Religion

No Vested Interest

(5,300 posts)

17. Your action in this situation sounds appropriate.

Mon Oct 21, 2013, 02:41 AM

Oct 2013

I believe the minister should have just smiled at the woman, or said something like, 'All right" or "I understand" and gone about his business of offering a prayer.
He should not make the family uncomfortable. They likely knew the neighbor's views on religion.
Being a clergyman, he likely is used to what he considers proper respect and to people acquiescing in his request.
A seasoned clergyman knows there are all kinds of people with all kinds of views and is flexible enough to handle.

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The struggle with a virtuous atheist [View all] rug Oct 2013 OP

The headline is a nice tease :D intaglio Oct 2013 #1

This line was a nice pivot. rug Oct 2013 #2

The pastor sounds a bit petty to be preoccupied by this. PotatoChip Oct 2013 #3

Seems like all she did was edhopper Oct 2013 #4

Did you miss this part of the OP? PotatoChip Oct 2013 #5

As he stared at her edhopper Oct 2013 #6

Where does it say that he stared at her? (nt) PotatoChip Oct 2013 #7

My reading of his story edhopper Oct 2013 #9

So he thought it was "awkward" that she didn't bow her head Mariana Oct 2013 #19

I think context plays a roll in this as well el_bryanto Oct 2013 #8

I don't see where she objected to the prayer edhopper Oct 2013 #10

Maybe she was grieving too Lordquinton Oct 2013 #21

It's great that he was able to confront his own prejudices and see her for who cbayer Oct 2013 #11

After reading the entire piece... rexcat Oct 2013 #18

Perhaps the good pastor should revisit Matthew 7:1-5. Gore1FL Oct 2013 #12

When people pray where I am, I'm simply silent MineralMan Oct 2013 #13

That's nice. rug Oct 2013 #14

Thanks, rug. MineralMan Oct 2013 #15

No one's ever noticed me not bowing my head at all. AtheistCrusader Oct 2013 #16

It happens. Mariana Oct 2013 #20

Your action in this situation sounds appropriate. No Vested Interest Oct 2013 #17

Thanks. At a recent Lutheran funeral, I did as I usually do MineralMan Oct 2013 #22

It can split up families. Manifestor_of_Light Oct 2013 #23