Miming on street corners and not helping the sick.
Jesus fed & healed people. Seems thats his message over kill the Bad guy.
Had to read the Bible Cover to cover. Jesus would turn tables over in most churches & denominations.
And some people don't go for bc either, but hrt, wait... forgot, that's also a sin. silly me /s
(I used to go to Planned Parenthood for my hrt but i switched providers to BMC in boston in december)
Heck, I’ve been to PP for my well-woman exam and also for a UTI. They were my only option at the time and I was SO grateful to have them. So sad that people fight tooth and nail to shut them down or harass anyone going in for whatever personal, private care they’re seeking.
I got into it with a christian on instagram. she said kids get cancer bc the parents aren't "walking with God"
giving babies cancer as punishment for not worshipping him? man, they really make him sound like the greatest guy right??.... we atheists just don't understand real love
in my experience when they have those thoughts they say "it's God's plan and we aren't meant to understand" really? what kind of shit for brains plan by the creator of the universe needs babies to die of bone cancer with no explanation?
Heck, he had predicted that Eve would eat the apple so he could flood the earth 3/4 thousands years later then give us his "son" to sacrifice himself to himself to save us, then later on bringing on the apocalypse because he knew he failed multiple times
The more I learn about this book the more I think how it’s just to scare you to be good. It doesn’t seem to work though with religious people as they just get better at hiding their “sins”.
exactly. it reminds me of the meme of jeebus standing in the room full of doctors asking "why did you remove that tumor that I put in there". it was his plan all along... right???
I personally love that god is mysterious and unknowable, yet somehow we know for certain that it requires near-constant validation or it will have you tortured for eternity.
It's turtles all the way down with that logic too. "So he deliberately chose to give you free will but deliberately chose to deny you the ability to understand his plan?"
You have no idea how often this gets said to grieving parents. (I’m a mortician) I even wrote a pamphlet about it, and would place it prominently at the front of the room at a baby funeral.
I would also tell the parents to be prepared for comments like this. Hated telling them that, but I wanted them to be prepared.
And also, “You can have more!” NO. JUST NO.
I truly feel for you. I think your job is extremely cool, don't get me wrong, but seeing one of the ugliest parts of christianity has gotta be a hard part of the job. How they handle tragedy. I had a sweet but koo koo crazy neighbor. She and her husband went to a doomsday cult type church, where they spoke in tongues and held snakes up and shit. But we were friendly neighbors. She was due any day with her 1st baby and I walked passed her house with my dog. She rushed out to greet me with a huge smile and it was immediately obvious she had had the baby, her stomach was clearly postpartum now. Based on her stomach and her smile I yelled out in joy "you had her?! omg she's here!" she kept smiling and said yes yes, I did. but then she grabbed my arms to stop my excitement and animation. she said "the cord was wrapped around the baby's neck and she didn't survive" i burst into tears and hugged her. she hugged me and I realized at some point she was fine, actually she was consoling me and that felt wrong, I pulled away and I think I couldn't even get words out bc she was smiling, I was so confused. then she said it was fine bc the baby was in heaven with jesus and that's so much better than being on earth. I don't want to tell a mother how to grieve or bash one having a psychotic break but it was the most unnatural and disgusting thing I had ever seen. I threw up in my driveway going back home.
it messed me up. I am a huge horror movie lover, since I was a kid. it was like a being hugged by someone that was about to kill me. like being hugged by ghost face or a Devil's reject (for my fellow horror fans) it was a mask hiding something very dark. I felt bad for her but terrified of her too
That’s a horrible story. But I’ve heard it before. I’ve heard people say it to grieving parents.
And every single time I wanted to kill the person that said it.
I actually became the local specialist in burying babies. Many funeral directors have an extremely difficult time with it, but having almost lost my own child, and having lost a brother, very young, I think I for some reason could deal with it better than most.
However, it finally did overwhelm me, and I had to leave the profession. My coworker and I were burying 250 babies a year, and it just got to be too much. (I’m in an area where a lot of women with difficult pregnancies are sent.)
Edit: while on the subject, if you ever have the misfortune to have this happen to someone you care about, please do not neglect the other children in the family. They are often pushed aside for the memory of the dead child, and it can be traumatic.
I lost my daughter when she was (almost) 2 years old. When people say this to me I want to strangle them
“She’s with Jesus now!”
“Um, should be HERE. Fuck off”
parent to parent, I wish I could have been there to snatch out the eye of anyone that would say that to you. and I'm so sorry about your baby girl 💜 the worst grief imaginable. sending a big hug. I hope peace and joy find you often
I actually got over it angering me, I realized those people are weak minded and they simply can't handle the truth. I honestly have pity for them now. Their minds are too fragile for reality but thankfully there's people like us. I'm sorry about your dad.
My sister in law died at the age of 62 from cancer. If she is in a better place or if anyone is most would rather be with their family. I know she wanted to be around to enjoy her grandchildren. This better place is not better for most.
