like a jerk about how wrong he is and how much I care about how wrong he is and blah blah blah, is all.

I don't think saying "I'll pray for you" is non-hostile, especially not when you're saying it to someone whom you know is an atheist or whom you don't know is a Christian. I think it's a specifically confrontational act meant to push their beliefs. I don't go around saying "I'll consult the scientific community to request they develop a method to save you." At any rate, it's at least as confrontational than me assuming they're talking about Zeus or Thor and letting them know that.

I give them an honest thank-you. Why would I be anything other than thankful?

Pirate700

I don't think saying "I'll pray for you" is non-hostile, especially not when you're saying it to someone whom you know is an atheist or whom you don't know is a Christian. I think it's a specifically confrontational act meant to push their beliefs. I don't go around saying "I'll consult the scientific community to request they develop a method to save you." At any rate, it's at least as confrontational than me assuming they're talking about Zeus or Thor and letting them know that.

theone86

Some things aren't meant to be over-analyzed. A random person saying "You'll be in my prayers" if you do something nice for them isn't saying to antagonize you, or push their beliefs. How pathetic you seem with this statement. Bitter atheism doesn't look really attractive.

[QUOTE="theone86"]

[QUOTE="PS2_ROCKS"] They aren't trying to be pretentious, they're being courteous. You're being pretentious by trying to downplay their beliefs. OICWUTUDIDTHAR

I think you're just repeating the same contradiction I was originally higlighting, when a religion person broadcasts their beliefs it's courteousy, but when an atheist does it it's pretention.

Again, you're just repeating the contradiction. Say I'm a Hindu and a Christian says they'll pray for me, if I say I appreciate them talking to Vishnu on my behalf they'll be offended. How is that any different from me saying thanks for talking to Zeus? Basically, the only reason any of you have given for it NOT being pretentious for a religious person to say that boils down to hegemony. They can broadcast their beliefs (I'll pray for you), but I can't (Oh, well I don't believe in god). There's no good reason for the differentiation you're making.

Ok I feel like this topic is turning into another dumb Christian vs Atheist debate, and I can't tell who started it.

All I know (and care to say), is that if you say something with good intentions and not trying to belittle someone (like genuinely saying "bless you" or "thanks, I respect you" or "no need to pray for me" what****ing ever), then there is no reason for a hostile overblown reaction, from either side.

If you do have the intention of belittling someone by saying "I'll pray for you" or "don't pray for me", then you are a pretentious jerk, and an Atheist/Christian exploding over a simple phrase like either of those (even if it is intentionally mean spirited or intentionally nice spirited) or not, is also a pretentious jerk because they would just contribute to the hatred and divide and both people would walk away with very negative associations with that person and that person's belief because both of them had to be stupid instead of just one or even none of them (or would have been none of them if the other didn't turn stupid after a simple phrase).

Ignorance and Elitism flies both ways I guess.

You're really grasping at straws. I find it incredibly hard to be offended if anybody says "I'll say a prayer for you" or bless you if I sneeze. I could care less if a Hindu, Budhist, or Taoist gave me one of their blessings just like I dont care if a christian does. I don't believe in any religion, but Ifigure it can only help. What's there to be offended about? The only reason your more likely to be blessed by a christian is because you likely live in a country where they tend to be the predominant religion. Sounds to me like you have an irrational hatred or fear of religion.

[QUOTE="theone86"]

I don't think saying "I'll pray for you" is non-hostile, especially not when you're saying it to someone whom you know is an atheist or whom you don't know is a Christian. I think it's a specifically confrontational act meant to push their beliefs. I don't go around saying "I'll consult the scientific community to request they develop a method to save you." At any rate, it's at least as confrontational than me assuming they're talking about Zeus or Thor and letting them know that.

airshocker

Some things aren't meant to be over-analyzed. A random person saying "You'll be in my prayers" if you do something nice for them isn't saying to antagonize you, or push their beliefs. How pathetic you seem with this statement. Bitter atheism doesn't look really attractive.

You look pathetic, too buddy.

