When some says, "I'm praying for you..." what do you say?
Feb 10, 2024 6:35:02 GMT
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Post by ShadowSouL Likes This on Feb 10, 2024 6:35:02 GMT
In other words, I'm throwing their feces right back at them.
Applies to a lot of other similar situations and comments.
I could say, in return, "You need prayers more than I do", but it still sounds like I am validating their belief system, and I don't. I'm not one to talk about my agnostic atheism, and I'm not trying to get anyone to change their beliefs. If I was really snarky about it, I could say, "Two hands working do more than a thousand clasped in prayer." I'm just tired of Christian's assumptions that everyone is a Christian, and that prayer works.
On a slightly different note, I think a lot of Christians say that they are praying for you is virtue signaling, as if prayer is real, when perhaps they could actually do something productive, like provide a meal or donate some clothing or offer to give the person in need a ride to the doctor's office. Something real. That is why I always offer to help in any way I can, and they tell me what would help the most.
I'm sorry, I really am kind of aggressive about this, I've just been burned by religion too many times.
I do pray and I do believe in God, just not necessarily any one religion or set of beliefs or dogma.
However, I do not see it as validating their beliefs, because they're not really sharing their beliefs with us, although ostensibly they are. What they're really doing is showing how high and mighty they are and how they're holier than us, and I'm throwing it right back at them. I'm not trying to correct them or tell them what I believe or not, but I'm doing basically what you're saying, "You need prayers more than I do," but in not so many words and as blunt as they are -- "I'm praying for you, too!"
And you're absolutely right about the virtue signaling.
And you and I are in the same boat. I've been burned by religion too many times also.
I thought I'd been careful ever since, but I've recently realized that I have to continue to be on alert and not get caught off guard or duped.