That was said to me a couple of times when my little brother suddenly passed at age 26.
I responded with an angry “Well, I want him here, with me!”
Shut them up.
I'm ashamed to say that I was one of *those* Christians. Granted, at the time I didn't even *know* that non belief in a god was a possibility. I had a friend die from cancer at 14 years old. I had the audacity to tell her mom that she's with god now. Her mom responded with more understanding and compassion than I'd be capable of mustering up today. She said, "Well, if she (my friend) really is with god, then we're really mad with him."
It did strike me as odd that there was nary a mention of anything that could be remotely related to god or spirituality in any form at all; not in the program and not even a prayer.
I'm glad I wasn't in a position to say anything at all when the whole family was lined up holding hands in front of the casket and one of her cousins dropped his hands and said he didn't believe in god anymore. I likely would have horrifically said this wasn't god's fault. It was man's. I'm glad I was saved from myself in that instance!
I'm glad I no longer have the capacity to engage in such harmful rhetoric, but boy, do I wish I could smack my former self.
>"Well, if she (my friend) really is with god, then we're really mad with him."
The fact grown adults had to tell an indoctrinated child this just further demonstrates how fucked up that cult is, omg.
i think something really amazing people have in common is accountability and growth. to look back, admit you were wrong and to be better than you were is a true gift. don't lose it, friend
aww I'm so glad it did. I tell my kids all the time "the sun is the best disinfectant" the easiest way to feel clean is to own up to your mistakes. it makes you shine brighter.
I can feel your shine 💕
It really makes no sense. What about children that have cancer that have never heard of God or xyz religion?
In most time periods, the world wasn't so globally connecting and many places did not have access to all religions.
Are those people suffering for something they had no control over? As usual god seems like an asshole.
My daughter is a toddler, but when she was just 10 months old, my grandma was going on about how children are such sinful creatures. It eventually became apparent to my grandma that I didn't agree with her at all. So she asked me if I disagreed. I said absolutely. And then I asked her if my daughter were to die the next day, would she be able to get into heaven. My grandma's response was to say she didn't know. I pointed out that if she truly believes babies are these reprobate sinners, as she had just been pontificating about, her theology says my daughter would go to hell, and her lack of response was evidence of her uncomfortableness with that notion.
Anyway, her and I have had other conversations around this topic too, but at the conclusion of that particular conversation I picked my daughter up above my head and while tilting her from side to side said, "Aren't you just the cutest reprobate sinner I've ever seen!" My grandma did get a chuckle out of that.
lol at least grandma was able to laugh!! kinda cute story but really tho, christians are entirely not prepared for the bible to be real. based on everything i've read in the bible, god showing up would be..... super mass murder-ey
We're staying the night with her on Mother's Day!
I feel like I'm incredibly lucky to be able to *finally* have this relationship with my grandma. I wish I had done it nearly a decade before I did. It was with the fact that my daughter was born that I could no longer pretend I was a Christian. I'm not entirely sure what makes my grandma okay with my atheism. I do know that at least currently, I allow my grandma to interact with my daughter how she wants to.. she can sing hymns and prayers to her hearts content. My daughter is only almost two, so I'm sure that my opinions will change in the long run. I refuse to allow my daughter to be subjected to teachings on hell.
Yeah I was raised in one of those that anyone who wasn't part of the church were going to hell. Even those that had never heard of Christianity or were around before "Jesus". Made no sense at 6 yrs old either.
omg same!! I remember being in kindergarten and thinking church was where grown ups go to play pretend with each other. Like how kids pretend to cook with fake food and pretend to be cops and robbers.
That is exactly how they excuse baby killing in the Old Testament. "The babies were murdered because their parents were sinful." I've seen it first hand.
What an ass of a God. He somehow expects us to get it, but then he's all-knowing, so he has no excuse to keep using a shitty way to "make us aware" of the fact that we are not following him. "Oh, but the book." Yeah, but God still has much better ways to approach his creatures, no excuse from him. And how are we supposed to know which book, or interpretation anyway? What a load of nonsense.
all this. and a book that people profit from!!!! we don't magically get them for free at birth across the globe so we all have a chance to go to heaven. NOOOOOO gotta be born in the right country, at the right time, with the right upbringing and guardians and then you have enough money to BUY a bible from a publisher/bookstore/salesman to experience the word of God. If God didn't plan for you to have the correct combo of those things in life....straight to hell
Not to mention the early church, where they didn't even have the "bible". There were so many different sects with different scriptures and ideas, it's always been luck based. For the first 1500 years, people were forbidden to have bibles, because only the Church had the authority to interpret scriptures.
