Rainbow_Warrior

Gross underestimation. (Even for the bible-belt of the USA!)

Well. That someone wanted to do something positive for you is the worse thing that happens during this journey I think life is pretty good. You could just say thank you do as you wish and I to will do my own thing. Toodles

Review the Historical Trends on the Gallup link.
Religious "Nones" are the fastest growing faith demographic in America. We are 20-25% of the population.
Christianity in America is declining sharply.
That's not an opinion. That's a fact. Look at the chart...it goes back to the 1940's.
American's religious identity is changing significantly, and it's current trajectory mirrors Europe's disenchantment with religion.
Less than 70% of Americans identified themselves as any form of Christian in 2017. Contrast this with the 1950's....when over 90% of Americans identified as Christians.

You are maybe 3 per cent of the population so if you don’t believe in God so be it. Shrug it off and move on. Most Atheist I know and some friends are don’t care if they really don’t believe in God. It’s no offensive to them and you are trying to start a conversation when bring something like this up. Most Americans are Christian or believe in God in some way. They are not trying to offend you. They are just thinking about you and if your that offended just be great fun some people are thinking good thoughts about you.

It CAN be wishing well ... the first time it happens.
But, when the person is soon told politely that you have no truck with religion(s)/deities, it becomes either rude or a form of proselytising ... and that is not fair.
Imposing unwanted views or ways of life on others is an act of rudeness if one persists when aware of the other's preferences.
In my country, belief in a christian church (or christian pursuits) has dropped from over 85% in 1945 to barely 20% in 2016 (our last census). So, it's very wrong of the few christians to think they can impose on other people who are NON-BELIEVERS or who belong to non-christian faiths!

@Creekimp13 I don't like your references in your last post.

Why do I have to have enough sense not to say anything that doubts faith when they're in crisis (and I don't because I'm not an asshat)....but they can piss on my beliefs all they like when I'm in crisis and it's "a gift"?
That's insane.
I get it...prayer comforts THEM.
That's not a hug for me...that's them masturbating in front of me.
it's offputting as hell.

Yes ...
1. My bariatric surgeon will perform this as well. He will write up the claimable item numbers (codes) for the insurance company.
2. The hospital stay and the hospital staff assisting the surgeon are covered.
3. My out-of-pocket "gap fees" are to be just under $1400.

Thank you. That's the only point I've been trying to make.

Reminds me of one of my favorite scenes from Futurama:
Fry: So that's my story, Father Changstein El-Gamal. Is there anything religion can do to help me find my friend?
Father Changstein El-Gamal: Well, we could join together in prayer.
Fry: Uh-huh. But is there anything useful we can do?
Father Changstein El-Gamal: No.
I was at work once after a higher-up told everyone at a full company meeting that she had cancer and would be taking time off for treatment. Someone offered to lead a prayer and several agreed to join in. I said nothing, but while they were praying I took out my phone, made a quick donation to the American Cancer Society. Once everyone filed out I showed the receipt on my phone to the person with cancer and said "I don't pray, I act." That little $20 brought her to tears. She recovered just fine and when she came back to applause at the first such meeting after her return she thanked everyone as a group but singled me out for actually doing something.

Wow. OP, I get it. I am a Christian, and oftentimes will say praying for you. Though I appreciate prayers etc. I also must respect your preference.

They don't offend me.
It doesn't offend me when someone says they'll rub chrystals and burn sage for me, either....but I think it's just as pointless and makes me wish they'd do something productive instead.
Two hands working to solve a problem get a hell of a lot more done than a thousand clasped in prayer.
Prayers often become an excuse not to act when action is needed.
If you care? Do something.

Where did I ever say it was my biggest gripe? I did say it was a irritant during stressful times and that people should be more considerate of people they're trying to console. Nothing more, nothing less. Is there any particular reason you read more into it?

Aaaaannnnndddd this is what’s wrong with this country. Instead of taking a good intentioned comment for the what it is, it is twisted into something offensive. All this person wants for you (a stranger) is to be well and you, in turn, rant about it. I’ve had Jewish (I’m not Jewish) prayers sent my way and guess what? I didn’t cry about it and run to social media, I said thank you! Again, I said thank you.

If someone's biggest gripe/rant or rave in life is that someone says' bless you' or 'I'll pray for you', they indeed have a wonderful life.
Best to worry about the things you can control and the things that you can't control let them go, makes for a less stressful life.

This is about being considerate to someone you're trying to console. Taking their feelings and beliefs into account and not just making assumptions that what comforts you comforts them. I have said from top to bottom here that I know people who offer prayers mean well and I appreciate the sentiment, but would it be so hard for those people to take a half second and think of the other person's situation?
And as for what is wrong with this country, just look in the mirror. It's you and your "it's good enough for me so it should be good enough for someone else" that's the real problem. I'm not you.

I accept THE FIRST TIME that they comfort me or say something that they consider positive or supportive that it's okay ... but I pick, as well as I can, a time later to tell them that I do not believe in the existence of a god, multiple gods, deities, etc.
I then expect them to be more sensitive to my feelings in future exchanges.

FFS, he's just making the point that he wants EQUALITY of sensitivity and, in future events, a respect of his right to NOT believe in a deity (or deities).

A Christian, an Atheist, a Jew and a Muslim walk into a bar.....
And they hang out, eat peanuts, share pics of their kids and spouses, complain about work, laugh, and talk about life......because none of them are arseholes.

Neatly explained analogy!

Actually, I do find the assumption that I'm religious to be highly offensive. It's a direct insult to everything I believe. So in the same way I don't disparage your beliefs in your time of need by making assumptions, you should be able to afford others the same courtesy.

I am merely asking for consideration that not everyone believes as you do. If your mother dies, do you want me coming up to you and telling you that there's no god because that's what I believe and what I think is what you want to hear? I'm sure it's not. So if you are going to try to comfort someone, unless you know specifically what comforts them, try leaving your religion out of it because not everyone believes in the same things you do.

I'm at work and my boss tells me she needs me to perform a certain task "religiously". So I say "Oh, you mean never?"

If every time you sneezed someone said "There is no god" would you just put it out of your mind?
If every piece of currency said "There is no god" would you just put it out of your mind?
If every time politicians spoke they said "There is no god" would you put it out of your mind?
If you were about to undergo a life-changing medical procedure and strangers supported you by saying "There is no god" would you just put it out of your mind?
If you lost someone close to you and someone in your time of grief said "There is no god?" would you just put it out of your mind?
Try putting yourself in our shoes for a bit and understand how constantly inundated with religion we are. All I have said is that it is not asking much for people to keep their religion to themselves in times of grief.

Let me illustrate for you, kimbers.
Say you're a religious person, and your mom dies, and you're heartbroken.
As an Atheist, should I come up to you and say "You know that God is a load of crap and heaven is an adult security blanket fantasy......but I really think your mom lived a rich impacting life in the time we had her here and you should take comfort in being her legacy and in beautiful memories of her."
Incidentally....this is what I whole heartedly believe....but it would be insanely insensitive to say something like this to a grieving religious person. I would be an asshat for being that disrespectful of the beliefs that give them comfort.
Just like it's insanely insensitive for religious asshats to say religious yaya when Atheists suffer losses. You are disrespecting OUR source of comfort...with something we consider fantasy.
So, perhaps you can appreciate how that cuts both ways and how religious folks should grow up and open their minds, too.
There is a time and a place to express your different beliefs. When someone is suffering...is not that time.