I just wanna say one more thing on this thread, and it's in reference to the recent responses to Neo's last comment.
Don't most of you say it's insulting/condescending when others say they will pray for you when you're going through a tough time? Or when others say God bless you?
I'm sure most people who say those 2 things mean nothing but good intentions to the people they say it to. They don't even mean it to be a criticism. And yet I've seen plenty of atheists on this site claim it's insulting and condescending. I don't see why the rule of "it doesn't matter how you interpret it, only how the person saying it meant it" does not apply in this scenario.
I also have never seen any of you accuse someone of being "too sensitive" or "too insecure" when they say they are offended when folks tell them "I'll pray for you" and "God bless you."
But if I tell you it's insulting/condensing when you equate the beliefs that I hold to those held by 4 year olds, you call me too sensitive and insecure? And that it should only matter how people meant it, not how I took it?
I have a friend who is suffering from several severe autoimmune diseases. She lives across the country. I pray for her all the time. But because she is non religious, I never tell her I pray for her. Out of respect. I never tell people "God bless you" unless I am certain they are religious.
It doesn't matter that I would mean nothing but the best with those comments. If someone is offended by them, it takes nothing from me not to say them. And so out of respect for people like yourselves, I refrain from saying them. And of course, I never accuse them of being overly sensitive.
Isn't that how you want theists to treat you? Why would you not treat us with the same sensibilities you want us to treat you with?
Don't most of you say it's insulting/condescending when others say they will pray for you when you're going through a tough time? Or when others say God bless you?
I'm sure most people who say those 2 things mean nothing but good intentions to the people they say it to. They don't even mean it to be a criticism. And yet I've seen plenty of atheists on this site claim it's insulting and condescending. I don't see why the rule of "it doesn't matter how you interpret it, only how the person saying it meant it" does not apply in this scenario.
I also have never seen any of you accuse someone of being "too sensitive" or "too insecure" when they say they are offended when folks tell them "I'll pray for you" and "God bless you."
But if I tell you it's insulting/condensing when you equate the beliefs that I hold to those held by 4 year olds, you call me too sensitive and insecure? And that it should only matter how people meant it, not how I took it?
I have a friend who is suffering from several severe autoimmune diseases. She lives across the country. I pray for her all the time. But because she is non religious, I never tell her I pray for her. Out of respect. I never tell people "God bless you" unless I am certain they are religious.
It doesn't matter that I would mean nothing but the best with those comments. If someone is offended by them, it takes nothing from me not to say them. And so out of respect for people like yourselves, I refrain from saying them. And of course, I never accuse them of being overly sensitive.
Isn't that how you want theists to treat you? Why would you not treat us with the same sensibilities you want us to treat you with?
"Of course, everyone will claim they respect someone who tries to speak the truth, but in reality, this is a rare quality. Most respect those who speak truths they agree with, and their respect for the speaking only extends as far as their realm of personal agreement. It is less common, almost to the point of becoming a saintly virtue, that someone truly respects and loves the truth seeker, even when their conclusions differ wildly."
-walsh
-walsh