What someone intends isn't always what's expressed. That's the whole problem I have with this, is that the people saying this have zero consideration for how the other person views the situation, yet when that person reacts to them suddenly they think they have cause to be offended. Christians apparently hold the copyright to being offended, if they someone complains about something they like it's an evil PC conspiracy, but if someone says something they don't like it's pretention.

Given that I have self confidence, a backbone, and a pair, I'm not really bothered. They can give me Zeus's blessing or swear on Odin's good eye for all I care.

sonicare

Same here, regardless of my own belief, I'll accept their well wishing and wish them well likewise, in my manner of belief (simple "thank you" I guess), and hope they react in kind.

I personally just don't think its right to downplay the beliefs of others is allSPYDER0416

Besides people can say whatever the hell they want under our current laws - barring a few things that could lead to dangerous situations. If you ever walk down a street in NYC, you're probably barraged with a bunch of rhetoric ranging from political mumbo jumbo to religous speak. Be a tough life if all that stuff always gave you an ulcer. You gotta pull the new yorker and just blindly stare ahead without acknowledging anyone's presence or making eye contact. Adds years to one's life.

I'm an insecure militant atheist that feels the need to spout the contradictions of The Bible that I found on Google whenever someone prays for me to the God that they believe in, even if they know I'm an atheist. I mean, it's not like they could be all like "You're an Atheist? Well, I should tell God to SHUN YOU. YOU IDIOT". Nope. Pray for me to pass my next exam or something. That's way worse. Damn Christians. I hate you all. Why can't you religious people go live on some island somewhere? That's what the filthy mutants did in the X-Men comics.Prydes

Doesn't the Bible say not to broadcast your own good deeds in order to attain recognition? Do whatever you want, pray for me, don't pray for me, but I really don't see the need for you to TELL me you're praying for me.

[QUOTE="sonicare"]

Given that I have self confidence, a backbone, and a pair, I'm not really bothered. They can give me Zeus's blessing or swear on Odin's good eye for all I care.

SPYDER0416

Same here, regardless of my own belief, I'll accept their well wishing and wish them well likewise, in my manner of belief (simple "thank you" I guess), and hope they react in kind.

Besides people can say whatever the hell they want under our current laws - barring a few things that could lead to dangerous situations. If you ever walk down a street in NYC, you're probably barraged with a bunch of rhetoric ranging from political mumbo jumbo to religous speak. Be a tough life if all that stuff always gave you an ulcer. You gotta pull the new yorker and just blindly stare ahead without acknowledging anyone's presence or making eye contact. Adds years to one's life.

sonicare

That street goes both ways.

I smile politely while seething with impotent rage underneath. I later log on to message boards to express my impotent rage over the internet.

[QUOTE="sonicare"]

Besides people can say whatever the hell they want under our current laws - barring a few things that could lead to dangerous situations. If you ever walk down a street in NYC, you're probably barraged with a bunch of rhetoric ranging from political mumbo jumbo to religous speak. Be a tough life if all that stuff always gave you an ulcer. You gotta pull the new yorker and just blindly stare ahead without acknowledging anyone's presence or making eye contact. Adds years to one's life.

theone86

That street goes both ways.

Ok I feel like this topic is turning into another dumb Christian vs Atheist debate, and I can't tell who started it.

All I know (and care to say), is that if you say something with good intentions and not trying to belittle someone (like genuinely saying "bless you" or "thanks, I respect you" or "no need to pray for me" what****ing ever), then there is no reason for a hostile overblown reaction, from either side.

If you do have the intention of belittling someone by saying "I'll pray for you" or "don't pray for me", then you are a pretentious jerk, and an Atheist/Christian exploding over a simple phrase like either of those (even if it is intentionally mean spirited or intentionally nice spirited) or not, is also a pretentious jerk because they would just contribute to the hatred and divide and both people would walk away with very negative associations with that person and that person's belief because both of them had to be stupid instead of just one or even none of them (or would have been none of them if the other didn't turn stupid after a simple phrase).

Ignorance and Elitism flies both ways I guess.

SPYDER0416

Goode intent doesn't always translate into good actions, and what people think is good intent isn't always good intent. And who said anything about exploding? I just said I'd make a snide remark, seems the furthest thing from exploding. In fact, seems to me that people are far more upset over the snide remarks than they are over people saying "I'll pray for you."

