# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/101 "2009-12-18T15:54:01Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > I lost a friend to cancer recently. And while I didn’t update my own facebook with the news, other mutual friends did, and the outpouring of sympathy was comforting. To Christians, praying for someone is comforting. Its often an act of sympathy. Your friend, someone you care enough about that you don’t want to unfriend him, cares about his pastor enough to tell his friends - which on facebook is a wide circle of people, some who DO care. Some who know his pastor peripherally and wouldn’t find out about it otherwise. It isn’t all about YOU. > > Its likely that the intent of the post is not witnessing, or even a firm belief that praying will ensure a miraculous intervention. I always translate these sorts of things as “my friend has cancer, I really hope its all OK.” And since I care about the person posting, I can extend my “hope” beyond my immediate circle to say “I hope its OK, too” in an effort to provide comfort. > > Which doesn’t mean you have to post that you’ll contribute your prayers. But “I’m so sorry to hear that, I sincerely hope he recovers quickly” is comforting to your friend. And if you don’t want to distress him by unfriending him, why wouldn’t you comfort him when he is sincerely distressed? Well said. I think that sums it up pretty nicely. Often, people ask for prayers because they don’t know what else to do in an upsetting situation. Cancer is a very frightening thing and most people don’t know what to do when it strikes someone they care about. All they really want is some kindness and reassurance. ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/102 "2009-12-18T16:13:03Z")
> [@anya\_marie](#): > > What is it with people who have the crappiest lives always saying how God is in control of it all? Am I the only one who thinks that it means SOMEONE is napping on the job? Many people will choose to believe in whatever gives them comfort. I don’t think this is at all bad, and I think it makes perfect sense that people will want to believe in whatever they have to believe in to function and enjoy life, rather than being totally logical yet miserable. I tend to think that, if you look at things completely objectively, it is hard to escape the conclusion that existence as a whole is futile. I tend to think that atheists who try to tell themselves that life has meaning because of the meaning we give it ourselves, or that it doesn’t matter that there is no immortality because we live on in our accomplishments and children, are fooling themselves just as much as the blind, impoverished elderly black man who thinks that God is watching out for him and will reward him for all the injustice he suffered on earth when he gets to heaven. Most people find it more pleasant to function in the hope that there is purpose, justice, and meaning to life. If you talk too much about finding it all pointless then you may very well be right, but everyone will be sadder for it and you will probably wind up on anti-depressants…so in the end, I prefer to let people believe whatever they find comforting and enjoyable. In a world where nothing really matters, trying to make the best of things is more important than being right. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/103 "2009-12-18T16:22:56Z")
Many Christians also believe that God tries them and tests them. Earth is not supposed to be heaven, it isn’t supposed to be free of the trials and tribulations of life. And one cannot know the mind of God, when he will reward you for your faith, or when he will send you another trial. I’m not Christian, but most of us human beings are not completely rational creatures. And bashing someone in time of distress because they aren’t completely rational seems rather mean to me. Even if you are merely bashing them behind their back anonymously on an internet board. If I were Brandon’s friend and knew that this was how he felt, and he felt so strongly about it that he needed to mock me behind my back, he’d be doing me a favor unfriending me. ---
**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 18, 2009, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/104 "2009-12-18T16:58:09Z")
It’s not logical that God would have to test people. He already knows the results. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/105 "2009-12-18T17:01:29Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > It’s not logical that God would have to test people. He already knows the results. And we are not all rational people. Well, you are - most of the rest of us are human and sometimes justify things in irrational manners. (I don’t believe God tests people either, however I do believe people are not completely rational and have reached a faith based acceptance that they never will be.) ---
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/106 "2009-12-18T17:34:07Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > It’s not logical that God would have to test people. He already knows the results. This is one of many reasons why I don’t believe in a god that’s omni-anything. ---
