Ex-Christians

[TaraJo]

I used to be a Christian. I was born into a Catholic family and baptised as a baby, just like all good Catholic families do. Raised in church, went to CCD (I wish I remembered what that stood for) and all that. Stopped going about when I was 10 or so, partially because my dad got a job where he had to work Sundays quite a bit and partially because he was sick of the rest of the people at church telling him he's evil because he thinks Regan sucks.

Later on, I was 15 or so and I reignited my faith. I had a highschool girlfriend who was kinda religious, so I got into it and everything. Switched to Baptist, largely because I felt Catholicism was too ritualistic for me. And, yeah, got baptised again.

I think what stuck with me through all that time was that I never bothered to question whether god exists. God existing was always a given. Then, when I was 21 I had a painful, personal tragedy which I couldn't rectify with the belief in a loving, compassionate God. I searched for answers and the Bible had none for me. While I was searching for answers, I found some online atheist sites ad the rest is history. It became easier for me to accept the unfairness in the world if I lost my belief in an all-powerful, compassionate being.

On an interesting note, I think my boyfriend has been flirting with atheism. It's actually common for Mormons, when they leave the LDS church, to become atheists. The Mormon church specifically tells them that if they aren't true, no church is true. Kinda helps open their mind to the idea that no church is true.

[Lion IRC]

I dont think it's necessary.

I'm glad to hear that. Unfortunately, many of your fellow Christians don't feel the same way.

Let me rephrase the question. Why do you think so many other Christians feel that it's necessary? I realize the question is speculative, I'm just looking for your opinion.

I dont think it's necessary for any Christian to tell the person they are praying for them. But neither is it necessary to keep it a secret.
IOW - its optional.

But if a person specifically said please dont pray for me and I dont want to know when you are and you make me sad/angry/annoyed by doing that, then I personally would stop praying for such a person.

I cant think of any scriptural basis to impose upon someone in that way. Even if it was against their will and ''for their own good'' (an exorcism?) its still hard to imagine how telling the person makes any difference.

The prayer, after all, is between me and God.

But TNmusicman was NOT imposing anything on anyone and I know he was acting with good will.

[Dee Dee Ramone]

Telling someone you pray for them is like telling someone you think of them when masturbating.

It's nasty. Don't do it.

[overlord fombax]

I don't have a problem with anyone praying for me to get better. It's praying for me to BE better that pisses me off.

[Ryantology]

Christians should dress in loincloth and do ritual dances. It's just as effective as prayer and would be a lot more entertaining.

[Kirbmarc]

It's just as effective as prayer and would be a lot more entertaining.

It depends on the kind of Christians you are talking about.

[Faith No More]

Yeah...I don't want to see this guy in a loincloth.

[Ryantology]

: (

[Cyberman]

Yeah...I don't want to see this guy in a loincloth.

Looking at that picture, you can tell he's thinking of you in a loincloth.

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Separated at birth?

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(For anyone who doesn't know, that's the late Edward Sinclair playing the immortal rôle of the Verger, Maurice Yeatman, in Dad's Army.)

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[Tnmusicman]

I used to be a Christian. I was born into a Catholic family and baptised as a baby, just like all good Catholic families do. Raised in church, went to CCD (I wish I remembered what that stood for) and all that. Stopped going about when I was 10 or so, partially because my dad got a job where he had to work Sundays quite a bit and partially because he was sick of the rest of the people at church telling him he's evil because he thinks Regan sucks.

Later on, I was 15 or so and I reignited my faith. I had a highschool girlfriend who was kinda religious, so I got into it and everything. Switched to Baptist, largely because I felt Catholicism was too ritualistic for me. And, yeah, got baptised again.

I think what stuck with me through all that time was that I never bothered to question whether god exists. God existing was always a given. Then, when I was 21 I had a painful, personal tragedy which I couldn't rectify with the belief in a loving, compassionate God. I searched for answers and the Bible had none for me. While I was searching for answers, I found some online atheist sites ad the rest is history. It became easier for me to accept the unfairness in the world if I lost my belief in an all-powerful, compassionate being.

On an interesting note, I think my boyfriend has been flirting with atheism. It's actually common for Mormons, when they leave the LDS church, to become atheists. The Mormon church specifically tells them that if they aren't true, no church is true. Kinda helps open their mind to the idea that no church is true.

Thank you for your reply. I appreciate you taking the time to share a bit of your story.

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Telling someone you pray for them is like telling someone you think of them when masturbating.

It's nasty. Don't do it.

Sorry,as a Christian it's part of what we do. It's not meant as an insult and I'm sorry it's taken that way but I won't cower to another persons wants when it comes to my spiritual beliefs because I honestly believe in the power of prayer .

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I'm glad to hear that. Unfortunately, many of your fellow Christians don't feel the same way.