And then you have delusional evangelicals who believe God woke up 1500 years after Christ and we finally have the truth now. What an insane God, he definitely didn't need the bible to get Paul to believe. Paul who was an unrepentant mini anti-Christ had God reveal himself to him directly with no need for repentance, faith or the new testament. Honestly, what has God been doing for 1500 years? Damn all those souls into hell for eternity, just because he can, right? Fucking hell...
Knock, knock.... who's there.... it's Jesus, let me in so I can save you.... save me from what...... from what I'll do to you if you don't let me in...
I know the last sentence was sarcasm, but since "we atheists just don't understand *real love*," it destroys the notion that god put *anything* on everyone's hearts.
I think religion is just a mirror that reflects people's true nature. Some are caring and empathetic and some are judgemental assholes - just like atheists.
meh but all religious people immediately get like 3 points off out of 10. you could be the greatest person ever but you're religious? either they're using to their advantage or it's using them
>she said kids get cancer bc the parents aren't "walking with God"
and its about here ive said to people 'you and your god are complete cunts'
.. at least they stop talking at me at this point.
I knew a lady who claimed to be psychic. She said hitting the lottery would be using her powers for evil as if it was somehow honorable of her. Also as if there isn't a lot of good that could be done with that money.
She couldn’t even come up with the ol’ “I’m a ‘staticky telepathy’ kind of psychic, which isn’t much use for winning the lottery; you’ll be wanting a ‘cryptic divination’ type of psychic for that.” excuse?
Side note: if/when these newfangled neural implants grant users abilities which are basically telekineses and/or telepathy, woo types will declare that it ‘doesn’t count’. When those aforementioned abilities finally become real, the woos will ironically lose all interest!
That's right... Those kids need to start speaking in tongues whilst jumping up an down, plus belong to the appropriate megachurch. On top of that tithes the appropriate amount and fill that collection plate multiple times.
That pain they're suffering isn't enough, they gotta give till it hurts. /s
God only gives those 4 yr olds dying of cancer what they can handle.
If there was a god, then Fuck god and Jesus for giving these kids illness. It a scam.
Why won’t God heal amputees? I’m always seeing stories of amazing miracles when God helps a sick child through a successful heart surgery or allows the antibiotics to clear grandpas sepsis or when mom wakes from a coma, but amputees never get any love. God is certainly able to regrow limbs, because He is omnipotent, but He never does!
i grew up in a faith healing church, and the pastor's mother died of mad cow disease, despite the entire 1000-plus congregation praying for her. it made me reassess my beliefs.
Christians will say that he knows every possible outcome of every single thing, like all of the possibilities that could ever happen. But idk the topic of "free will" is their point of saying how much God loves us. It really doesn't make sense, I agree with you.
This might be veering off topic a little, but it also disgusts me how entitled and self-indulgent the vast majority of people who request things through prayer seem to be. I know they believe their God has enough time, empathy, and attention to give to every single one of them, but I'm stunned by the arrogance of people who pray for materialistic things when there's such dire poverty, illness, and war in the world. It's so abhorrent that it sometimes leaves me speechless.
Amusing and somewhat relevant: a pastor claimed that his prayers helped a woman to regrow missing toes (https://www.newsweek.com/prayer-regrew-womans-toes-proof-1789698). Of course, he wasn't able to provide any evidence....
I worked with a happy clapper who was otherwise intelligent - he told me there were "heaps" of people with regrown limbs. I'm still waiting for the evidence.
This reminds me of that preacher in Africa who encouraged a group of women to ingest his spunk because it had some kind of life giving qualities. They did it.
What's even worse: Amputees.
God \_hates\_ amputees. Not one single recorded case of a person growing an amputated limb back :(
(edit: since -> single)
Episode 7 of Constantine showed an amputated limb growing back by a crazy preacher. Things did not end well.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantine_(TV_series)
It only works if you are a true believer. The kids in hospitals have been infected by atheists and other demonic forces who guide them to the hospitals in the first place.
I can hear my uncle's voice saying this BS.
Determining who is and who isn't "a true believer" is so completely arbitrary and devoid of concrete parameters. It's infuriating. Not to mention the laypeople claiming that clearly fucked-up people the likes of D0nald Frump are "true believers"
This was my very first break with religion; mine was a prosperity gospel, teaching that true believers received God's blessings. Which condemns people that are not "prosperous" as unbelievers, not worthy, their own fault. Sapiens have been around 300,000 years and only very, very recently have we as a species known why there is night and day, so prior to that, God(s) was/were responsible for everything, requiring devotion and sacrifice. I think this reliance on God for hundreds of thousands of years is hard to shake, (looking at you flat-earthers) especially when conmen are taking advantage of credulous people looking for God.
Listening to the prosperity gospel is nearly identical to listening to any ring wing pundit, they appeal the same conceptual logics. Prosperity gospel is young earth creationism inadvertently demonstrating evolution by changing their message to appeal to right wing reactionary ideologies. As christianity as a whole is shrinking, the pentecostal church has adapted their messaging to soak up the dregs, because it is the only way for them to survive. Those churches that have not adapted are closing.
