Tonight, after I helped a customer, she said she was going to say a prayer for me out of gratitude.

[ghostsofgiants]

I am an atheist. The kicker? I wasn't offended in the least. In fact, it made me smile. Is my atheism broken?

[Shakespeare]

1. Nope.

Just means your humanity is quite intact. :hi:

[XemaSab]

2. It's funny how hardcore Christians

are some of the few people who are truly comfortable saying thanks. :)

[Deep13]

17. Huh? What makes you think that?

I am completely comfortable saying thanks everywhere I go.

[ZombieNixon]

3. Yes, it is.

Just like mine, because I said "fucking god" many times tonight. :P

[Heidi]

4. Your atheism isn't broken, and your humanity is just fine, too.

:hug:

I'm not bothered by the prayer thing, either (though I don't hear it nearly as much here as I did when I lived in the states). :hi:

[ghostsofgiants]

8. I do tech support for an American company, so all the customers I deal with are American.

[last_texas_dem]

5. Hey, aren't you the guy who wasn't offended by

"Have a blessed day," either? Frankly, I'm outraged at your lack of outrage!

(Actually, I'm just kidding, and I'm glad her comment gave you a reason to smile. I'm an agnostic and have never been bothered by that stuff either.)

[ghostsofgiants]

7. Not only was I not offended by "Have a blessed day" I put it in my sig to annoy anyone who was, haha

[WCGreen]

6. I am very agnostic and when I was really sick a few years back,

people always tol me they prayed for me...

And it made me smile and thank them for thinking about me...

[hfojvt]

9. ZOMG, yes, you're atheism is broken

I will pray that it gets healed.

[Mojambo]

10. Always ask for a unicorn. Always.

You never know, man.

[ghostsofgiants]

11. Sage advice.

[bridgit]

12. "Oh Great Yawning Gape, send this dread-locked human a fresh penny they can use...

"...AhChopChopChowMein!!"

[Evoman]

13. Neh...your okay. I'm also an atheist, and it doesn't bother me either.

Unless its said in a very condescending way "I'll pray for you".

But thats what my dragon punch is for. A dragon punch, followed by a piercing palm strike, and finished with a haymaker.

[KG]

14. that's nice, but I'd prefer a $20 tip.

:hi:

[philosophie_en_rose]

15. No. You're still an atheist, even if people are praying at you.

:)

[canetoad]

16. Enabler. nt

[zanne]

18. No, you're not broken....

It was said in a kind way. It's when they say "I'm going to pray for your soul" that leads to thoughts of physical violence.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

19. Take it as a compliment.

Sometimes you do come across ACTUAL Christians, and they feel they are complimenting you.
Duckie

[GirlinContempt]

20. You'll be sorry when the zombies come.

[ghostsofgiants]

21. The hell I will, I've been preparing for the zombies my whole life.

[Arugula Latte]

22. Call me a curmudgeon, but I do get tired of people assuming everyone believes

in the hovering sky deity who pulls the strings for the dominant primates on this particular little planet in the vast, vast universe.

But, hey, that's just me.

[rurallib]

25. They don't assume everyone believes but that someday everyone

WILL believe because they are right.

[Critters2]

48. We don't assume any such thing.

Please don't tell me what I assume. Who are you to make such assumptions?

[Pushed To The Left]

23. No, you're just a decent human being who appreciates a kind gesture! n/t

[rurallib]

24. "Ma'am, I collect pictures of dead presidents. Maybe you have some you

could give me instead?"
I am an atheist also. I will pray for the lady who prayed for you.

[ghostsofgiants]

26. I deal with people over the phone, they can't tip me.

[Ariana Celeste]

27. haha no

I can usually tell the difference between a person who is sincere when offering a prayer, and the few who are just in your face for no other reason than to boast their Christianity. "Merry CHRISTMAS :mad:"

When it comes to those who are sincere I find it a sweet gesture.

