Religious Pet Peeves

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ex-christian_atheist's picture
Religious Pet Peeves

One of the most annoying things about going to church or a get-together with any of my family and friends is listening to them pray. Most (not all) are country bumpkins who say ya'll and you'ns and are generally as informal as you can possibly be, but as soon as they start praying they start using thee and thou and thy and all these old English words. It just makes every prayer sound rehearsed and insincere. I hated this even when I was a believer. It's also eye-twitchingly annoying how often they say the words father and god in a single prayer. It's always, "father, we just want to thank you father for all the things you give us lord. And father God help us father to be everything you want us to be Lord"
Do they not realize how dumb it would sound If you addressed anyone else by name 3 times a sentence?

So there is my biggest pet peeve. What are some of the most annoying things you see religious people do?

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athiestnooi's picture
Like I said on a previous

Like I said on a previous thread. When my mother in law visits, she will play a live gospel concert song from her phone and then also sing along. She sings in the church choir and thinks that she has the voice of an "angel". Just because you are singing for your religion, doesn't make you a good singer.

Also... My mom passed away about 4 months ago and I was bombarded with "you're in my prayer" and "she's in a better place" or "she's watching over you". Which is funny, because my mom also was an atheist and we arranged a non-religious ceremony for her.

Zaphod's picture
Interesting point, I don't

Interesting point, I don't think I've ever heard the our father spoken in modern terms, next time I hear someone say they going to say a prayer for me I think i'll respond by saying, "Ok, but just don't get all Old English on my ass."

Aaron Harris's picture
I even went as far as calling

I even went as far as calling gawd out in front of them by cursing ( him/her/it), and daring to be struck down on the spot. Once nothing happened I told the people there is your proof of nonexistence for your gawd. But they would have some lame excuse as to why I was not harmed.... Very frustrating the depths of their denial of reason.

Zaphod's picture
Another thought, maybe they

Another thought, maybe they have to address him by name so many times because they don't feel he's listening.

Mythlover's picture
Ha!! Subconsciously they know

Ha!! Subconsciously they know...

ex-christian_atheist's picture
Another pet peeve, and this a

Another pet peeve, and this a big one, is when people type out a prayer as a facebook post and actually adress it to God. I think this is just so hypocritical. It isn't as if God looks through facebook to find prayer requests. We all know you're doing it for attention. What was it Jesus said about the hypocritical pharisees who pray in the streets instead of in their closets like they ought to? Bah! I see this all the time.

Tomarr's picture
I cringe every time I hear

I cringe every time I hear/see someone say "Please pray for me" or "I'm praying for you," as if they have some direct telepathic hookup to the fairy godfather in the sky who will change the course of the world just because they asked. It's ridiculous.

willow44's picture
One of my biggest pet peeves

One of my biggest pet peeves is that no matter what I post on facebook, my "godly" "friends" always find something wrong with it.
Once I posted a picture where Ellen said "Whatever makes your heart happy, that is what you should do". Reading through the comments you would have thought that I'd posted something that said "God doesn't exist and if you think he does you're a f*#$wit.
(can we swear in the forums? I'm new :))

Yardgal's picture
I have such a long list. lol

I have such a long list. lol.

"She's in a better place" is probably on the top of that list. The only survivor of that Texas shoot out said she knew the rest of her family was in a better place. This bothers me on so many levels. They're all dead but that's okay because they don't have to spend one more day here on this crappy old planet. What a fantastic stoke of luck for them, huh?

"God loves you" is another one. I was walking down an isle in Walmart when a guy on a ladder stocking the shelf looked down and told me he had some good news for me today. I thought maybe the cat food I buy was on sale. He said, "God loves you!" I started to laugh. I said, "Oh, thanks for the laugh. I needed that." I shook my head and looked up at him and said, "Even though what you said made me laugh out loud it's rude to assume a complete stranger would be interested in hearing about your superstition. Please don't assume everbody welcomes such nonsense."

At one time I'd just smile and be polite but I'm so over that. If they're rude enough to be in my face with such stupid behavior they're getting it right back. Enough is too much already!

Mythlover's picture
My biggest pet peeve was when

My biggest pet peeve was when my grandpa died. He really did not like the Mormons (the main religion of my community) or any Christians for that matter. Nonetheless, because it was a funeral, a bishop had to give a speech, and it was terrible. He went on about how my grandpa would be received, how he would be in a good place now, etc. My grandma later told me that he would be turning over in his grave. This has happened at other funerals I have been to where the deceased was non-religious, and it disgusts me because they had the right to not believe in an after life and to have a religious speech to be something that represents the end of someone's life is disrespectful to the life of that person.

Lmale's picture
My peeve is to christians you

My peeve is to christians you are scum if your not the same type of christian and worse if your not any types.
Its he rationalising that let them do the worst things in history and still do some.
I told a christian that the pope admitted 1 in 50 priests was a pedo and the church has been involved in a massive conspiracy to cover it up including bribes with donated money and victimising the victims. His response? Im not catholic its nothing to do with me.

