# Stupid religious Facebook friends **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 17, 2009, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558 "2009-12-17T00:03:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BrandonR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/1 "2009-12-17T00:03:13Z")
Attention religious Facebook friend: please stop posting on your wall that your pastor needs prayers because he was just diagnosed with a brain tumor. By your Christian logic, God \*wanted \*him to have that tumor (and he even planted it himself since there’s no free will, right?). Clearly God hates your pastor and wants him to die. So what good is praying going to do? Why didn’t God just prevent that tumor from developing in the first place? Would that make too much sense for your logic-lacking mind? Oh, and while we’re at it, stop publicly praising God for every positive thing that happens in your life, and praying for help whenever bad things happen. It’s nonsensical. And before anyone flips this around on me as to why I still have this person as a friend in the first place, it’s because we went to the same elementary school (a \*private \*elementary school nonetheless) together and later worked together. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/2 "2009-12-17T00:18:30Z")
We must have the same facebook friends. ---
**Author:** ![Shmendrik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Shmendrik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shmendrik)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/3 "2009-12-17T00:31:28Z")
I’m always highly amused by atheists who consider themselves experts in theology. ---
**Author:** ![sugar\_and\_spice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e8c25b/32.png) [@sugar\_and\_spice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sugar_and_spice)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/4 "2009-12-17T00:34:38Z")
They’re posting about what’s on their mind, on their own wall. Just hide them if it bothers you. Hover, click “Hide”, go on with life. ---
**Author:** ![thirdwarning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecccb3/32.png) [@thirdwarning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdwarning)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/5 "2009-12-17T00:41:45Z")
> [@BrandonR](#): > > Oh, and while we’re at it, stop publicly praising God for every positive thing that happens in your life, and praying for help whenever bad things happen. It’s nonsensical. Because of course no one should post anything that’s on their mind, or what might be important to them, on their Facebook wall. Or I guess they just shouldn’t post anything that Brandon doesn’t like. Oh, well. ---
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/6 "2009-12-17T00:58:05Z")
> [@Shmendrik](#): > > I’m always highly amused by atheists who consider themselves experts in theology. Maybe, but in my experience, atheists tend to have a wider (if not necessarily deeper) knowledge of religions than christians, and serious atheists probably have thought a lot more about the morality of the gods/religions that are popular than their believers/adherents do. ---
**Author:** ![Shmendrik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Shmendrik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shmendrik)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/7 "2009-12-17T01:36:49Z")
> [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](#): > > Maybe, but in my experience, atheists tend to have a wider (if not necessarily deeper) knowledge of religions than christians, and serious atheists probably have thought a lot more about the morality of the gods/religions that are popular than their believers/adherents do. That may be, but the points raised by BrandonR are extremely elementary points in theology which have been considered by any intelligent believer. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/8 "2009-12-17T01:55:10Z")
I really am not feeling this rant. If your friend is such a horrible person, unfriend him. If it’s just something that annoys you, hide him. And, even if prayer doesn’t work, what the heck does it hurt? Do you think the guy isn’t going to a doctor? IF anything, it helps the patient if they know people are praying for them. People remember the study that says that intercessory prayer doesn’t help if no one knows about it, but forget the one that shows it helps if you do tell them. And, really, if basic Christianity bothers (and apparently baffles) you so much, don’t become friends with Christians. Problem solved. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/9 "2009-12-17T01:56:19Z")
> [@BrandonR](#): > > And before anyone flips this around on me as to why I still have this person as a friend in the first place, it’s because we went to the same elementary school (a \*private \*elementary school nonetheless) together and later worked together. But now this person annoys you. So block them or unfriend them, or whatever it’s called. ---
**Author:** ![BrandonR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/10 "2009-12-17T02:31:52Z")
> [@thirdwarning](#): > > Because of course no one should post anything that’s on their mind, or what might be important to them, on their Facebook wall. Or I guess they just shouldn’t post anything that Brandon doesn’t like. Oh, well. Religion is a private matter, what you put on Facebook is a public matter. I don’t want to know about your religious beliefs any more than I want to know how many guys/girls you banged last night, or about fights you’re having with boyfriends or girlfriends. Facebook is clearly for posting mundane details of your life. > [@Shmendrik](#): > > That may be, but the points raised by BrandonR are extremely elementary points in theology which have been considered by any intelligent believer. Not in my experience. I’ve experienced two main kinds of religious people: fanatical people where religion is the central aspect of every single thing they do (like this Facebook friend), or “religious” people who say they believe in God (and