I actually also wrote this in additional details on one of my questions, but I said this to a very religious person at work who wished me a Merry Christmas and said "Jesus be with you" - which I did not take offense to, but here is the statement:
"Merry Christmas to you, and may your god bless you as my lack of faith has blessed me."
She thought I was mocking her and said "You will burn for that".
Any thoughts on this? Would you take offense if you believed?
2007-12-20 06:12:31 · 14 answers · asked by LS 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Danke Jenny B. (thank you in german)
I hate how a lot of religious ones I run into take anything and everything I say hurtful and as mockery just because I am an Atheist.
I respect them as I would like them to respect me - wait, isn't that their golden rule? ;-)
2007-12-20 06:19:12 · update #1
so robert b - that was stupid of me to "advise" her of my lack of faith? well then it would be stupid for her to "advise" me of her faith.
so you do realize that if you feel it's ok for believers to say "god bless you" and it's not ok for us atheists to say that we would like you to be blessed by your god? what a HYPOCRITE...
2007-12-20 06:28:28 · update #2
IF I INTENDED TO HURT HER - I would have punched her in the face....
2007-12-20 06:30:03 · update #3
Crystal Dolphin - I added it because I am happy about my belief - or "lack of" I guess.. But I am very open about it, and I wanted to wish her blessings, I honestly feel blessed by my lack of faith, and I wanted her to be just as blessed. Sometimes I forget how upsetting Atheism is to others.
2007-12-20 06:39:56 · update #4
I think your reply was perfectly appropriate and respectful. See - here's the thing -- they cry when people won't say Merry Christmas, but gods forbid someone doesn't believe in their god or practice their holiday. It's a double standard. You know if you had said Happy Holidays or Merry Yule, or "Thank you but I don't celebrate" you would have been met with the same offended comment "You will burn for that!"
The only RIGHT reponse from you - in her mind - was, "Merry Christmas" and a big smile. I suspect this nonsense is going to get worse before it gets better.
2007-12-20 06:19:23 · answer #1 · answered by swordarkeereon 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
If you honestly did not take offense to her statement, then why did you feel the need to add on what you did after Merry Christmas in your reply? It seems to me that you sorta wanted to add fuel to the fire.
I don't agree with her response of "you will burn for that", but you should have known better after her initial statement that she would be offended by yours.
In the spirit of peace on earth and goodwill, what I feel this holiday season is *supposed* to be promoting, I would have simply wished her well in return and been done with it. There's more than enough hostility in our world as it is - as someone already said here - someone has to be the "bigger person".
2007-12-20 14:37:01 · answer #2 · answered by Crystal clear 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I can't believe people actually use that language "you are going to burn for that" Totally ridiculous.
I don't celebrate the pagan holiday of Christmas, for reasons other than yours, but people don't know that and wish me Merry Christmas"
I just say "Thank you" and leave it at that. No need to preach or make a statement to them at that moment. I don't say 'same to you' as I don't want to indicate I hold the same thoughts. Just plain old "Thank You" in recognition of their courtesy.
BTW: Hell is a non-existant idea in the scriputres. Death being the opposite of life - there is no consciousness after death, we are truly gone.
But Hell is a good doctrine to discern if someone is a so-called 'christian' as they have common traits, like celebrating originally pagan holidays with justification that they turned them 'christian' (by lying about the birthdate of Jesus) and also teach God dishonouring doctrines like hell fire.
2007-12-20 14:24:52 · answer #3 · answered by ? 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I guess what she meant was you made a blasphemous statement. Boy she must be a methodist!! Your lack of faith may be blessing you right now. But when you die you you cannot take any of your blessing with you.
2007-12-20 14:22:39 · answer #4 · answered by J R 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I would take offense. They were sincere in what they said to you, it seems your response was facetious.
Why not just say something nice in return? I do have to say that I think that telling you that you would "burn" was inappropriate for someone who is acting out of love for others.
Being told I would burn never created a love for God within me, being beat over the head with a Bible didn't do the trick, either. God did that for me, He drew me to Him. May He do the same for you.
2007-12-20 14:25:45 · answer #5 · answered by fmckin1 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
It is a stupid thing for you to say. You must have intended to offend her. Someone has to be the bigger person. Maybe the next person will be.
2007-12-20 14:25:34 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think the world needs to take a deep breath, count to ten, and lighten up.
2007-12-20 14:17:23 · answer #7 · answered by PROBLEM 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Some people are just very fervent in their belief. I wouldn't take her response personally.
2007-12-20 14:17:43 · answer #8 · answered by Jenny B 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I think Merry Christmas would have been enough.
2007-12-20 14:20:55 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I believe and No I would not take offense. I would question how she feels she can spew where you will spend eternity.
2007-12-20 14:18:04 · answer #10 · answered by g 3 · 6⤊ 0⤋