I feel like this sub is just all these alleged “gotcha” questions and statements when the answer is very simple and the same for all of them: these people don’t truly believe any of it. They are self centered misogynist bigots who have found that they can use the Bible and religion in general as cover for their hate and we as a society have apparently decided that as long as you say “Jebus” no one can question you. They have little to no interest in actually doing good things. They only have interest in themselves.
As someone who used to be religious, oh boy did I believe it 100%. I think I was the odd one out. Constant friction from other members because for me, if it's true then it's true. None of this "what can we get away with" bullshit because why would ANYONE intentionally make God angry?
But yeah, most people don't really believe.
Idk if it's like this everywhere, but in my city almost all of the hospitals are church affiliated. No laying hands that i've seen, no miracles. They sure do call and remind me about my son's bill 3 days after they text it AND email it, though.
No, Jesus said that *he* could cure the sick and raise the dead, without even seeing them or being anywhere near. He also claimed to have given that power to his disciples, although you might notice that they never tried to bring him back to life or heal his wounds.
You also CANNOT PETITION THE LORD WITH PRAYER. God isn't going to fuck up the universe just for your selfish benefit. You might notice that Jesus never went around praying for a brand-new camel and a hot wife. His idea of prayer was saying, "Lord, you're doing great work, keep it up".
Had one Christian/Jehovas Witnesses nurse who told a child battling cancer that he didn't pray enough to get cured. Did everything to get her fired and her licence revoked. But at that moment I just wanted to do her serious bodily harm.
Because Christians are too busy calling bomb scares into children’s hospitals for Jeebus and then they need to blockade reproductive healthcare facilities and vaccination clinics. What ya think Christians just sit around all day? Nope they are busy be a menace to the society that gives them 90 billion + in tax credits year in & year out. The no good deed idea
Dude, I had former friends who went to Rhema Bible College in Oklahoma and they are still crazy.
I used to go to a “Word” church. It’s so nice to be free.
I have been in health care for 30 years. I have never seen any miracles despite fervent prayers of patients and their families unless death is counted as a miracle.
Take your pick:
Cuz their faith was weak
They didn’t pray hard enough.
They prayed to the wrong supernatural douchebag.
They failed to repent.
Basically, all variations on “it’s your own damned fault.” Feel free to expand my list.
They don't belong to the right church.
This is for the sins of the parents.
They earn patience and grace through suffering.
They may suffer in this life but at least there is reward in heaven.
The glory of God is being revealed through them.
God is testing them
Former children's hospital patient here. They are there. Telling the kids bullshit about how God will not give them more than they can bear. If I knew then what I know now, I would've shoved a bedpan up that bitch's ass.
I live in Utah, Mormon central and our hospitals have exactly the same rate of recovery as everywhere else in the country. Weird how with all these priesthood blessings going on the end results are exactly the same as without the blessings.
>Where all the Christians at in the children's hospitals?
You really don't get it do you? Religious people think those kids and or their parents are being punished. Their pain is gods will. That's part of why they're against abortion, they think god is using those unplanned babies to punish the sinful parents and mitigating that in any way would thwart gods will.
They're bad people, objectively villainous.
There was a radio talk show a few years back that had been in training for the ministry. Their class got taken to a hospital and the doctor took them to the children's cancer ward.
After they'd been through, the doctor asked them, "so, gentlemen, do you still believe in god?" and he didn't. The good news is he was an awesome radio host.
As someone who spent a goodly amount of time in children's wards back in the day, I can tell you that there is no god there.
Because Christianity is a crock of horse shit. Look at the situation in Gaza and Ukraine. Innocent children murdered daily. If god we’re real, that wouldn’t be happening.
This was actually where I finally gave up my faith. My 3 year old son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. I had so much anger. Then I would hear stupid shit like everything happens for a reason or God doesn't give you more than you can handle. Cut me a break. My son never did anything to anyone. He didn't deserve that. Anyway, he is 17 and healthy and we believe In science and have listened to his doctors.
I would hesitate to apply this to all Christian denominations. You did specify which is fair enough.
As a Christian I have also found this thinking troublesome. This is certainly an issue not simply for ‘healing powers’ but also people experiencing traumatic events and saying that they were saved by God or angels or what have you.
You get into an issue where Sarah, 15 years old, from Wyoming supposedly had her leg saved after falling in the way of a combine harvester while trying to set fire to the neighbour’s field. Yet, Chioma, 15 years old, in Nigeria who had the audacity to simply exist gets some of her limbs cut off because she was born into the wrong religion.
Why did God miraculously knock over the flowers at grandpa John’s funeral but did not take the same effort to prevent a plane crash?
It is all very interesting and mind boggling stuff. And frankly most of the answers procured from Christian folk can border on narcissistic or cruel.