probably genuinely believe it) but that’s where their interest ends. People in the former group have likely been taught religion since birth (and really, who would be religious if they weren’t exposed to it until he/she were capable of making intelligent decisions?) and will thusly regurgitate some illogical, canned response they learned from their preacher. People in the latter group rarely question their beliefs, and thus don’t ask or answer such questions. > [@BigT](#): > > And, even if prayer doesn’t work, what the heck does it hurt? Do you think the guy isn’t going to a doctor? IF anything, it helps the patient if they know people are praying for them. People remember the study that says that intercessory prayer doesn’t help if no one knows about it, but forget the one that shows it helps if you do tell them. I could still believe in Santa based on the logic that kids who believe in Santa are happy, but personally, I’m happier knowing the truth and not believing silly stories. I don’t think the fact that prayer makes a few people happy makes up for the lack in critical thinking it’s usually coupled with. Just the fact that someone can hear “voices” and be considered mentally deficient, but if it’s “God” they’re a good, religious person, is a scary kind of double standard that religion gets a pass on. > [@BigT](#): > > And, really, if basic Christianity bothers (and apparently baffles) you so much, don’t become friends with Christians. Problem solved. It doesn’t bother me until it affects me (through the government) or clouds people’s judgments and decisiosn, which unfortunately, happens all too often. ---
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/11 "2009-12-17T02:37:59Z")
> [@BrandonR](#): > > Religion is a private matter, what you put on Facebook is a public matter. I don’t want to know about your religious beliefs any more than I want to know how many guys/girls you banged last night, or about fights you’re having with boyfriends or girlfriends. Facebook is clearly for posting mundane details of your life. Then don’t read it. If this is an old school friend, and they have something interesting to say to you about the old days, they can write to you directly. ---
**Author:** ![BrandonR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/12 "2009-12-17T02:38:27Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > But now this person annoys you. So block them or unfriend them, or whatever it’s called. Yeah, but that could potentially cause a really awkward situation if we ever cross paths again. Plus, they’re a really nice person. If only Seinfeld were still around, they could have an episode about Facebook etiquette… “Hate the unfriend!” ---
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/13 "2009-12-17T02:39:35Z")
> [@Shmendrik](#): > > That may be, but the points raised by BrandonR are extremely elementary points in theology which have been considered by any intelligent believer. Well, except for the whole requesting other people to pray to heal brain tumors part. ---
**Author:** ![wierdaaron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/eada6e/32.png) [@wierdaaron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wierdaaron)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/14 "2009-12-17T03:34:27Z")
You can hide updates from certain people from showing up in your feed. I had to do this because I was getting whiplash from posts from friends: “I got so fucking wasted last night I think I puked in someone else’s shirt.” Intermingling with those from my cousins: “Jesus has blessed me in innumerable ways today. Praise his holy light!” Natch, I hid the updates from the cousins. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/15 "2009-12-17T03:46:47Z")
> [@Shmendrik](#): > > That may be, but the points raised by BrandonR are extremely elementary points in theology which have been considered by any intelligent believer. Considered, but not rebutted. Petitionary prayer is illogical for more reasons than listed in the OP (and a lot of atheists are extremely well versed in theology, FYI. Sometimes that’s the reason they’re atheists). ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/16 "2009-12-17T03:49:39Z")
It seems like there’s an increasingly common trend of people complaining about facebook friends who they don’t really like. Why not just delete them? ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/17 "2009-12-17T03:53:18Z")
[This may be of interest to all you who know who you are.](http://www.bigfatwhale.com/archives/bfw_439.htm) I so want to do the second to last panel. ---
**Author:** ![Shmendrik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Shmendrik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shmendrik)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/18 "2009-12-17T03:56:20Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Considered, but not rebutted. Petitionary prayer is illogical for more reasons than listed in the OP (and a lot of atheists are extremely well versed in theology, FYI. Sometimes that’s the reason they’re atheists). Er, perhaps the religious people find the answers/rationalizations/non-answers more satisfying than the atheists do? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/19 "2009-12-17T03:58:19Z")
> [@Shmendrik](#): > > Er, perhaps the religious people find the answers/rationalizations/non-answers more satisfying than the atheists do? Of coure they do. That doesn’t mean any of the questions are really answered. ---
**Author:** ![Shmendrik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Shmendrik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shmendrik)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/20 "2009-12-17T03:59:21Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > It seems like there’s an increasingly common trend of people complaining about facebook friends who they don’t really like. Why not just delete them? Because you want to stay in touch or think they’ll be offended. But you can always just hide their updates. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558.md?page=2)