# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![Small\_Hen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@Small\_Hen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Hen)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/61 "2009-12-17T18:31:28Z")
The legitimacy of prayer is beside the point, which is this: the OP comes off as a complete dick. He calls this facebook person his friend, but the fact is, his friendship is strictly conditional, and the condition is, “you cannot hold beliefs, traditions, or opinions which differ from mine.” Now, if this facebook friend attacks with his beliefs, then by all means, defriend. But this supposed friend is asking for help and compassion, and you’re here calling him an idiot because he used the word “prayer” instead of “wish” or “hope.” Defriend him, but not because of anything he did to you. Do it because you clearly care nothing for him. ---
**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, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/62 "2009-12-17T18:37:03Z")
I don’t see any of that in the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Bird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Little\_Bird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Bird)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/63 "2009-12-17T18:42:00Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > **Shirley Ujest** , I double dog dare you. > > Have you seen the Julia Sweeney special that is on one of the premium channels? I believe the name of it is **Saying Goodbye to God**. She was a Catholic and is now an atheist. Her journey began with a visit from two Mormons. She is so funny and so real. I expect her to have a greater influence than Dawkins. It’s called [Letting Go of God](http://www.juliasweeney.com/letting_go_mini/) and it’s flippin’ fantastic. I’m so glad Showtime has picked it up. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![perfectparanoia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a5b964/32.png) [@perfectparanoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/perfectparanoia)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/64 "2009-12-17T19:03:14Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > True, but not relevant to the issue of petitionary prayer. If the thread had kept to that topic, as opposed to the usual Christian bashing. I would agree. However, the all Christians are idiots thing got my goat. I should know better by now not comment on such here in the Dope. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/65 "2009-12-17T19:04:10Z")
It’s funny what I just typed in an e-mail to an atheist friend. “Pray for good weather.” I mean, obviously God wants us to freeze! Or do I think my friend can change God’s mind? Oh, the hypocrasy! Or, you know… maybe it’s just an expression. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/66 "2009-12-17T19:14:45Z")
> [@BrandonR](#): > > Religion is a private matter So quit complaining about it on a public messageboard. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/67 "2009-12-17T19:34:27Z")
> [@BrandonR](#): > > Christians believe their life is in God’s hands. A pastor would especially believe this. No action goes unseen or unapproved by God. Your statement about what Christians believe is flatly false. Christian doctrine includes, for instance, the Fall of Man, which God did not approve of. Therefore, obviously, you’re wrong when you say, “Christians believe … no action goes unseen or unapproved by God”. Nothing more can be said on the matter. It seems you’re more interested in delivering sermons about what Christians believe than in actually asking any Christian what we believe. If you gave it a moment’s thought, however, you’d realize that such a stance is inane. I am a Christian and you are not. There is no way that you can know more about what _I_ believe than _I myself_ know about what I believe. You are obviously unfamiliar with even a cursory outline of Christian beliefs. To be wrong is excusable, but to continue insisting that you’re right after being informed that you’re wrong is a different thing entirely. > [@](#): > > Your anecdotal blog is pretty worthless by the way. For every one of these “miracles” I can find dozens of religious people who end up dying from their illnesses, despite lots of hard prayer and asking God to heal them. What about them? Rita Klaus’ healing is not anecdotal. It is a well-documented case, owing to the fact that over a dozen doctors had worked on her case before the healing and investigated the facts after it occurred. If you want to read their testimony, it’s reported in [Remarkable Recovery](http://www.amazon.com/Remarkable-Recovery-Extraordinary-Healings-Getting/dp/0788161741/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261077053&sr=1-1) or in summary in [The Miracle Detective](http://books.google.com/books?id=On5G6bZoVnEC&pg=PP1&dq=The+Miracle+Detective&cd=1#v=onepage&q=&f=false). The doctors testify, and it’s clear even from the quick description I linked to earlier, that this is not merely a case of the disease going into remission. Klaus has been wheelchair-bound for many years, her muscles had deteriorated to almost nothing, some of her bones were warped or fallen out of place, some of her ligaments had been cuts during surgery, she was nearly blind, yet all of this was healed in a few hours and she was restored to good health. As your your “what about them” argument, that’s another of the lame arguments that most people grew out of years ago. A miraculous healing is a gift from God. When a person receives a gift, that’s a good thing, not a cause for resentment among people who didn’t receive the gift. If my grandmother gives me a barrel of popcorn, should the rest of the planet get mad because she didn’t give me a barrel of popcorn? And even if they did, would that in any way cast doubt on the fact that it was her who gave me the barrel of popcorn? ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/68 "2009-12-17T20:09:56Z")