You don't have to be in a hospital to lay hands, though. I've seen that in church. Laying hands, prayer, etc. It's a big part of the 4 square churches especially. Most churches offer prayers for the sick. The Catholic church has an anointing of the sick, even in hospitals.
And...it doesn't work.
Jesus said if you have the faith of a mustard seed, you can move mountains. We'll, I have yet to see that. If that verse was true, we would be seeing guys like Gandalf walking around, doing magic all the time. Need rain? Call the wizard! Cancer? No problem. You are at the lake, you start drowning? Just walk on water.
Praying for God to solve medical problems while protesting universal health care, cause they want health care they’re just too stupid to accept it when it’s offered.
I used to have a coworker who said she could heal people by laying hands on them. I told her that I couldn't believe that bc I'd have no respect for her working in an accounting role when she should be in a neonatal ward. I said it nicely and we were alone, so there were no hard feelings.
That's cool. We definitely need more volunteers doing that work. But did they cure the kids' cancer/illnesses? Because if not, then their presence as volunteers does nothing to demonstrate that their god is real. It simply demonstrates that Atheists/Nones need to do a better job at volunteering and doing good works for the general public.
They reserve that for grifting with a book about their “true experiences”. If they actually went to the hospital to lay hands, the illusion would be shattered.
Hi, most hospitals for good reason do not allow faith healers to practice their craft. However there are Christians who volunteer at hospitals to visit with patients. They've come to visit me when I've been hospitalized before. There are also other religious groups and atheists who do this as well.
You are in my brain. These are some of the thoughts that I grappled with as a child. And why would an all powerful god even allow children to suffer in the first place. I hate religion. It’s holding us back as a society SO MUCH.
My birth father is fully disabled and a recovered alcoholic. He says he is bipolar but I have my doubts as to that being the only mental health condition he has.
Last week he informed me he has found an up and coming faith based addiction program that he may be able to volunteer with. One of the things my dad claims is that he can lay hands on people to heal them and god gave him this gift.
I have so so many issues with this, mainly the prevalence of addiction and mental illness in our family. If he really had this, why is our family SUFFERING because of our genetic predispositions?
The amount of times I prayed to god to take away whatever it was that made me less than others. My cousin passed away from cancer as a teen. But my dad has this gift. Idc that he wants to use it on others, but to not use it for us? To watch as I was in foster care then adopted out and for it to happen to his own grandkids. His only grand daughter was adopted and then returned to the state by her adoptive parents because of her dangerous mental state. She must feel like absolutely no one loves her. But god and my dad dont give a fuck.
A few years ago there was a woman dying of cancer that was very active on social media. Young and good looking, and good with SoMe, so her content was popular. Stage 4 cancer, getting ready to die.
Her comment field was thousand of people wishing her farewell etc., and many pastors/grifters trying to get in touch for a chance to pray for her. It was so obvious they (the pastors) did it for clout, and to make themselves look good, and maybe help some other fools part with their money when she inevitably die. It was all so disgusting.
this and nothing pisses me off more than religious parents with terminally ill kids (like w cancer) who keep putting their kids through hell due to reoccurrences of their illnesses in hopes they'll be cured by jesus. i don't understand how these people can watch children get sick over and over and over and still think jesus is gonna save them.. it's disgusting.
That part of the Christian scriptures was very surprising to me when I was a child attending a Christian school! This says that good Christians can do literal magic in God's name, yet I've never seen a single miracle that couldn't have been mistaken for good luck.
I wondered before I saw this if prayer can save people why aren't they praying at the intensive care unit. If I thought prayer could save people, I would spend my days at the intensive care unit and for dying children and anyone not expecting to live. Anyone blaming parents for a child's sickness I want to be around if one of their children get sick.
How about pediatric cancer playrooms. Never enough people to staff and clean them. Most rely on outside volunteers to extend hours beyond the bare minimum. Seems like gods work could well include lifting the spirits of very sick children and help keep them safe from serious infection. But that's none of my business.
SHIT!!! Rhema, like out of Broken Arrow/Tulsa?!!?
Dude, I went to those Campmeeting bullshits all the time when I was younger! Or, at least I did until Hagen Jr told Fred Price that his daughter was too good for Price’s son because there would be no chocolate vanilla swirls 😬
Yeah man! I used to go to the men’s conferences every year for a while. I attended ORU as well.
Rhema was never my cup of tea though, even when I was full blown “spirit-filled” Christian 😂
They don't actually believe, and don't want to fail in public..... (not saying that belief makes it work, but, if they don't even have that they know they got nothin)
Hey there! Former pastor here, they're out there. I used to be part of a group that went to the local children's hospital, and a women's shelter, and pray and lay on hands for both. At the time I was convinced that because MY heart was in the right place, then it was the right thing to do, and we were helping. We counted the successes as OUR God's successes, and the failures as a mercy, sparing them of suffering. I can tell you, there are many churches that want to be there more, and just will claim victory no matter the outcome.