Let me rephrase the question. Why do you think so many other Christians feel that it's necessary? I realize the question is speculative, I'm just looking for your opinion.

I dont think it's necessary for any Christian to tell the person they are praying for them. But neither is it necessary to keep it a secret.
IOW - its optional.

But if a person specifically said please dont pray for me and I dont want to know when you are and you make me sad/angry/annoyed by doing that, then I personally would stop praying for such a person.

I cant think of any scriptural basis to impose upon someone in that way. Even if it was against their will and ''for their own good'' (an exorcism?) its still hard to imagine how telling the person makes any difference.

The prayer, after all, is between me and God.

But TNmusicman was NOT imposing anything on anyone and I know he was acting with good will.

Thank you,Lion. I appreciate your comment and I guess it's true that if I tell someone once that I'm praying for them and they ask me not to then perhaps I should stop praying for them. The only reason I might continue is if the person in question was struggling with their faith rather than being fairly sure their position is the correct one but that's obviously not the case here.

Thank you again for your comment.

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I haven't been on in 3 weeks.

Exactly. I understand if you wanted to continue your thread, but to be honest, after reading through all the pages, it was not a nice thread. It had derailed badly. Wouldn't it have been wiser to just let it be, partake in another discussion or start a new one, instead of continuing the vitriol and flipping people the finger? Does a grudge need to be carried for three weeks over an internet discussion?

Except the issue that was is no longer an issue. I blocked Cinjin and the other folks that had asked questions I wanted to answer or comment on so I don't think I could do that by starting a new thread. Quite frankly, I'm still very interested in hearing replies to the original question. Perhaps once the other comments are addressed ill start a new thread.

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Do you have any idea how many people on here hurl insults at me for far less than What Cinjin has said?? Geez,I got attitude after my first post just because someone thought I should have introduced myself. Does anyone else on here care that the Christian gets insulted at a far more offensive level?? Of course not. Institute a mandatory "online rule" about it and hold EVERYONE to it !! BTW,THIS IS CINJINS SIG: If something I said offended you ... you should probably go somewhere else. Practice what you preach!

You missed my point, which is that any insult hurled at you pales in comparison to "I'll pray for you."

Not in MY opinion but thank you for informing me of this prayer issue. I can't imagine WHY it's so offensive but whatever...you guys have your thing. However, when I say it I'm not being offensive and I'm not going to change my general course of action because someone wants me to. I don't want to be insulted either but I doubt anyone will cool it with the insults just because I want them to. Geez, it's the epitome of insult when I get called deluded or illogical but this forum is filled with such insults. Is my feelings about insults any less important than someone else's ??

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You could be very well right. The study of the effects of prayer never have been my priority.

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I think the issue is not that they don't know it's bullshit. It's when they are reminded that gets 'em all worked up.

And then they start praying for you, what a fucking waste of time.

But it's OUR TIME--so why do you care?

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How do you know how I meant it??

How do you know whether I care? That's right - by what I choose to share here. Similarly, what you chose to share was

It's obvious you are either not capable of or unwilling to accept responsibility for you assininedness. I expected that from you. I shall pray for you (really I will) .

Announcing an intention to pray for a person can be a well-meaning if occasionally tactless and misguided act from one person to another that they believe might appreciate the gesture - a kind of supportive hug, an assurance that they aren't on their own, that there's people willing to be there for them. On the other hand, such an announcement in the context that you used carries with it, between the lines or right up there in lights, a statement of opinion upon that person's character. Otherwise there'd be no point announcing it; you'd just do it and whatever effect it is intended to have would just happen. It's shorthand for "There is something wrong with you, something which does not match up to my own standards, and I'm going to make damn sure everyobody knows about it". More generally, it can be used as a departing pyhrric middle finger to mean "Yeah? Well, fuck you". It's the equivalent of the irritating little git in the school playground, the one who squirts water (or worse) over you and then buggers off to hide behind the teacher; in this case, the teacher represents self-righteous religious indignation.

Does that answer your question?

If I say I'm praying for you then I'm praying for you- if I'm trying to say "sod off " then I will say "sod off". I don't use the ill pray for you to imply sod off but if you think I do then okay I can't do much to change that, nor do I care to. If I have concern for my fellow man and wish to show that concern then I will try to show it but I don't typically use my spiritual ritual of prayer to wish hateful stuff upon them.
However, I rather liked your explanation until the end.

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I haven't been on in 3 weeks.

Exactly. I understand if you wanted to continue your thread, but to be honest, after reading through all the pages, it was not a nice thread. It had derailed badly. Wouldn't it have been wiser to just let it be, partake in another discussion or start a new one, instead of continuing the vitriol and flipping people the finger? Does a grudge need to be carried for three weeks over an internet discussion?

Actually,when I did the extend middle finger it wasn't from carrying a grudge. Another person made an equally asinine comment. I should not have done that though.