**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 18, 2009, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/107 "2009-12-18T18:14:27Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > It’s not logical that God would have to test people. He already knows the results. But the person being tested does not. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/108 "2009-12-18T18:15:50Z")
> [@BrandonR](#): > > Yes, I agree, which is unfortunate because wasn’t one of Jesus’ teachings to be tolerant and nonjudgmental of others? It seems all too often that many Christians follow the old testament rather than the much more pleasant (though still out-there) new testament. You know, it bothers me a little bit when I see people say stuff like this (and this is far from the first time I’ve seen this sentiment expressed on this MB). Because you know that the Christian Old Testament = the Jewish Bible, right? It’s hard to read this as anything but a condemnation of Judaism. FWIW, I’m an atheist Jew. I don’t believe in it either. But I also don’t think Judaism is inherently evil, and I don’t find (most) religious Jews to particularly intolerant or judgmental. ---
**Author:** ![dhkendall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9adbd/32.png) [@dhkendall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dhkendall)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/109 "2009-12-18T18:33:09Z")
> [@iamthewalrus\_3](#): > > I’ve blocked a few facebook friends because their output was so glurgy that I couldn’t stand it, but, generally, what I want is a selective (smart) filter. Most of my religious friends post items of legitimate interest to me interspersed with (or, interwoven with) items of annoying jesuslove. I don’t want to block them completely; I just want to be spared the religiosity. > > Perhaps I should write a greasemonkey script… Yes, you totally should! You’d make a killing! (well, if you charged for it, which rarely happens. You’d be popular though.) ---
**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 18, 2009, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/110 "2009-12-18T19:15:52Z")
> [@BrandonR](#): > > 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. You don’t know about Christianity. The things that you’ve said about Christian belief in this thread are untrue. That’s all there is to it. If the sky is blue, then the sky would still be blue even if you claimed that you’d spent six years in a private school learning that the sky was orange. If you really spent six years learning about Christianity and still can’t get anything right, you might want to refrain from going around bragging about it. > [@](#): > > 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… So you’re proof that all Christians are stupid is … that you say so. **Brandon** , you need to try harder. A lot harder. > [@](#): > > Oh please, people of ALL religions (or lack thereof) who have illness are miraculously “cured” daily. Would you care to provide a cite for this statement? > [@](#): > > 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. I have already linked to [two](http://www.amazon.com/Remarkable-Recovery-Extraordinary-Healings-Getting/dp/0788161741/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261162734&sr=1-1) [books](http://www.amazon.com/Miracle-Detective-Randall-Sullivan/dp/0802141951/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261162763&sr=1-1) containing the medical evidence for the case of Rita Klaus. Do you doubt that the evidence is accurate? If so, on what grounds are you claiming to know more about that case than the doctors who actually treated her? In any case, the Klaus case is far from unique. Prayer worked for [Audrey Toguchi](http://www.hawaiicatholicherald.com/Home/tabid/256/newsid884/1373/Default.aspx). It worked for [Anna Santaniello](http://www.remnantnewspaper.com/Archives%20-%20News/archive-news-2005-1231.htm). It worked for many other people. As for your claim that ‘according to my logic God must hate blah blah blah’, I’ve already explained why that’s wrong, but you apparently missed it the first time so I’ll repeat. When we receive a gift, it’s not evidence that the gift-giver hates people who didn’t receive the gift. Rather, it’s evidence that the gift-giver loves the receiver. Look. You’re running into a very simple problem here. You believe that you’re vastly more intelligent than almost everyone else, and that therefore once you’ve shared your amazing wisdom, everybody is going to be bowled over by it. Well, there’s nothing to be ashamed of; it’s a problem that’s common enough among your age group. But it’s a pretty simple problem. You aren’t actually vastly more intelligent than almost everyone else. In fact, you’re repeating arguments that most people dismissed as being nonsensical a long time ago, which is why exactly nobody is bowled over by your great knowledge. ---
**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 18, 2009, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/111 "2009-12-18T19:25:50Z")
> [@BrandonR](#): > > Yes, fine, there are some wonderfully progressive churches throughout the world, but as a whole, _in general_, it’s religion that is preventing gays from getting married and you know it. I don’t want to get into a debate over same-sex marriage or rights here, but it’s certainly not atheists who are proclaiming themselves as the morality police and pushing people to vote against equal rights for homosexuals. Oh, is that so? North Korea is ruled by an atheist dictator who forbids all practice of religion. North Korea does not allow gay marriage. China has been ruled by the rigidly atheist Communist Party for 60 years and religion has been outlawed (a law relaxed slightly a few months ago). China does not allow gay marriage. Cuba has been under Marxist control for 50 years and Cuba does not allow gay marriage. So if atheists never oppose gay marriage, how exactly do you explain these facts? > [@](#): > > I hate that their beliefs get legislated into law. Interesting. The Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. based his opposition to segregation [on the word of God](http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html). Did you hate it when his beliefs were put into law? ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/112 "2009-12-18T19:29:13Z")