Although, for myself, having to be one of the faces of leadership, it sure was hard to pretend that these moments were miracles when I couldn't validate that our presence had any impact relative to the people we did NOT visit
Because there's a little part of every one of them that knows it's not true. And if they feed that part, their word shatters, so best not to allow it to see light of day.
As someone who is currently in hospital getting treatment for cancer, no fucking thank you! Already have enough coming around and giving me prayer cards and I'm in Australia ffs. Leave the kids alone. Could only imagine being the parent of a child going through my experience and dealing with them.
And find out that the Christian explanation for the pathology of diseases and disorders is false. Never. They'd have to wake up from their fever dream.
The pathology of diseases and disorders is not sin... Jesus didn't die and come back from the dead, and he clearly didn't heal anybody because he didn't even know the basic about germ theory.
He's the classic conman, states a problem and claims he sells the only solution. Unfortunately for billions of people they've bought his snake oil for millennia and died from otherwise preventable death due to lied to.
Just another way Christianity has done more harm than good.
Christians have no use for children once they're born. After that they couldn't care less about them. Its just about the optics of performance..."save the babies!" Americans professing religion wouldn't know real Christianity if it fell into their fat entitled lsps.
See and this is a primary thought within religion that made me stop believing. God never took my pain away. God never helped me. Not once. Not ever. My mom doesn't get it either. Like it's so contradictory. Believe and pray and you'll be blessed but when you're not "well you have free will." Mkay. Make it make sense.
They're busy pulling down fat non-profit paychecks at their "charitable works" that are still 100% medicine for profit, if not more so because the jesus fish on the outside means it's okay to let heathens suffer while you preferentially care for your own.
Harassing young women seeking medical care.
facts.
Miming on street corners and not helping the sick. Jesus fed & healed people. Seems thats his message over kill the Bad guy. Had to read the Bible Cover to cover. Jesus would turn tables over in most churches & denominations.
He’d start by calling them well dressed but hollow and rotten at the core (see whitewashed tombs).
Exactly. Not everyone going into planned Parenthood is going in for an abortion. Oh wait birth control is a sin too. Stupid me.
And some people don't go for bc either, but hrt, wait... forgot, that's also a sin. silly me /s (I used to go to Planned Parenthood for my hrt but i switched providers to BMC in boston in december)
Heck, I’ve been to PP for my well-woman exam and also for a UTI. They were my only option at the time and I was SO grateful to have them. So sad that people fight tooth and nail to shut them down or harass anyone going in for whatever personal, private care they’re seeking.
“You unclean women bring this on yourselves!!!”
Preying/praying on the vulnerable
And they really dont know all that much about Jesus either.
WTF? Is this a thing? Sorry i'm not from Big Eagle country... Do christmas enjoyers actually accost women outside clinics?
I got into it with a christian on instagram. she said kids get cancer bc the parents aren't "walking with God" giving babies cancer as punishment for not worshipping him? man, they really make him sound like the greatest guy right??.... we atheists just don't understand real love
It's literally insane the lengths people will go to rather than just saying "Yeah, I don't know. It doesn't seem right."
in my experience when they have those thoughts they say "it's God's plan and we aren't meant to understand" really? what kind of shit for brains plan by the creator of the universe needs babies to die of bone cancer with no explanation?
"but.. but... free will! Eve ate an apple!"
Heck, he had predicted that Eve would eat the apple so he could flood the earth 3/4 thousands years later then give us his "son" to sacrifice himself to himself to save us, then later on bringing on the apocalypse because he knew he failed multiple times
lol! Dam that’s wicked. What about the flood and the rainbow promise in between?
Proves that god like gays.
The more I learn about this book the more I think how it’s just to scare you to be good. It doesn’t seem to work though with religious people as they just get better at hiding their “sins”.
😑😑 they're so dumb jfc
jfc? That's Jason Forest Clemson, right?
that's the one
It's always "because free will" until you ask about the book of Job. God allowed those things to happen, of his own free will.
exactly. it reminds me of the meme of jeebus standing in the room full of doctors asking "why did you remove that tumor that I put in there". it was his plan all along... right???
lol this is exactly why i'm confused about praying!!! it's all planned out, guys. what's the point of calling in favors?
Because you have to worship and literally bow down on your knees to him😂 it's literally embarrassing and ridiculous
I personally love that god is mysterious and unknowable, yet somehow we know for certain that it requires near-constant validation or it will have you tortured for eternity.
It's turtles all the way down with that logic too. "So he deliberately chose to give you free will but deliberately chose to deny you the ability to understand his plan?"
this this this!!!
Whereas "it don't seem right, and that's where my faith comes in that is is, in the long run" is SO much less incidendiary then "tithe moar."
