Are you annoyed when people generalize religion in public speaking?

Question

Today I went for a musical job at an RSL and there was a reef laying ceramony, afterwards there were various prayers all of which were christian. Isn't it just a bit rude to assume everyone is Christian or am I just being one of those paranoid idiots who take offence to anything slightly different?

I am atheist but was wondering if anyone ever felt the same way.

Im not offended or anything, but they could have acknowledged that it was a Christian Prayer. Oh and in response to someones silly answer : How could you know if people were atheist or muslim or whatever, it's just not possible.

Answer 1

You're absolutely right. It was totally rude. But you can either let it bother you or let it roll off your back.

My family prays all the time. Especially before they eat. Out of respect for them I don't begin eating until they've done their bit to publicly humiliate me, then I nod as they all "amen" and then we eat.

*sigh* Theists.

Answer 2

15-20 years ago, there was not this problem with different prayers. now today we have so many different views. what do you want every social place to do? before they pray, take a census and ask everyone what religion they are? this could take a long time. if you are an atheist just ignore the prayer. seems you only pray to humans and not God.
and no it is not rude to offer these kind of prayers in public.
when our president says and may God bless America should he put other god's in there also????
I don't think so!!!!

Answer 3

I absolutely feel the same way.. I'm not offended by the prayers, realizing that my religion is not the most common religion.. what offends me a bit is that I know if I spoke up with a prayer to the Goddess, many of them would be shocked and horrified. Oh well.. nothing we can do about it.

Answer 4

Amen, brother. I feel the exact same way. Most Christians act like Christianity is the official religion of the US when in fact (as I understand it) that sort of thing was exactly what the founding fathers were trying to avoid.

I don't really care myself, I guess, being agnostic...they can pray to their silly god of they want to...it's people of other religions that I feel bad for...especially Muslims, who all seem to get lumped together under the heading "terrorist" nowadays...as if Christians forget the history of their own religion...

Answer 5

Being that you claim to not believe it wouldn't have made a difference which worship was practiced. You'd have been offended anyway. Someone of a different faith could have simply respected what was going on, or walked out until it was over, or intoned with them using their own religion. It is possible to have your own and respect others as well.

Answer 6

Yes it is, very possible, you will see if the person is producing good fruit in thier lives, you won't see a Christian backsliding or lying, cussing or in activities that The Lord would not approve of, too many call themselves and don't know how to really get saved, many need to know that there is only one way to be saved, and good works is not it.

Answer 7

If the majority of the people in the community were atheist then there probably wouldnt be a prayer at all.

Wouldnt it be offensive to the majority who were probably christian to say that because there was one atheist in the room they couldnt say a prayer?

Answer 8

I personally generalize religion in the aspect that anyone who follows one is ignorant or brainwashed. I wouldn't take offense if others generalized it in another way.

Answer 9

It just feels uncomfortable being in an environment where something you don't agree with dominates everything around you. But still, we can manage, can't we?

Answer 10

Prayer doesn't offend me, as it is usually done with nothing but good intentions at heart.