What should my line be when someone says this?

[Curiositist]

Once in awhile a christian may say something to me mostly online that prompts me to let them know in one comment or another that I am not a Christian and I don't believe in all that stuff.

The most annoying response to that to me is - "I will pray for you".

What is your response when you hear this?

Please don't waste His time?
Ok then I'd like a Lexus?
I wish I could pay my therapist in those?

How do you respond to mother hen reactions?

[Qeidx]

Once in awhile a christian may say something to me mostly online that prompts me to let them know in one comment or another that I am not a Christian and I don't believe in all that stuff.

The most annoying response to that to me is - "I will pray for you".

What is your response when you hear this?

Please don't waste His time?
Ok then I'd like a Lexus?
I wish I could pay my therapist in those?

How do you respond to mother hen reactions?

I don't see all that much a problem with that as you do. I especially don't see the need to be a smartass to intentional kindness, as deluded as it may be.

However, if we're to attack them about it for no real reason, those responses you gave are fine.

[Beelzebuddy]

"I will pray for you"
I'll drink to that.

[David Swidler]

"Hey great, that's so swee - oh, I thought you said 'pay.'"

[Dessi]

The most annoying response to that to me is - "I will pray for you".

What is your response when you hear this?
"And I'll think for you!" *wink and grin*

[truethat]

Love that Dessi.

[ebardos]

"OK." Who am I to get in the way of their private crusade? As long as they keep it private.

[steve s]

"Your time would be better spent doing something constructive."

[Qeidx]

"Your time would be better spent doing something constructive."

Who are you to say what would be better use for one's time?

[Resume]

"And I'll think for you!" *wink and grin*

That's negative and provocative. Bad atheist! Bad atheist!

[David Swidler]

"Do you believe God wants us to have free will? If so, what exactly are you trying to accomplish?"

[dafydd]

Once in awhile a christian may say something to me mostly online that prompts me to let them know in one comment or another that I am not a Christian and I don't believe in all that stuff.

The most annoying response to that to me is - "I will pray for you".

What is your response when you hear this?

Please don't waste His time?
Ok then I'd like a Lexus?
I wish I could pay my therapist in those?

How do you respond to mother hen reactions?

'I would rather that you did something else if you got on your knees for me.'

[Twiler]

"Pray for what, exactly?"

[Curiositist]

"Do you believe God wants us to have free will? If so, what exactly are you trying to accomplish?"

Now that's good.......

[gnome]

Double post

[gnome]

'I would rather that you did something else if you got on your knees for me.'

:D

My serious answer: "Alright, thanks."

It's clear at that point we aren't going to change each others' mind. They genuinely think I'm headed for a bad spiritual end and don't wish that for me.

Also that comment usually means they're not planning on talking about it anymore at the time, which is often a plus, so why throw that plan off course with a remark intended to continue to engage them in disagreement, regardless of how clever it is?

I'm not worried that they'll mistakenly believe I've had a sudden change of heart. I'm just thanking them for their concern, which is a reasonably polite thing to do.

[catsmate1]

"And I'll think for you!" *wink and grin*
I've used this line on occasion.

[Qeidx]

"Do you believe God wants us to have free will? If so, what exactly are you trying to accomplish?"

The same thing someone who is about to roll and is betting on a 7 to accomplish.

[C_Felix]

I just say thanks, but, from now on, I'm gonna use the Lexus line.

[Loss Leader]

The most annoying response to that to me is - "I will pray for you".

What is your response when you hear this?


I usually say, "It's really not necessary."

[Jon.]

"If you think it will help."

[Marquis de Carabas]

Once in awhile a christian may say something to me mostly online that prompts me to let them know in one comment or another that I am not a Christian and I don't believe in all that stuff.

The most annoying response to that to me is - "I will pray for you".

What is your response when you hear this?
"Don't bother. I'm already here."

[Twiler]

"Don't bother. I'm already here."

Now that's good.

[alfaniner]

"You don't need to do that. Just forgive me."

[joolz]

That's negative and provocative. Bad atheist! Bad atheist!


I think there's a time and a place to argue, if I get the occasional religious comment in the street or from a colleague then I try and remain polite, in the OP case I'd probably reply 'if you feel it necessary' or pretend I didn't hear and change the topic, but if someone takes that too far, comes into your 'space', hassles you about it or tries to inflict anything on you then I think they deserve to receive feedback equivalent to what they mete out, eg if they come out with irrational statements then you are free to correct them.

Over the last couple of days I've been a bit of a bad atheist and replied to some people making uncalled for religious statements on a Hitchens Facebook page, extremely disrespectful I felt, and, in that context, I felt free to respond in a blunt manner. I've ended up with some delusional person trying to save my soul, emailing me a video clip warning about some guy who claims to have spent 20 minutes in hell one night. I replied with a comment about the dangers of eating a lot of cheese before going to sleep, hoping to put him off, but my 'saviour' has just replied with about 20 bible quotes and saying he really wants me to reconsider.

This is unsolicited email in my space, so, while I figure out from fb help how to block my saviour, I have no qualms being blunt and addressing him in the same way he addressed me :D

cheers

joolz

[Weak Kitten]

I usually just tell them "Alright, if it will make you feel better."