> [@ITR\_champion](#): > > Rita Klaus’ healing is not anecdotal. It is a well-documented case, owing to the fact that over a dozen doctors had worked on her case before the healing and investigated the facts after it occurred. If you want to read their testimony, it’s reported in [Remarkable Recovery](http://www.amazon.com/Remarkable-Recovery-Extraordinary-Healings-Getting/dp/0788161741/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261077053&sr=1-1) or in summary in [The Miracle Detective](http://books.google.com/books?id=On5G6bZoVnEC&pg=PP1&dq=The+Miracle+Detective&cd=1#v=onepage&q=&f=false). The doctors testify, and it’s clear even from the quick description I linked to earlier, that this is not merely a case of the disease going into remission. Klaus has been wheelchair-bound for many years, her muscles had deteriorated to almost nothing, some of her bones were warped or fallen out of place, some of her ligaments had been cuts during surgery, she was nearly blind, yet all of this was healed in a few hours and she was restored to good health. I’m curious, how do you know this was a result of your God’s ‘good will’ as opposed to Ahirim’s trickery? It seems to me that convincing people that Yahweh did something instead of Ahura Mazda would be a sufficient reason for doing such magic. ---
**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, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/69 "2009-12-17T20:33:41Z")
> [@ITR\_champion](#): > > It seems you’re more interested in delivering sermons about what Christians believe than in actually asking any Christian what we believe. If you gave it a moment’s thought, however, you’d realize that such a stance is inane. I am a Christian and you are not. There is no way that you can know more about what _I_ believe than _I myself_ know about what I believe. You are obviously unfamiliar with even a cursory outline of Christian beliefs. To be wrong is excusable, but to continue insisting that you’re right after being informed that you’re wrong is a different thing entirely. I went to a private school for 6 years while they brainwashed me with the silly nonsense you believe, so don’t tell me I don’t know about Christianity. I know that it makes people think illogically, and I know that it closes people’s minds and lets them get away with being judgmental people under the guise of it being their “morals.” I also know that it prevents people from thinking critically (coincidentally why so many religious people think evolution is a farce). Just the fact that you’ve admitted that you became religious after you were able to think critically and question things is certainly something I wouldn’t publicly and proudly proclaim… > [@ITR\_champion](#): > > Rita Klaus’ healing is not anecdotal. It is a well-documented case, owing to the fact that over a dozen doctors had worked on her case before the healing and investigated the facts after it occurred. If you want to read their testimony, it’s reported in [Remarkable Recovery](http://www.amazon.com/Remarkable-Recovery-Extraordinary-Healings-Getting/dp/0788161741/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261077053&sr=1-1) or in summary in [The Miracle Detective](http://books.google.com/books?id=On5G6bZoVnEC&pg=PP1&dq=The+Miracle+Detective&cd=1#v=onepage&q=&f=false). The doctors testify, and it’s clear even from the quick description I linked to earlier, that this is not merely a case of the disease going into remission. Klaus has been wheelchair-bound for many years, her muscles had deteriorated to almost nothing, some of her bones were warped or fallen out of place, some of her ligaments had been cuts during surgery, she was nearly blind, yet all of this was healed in a few hours and she was restored to good health. Oh please, people of ALL religions (or lack thereof) who have illness are miraculously “cured” daily. Your anecdote isn’t going to make your argument any more powerful. According to your logic, either such recovers never happen to non-religious people, or God simply hates a lot of religious people who do get such diseases and who die by the truckload daily. It’s ridiculous that you’re cherry-picking one example and trying to use that as credible evidence on this message board of all places. ---
**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, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/70 "2009-12-17T20:38:46Z")
> [@Small\_Hen](#): > > The legitimacy of prayer is beside the point, which is this: the OP comes off as a complete dick. He calls this facebook person his friend, but the fact is, his friendship is strictly conditional, and the condition is, “you cannot hold beliefs, traditions, or opinions which differ from mine.” Now, if this facebook friend attacks with his beliefs, then by all means, defriend. But this supposed friend is asking for help and compassion, and you’re here calling him an idiot because he used the word “prayer” instead of “wish” or “hope.” > > Defriend him, but not because of anything he did to you. Do it because you clearly care nothing for him. Did you read something different from what I wrote? I didn’t say any of those things. And if I were a real dick, I’d have confronted said friend about their dumb beliefs, but alas, I came here instead. The friendship isn’t conditional. I can disagree with my friends on points and still be considered their friend. I did not say “come to your senses or begone!” I simply dislike all forms of stupidity, whether it causes someone to believe in God, or that Obama was born in Kenya, or that vaccines are bad for you. It’s all the same, unfounded, bullshit that rational, critically thinking people don’t fall for. It’s all ignorance, and that is (supposed to be) the enemy of this site. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/71 "2009-12-17T20:38:52Z")
