Atheists: A question about prayer and religion in general.?
Does prayer bother you? If so what is it? Is it the idea of people talking to something/someone that you don't believe exists? Does it annoy you when we see people in governmental offices pray or hold events for prayer like the National Day of Prayer?
Does a particular faith bother you more than others? I know some believe certain faiths are more pushy than others.
Please be polite as I am just trying to get opinions/thoughts. Thanks!
Thor is a loving God Too.2011-10-14T20:19:47Z
Favorite Answer
"Does a particular faith bother you more than others?"
Only the intolerant ones bother me and Christianity is at the top of that list. You guys stick your noses in other people lives and it's not appreciated. I couldn't care a less if you talk to yourself (pray). If you think that prayer is the problem you aren't paying attention. What do you want to hear? Your religion paints atheists as the wicked dregs of humanity (you know damn well the Bible is full of derogatory verses regarding non believers), so isn't that enough on it's own? Do you really think we should welcome with open arms a belief system that teaches we are "filthy, corrupt, despicable, abominations, fools, none that doeth any good, wicked, evil....? You religion is disrespectful and so are all the Christians that treat atheists according to what the Bible says about them.
Prayer only bothers me when it's state-sponsored. I don't think it's appropriate for a secular government to engage in religious observances before meetings or anything like that. If it's a couple government officials praying in an office or something, fine, but I'm really sick of the US government acting like Christian rituals are somehow secular just because the US is primarily Christian.
Christianity bothers me more than most other faiths, because it's the pushiest in the US. Christianity has also hindered scientific progress, and it's the main reason why same-sex marriage is not yet legal. I'm irritated by how intent many Christians are on injecting their beliefs into matters of public policy.
When people pray they are out of touch with how life works. Poor starving people, ill people pray everyday and die. Because prayers simply does not work. Comedian George Carlin suggested praying to Joe Pesci had a higher success rate than praying to God. Watch the youtube clip, very funny. The conversation people have with a supernatural Gods may make some people feel good inside. But prayer often seems selfish and silly. If there is an all powerful God, he is not all loving. If there is an all loving God, he is not all powerful. As of now no Gods have actually been proven to exist.
Any religion that suggests others are hell bound bothers me. This statement is divisive and hateful. There is no place for it in the modern world.
It sometimes does bother me. Not so much because its a religious expression that I don't believe in, but because when people do it, they really seem to be talking to one another. They are all thinking about what wonderful hing they are going to say to impress others or say something they believe will encourage others. At that point it's not praying.
People are praying just to hear one another talk. How long would people pray together, in public, if they were not talking out loud but doing so quietly?
When politicians do it, it seems worse. Then it really seems like they are playing the prayer card to attract attention and support. At some point it seems like a tool to influence people more than an attempt to communicate with god.
Prayer doesn't bother me as long as it's personal and private. I understand that people need to seek comfort in any way that works for them, and if prayer gives you peace and comfort, I'm not opposed to it. When I'm in a really dark place or I need some peace I go into my closet and meditate, sometimes I even talk to myself to try and work things out. It's the same idea with prayer.
It bothers me a when government officials pray if it's and official ceremony, or something with regards to government because our country believes in separation of Church and State. To be honest it would bother me a lot less if ALL religions were present in public prayers, but it seems the ones I'm familiar with only the Christian faith is represented. Our First Amendment gives us the freedom of religion, meaning any religion, not just the Christian one. So all religions should be represented, not just one. (Then I would be less offended.)
Christianity bothers a lot more than most (if not all) other faiths. They seem to want to tell people how to live their lives, what should be taught in schools, what we can watch or read or study. I have no problem with religion if they keep to themselves, it seems like Christianity just can't do that. They seem to want everyone to believe in the same god they do without considering what it would be like for someone else, or if it was another religion pushing their faith on them, into their schools, government, bedrooms, etc.