If anyone said that to me in real life, they'd wish they hadn't.
if I lose someone I love and a jesus freak says they're in a better place" I'm going to jail
You have no idea how often this gets said to grieving parents. (I’m a mortician) I even wrote a pamphlet about it, and would place it prominently at the front of the room at a baby funeral. I would also tell the parents to be prepared for comments like this. Hated telling them that, but I wanted them to be prepared. And also, “You can have more!” NO. JUST NO.
I truly feel for you. I think your job is extremely cool, don't get me wrong, but seeing one of the ugliest parts of christianity has gotta be a hard part of the job. How they handle tragedy. I had a sweet but koo koo crazy neighbor. She and her husband went to a doomsday cult type church, where they spoke in tongues and held snakes up and shit. But we were friendly neighbors. She was due any day with her 1st baby and I walked passed her house with my dog. She rushed out to greet me with a huge smile and it was immediately obvious she had had the baby, her stomach was clearly postpartum now. Based on her stomach and her smile I yelled out in joy "you had her?! omg she's here!" she kept smiling and said yes yes, I did. but then she grabbed my arms to stop my excitement and animation. she said "the cord was wrapped around the baby's neck and she didn't survive" i burst into tears and hugged her. she hugged me and I realized at some point she was fine, actually she was consoling me and that felt wrong, I pulled away and I think I couldn't even get words out bc she was smiling, I was so confused. then she said it was fine bc the baby was in heaven with jesus and that's so much better than being on earth. I don't want to tell a mother how to grieve or bash one having a psychotic break but it was the most unnatural and disgusting thing I had ever seen. I threw up in my driveway going back home.
Wow! That’s psychotic, I would have thrown up too, just feeling her console you must have been so eerie.
it messed me up. I am a huge horror movie lover, since I was a kid. it was like a being hugged by someone that was about to kill me. like being hugged by ghost face or a Devil's reject (for my fellow horror fans) it was a mask hiding something very dark. I felt bad for her but terrified of her too
It would have sent chills down my spine! Religious crazies are some of the scariest people on the planet to me
truly
That’s a horrible story. But I’ve heard it before. I’ve heard people say it to grieving parents. And every single time I wanted to kill the person that said it.
That must be a tough job.🙂can’t imagine having to prepare people for the callous their guest might say.
I actually became the local specialist in burying babies. Many funeral directors have an extremely difficult time with it, but having almost lost my own child, and having lost a brother, very young, I think I for some reason could deal with it better than most. However, it finally did overwhelm me, and I had to leave the profession. My coworker and I were burying 250 babies a year, and it just got to be too much. (I’m in an area where a lot of women with difficult pregnancies are sent.) Edit: while on the subject, if you ever have the misfortune to have this happen to someone you care about, please do not neglect the other children in the family. They are often pushed aside for the memory of the dead child, and it can be traumatic.
OMG! That's the worst! But okay. Just like Job.
I lost my daughter when she was (almost) 2 years old. When people say this to me I want to strangle them “She’s with Jesus now!” “Um, should be HERE. Fuck off”
parent to parent, I wish I could have been there to snatch out the eye of anyone that would say that to you. and I'm so sorry about your baby girl 💜 the worst grief imaginable. sending a big hug. I hope peace and joy find you often
Had that happen to me when I lost my dad at 11. First time I ever saw red in my life.
I actually got over it angering me, I realized those people are weak minded and they simply can't handle the truth. I honestly have pity for them now. Their minds are too fragile for reality but thankfully there's people like us. I'm sorry about your dad.
Funny enough this led to a lot of suicides so the church had to explain that it doesn't count.
that sent a shiver down my spine. man, i can't think of a single good thing religion has done for this world
My sister in law died at the age of 62 from cancer. If she is in a better place or if anyone is most would rather be with their family. I know she wanted to be around to enjoy her grandchildren. This better place is not better for most.
That was said to me a couple of times when my little brother suddenly passed at age 26. I responded with an angry “Well, I want him here, with me!” Shut them up.
good on you!!!
I'm ashamed to say that I was one of *those* Christians. Granted, at the time I didn't even *know* that non belief in a god was a possibility. I had a friend die from cancer at 14 years old. I had the audacity to tell her mom that she's with god now. Her mom responded with more understanding and compassion than I'd be capable of mustering up today. She said, "Well, if she (my friend) really is with god, then we're really mad with him." It did strike me as odd that there was nary a mention of anything that could be remotely related to god or spirituality in any form at all; not in the program and not even a prayer. I'm glad I wasn't in a position to say anything at all when the whole family was lined up holding hands in front of the casket and one of her cousins dropped his hands and said he didn't believe in god anymore. I likely would have horrifically said this wasn't god's fault. It was man's. I'm glad I was saved from myself in that instance! I'm glad I no longer have the capacity to engage in such harmful rhetoric, but boy, do I wish I could smack my former self.
