when a christian says that they will pray for an Atheist's soul, do you find it to be a gesture of goodwill/friendship, or arrogance?
2007-09-14 13:17:48 · 25 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
geez, what? is there a bunch of school marms on here or what? sorry about the friggin apostrophe!
hey ed! good to see you!
2007-09-14 13:34:52 · update #1
Hello Christ say: It is either misplaced condescesion or arrogant ignorance. Choose now!
2007-09-14 13:37:06 · answer #1 · answered by Hello Christ 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Pray for your soul is rather rude, especially when you are nothing but a stranger to them.
If you are going through a hard time and a *friend* says they will pray (without the "for your soul" part)...even if you don't believe in it, that can still be recognized as a kind gesture.
2007-09-14 20:33:58 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are Christian, the soul is very dear to them... a matter of fact something that these people live for. That is some of their biggest focuses... serving God to ensure their souls are taken care of. If they are taking time and energy with their lives to concentrate on your soul that they are concerned for... how can that be arrogant? I took it as a compliment
a former atheist
2007-09-14 20:28:21 · answer #3 · answered by Steve G 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I find it to be a gesture of goodwill in their own minds. I understand their intent, but based on my own beliefs I can't really receive that intent with warm feelings.
Any time a person sincerely hopes and prays for another to abandon his or her own beliefs and accept the other's own rigid notions, that hoping and praying comes off as arrogant.
2007-09-14 20:23:57 · answer #4 · answered by Buying is Voting 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I think it's actually a little of both. They are so convinced that they have the answer in Christ, and well, maybe they do (but they just don't seem to get that we all have our own answers). They really want to share that great "feeling" they have with us, but at the same time there is this sense that we (those who believe differently) are somehow in the clutches of Satan.
2007-09-14 20:26:14 · answer #5 · answered by Gretta 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Arrogance.
2007-09-14 20:23:50 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Both, depending on the situation. Sometimes it is in good will, but usually it is complete, utter arrogance. In those cases, I respond, "And may the flying spaghetti monster bless you with his noodly appendage."
They usually get the drift. But some won't stop preaching at me.
2007-09-14 20:24:19 · answer #7 · answered by Dalarus 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I don't really care one way or another. They can pray about me to a moldy orange for all I care as it won't make any more difference then praying to a god. It just doesn't matter.
2007-09-17 10:45:40 · answer #8 · answered by Lilith 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It insults me as well. uranus. It's like a black guy trying to buy a white guy a do rag or something. Or a gay man setting up a straight man with a man. Or... justing being purely stupid! yeah that works.
2007-09-14 20:26:07 · answer #9 · answered by Frozen 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
THERE SHOULD NEVER BE AN APOSTROPHE IN A PLURAL UNLESS IT IS AN ACRONYM OR IN THE POSESSIVE.
And I find it pretty insulting, but I find those that reply 'I'll think for you' even more arrogant.
2007-09-14 20:25:07 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