> [@BrandonR](#): > > 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. All I can say is, you need to meet more religious people. Most of the ones I know do not fit either of these cliches. ---
**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, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/72 "2009-12-17T20:41:05Z")
> [@perfectparanoia](#): > > Intolerant, much? Oh that is _rich_. A religious person calling me intolerant. How about you get back to me once you let gays marry, okay? ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/73 "2009-12-17T20:54:05Z")
I’m an Epicopalian; we let gays marry. What else ya got? Frankly I find it intolerant that you want to stop someone else from posting something that is important to them _on their own wall_. Should we also ban people from posting about politics? Or music we don’t like? You’re just being self-centered. For heaven’s sake, just Hide your friend from your feed already, or keep your outrage to yourself. ---
**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, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/74 "2009-12-17T20:55:24Z")
Why is it they are always ‘cured’ of some horrific disease instead of…oooooh, I don’t know…mis-fucking-diagnosed? Or why don’t they do stories on the families that have been devestated by chronic disease and how praying for them didn’t do JACK SHIT. All it does is make the sick person feel slightly better mentally Which is fine and dandy, but it doesn’t take away the crushing depression and loneliness that is their fucking lives. but physically, it’s all the same. What it does is let the Do Gooders feel they are doing GOOD when infact they are doing FuckAll for the sick or dying. That’s right, I said it. They are doing FuckAll. This is why people who are chronically ill and wasting away LOSE ALL THEIR GODDAMN FRIENDS. Because they are all ‘praying’ for them instead of actually doing something for them. At every one of my brothers’ funerals, the people the show up for them MAYBE three actually were regular visitors in the shit-situation that has been my family’s live for a long time. I’ve long to go up on the stage…errr…altar and shame all them Do Gooders, but I think I’ll wait until it’s my Mom’s funeral. Then I’ll let lose. Ok, I won’t. But I can have a dream sequence about it all and have some kind of branding device to let the world see their epic fail. Sorry, bit of a rant. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/75 "2009-12-17T20:55:55Z")
Well, gosh, **Skammer** , I find you pretty intolerant for wanting to ban the OP from posting about his annoyances. I mean, since apparently now expressing annoyance with something is identical to wanting it to be completely banned. ---
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/76 "2009-12-17T20:57:40Z")
> [@BrandonR](#): > > Oh that is _rich_. A religious person calling me intolerant. How about you get back to me once you let gays marry, okay? Yeah, I’m religious (admittedly, Zen Buddhist) and I’m pro gay marriage rights. Take your strawman and put it up in a field somewhere, at least it’ll scare crows away that way. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/77 "2009-12-17T21:06:25Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > Well, gosh, **Skammer** , I find you pretty intolerant for wanting to ban the OP from posting about his annoyances. I didn’t suggest anything like that, I just said it was stupid. He can post about it if wants to, and we can respond to it. Just like we’re doing. But he said: > [@BrandonR](#): > > please stop posting on your wall that your pastor needs prayers … > stop publicly praising God for every positive thing that happens … > I don’t want to know about your religious beliefs Maybe “ban” is too strong but he’s pretty comfortable telling people what they can and cannot post on their own Facebook wall. ---
**Author:** ![perfectparanoia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a5b964/32.png) [@perfectparanoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/perfectparanoia)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/78 "2009-12-17T21:26:29Z")
> [@BrandonR](#): > > Oh that is _rich_. A religious person calling me intolerant. How about you get back to me once you let gays marry, okay? One can be religious and allow gay people to marry. Just because I am Christian does not mean that am believe in the ‘literal bible’ or the leviticus nonsense. In fact, my husband’s minister is openly gay and they are one of the first churches to accept openly gay members. You really hate Christians, don’t you? What a shame. We really are pretty nice people, in general. Or at least we try to be nice to others based on the tenets of our beliefs. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/79 "2009-12-17T21:32:27Z")
> [@perfectparanoia](#): > > You really hate Christians, don’t you? What a shame. We really are pretty nice people, in general. Or at least we try to be nice to others based on the tenets of our beliefs. I thought we weren’t supposed to make generalizations about Christians. No, seriously. I’ve known plenty of nice, pleasant Christians. I’ve also known plenty of hateful and intolerant Christians. I wouldn’t say that Christians are generally hateful and intolerant, but I also wouldn’t say that Christians are generally nice and pleasant. ---
**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, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/80 "2009-12-17T21:33:42Z")
> [@Zeriel](#): > > Yeah, I’m religious (admittedly, Zen Buddhist) and I’m pro gay marriage rights. Take your strawman and put it up in a field somewhere, at least it’ll scare crows away that way. And yet you’re in the vast minority of religious people supporting gay marriage rights. Good for you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558.md?page=5)