Am I being too much of a Jerk when I do this?

Question

Everytime my friend Amy say's something like "Praise Jesus" or she attributes something that happens to her to god. Ex. "God showed me that I was being too prideful so he caused me to wreck my car to teach me a lesson." I mock her by saying things like "Thank Zeus that I made it to work safe"....or "I had a really bad headache and I prayed to Zeus and it went away." she gets mad at me but I tell her that when she can prove to me that Zeus didn't take away my headache then I will stop saying it. I personally think that all atheists should start doing it because like Thomas Jefferson says "Ridicule is the only weapon against unintelligible propositions".

Answer 1

Im an Atheist and I think its kinda mean....I mean your never gonna educate her that way.....

Answer 2

Nope, I think you are being perfectly rational. She wants to thank some mysterious invisible superbeing for everything good that happens in her life.. fine. But let's have a level playing field, shall we? Why cannot YOU praise an equally invisible superbeing for what good stuff happens to you?
All the arguments and all the protests in the world do not change the fact, that she cannot prove to you that her "God" has had the slightest thing to do with that event in her life, any more than she can DISPROVE the existence of Zeus, or vice versa.
It's why FAITH is called "faith". It's what we call belief in anything that cannot actually be proven - and I am not talking about proven to the person who already believes it - because that person doesn't need proof. I'm talking about being able to demonstrate to somebody who doesn't believe in that particular thing in a way that is clear, incontrovertible, unarguable, indisputable and beyond all possible denial. Can't do that with "God" any more than anybody can DISprove Zeus. LOL.

Answer 3

I see the point that your making but its never okay to mock God. In my opinion your friend is being religious. Everything does happen for a reason but God also gave us common sense. And a lesson in humility shouldn't be learned after a car accident. People that say Praise the Lord all the time, sometimes say it just to seem extra deep and that sort of thing, There isnt anything wrong with saying Praise Jesus just as long as your really praising Him with your heart and not just your lips.

Answer 4

While, I believe, attributing to God unfortunate accidents is wrong, I think she isn't going about discussing religion with you in the proper way. She really should not be getting angry with you, for, she is showing you her religion and as she does so, you show her your religion, or lack thereof. You could explain this to her. Also, she may not realize that the belief in Christianity does not necessarily force out the belief in other spiritual beings, like the one you mocking refer to "Zeus", but only that the God she attempts to understand and call on is above all other being, that she not call on others, as this is a disrespect for His position.

May you be blessed with a true miracle that you believe.

Answer 5

If she knows you're joking then laugh together and go on but if not and it truly hurts her feelings I would stop. Is she someone you care about? I'm sure you've had someone pick on you and your beliefs sometime in your life. I'm sure you didn't like how that felt. Try to remember how it feels and then try never to be the person that makes someone feel that way. If you truly care for her as a friend maybe you could talk to her about not discussing religion since you can't agree.
Love & Light
Sharon
One Planet = One People

Answer 6

So I guess you'll end up with only Atheist friends after you get done ridiculing all your other "friends". I can understand it's annoying when they Constantly say things like that and to make fun of it from time to time. But if you ridicule constantly, then you'll only prove you're not much of a friend.

Answer 7

When she says these things she is just telling you how she feels and what she believes in. I am sure she understands that you are simply mocking her and in my opinion it is wrong of you to do so. If you want to be closed minded and don't want to be friends with someone who believes in something you don't then just leave her alone and go hang out with a bunch of clones of yourself. Tell me how much you would enjoy that? Just learn to appreciate her beliefs and that she is different than you or get lost.

Answer 8

It's not a very subtle or respectful way of making a point, even if the point is valid. It might make her think about her faith, but it's more likely to just irritate her and make her think all atheists are jerks. If you believe in freedom of religion, don't you think it would be better to respect her right to believe as she chooses?

Answer 9

Yes, she may wholeheartedly believe in God - Do you worship Zeus? If you don't, you can't use him as an example. Try saying thank Bayer or Execedrin that my headache is gone! :)

"They mock what they don't understand"

Answer 10

Well, my first instinct is to do exactly what you're doing. But honestly, sometimes it's best to just let it go. Unless she's doing something that's going to negatively impact the world, it's easier to just let her be what atheists would call "delusional."

Answer 11

"Prideful", eh? Hasn't gotten to "proud" in reading and spelling yet?

Honestly, you're only doing it to be a jerk, right? So there's your answer. However, it's no different than what she says, so carry on my wayward son.