Frankly, I use the "keep him in my thoughts" tactic.
but really, i just ignore it because frankly once the conversation ends, it's over. i don't have to worry about their beliefs anymore
I was at a wedding over the weekend and refused to bow my head during the prayers or invocation. It's not disrespectful - I just don't think I should pretend to do something I don't believe in.
Eh, if you're a guest at a religious ritual I think it's reasonable to go along with the motions and the attire.
Bowing your head during the designated prayer time is as much of an acknowledgment of YHWH as wearing a yarmulke1, and we can all agree that someone who didn't do that at a barmitzvah is just being a dick.
If it's someone I know well, I will tell them to never bring up religion in my face. My sister does this to me all the time by sending me stupid religious powerpoints and images to "brighten my day - and send this to 20 others or forever be damned in hell" bullshit. She just ruined it actually - and I don't go pushing an agenda of "don't believe in the opiate of the masses" crap on her.
If it's someone I know as an acquaintance, I'll simply smile a bit and change the topic because rationalizing with someone who is in essence an idealist is like getting dogs and cats to understand each other. The main culprits here are some buddhists that don't push any agenda on me but the mention of prayer still creeps up every once in a while. They're not nearly as bad as evangelists and Jehovah's witnesses, who bang on your door at 7am on a god-damn Sunday morning; you're supposed to be resting on a Sunday! To them, I tell them I believe in a religion almost diametrically opposite theirs; normally Zen Buddhism and Islam does the trick. I mention that and they leave bewildered.
Mormons? I hate them. They go around every god-damn city in the world, proselytizing their faith on you. Modern-day missionaries. Again, I don't push an agenda on their asses; leave me the farck alone!
Thank god I'm an atheist...
If it's someone I know well, I will tell them to never bring up religion in my face.
Now you see what it'slike dealing with Apple fantards or console fans, salivating Obama fanboys or Reagan dick-sucking neocon nutjobs
Yeah, but these are people that I talk to maybe once a year. I'm not even sure they know I'm gay. Despite the inflammatory tone of the OP, these are generally nice people. They aren't completely nutty and praying and blessing everything in sight. They aren't fucked up fundamentalists or anything like that. As a matter of fact, I didn't know they were even quite this vocally religious until these recent episodes. But I do feel that people asking me to pray for shit is basicallyt he equivalent of, I dunno, asking them to suck a few cocks on their way to Fuddruckers.
Despite the inflammatory tone of the OP, these are generally nice people. They aren't completely nutty and praying and blessing everything in sight. They aren't fucked up fundamentalists or anything like that. As a matter of fact, I didn't know they were even quite this vocally religious until these recent episodes.
Despite the inflammatory tone of the OP, these are generally nice people. They aren't completely nutty and praying and blessing everything in sight. They aren't fucked up fundamentalists or anything like that. As a matter of fact, I didn't know they were even quite this vocally religious until these recent episodes.
Sounds like my wife's family. My wife knows I'm not into religion like they are, so she's just taught me to smile, act polite, and not say anything to upset them.
Despite the inflammatory tone of the OP, these are generally nice people. They aren't completely nutty and praying and blessing everything in sight. They aren't fucked up fundamentalists or anything like that. As a matter of fact, I didn't know they were even quite this vocally religious until these recent episodes.
Sounds like my wife's family. My wife knows I'm not into religion like they are, so she's just taught me to smile, act polite, and not say anything to upset them.
That's probably how I'd handle it in less urgent situations. When malignant brain tumors are in the equation, though, the whole dog and pony show is just frustrating and disgusting. I want to know how he's doing, and whether I lie to them and say I'm praying or not, I'm not going to get a real answer that isn't fueled be religious idiocy. There's serious things going on and science can tell us whether things are good or bad, let's drop the complete bullshit.
Despite the inflammatory tone of the OP, these are generally nice people. They aren't completely nutty and praying and blessing everything in sight. They aren't fucked up fundamentalists or anything like that. As a matter of fact, I didn't know they were even quite this vocally religious until these recent episodes.
Sounds like my wife's family. My wife knows I'm not into religion like they are, so she's just taught me to smile, act polite, and not say anything to upset them.
That's probably how I'd handle it in less urgent situations. When malignant brain tumors are in the equation, though, the whole dog and pony show is just frustrating and disgusting. I want to know how he's doing, and whether I lie to them and say I'm praying or not, I'm not going to get a real answer that isn't fueled be religious idiocy. There's serious things going on and science can tell us whether things are good or bad, let's drop the complete bullshit.
It sounds like they won't confront the truth and talk to you about it, though. Your best bet is to find another relative you can talk with about it, hopefully they have the answers you seek.
Just say you are concerned for him. It is the main honesty.
Also, would your Uncle be just wanting prayers if he was able to say so? What are his wishes?
...since they're trying to be as religious as possible due to their husband or father being extremely sick.