The struggle with a virtuous atheist

[edhopper]

9. My reading of his story

(and i would like to hear her side)

I asked everyone to join me in prayer. As if on cue, everyone bowed their heads; everyone, that is, except this neighbor woman. That was awkward enough, but then she said, “No.” I thought I had misheard the woman or she had misunderstood me. Then she repeated it again, “No, I do not want to pray. I don’t believe in God.”

Why was it awkward that she did not bow? Why did that stop him from starting the prayer? If he had bowed to pray, why did he find her not bowing awkward or even have it an issue for him. As I said, I have been in similar situations. I find that atheist do not just volunteer this without being prompted. As oppose to some religious folk who like to interject God and religion into all sorts of situations.
Also, the description of her as such a good person, I seriously doubt she would just disrupt this somber occasion just to claim her atheism.

And where do you see that she found the prayer objectionable? She simply did not join in, but that was too much for the Pastor.