It's hard being atheist in a room full of Christians.

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BladeoftheImmortal

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One of my friends here in China was diagnosed with leukemia. I went to go visit her the other day, and there were other friends there as well. When I left the room to use the restroom, they had started praying and when I came back they were mid prayer.

I just kinda stood near the door watching. A rather awkward situation. How do you deal with this kind of thing?

I didn't debate or anything like that, didn't give any of my feelings. She's got leukemia AMD this obviously makes her feel better, so I'm not going to do anything about it.

But still an awkward thing to come back to the room to.
 
Big deal, you had to be present when other people were kindly and non-intrusively expressing their beliefs.

Sorry, there's a lot more awkward shit you can get as an atheist. This registers as basically nothing.
 
It's not really that big of a deal. Feel awkward for a bit and forget about it. People are more important
 
Is it really that hard to just not do anything? Why do atheists on gaf make such a big deal out of these things? And plus, It doesn't seem like they even asked you whether you were an atheist or not so it would be equally awkward if you were a christian who came in and interrupted their prayer
 
Sounds like OP is a dickhead. Just let them go man, is your friend athiest?

Will the pray of others comfort them and let them know others are caring and thinking about them even if there's absolutely no medical reason to do so?

Oh no, someone doing religion around me, better say something.
 
BladeoftheImmortal said:
One of my friends here in China was diagnosed with leukemia. I went to go visit her the other day, and there were other friends there as well. When I left the room to use the restroom, they had started praying and when I came back they were mid prayer.

I just kinda stood near the door watching. A rather awkward situation. How do you deal with this kind of thing?

I didn't debate or anything like that, didn't give any of my feelings. She's got leukemia AMD this obviously makes her feel better, so I'm not going to do anything about it.

But still an awkward thing to come back to the room to.
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I've been there. You did the right thing bout making a drink and you did the right thing not joining in.
 
Must have been soul crushing watching them pray and not force you to join.

It wouldn't kill you to pretend. It would make them feel better.
 
sorry you felt awkward when your friends sitting in the hospital with leukemia and she's getting some sort of comfort in a very difficult time.
 
I don't see the problem. If they aren't hurting your friend then whatever. Maybe they themseles receive some mental comfort from it.

(saying this as a fellow atheist)
 
Lol, why am I a dickhead? I said I didnt do anything. I just stood there and didnt interrupt. Some of you need to learn to read the OP.


Doesn't make it not awkward. what made it awkward is that they didnt wait for me to get back before starting.
 
Soka said:
To show support for her in a manner which makes her feel better?



I agree strongly.
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Would you expect a Christian to deny the existence of god to placate a room full of atheists? Like say someone was dying because of an overdose they took to kill themselves, and the atheists were comforting each other by saying at least their suffering is over.

I would expect a Christian who believes people go to heel of that kill themselves to stay quiet too.
 
Find atheist friends? Or, just go with the flow? It's the same shit when people talk about stuff that doesn't interest me.
 
BladeoftheImmortal said:
One of my friends here in China was diagnosed with leukemia. I went to go visit her the other day, and there were other friends there as well. When I left the room to use the restroom, they had started praying and when I came back they were mid prayer.

I just kinda stood near the door watching. A rather awkward situation. How do you deal with this kind of thing?

I didn't debate or anything like that, didn't give any of my feelings. She's got leukemia AMD this obviously makes her feel better, so I'm not going to do anything about it.

But still an awkward thing to come back to the room to.
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So they waited till you had left to start in on prayer? Sounds like they are being more considerate than you.
 
chertipros said:
Is it really that hard to just not do anything? Why do atheists on gaf make such a big deal out of these things? And plus, It doesn't seem like they even asked you whether you were an atheist or not so it would be equally awkward if you were a christian who came in and interrupted their prayer
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Just bow your head and think of Nintendo or whatever.
 
It was pretty awkward at dinner with some family friends once when the topic turned to religion and the (Sikh) Father basically started saying things like "It doesn't matter what faith you have, as long as you have one. I could never trust somebody who didn't have a faith". You just deal with it though. Being an atheist at a catholic high school meant you learned to just go with the flow and not make a fuss pretty fast.
 
how terrible an ordeal for you, BladeoftheImmortal, to have had to have gone through.

I'm not sure I would call it awkward, because it's not like they were sacrificing a goat or anything. but I do understand that it may have been an unusual thing for your eyes to be set upon.

was it really that bad?
 
Fiction said:
I've never been a Christian.

But I always am respectful when other people pray. I stand and be silent, it's not like they have to know I'm not actually praying. If it makes people feel better, why not? It's not like I am compromising my morals by making folks feel good.
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Listen to this man, heart of gold.
 
Those selfish assholes should have respected your lack of belief and told the cancer patient his exact odds of survival according to the latest medical research.
 
As a Christian I can say you did the right thing in not praying in some pretense like some are suggesting. That would be an odd thing to do.
 
MC Safety said:
Just bow your head and think of Nintendo or whatever.
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image.php

umm..... okay? Not sure what that has to do with this?
 
In that situation, I'd just bow my head in an attempt to be respectful. I'm not praying, but that doesn't matter. What you did is also fine.
 
BladeoftheImmortal said:
I didn't do anything. Doesn't make it not weird to go to the restroom then come back to a room full of people praying.
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Its only weird because you made it weird. I'm not an atheist but I don't pray before every meal, whenever I am with someone or a group of people that do, I respectfully not eat until they are done, no big deal.

What does it matter that they were praying? Do you expect them to ask you if its ok? Or if you would leave the room? They probably didn't give a single shit if you are an atheist given their friend/family member has cancer.
 
OP this isn't the time to be debating/thinking whether it's awkward or not you need to be there for your friend.

The praying part is normal among religious people I don't see nothing unusual, just be there for your friend.
 
Fiction said:
I've never been a Christian.

But I always am respectful when other people pray. I stand and be silent, it's not like they have to know I'm not actually praying. If it makes people feel better, why not? It's not like I am compromising my morals by making folks feel good.
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This dude right here knows what he's talking about. Thanks man.
 
Well, this is backfiring, isn't it.

I am, of course, sorry that you suffered through that few seconds or whatever as you stood silently by the door. It was hard, but what doesn't kill you, you know.
 
jchap said:
Those selfish assholes should have respected your lack of belief and told the cancer patient his exact odds of survival according to the latest medical research.
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Is that the only two choices at hand? Pray to X or to inform him when he will likely die?
 
No because they started praying while I was away and didn't wait for me to get back...so I walked in on everyone with their eyes closed midprayer somewhat interrupting it.

So it was a little awkward...


edit: it's a forced backfire. I said I did nothing, and didn't interrupt. some people just want to try and make a thread backfire when there is no reason for it.
 
BladeoftheImmortal said:
Lol, why am I a dickhead? I said I didnt do anything. I just stood there and didnt interrupt. Some of you need to learn to read the OP.
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You weren't a dick at all. You stood their silently/respectfully as they did their thing. There was no need for you to jump in, that's silly. You didn't start mocking them or asking them what the fuck they were doing. You did well, nothing awkward or dickish about it.
 
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