Atheist - Agnostics Retreat
A place to chill and get away from the preaching :)
- created by Philfreeeuk
Why my views are so different than many of my Christain friends.
Return to DiscussionsI am so tired of having religion shoved down my throat, but what do I say to my friends that do this ? I was born with a very fatal disease (Cystic Fibrosis) Was told at 6 y.o. I would not live to see my 18th birthday. Constantly everyday I tell myself this disease is not going to kill me. For 61 years it has worked. It has not been without much pain, and hospitalizations throughout my life. It is a very hard disease to live with. It attacks every vital organ in the body. Because of it I have, Bad lungs, type 1 Diabetes, my liver is 2/3's gone, my Pancrease does not digest my food I eat, this is the short list of the things going on in my body. I recently got out of the hospital People ask me what was wrong, are you feeling better, etc. I give them a short run down of what was going on (this time it was my lungs again) and they always end the conversation saying, "I'll pray for you" I so badly want to say please don't do that, but I can't or they would never speak to me again. My wife is a very strong believer in Jesus Christ, some times she forces me to go with her to a religious gathering, and often there will be a person there that, "through God he is going to heal me". Well if there was anything to this non-sense wouldn't you think Cystic Fibrosis patients from all over the world would be lining up to get cured. But yet she is so brainwashed she can not see it does not work. I really feel sorry for people who has let someone brainwash them to this extent. Of course when the collection plate is circulated (the preacher) reminds his followers to give generously. Why can't people see what this is about ?
Frankly, I see you as a courageous anddetermined fellow who fights the odds and pushes ahead anyway. Most of us don't have what you have working against us..... and we oftenprobably whine about petty circumstances like babies. Regarding the people praying for you....I have people praying for me all of the time, and saying "God Bless You" and "God has a plan for you", and other such stuff. I just accept it and tell them "Thank you", because underneath all of it I know they mean well and are generally nice people themselves. I don't see it as an opportunity for manning the ramparts and proclaiming my atheism. If they already know that I'm an atheist, I might gently remind them that caring for another's welfare and doing the right thing doesn't require a religion as a prerequisite !But unless it's a wedding or a funeral, I won't sit around in a church to please anybody.I have to draw the line somewhere !
Frankly, I see you as a courageous anddetermined fellow who fights the odds and pushes ahead anyway. Most of us don't have what you have working against us..... and we oftenprobably whine about petty circumstances like babies. Regarding the people praying for you....I have people praying for me all of the time, and saying "God Bless You" and "God has a plan for you", and other such stuff. I just accept it and tell them "Thank you", because underneath all of it I know they mean well and are generally nice people themselves. I don't see it as an opportunity for manning the ramparts and proclaiming my atheism. If they already know that I'm an atheist, I might gently remind them that caring for another's welfare and doing the right thing doesn't require a religion as a prerequisite !But unless it's a wedding or a funeral, I won't sit around in a church to please anybody.I have to draw the line somewhere !
Wow thanks so much for your response. Yes my views are about the same as yours, I grin and bare it. (hehe) And every Church I have went and sat to please someone else, come time for the collection plate to be passed they all remind us to open our hearts and give generously. I even went to one church that when they passed the collection plate they counted the proceeds, the pastor came back and told his congregation, The plate is going to be passed again, I am buying a new car and I want a nice car not a cheap one. (true story) Needless to say I never stepped foot in that church again. Mean while I am thinking, "to what address do they send Gods portion of the proceeds". After all the money the pastor gets is taken in Gods name.