How is saying "bless you" or "I'm praying for you" an example of forced religion?

Question

Are liberals for or against free speech, or are they just plain psychotic nuts?

For example, read some of the posts here:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ag7XJXoyFJai5zcENGWiXqQezKIX?qid=20060706140427AAPErsY&cp=2&tp=3#all-answers

Evidently the silly leftists can define the word, "forced". Clinton couldn't define "is". Maybe it's just the short-circuit in the liberal brain: a mental disorder.

Answer 1

Liberals don't want anyone to utter anything unless it has their stamp of approval. They are free speech loving people so long as the speech you utter is what they want to hear.

We all tolerate the Cindy Sheehans of this world, but Ann Coulter for some reason utters the wrong words.

"How do you provoke a liberal? Bless them"
Would be a great bumper sticker.

Answer 2

I don't think it's forced religion, that is certainly taking it too far, but it's annoying and patronizing in SOME cases. It all depends on the context. If I sneeze and someone says "bless you," I say thank you. No big deal. But if I say something to someone like, "I don't really believe that a person can be 'saved' when they continue to sin" or "I don't know if I believe in an afterlife" and that person goes, "I'll pray for you" after the conversation has come to a dead end, it can be annoying and patronizing. Some people think they are really being a good Christian by doing so; others do it intentionally as a defense against an argument they don't agree with. It's said more as a taunt, like, "You heathen, since I can't make you agree with me, I'm going to one-up you by telling you I'm going to pray for you and there's nothing you can do to stop me." That's the impression I get when SOME say that to me.

And if you actually read the question, the phrase "forced religion" was never used. The questioner said he hated those phrases, that they were pretentious and irritating for someone to say those words to you and assume those words will have an effect on you when you don't share their beliefs. As a liberal, I'm all for free speech. I think most of us libs are. But that wasn't the point of his question. He was asking if the comments were "annoying." But as a spin doctor, you obviously tried to use the question to rile folks up... when what he said was perfectly legit. When people exercise their right of free speech, they run the risk of annoying, offending or pissing somebody off. Like you haven't ever been annoyed by something someone said. I'm possibly annoying you right now. So yeah, people have the right of free speech ... and we have just as much right to be annoyed by what they are saying and express that annoyance.

Answer 3

Are you Crazy? First of all it isn't, and second of all this is not a legitimate issue. Please show me where that was brought to court as forced religion, I think you are making things up. Just because some Yahoo said it was doesn't mean a thing, and it's certainly not a "Liberal" notion.

Also the Ten Commandments aren't Christian, they are Jewish... Jesus Christ cast out the Ten Commandments, so I guess most Christians are illiterate and can't read the Bible for themselves.

Stop using my religion for your nonsense.

Not everyone is Liberal that you don't agree with.

Answer 4

They aren't examples of forced religion. Assuming you're using the definition of "forced" that reads "to compel through pressure or necessity" or possibly "coerced," simply saying or hearing "bless you" or "I'm praying for you" has never meant a forced conversion. And, unless you're a member of the faithful (of any religion), both are only a sentiment.

And, I'm a liberal. I believe in free speech for all. However, I don't believe in being freely offensive simply because you can.

Answer 5

Saying "bless you" when someone sneezes isn't forcing religion on them.
But saying it to someone who DOESN'T sneeze is different. You might think that you're doing good for that person when you say and do those things. But in reality, you're actually putting someone in an uncomfortable position. It is like me (as a liberal atheist) saying to one of my Christian friends, "y'know, you're wrong about what you chose to believe...it's just silly, and I'm going to work really hard to convince you how blind you are." That's inconsiderate and arrogant. Who am I to tell them what they should believe? It's your choice to pray for people, just make sure they want you to. By saying "I'm praying for you" You're TELLING them that you are, and not giving them a choice. So yeah, it's kind of forcing it on someone. If you were to say, "hey, would you mind if I said a prayer for you?" You might get some people who would appreciate it, while others would say, "no thanks", that's just being respectful of others beliefs. Unfortunately, not everyone believes the same thing.

Answer 6

It is not forced religion, it is just an ignorant behavior carried out by develomentally deficient people who have control issues. That gets annoying so people try to reason with the Jesusfreaks but usually fail because they are totally brainwashed.

A little man, up in the sky... watching you...

ever see that George Carlin skit? its funny.

Answer 7

It isn't. Any more than a cross at a Korean war memorial or the 10 commandments on the wall of a court house. I don't appreciate the way we are having Atheism shoved down my throat.

Answer 8

well I'm an unusual liberal then...I will stand up for your right to say i,m praying for you or bless you as long as you will support my right to say blessed be or may Isis favor you or may Thor's protection be upon you. I do think the people who say most of those things are a little nuts...but you should be free to say them.

Answer 9

Why can't extremist christians tell the difference between someone saying "I don't like something"... and "this should be illegal"... there is a big difference...

but I guess they want everything that they don't like to be illegal.. so I can see how they could be confused when it doesn't work the same way for rational people...

Answer 10

We psyhotic nuts are for free speech, and we appreciate non-intusive people with good manners