**ITR Champion** , it might be helpful if you could provide a cite that is not from books that are pushing the idea that miracles are real. Perhaps some sort of news report, or medical journal article, or something. As for your prayer philosophy: > [@ITR Champion](#): > > Rather, it’s evidence that the gift-giver loves the receiver. If God answers my prayer, it is proof that he loves me. Therefore, if God does not answer my prayer, it is proof that he does not love me. Charming. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/113 "2009-12-18T19:35:18Z")
Attention Doper Facebook Users: we don’t want to hear about your stupid Facebook friends any more than you do. > [@](#): > > Interesting. The Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. based his opposition to segregation on the word of God. Did you hate it when his beliefs were put into law? Nearly as much as I hated that segregation was instituted in the first place based on “the word of God”. ---
**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 18, 2009, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/114 "2009-12-18T19:37:22Z")
> [@BrandonR](#): > > 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. You called this person your friend, but as soon as he expresses a belief that you don’t hold, you came running to your other internet buddies and start talking about how stupid he is. It’s true, you didn’t say that you had confronted him or told him “be gone.” I inferred that you didn’t want to be friends with him anymore, because you weren’t treating him like a friend. I further inferred that the cause of your actions was your facebook friends’ beliefs - in other words, once religious beliefs were expressed, you stopped acting like a friend. That, to me, speaks of a conditional friendship. But perhaps I inferred a bit too much, and if so, I’m sorry. I do, however, hold to my opinion that you come off as dickish in the OP. Tragic illness should not be a tool for lording your intellectual superiority over your friends. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/115 "2009-12-18T20:25:23Z")
> [@BrandonR](#): > > And if I were a real dick, I’d have confronted said friend about their dumb beliefs, but alas, I came here instead. No, you just go behind his back and mock him. Yeah, that’s not being a “real dick.” :rolleyes: I’ve always been a fan of “if you have something to say about me, say it to my face. Don’t go running to your little buddies and trash me, then act like everything is all sunshine and puppies.” My cousin posted that she had joined a Glenn Beck fan group. I loathe Glenn Beck. But she’s my cousin and I love her. I asked her, “Eeew, Glenn BECK?” Then I just teased her about it. But we’ve been close since we were kids, so I’m not going to go and call her names where she can’t see it, then say I’m not a jerk, since she doesn’t KNOW I’m making fun of her. (And for the record, I don’t think her liking Glenn Beck makes her a jerk or delusional, either.) And no, he shouldn’t have to keep his beliefs private, just because you say so. It’s his Facebook. Don’t like it? Unfriend him or suck it up. Either way, get the fuck over it. It’s freaking FACEBOOK. :rolleyes: ---
**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 18, 2009, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/116 "2009-12-18T20:29:38Z")
He wasn’t just expressing beliefs. He was asking for prayer. That’s a little bit different. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/117 "2009-12-18T20:43:55Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > He wasn’t just expressing beliefs. He was asking for prayer. That’s a little bit different. I don’t see how it’s any worse. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/118 "2009-12-18T20:46:37Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > He wasn’t just expressing beliefs. He was asking for prayer. That’s a little bit different. Your point is? That deserves ridicule from a friend behind his back? Like hell it does. I’ve asked for peoples’ good thoughts and wishes. [sub]Before someone points it out, I’m not saying I don’t gossip, OR that gossip is always something evil. However, if you’re going to claim to be a good friend or what was in this case, “not a real dick” don’t mock your friends for what they believe, and then pretend all is rosy. Don’t be two-faced. I’ve never pretended not to be a bitch in some instances.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/119 "2009-12-18T21:37:33Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > He wasn’t just expressing beliefs. He was asking for prayer. That’s a little bit different. And that makes Brandon obligated to give it? Forces him into rejecting his atheism and get baptized? I’m not sure what the problem is. Do you have this issue when someone applies for a job and says “Wish me luck?” ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558/120 "2009-12-18T21:43:04Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > As for your prayer philosophy: > > If God answers my prayer, it is proof that he loves me. Therefore, if God does not answer my prayer, it is proof that he does not love me. Charming. “If A then B” implies “If ~A then ~B”? Talking of philosophy, you have some revision to do. :dubious: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-religious-facebook-friends/521558.md?page=7)