[Ellen Forradalom]

28. Nope

It's a gift. An odd one for an atheist, but it's still a gift.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

29. i am an atheist and it doesnt offend me either.

i think its sweet

[bettyellen]

30. people have "blessed me "because i have "beautiful hair" it makes zero sense to me...

but it's happened half a dozen times.
i always say "fuck your blessing, there is no god!!"

[IntravenousDemilo]

31. Has it occurred to you that they might have been blessing you themselves, minus god?

You did say "people have 'blessed' me" after all, not that they said "god must have blessed you." Maybe they meant "I bless you for your beautiful hair." No need to be surly when you're being paid a compliment. We get so few compliments in this life that they should be treated like gold.

[bettyellen]

42. um, no because they say "god bless you". and growing up catholic, i have a sense of humour about it

and i was joking about the fuck you.
i do however think it's a silly thing for them to say. bless my hair, lol.

[ghostsofgiants]

37. Yeah, that's a reasonable response.

:eyes:

[bettyellen]

43. wow, you believed me, doh!

someone lost their sense of humour on the way to the lounge.

[ghostsofgiants]

47. Haha, my bad...

It's hard to tell when someone says something like that in a thread like this whether or not they're being serious, because a lot of people ARE serious.

[bettyellen]

51. haha, then i saw how many thought you were serious too!

although people do say god bless me for my hair - and i think these things, as i am saying thank you.

[DS1]

38. Bless your corn-flake encrusted heart

:pals:

[txwhitedove]

32. That was her way of thanking you, and you were gracious....

Kindness is always good. Her commentary doesn't make you any less of who you are, and you know that.

[ghostsofgiants]

34. Yeah, I was joking about the "Is my atheism broken?" part...

Kind of a shot at militant atheist douchebaggery.

[bettyellen]

46. see, I got it when YOU were joking....

but not when you did this:

:eyesroll:

[yellowdogintexas]

41. nothing wrong with being gracious, ever. I don't do it often enough

in my own humble opinion

[Bullwinkle925]

33. Nope. It's that person's way of saying thanks - and you are gracious to accept it.

i'm an atheist as well - it's all karma anyway.

[Crabby Appleton]

35. My sentiments exactly nt

[WildEyedLiberal]

36. No, it just means you're able to appreciate perspectives different from your own

For a very religious person, saying a prayer for someone is one of the kindest things they can do. They truly and deeply believe in a God, so saying a prayer to their God on your behalf is something that they believe will help you. If you understand where a person of deep faith is coming from, you can understand that such a thing is a kind gesture, and if that's how it's meant, then it should be taken as such.

I'm really not religious but I don't understand why people can't try harder to see with others' eyes. If someone is being kind and generous and paying you a compliment, why would it offend you? There's a big difference between someone saying "God bless you" or similar and trying to convert you. One time I was working at a bookstore and helped a Muslim couple find and order some books. When they were leaving the man told me "blessings of Allah to you" or something similar. I'm not Muslim, but I was touched that he was honoring me with what, for him, was probably a clear expression of gratitude.

[pokerfan]

39. As an atheist, it's never bothered me

I just assume it's a prayer to the Flying Spaghetti Monster.



I am reminded of a quote from Bertrand Russell:
"I was told that The Chinese said they would bury me by the Western Lake and build a shrine to my memory. I have some slight regret that this did not happen, as I might have become a god, which would have been very chic for an atheist."
The Autobiography of Bertrand Russell (1967), Chapter 8

[johnnie]

40. You've got to take what you can get brother

A prayer, good vibes, happy thoughts, sending good ju ju, wishing upon a star and all is a lot better than a kick in the nads.

[Snarkturian Clone]

44. No,

it means you are a true atheist. If you were a religion-hater, then you would be offended.

[Xipe Totec]

45. Blessed are the atheists

for they put up with a lot of crap.

[jobycom]

49. You accepted her gift in the spirit in which it was given. nt

[Critters2]

50. She was being gracious, and you were gracious right back.

It's all good!