You look pathetic, too buddy.

What someone intends isn't always what's expressed. That's the whole problem I have with this, is that the people saying this have zero consideration for how the other person views the situation, yet when that person reacts to them suddenly they think they have cause to be offended. Christians apparently hold the copyright to being offended, if they someone complains about something they like it's an evil PC conspiracy, but if someone says something they don't like it's pretention.

theone86

I don't go off the walls whenever someone says they'll pray for me. Especially when it's with good intentions. Nor do I try and make it out to be like every religious person is out to get me with their words!

Actually, I wouldnt like it if their prayer was this.

"Sweet mother, sweet mother, send your child unto me, for the sins of the unworthy must be baptized in blood and fear"

Because usually whent that happens, Sithis sends one of his goons to try and kill me.

Actually, I wouldnt like it if their prayer was this.

"Sweet mother, sweet mother, send your child unto me, for the sins of the unworthy must be baptized in blood and fear"

Because usually whent that happens, Sithis sends one of his goons to try and kill me.

sonicare

[QUOTE="theone86"]

You look pathetic, too buddy.

What someone intends isn't always what's expressed. That's the whole problem I have with this, is that the people saying this have zero consideration for how the other person views the situation, yet when that person reacts to them suddenly they think they have cause to be offended. Christians apparently hold the copyright to being offended, if they someone complains about something they like it's an evil PC conspiracy, but if someone says something they don't like it's pretention.

airshocker

I don't go off the walls whenever someone says they'll pray for me. Especially when it's with good intentions. Nor do I try and make it out to be like every religious person is out to get me with their words!

I'm not flying off the wall, more inferences and prjection on your end.

The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

There are plenty of religious people that are out to get people who don't share their beliefs with their words.

[QUOTE="theone86"]

You look pathetic, too buddy.

What someone intends isn't always what's expressed. That's the whole problem I have with this, is that the people saying this have zero consideration for how the other person views the situation, yet when that person reacts to them suddenly they think they have cause to be offended. Christians apparently hold the copyright to being offended, if they someone complains about something they like it's an evil PC conspiracy, but if someone says something they don't like it's pretention.

airshocker

I don't go off the walls whenever someone says they'll pray for me. Especially when it's with good intentions. Nor do I try and make it out to be like every religious person is out to get me with their words!

I'm not flying off the wall, more inferences and prjection on your end.

The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

There are plenty of religious people that are out to get people who don't share their beliefs with their words.

theone86

Yeah you are. Just look at your last sentence to see how insane you sound.

[QUOTE="airshocker"]

[QUOTE="theone86"]

You look pathetic, too buddy.

What someone intends isn't always what's expressed. That's the whole problem I have with this, is that the people saying this have zero consideration for how the other person views the situation, yet when that person reacts to them suddenly they think they have cause to be offended. Christians apparently hold the copyright to being offended, if they someone complains about something they like it's an evil PC conspiracy, but if someone says something they don't like it's pretention.

the_plan_man

I don't go off the walls whenever someone says they'll pray for me. Especially when it's with good intentions. Nor do I try and make it out to be like every religious person is out to get me with their words!

Have you and airshocker had one post to me or anyone else in this thread that didn't consist of petty insults?

[QUOTE="airshocker"]

[QUOTE="theone86"]

You look pathetic, too buddy.

What someone intends isn't always what's expressed. That's the whole problem I have with this, is that the people saying this have zero consideration for how the other person views the situation, yet when that person reacts to them suddenly they think they have cause to be offended. Christians apparently hold the copyright to being offended, if they someone complains about something they like it's an evil PC conspiracy, but if someone says something they don't like it's pretention.

theone86

I don't go off the walls whenever someone says they'll pray for me. Especially when it's with good intentions. Nor do I try and make it out to be like every religious person is out to get me with their words!

I'm not flying off the wall, more inferences and prjection on your end.

The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

There are plenty of religious people that are out to get people who don't share their beliefs with their words.

[QUOTE="theone86"]

I'm not flying off the wall, more inferences and prjection on your end.

The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

There are plenty of religious people that are out to get people who don't share their beliefs with their words.

airshocker

Yeah you are. Just look at your last sentence to see how insane you sound.