Lmale's picture
Ive a new one.

Ive a new one.
A theist keeps trying to convince me atheism is a cult started by the freemasons to perpetuate the occult dogma of evolution.
Well since atheism was first documented in 6th century bce that kinda blows out his argument but he refuses to check the wiki page on atheism.
Not to mention that was just the first documented case there were atheist before then they just never had a name till that case.
Atheism was a capital crime punishable by death and is actually the charge the romans used against christians.
So a christian arguing atheism was created by freemasons is rather dumb.

Lmale's picture
Oops i think that post should

Oops i think that post should be better iff under the most ignorant thing anyones said so ill post it there.

nationalvelvet12's picture
My biggest pet peeve is when

My biggest pet peeve is when my very religious family tries (and generally succeeds) to get me to go to church.... because 'its good for me'... I get sick of them telling me that my nonreligious views are just a phase and eventually I will realize that I AM in fact a Christian if I just read the bible enough. Also this may just be me, but I get extremely uncomfortable when people raise their hands in church during songs or prayers, it weirds me out. I am also greatly offended by ignorant religious people claim that theres no reason for nonreligious people to have morals, or that they CAN'T have morals because theres no point and morals only come from religions. I'd love for them to tell that to my Contemporary Morals Professor, none of the moral theories we have studied have anything to do with any religion.

ex-christian_atheist's picture
I know exactly what you mean

I know exactly what you mean about the hand thing. Even when I was a christian, going to conferences for teens with my church, some of the kids I hung out with, who I knew were only concerned with religion when their mothers made them come to church, would do that. Even at 13 I was like...."I know y'all are fakin'. Why are you people raising your hands?" I felt the same "Holy Spirit" they all felt, I just wasn't insecure enough to think I had to raise my hands to prove it just because that's what it made everyone else do. I think that's why they do it. They think the spirit makes everyone else raise their hands and they feel like if they don't do it then they aren't being affected the same way.

nationalvelvet12's picture
I'm glad I'm not the only one

I'm glad I'm not the only one!!

ex-christian_atheist's picture
Another really annoying hing

Another really annoying hing is when I'm in church and the preacher says anything that sounds like common sense, and three or four old people will go "mmhm, right, amen, sure, sure." Like do you really need everyone in the church to know you agree with the pastor?

Clockwork's picture
I have a coworker who will go

I have a coworker who will go on and on and on about his church. (No one here knows I'm atheist.) He insists on the talking in tongues thing and will attempt to show me what it's like. Ugh.

I have a friend that said I'm "a good Christian guy" because I helped her kids, know her daughters, and treat them with respect. That's not the annoying part, but I'm aware that they assume I'm Christian because I'm nice to them.

Another pet peeve is when I say something someone agrees with ,they'll say something like, "Glory to be God!" Um... huh?

CyberLN's picture
Clock, is there a reason you

Clock, is there a reason you haven't come out as atheist at work?

Clockwork's picture
Actually, very few know I'm

Actually, very few know I'm an atheist. I live in the South, and this area is very religious. To be honest, based on the comments many people have said I have a healthy fear of coming out as an atheist.

Jeff Vella Leone's picture
As long as it does not affect

As long as it does not affect your life it is better to let them live in their deluded image of you.
They would most likely not believe you are an atheist anyway.
Their image of an atheist is not of this world.
Sometimes you must pity those poor deluded people.

Ellie Harris's picture
One of my pet peeves

One of my pet peeves concerning theism is how freaking hard it is for people that leave faith behind. Its a hard hill to climb.

Lmale's picture
Yes definitely elle the

Yes definitely elle the business known as religion is extremely reluctant to let their golden geese get away.
Ive read about ex catholics atheists who stopped going to church and the priests go to their parents and tell on them!

Travis Paskiewicz's picture
I find the most annoying are

I find the most annoying are phrases that attempt to misplace the credit for my deeds on god. The most annoying is when people discover I'm a Marine and shower me with "God bless you!" and "God watches over your!" or "We'll pray for you!".

Lmale's picture
Do they know that your an

Do they know that your an atheist. Ive heard the usa armed forces are very nasty to atheists things like forbiding them to put atheist on their dog tags and forcing them to pray.

Travis Paskiewicz's picture
Hahaha... no. The Marines are

Hahaha... no. The Marines are actually quite atheist friendly. The name of the game is work ethic, all other aspects tend to take the back seat. So long as I do my job as a Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear defense specialist, no one cares what religion I am. In fact the Marines are currently the only branch that now allows Atheist to be put on dog tags and service records, so that a religious chaplain is not sent to deliver death notices or be present at funeral proceedings.

CyberLN's picture
And the Marines have the best

And the Marines have the best dress uniform! ;-)

Lmale's picture
Im kinda happy to know the

Im kinda happy to know the guy responsible for nukes is an atheist lol

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