Athiests, would you consider this offensive?

Question

I was in my Church, and after the mass I saw this young woman sitting in the back pew. And after mass I'm very polite, and I always say bye to everyone, even those I don't know by name.

Anyways, as I passed this woman I smiled and said "God bless, peace be with you", as I say to everyone else, but this woman got EXTREMELY angry with me.

She starts shouting that there is no God, and as an Athiest she finds my comment "ridiculous and offensive" and she bloody thinks I was trying to "convert her"

I was actually very shocked. I just assumed she was Christian.. and I apologized but she was still angry.

I don't think it is normal to act so strongly???
=(

I didn't make up any stories, and I do not hate athiests. I have a lot of respect for athiests.

I think its disrespectful to me if you think I make things up to try and "hate" other peoples belief systems.

I don't know what she was doing in the church.. she did not want to be there, but she was there... ???

Answer 1

There's a lot going on under the surface here...

She's an atheist, but she is in church. That shows that she's at least a seeker, but at this stage, still denying God's existence.

She sitting in the back row, which shows that she maybe wants to be in church, but maybe not, so sitting in the back row, hoping no one will notice her and she might be able to sneak out or leave inconspicuously -- and then--POW!

You greet her with love and a blessing, and she didn't know how to handle it at all -- it's not what she expected!

But you did the right thing -- because it was just what she *needed* to hear. And I wouldn't be surprised if you see her at Mass again in the near future --God is working something out in her.

Oh, and yes-- it could be normal to react so strongly, if a person has previously had a bad experience in a church.

Answer 2

It's not an unreasonable assumption to think that the people attending a christian church are Christians. If this lady was such a militant atheist, why was she in church anyway? I'm an atheist myself, but I would never take offense to what you said. I may not share your beliefs, but at least you care enough about people to be polite and acknowledge them. This atheist woman sounds like she may have some kind of emotional disturbance.

Answer 3

I think that the woman was extremely rude and that there was no excuse for her boorish behavior. She was sitting in a church! Why would you not expect her to be a believer? She clearly needs an etiquette course. What exactly was she doing in the church if she was an atheist?? I am agnostic and do not attend church, but I do know how to behave in a church and how to respond graciously to anyone greeting me kindly, regardless the actual wording of the greeting.

Answer 4

SHE obviously has some issues. While I don't "get" the whole going to church thing, if you're there, you need to play the game. I can't imagine why she struck out at you the way she did, other than she has a mental illness of some kind. From what I've seen at churches, your behavior was appropriate to the situation. I do feel sorry for that one though.

Answer 5

From the words of Shakespeare, "me thinks she protests too much!"

You have nothing to apologize for, as you were showing kindness and friendliness towards others.

I guess she's just a rude, inconsiderate slob who doesn't know anything about being gracious or saying thank you. She sounds angry and bitter, and I just pray that it doesn't give her ulcers or cancer or something from all the poison she just injected into her system from her reaction. :-(

I'm not a Chatholic like you, so I don't go to mass, but I still think you're the kind of person I would want on my side - God bless you :-)

And no - that is NOT a normal reaction! (Why was she there in the first place???)

Answer 6

Yeah, I'd say she's a real jerk, and that's speaking as a human being, not an atheist. If she doesn't want to be blessed, she should stay out of people's churches. Sounds to me like she was just looking for something to be angry about. The upshot with people like that is they always seem to find what they're looking for, but never seem to have very happy lives. Next time you should tell her you'll pray for her :)

Answer 7

What you encountered was a bonafide psycho. In my experience, atheists tend to be respectful of the beliefs of others (the really angry ones might need a little therapy or may be closet Christians who are trying to find meaning).

It was absolutely unreasonable for a person who was inside of your church to rail on you for your beliefs. She was a guest in your church, and truthfully, what is an atheist doing in your church in the first place?

She was obviously imbalanced, I wouldn't think on it any longer.

Answer 8

I am sorry she reacted that way, i am an atheist and if i were sitting in a damn church id expect atleast a few words like that to pass my way.

i would not take offense to you doing that. i have a different point of view then you and i think she was WAY out of line be getting upset.

again im an athiest and im sorry for how she acted.

Answer 9

Shes crazy, she should have expected that sitting in a church She shouldn't have been there if shes an atheists

God Bless You

Answer 10

I am not an athiest, but I am not a christian ither. I have been in this situation though. I went to church for my father's funeral and several of the people said things like "may God give you peace" and several asked to pray for me and my family, although I don't belive the same things they do, I was "in their house" so to speak so I graciously thanked them for their concern and took it as what it was, someone being concerned for my family's wealfare and sending positive energy my direction. I think that most mature people who are in a religous setting react simmilarly to the way I react to it and I think the person you encountered is the one who makes the rest of us look bad. besides, when most of us non-christians do go to a church service for whatever reason, we tend to keep our opinions to ourselves so as not to be asked many questions and to not provoke arguments and negitive feelings (besides most of us don't want to be converted) I think the person you encountered really needs some attention for some reason, they may be so lonely that they created the situation just so someone would talk to them.
hope that helps :)