What, it's insane to suggest that radical evangelists exist?

I'm perfectly calm, dude.

I could see - in a rare situation - how someone could say a blessing in such a way that it would be condescending. But that's usually easy to tell and then I usually have fun with them by destroying them in a game of intellectual chess. But I am assuming this refers to the 99.9% of the time when its some friendly, somewhat obese passerby who bestows their blessing on me in between gasps of air.

I sneeze again.Allicrombie

HAHAHAHA

[QUOTE="theone86"]

[QUOTE="airshocker"]

I don't go off the walls whenever someone says they'll pray for me. Especially when it's with good intentions. Nor do I try and make it out to be like every religious person is out to get me with their words!

sonicare

I'm not flying off the wall, more inferences and prjection on your end.

The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

There are plenty of religious people that are out to get people who don't share their beliefs with their words.

What, is Earth Day a religious or atheist thing or something? Do you have to own an electric car to celebrate Earth Day?

What, it's insane to suggest that radical evangelists exist?

I'm perfectly calm, dude.

theone86

It's insane to suggest that every single religious person is out to get you when they say "bless you."

[QUOTE="sonicare"]

[QUOTE="theone86"]

I'm not flying off the wall, more inferences and prjection on your end.

The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

There are plenty of religious people that are out to get people who don't share their beliefs with their words.

theone86

What, is Earth Day a religious or atheist thing or something? Do you have to own an electric car to celebrate Earth Day?

I could see - in a rare situation - how someone could say a blessing in such a way that it would be condescending. But that's usually easy to tell and then I usually have fun with them by destroying them in a game of intellectual chess. But I am assuming this refers to the 99.9% of the time when its some friendly, somewhat obese passerby who bestows their blessing on me in between gasps of air.

sonicare

Pffffft, intellectual chess, how pretentious you are. Relgiious people NEVER intend to condescend, you're just a sour radical atheist.

I think that's part of the problem in this thread, people have different conceptions of what situations we're talking about. What you said you would do is exactly what I said I would do, the only difference is that I see most of these situations as someone being condescending and you don't.

[QUOTE="theone86"]

What, it's insane to suggest that radical evangelists exist?

I'm perfectly calm, dude.

airshocker

It's insane to suggest that every single religious person is out to get you when they say "bless you."

[QUOTE="theone86"]

[QUOTE="sonicare"] What should I say if someone wished me a Happy Earth day? That may be a good intention, but it could also have signficant geopolitical ramifications. Should I give them the finger or just say thanks? I dont drive an electric car, so it could be their way of insulting me in a snidy yet cleverly subtle way. Though I think electric cars arent as good for the environment as peopel think since their batteries can be very toxic or so I've been told. Something about cadmium.

sonicare

What, is Earth Day a religious or atheist thing or something? Do you have to own an electric car to celebrate Earth Day?

And people say I'm stretching.

[QUOTE="sonicare"]

[QUOTE="theone86"]

What, is Earth Day a religious or atheist thing or something? Do you have to own an electric car to celebrate Earth Day?

theone86

And people say I'm stretching.

[QUOTE="theone86"]

What, it's insane to suggest that radical evangelists exist?

I'm perfectly calm, dude.

airshocker

It's insane to suggest that every single religious person is out to get you when they say "bless you."

I never said that, thanks for the strawman, though. Those really make you seem pathetic.

I don't think saying "I'll pray for you" is non-hostile, especially not when you're saying it to someone whom you know is an atheist or whom you don't know is a Christian. I think it's a specifically confrontational act meant to push their beliefs. I don't go around saying "I'll consult the scientific community to request they develop a method to save you." At any rate, it's at least as confrontational than me assuming they're talking about Zeus or Thor and letting them know that.

theone86

Right, because you're not generalizing AT ALL with this.

[QUOTE="airshocker"]

[QUOTE="theone86"]

What, it's insane to suggest that radical evangelists exist?

I'm perfectly calm, dude.

theone86

It's insane to suggest that every single religious person is out to get you when they say "bless you."

I never said that, thanks for the strawman, though. Those really make you seem pathetic.