Atheists, so we've heard why you get angry when a Christian tells you?

Question

"you're going to burn in hell".....which is rude in and of itself-- (and I agree-although I disagree that their intentions is to have you suffer in enternity--but rather their concern for you-) so how does it make you feel then if/when a Christian would say "God Bless you"? Is that offensive? (I am not talking about the Bible Banging stalkers--just the average Joe)--you know like when you sneeze.......or if they do find out you're an atheist and they tell you, I understand --but would you mind if I say a prayer for you anyway?

Answer 1

Nope, not offensive to me.
I don't even mind it when people say they will "pray for me".
It's nice. At a minimum, it means people are having good thoughts about me.

Answer 2

'god bless you' to a sneeze for most people is pure reflex, devoid of any meaning. I don't hold this against anyone.

If I tell a friend who happens to be Christian that I'm having a rought time of life or need something, and my friend sincerely says, "Hey, i'll pray for you..." I understand the show of support it as meant as and I'll kindly thank them.

However, if someone finds out I'm an atheist, yells, "you're going to hell... I'll be praying for you..." Then I would take it offensively. They're not praying for my betterment, they're sucking up to the deity they believe in hoping I'll get smited (smote?) somehow. Terribly unchristian or any other religion for that sake.

It's all about context.

Good will is met with good will.
Ill will is met with ill will.

Answer 3

I don't fine either offensive.
There is no logical reason for there to be a hell other than the hell we make of our own lives, so I am not concerned by meaningless statements.

"God bless you" is just a Christian's way of saying I wish you well. Again, not offensive.

I suppose I could take offense by what people say to me, but that would be more indicative of my own failings than a reason to think less of the person who spoke to me.

Answer 4

I don't mind........prayer is just a way of hoping for the best and wishing people good luck. Saying "god bless you" is also a Theist way of wishing people good luck.

The hell thing does get annoying though. I don't walk up to Christians and say, " you know there is no heaven so when you die you'll just rot in the ground", all I ask for is the same courtesy.

Answer 5

I find it offensive only when it's clear that it was intended to offend. The rest of the time, I just think it's a little strange.

I sometimes wonder how Christians would feel if someone offered to appeal to the Goddess for them with the same frequency.

Answer 6

lol it depends :) If it's after a sneeze, no problem. I see it as part of our language and not a big deal. If it's said in sincerity, again I have no problem with it.

If however, it follows insults as it so often does on here, they might as well be saying "fu*k you".. because that's exactly how I read it.

Same with prayer. On here, for example, if the person is posting hateful trash and rudeness, and then in comes the condescending "I'll pray for you".. I hear "I'll pray for you, but only to make myself feel superior to you, atheist scum"

Context. It's all about context.

Answer 7

If Atheists knew what God's Blessing consist of then they would be so glad that they would probably say Praise God!
They take God's blessings as some sort of curse often, when it is all good things.

Answer 8

"God bless you" in response to a sneeze is a colloquialism, nothing more. I say, "Gedneahnya" and people think I'm speaking a different language and they say thank you... it's just quick speak for "Get any on you?"

I really don't care... they're being polite and it's not a real blessing, so there's nothing to get upset about. I just say "thank you" and continue with what I was doing.

Answer 9

I fail to make certain what income such question could carry approximately. if your objective is to mock human beings of the Christian faith by utilising asking this question then the comparable could desire to be accomplished to Atheists by utilising turning the tables, could desire to it no longer? a huge form of human beings without faith in God pick to disclaim His existence and all of His impression with no need any significant awareness of what God fairly is and what the Christian doctrine contains of. Many atheists have faith that God is a bearded guy with a white gown that sits in "Heaven" controlling our lives, yet this would possibly not be farther from the reality. I propose which you first learn the merchandise of your hatred until eventually now you ridicule or reject due on your loss of understanding. that's fairly a chuckle and disheartening how adult adult males with their very constrained applications, the two morally and intellectually make certain that they know sufficient to bypass against their author. My wish is that those blinded by utilising what's textile will quickly understand that technology is in simple terms the learn of a universe gifted to us by utilising God and that lots of its mysteries won't be able to and is in simple terms no longer measured by utilising the actual potential available to us for an exceedingly long term.

Answer 10

It depends on how they say "god bless you". Sometimes it can be taken as a insult, something akin to say ing "f**k you". But when most normal people say it, its either because they are christian and mean it with a good heart, or that "god bless you" has become ingrained in our society as what you say when somebody sneezes.

As for them telling me that they will pray for me. Depending on my attitude at the time, it would range from "ok." to "Sure, its your life. It won't do any good though."

Answer 11

Maybe we need a new secular response to a sneeze. For a while I tried say "salut" (basically Spanish for "good health"), and I actually had a few people say "thank you" then ask me about what I had said; it was nice.

How about if we say "defib" instead? Originally we said "bless you" when someone sneezed because their heart stopped.