I try to never turn down kindness, even if it's of a sort that I really don't want or need. There's too little kindness in the world as it is.

[Leumas]

"And I'll think for you!" *wink and grin*


Perfect :thumbsup:

[devnull]

generally I go for "thankyou!"

[Gawdzilla]

Once in awhile a christian may say something to me mostly online that prompts me to let them know in one comment or another that I am not a Christian and I don't believe in all that stuff.

The most annoying response to that to me is - "I will pray for you".

What is your response when you hear this?

Please don't waste His time?
Ok then I'd like a Lexus?
I wish I could pay my therapist in those?

How do you respond to mother hen reactions?
"Would you pray for me if I was on fire? Or would you do something useful?"

[IMST]

Depends on context. If that's the response to me citing something, or explaining something, or generally something designed to cut off a conversation, I go with an eye roll and laughter. If it's someone's proposal for a way to 'help', I'll usually go with "I'm not sure I'm comfortable with that". Allergy to being talked about behind my back, I guess, even if no one's listening.

[rwguinn]

I think there's a time and a place to argue, if I get the occasional religious comment in the street or from a colleague then I try and remain polite, in the OP case I'd probably reply 'if you feel it necessary' or pretend I didn't hear and change the topic, but if someone takes that too far, comes into your 'space', hassles you about it or tries to inflict anything on you then I think they deserve to receive feedback equivalent to what they mete out, eg if they come out with irrational statements then you are free to correct them.

Over the last couple of days I've been a bit of a bad atheist and replied to some people making uncalled for religious statements on a Hitchens Facebook page, extremely disrespectful I felt, and, in that context, I felt free to respond in a blunt manner. I've ended up with some delusional person trying to save my soul, emailing me a video clip warning about some guy who claims to have spent 20 minutes in hell one night. I replied with a comment about the dangers of eating a lot of cheese before going to sleep, hoping to put him off, but my 'saviour' has just replied with about 20 bible quotes and saying he really wants me to reconsider.

This is unsolicited email in my space, so, while I figure out from fb help how to block my saviour, I have no qualms being blunt and addressing him in the same way he addressed me :D

cheers

joolz
^^This. Exactly correct.
A report to his ISP is also in order--or "abuse@whatever.com". I've done it, and will continue to do so.

[Wowbagger]

I've muttered under my breathe "Eh, no you won't".

Most people who say that are probably going to forget you even existed within the next five minutes.

[I Ratant]

generally I go for "thankyou!"
.
Or, "OK" works for me.

[joobz]

Use it as a chance to work on your Evita impression.
"Dont pray for me, [insert Name here]!!
The truth is i never left you.."

Be sure to gesticulate madly for maximum effect.

[epepke]

People said that when I was trying to die. (I didn't succeed.)

I didn't think a snappy comeback was indicated.

[kerikiwi]

(I didn't succeed.)



Well, we figured that out.;)

[TheRedWorm]

"As long as you're talking to god, ask him if he's cool with all the dead hookers."

[Mudcat]

"How about instead you praying that I stop exercising my free will that 'God gave me' in order to believe the same as you, you get onto praying for all the countless people dieing, living in poverty, suffering in oppression, lamenting in disease, persevering in painful agony and toiling endlessly?"

[CelticRose]

I'm a Christian and I think that the "I'll pray for you" comment as described in the OP demonstrates a "holier than thou" attitude. I don't think it's kindly meant at all.

I'm for ignoring it, but if you think a response is required quoting Matthew 7:3-5 seems appropriate.
3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+7%3A3-5&version=NIV

[slingblade]

I'm a Christian and I think that the "I'll pray for you" comment as described in the OP demonstrates a "holier than thou" attitude. I don't think it's kindly meant at all.

I'm for ignoring it, but if you think a response is required quoting Matthew 7:3-5 seems appropriate.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+7%3A3-5&version=NIV

That actually is a pretty good verse. And pretty pertinent to the thread as well. Thanks for it.

[Shankly]

It happens to me frequently - my wife's a christian and I know her church friends pray for me and they always welcome me enthusiastically on the odd occasion I accompany her to church. They're just being nice and I think it would be churlish to come out with a smart reply. If a random stranger approached me, my response might be different.

[Verklagekasper]

"I will pray for you".
"No chance, I'm already spoken for."

[Complexity]

"And I'll think for you!" *wink and grin*


Oh, I love that one!

[joolz]

^^This. Exactly correct.
A report to his ISP is also in order--or "abuse@whatever.com". I've done it, and will continue to do so.

Thanks, didn't think about the ISP, not had hassle like that before.

cheerz

joolz.

[DrBaltar]

I work in a high tech engineering firm. One programmer was about to test his program and said "let's pray this works", just as a figure of speech. Another deeply religious programmer replied "I can if you'd like". :rolleyes:

Dear Lord, we ask that if there are any errors in Joe's program that the computer will look the other way and do what is intended in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen

Of course, this would have to be added to the makefile so the program continues to work whenever it's recompiled.

[Nowhere Man]

"I will pray for you". "There ain't enough prayer in the world, sweetie."

Fred