(No offense intended, although I'm sure some will be taken. This isn't meant to belittle your beliefs ou the power of your prayers, it's meant to montrer why your prayers may offend people)
I am an Atheist. Most of toi know that. toi know that I wander around on the christianisme spot so that I can try and understand God and Christianity, even if I don't believe in it. Does my mere presence offend some people here? Does it offend anyone here that I don't like being prayed for?
Try to think about this reasonably. I'm assuming that toi don't believe in Allah, the Muslim God. Imagine that toi sat down to chat with a Muslim person, and he realised toi believed in the Christian God. Suddenly he gets very quiet and says, "I'll pray to Allah for your soul,"
How does that make toi feel? It makes ME feel as though the person offering a prayer has absolute disregard for my personal choices and beliefs. It's like he's offering something toi don't want so that toi can be saved from something toi don't want to be saved from.
I understand that you're supposed to pray for those in need. I understand that it's part of how Christians help people, but Atheists aren't in need and we don't need help. toi telling us that you'll pray for us is like me walking up to toi and saying "I know toi believe in God, but I'm going to go tell EVERYONE that God doesn't exist, on your behalf!"
"No! God exists! toi can't go around telling people he doesn't exist, on MY behalf!"
"Hey, I don't believe in God, please don't go talking to the air about saving my soul, on my behalf. It's insulting."
I'm not a bad person, I try my best to be a good person, just like toi do. I volunteer for charities, I go carolling at seniors' homes in winter, I work in soupe kitchens, why do toi think I need your prayers? Surely homeless people and people who are addicted to drugs deserve them more?
Please don't waste your prayers on a proud and happy person who just happens to be an Atheist.
I am an Atheist. Most of toi know that. toi know that I wander around on the christianisme spot so that I can try and understand God and Christianity, even if I don't believe in it. Does my mere presence offend some people here? Does it offend anyone here that I don't like being prayed for?
Try to think about this reasonably. I'm assuming that toi don't believe in Allah, the Muslim God. Imagine that toi sat down to chat with a Muslim person, and he realised toi believed in the Christian God. Suddenly he gets very quiet and says, "I'll pray to Allah for your soul,"
How does that make toi feel? It makes ME feel as though the person offering a prayer has absolute disregard for my personal choices and beliefs. It's like he's offering something toi don't want so that toi can be saved from something toi don't want to be saved from.
I understand that you're supposed to pray for those in need. I understand that it's part of how Christians help people, but Atheists aren't in need and we don't need help. toi telling us that you'll pray for us is like me walking up to toi and saying "I know toi believe in God, but I'm going to go tell EVERYONE that God doesn't exist, on your behalf!"
"No! God exists! toi can't go around telling people he doesn't exist, on MY behalf!"
"Hey, I don't believe in God, please don't go talking to the air about saving my soul, on my behalf. It's insulting."
I'm not a bad person, I try my best to be a good person, just like toi do. I volunteer for charities, I go carolling at seniors' homes in winter, I work in soupe kitchens, why do toi think I need your prayers? Surely homeless people and people who are addicted to drugs deserve them more?
Please don't waste your prayers on a proud and happy person who just happens to be an Atheist.