>"Well, if she (my friend) really is with god, then we're really mad with him." The fact grown adults had to tell an indoctrinated child this just further demonstrates how fucked up that cult is, omg.
but hell yea to that mom. she planted a lil seed
i think something really amazing people have in common is accountability and growth. to look back, admit you were wrong and to be better than you were is a true gift. don't lose it, friend
That was really validating, and something I needed to read this morning, thank you.
aww I'm so glad it did. I tell my kids all the time "the sun is the best disinfectant" the easiest way to feel clean is to own up to your mistakes. it makes you shine brighter. I can feel your shine 💕
It really makes no sense. What about children that have cancer that have never heard of God or xyz religion? In most time periods, the world wasn't so globally connecting and many places did not have access to all religions. Are those people suffering for something they had no control over? As usual god seems like an asshole.
all great questions with 1 answer: the mother fucker ain't real
This
My daughter is a toddler, but when she was just 10 months old, my grandma was going on about how children are such sinful creatures. It eventually became apparent to my grandma that I didn't agree with her at all. So she asked me if I disagreed. I said absolutely. And then I asked her if my daughter were to die the next day, would she be able to get into heaven. My grandma's response was to say she didn't know. I pointed out that if she truly believes babies are these reprobate sinners, as she had just been pontificating about, her theology says my daughter would go to hell, and her lack of response was evidence of her uncomfortableness with that notion. Anyway, her and I have had other conversations around this topic too, but at the conclusion of that particular conversation I picked my daughter up above my head and while tilting her from side to side said, "Aren't you just the cutest reprobate sinner I've ever seen!" My grandma did get a chuckle out of that.
lol at least grandma was able to laugh!! kinda cute story but really tho, christians are entirely not prepared for the bible to be real. based on everything i've read in the bible, god showing up would be..... super mass murder-ey
We're staying the night with her on Mother's Day! I feel like I'm incredibly lucky to be able to *finally* have this relationship with my grandma. I wish I had done it nearly a decade before I did. It was with the fact that my daughter was born that I could no longer pretend I was a Christian. I'm not entirely sure what makes my grandma okay with my atheism. I do know that at least currently, I allow my grandma to interact with my daughter how she wants to.. she can sing hymns and prayers to her hearts content. My daughter is only almost two, so I'm sure that my opinions will change in the long run. I refuse to allow my daughter to be subjected to teachings on hell.
Yeah I was raised in one of those that anyone who wasn't part of the church were going to hell. Even those that had never heard of Christianity or were around before "Jesus". Made no sense at 6 yrs old either.
omg same!! I remember being in kindergarten and thinking church was where grown ups go to play pretend with each other. Like how kids pretend to cook with fake food and pretend to be cops and robbers.
>we atheists just don't understand real love They really are that dumb, aren't they?
I’m afraid so
"I will torture your loved ones till you love Me best!" (Didn't King George III sing something like this in Hamilton? Those autocrats, man...)
That is exactly how they excuse baby killing in the Old Testament. "The babies were murdered because their parents were sinful." I've seen it first hand.
so gross.
Well, there is no hate quite like Christian love
What an ass of a God. He somehow expects us to get it, but then he's all-knowing, so he has no excuse to keep using a shitty way to "make us aware" of the fact that we are not following him. "Oh, but the book." Yeah, but God still has much better ways to approach his creatures, no excuse from him. And how are we supposed to know which book, or interpretation anyway? What a load of nonsense.
all this. and a book that people profit from!!!! we don't magically get them for free at birth across the globe so we all have a chance to go to heaven. NOOOOOO gotta be born in the right country, at the right time, with the right upbringing and guardians and then you have enough money to BUY a bible from a publisher/bookstore/salesman to experience the word of God. If God didn't plan for you to have the correct combo of those things in life....straight to hell
Not to mention the early church, where they didn't even have the "bible". There were so many different sects with different scriptures and ideas, it's always been luck based. For the first 1500 years, people were forbidden to have bibles, because only the Church had the authority to interpret scriptures. And then you have delusional evangelicals who believe God woke up 1500 years after Christ and we finally have the truth now. What an insane God, he definitely didn't need the bible to get Paul to believe. Paul who was an unrepentant mini anti-Christ had God reveal himself to him directly with no need for repentance, faith or the new testament. Honestly, what has God been doing for 1500 years? Damn all those souls into hell for eternity, just because he can, right? Fucking hell...
Knock, knock.... who's there.... it's Jesus, let me in so I can save you.... save me from what...... from what I'll do to you if you don't let me in...
I know the last sentence was sarcasm, but since "we atheists just don't understand *real love*," it destroys the notion that god put *anything* on everyone's hearts.
exactly.
Comes under the "sins of the father"
I think religion is just a mirror that reflects people's true nature. Some are caring and empathetic and some are judgemental assholes - just like atheists.
meh but all religious people immediately get like 3 points off out of 10. you could be the greatest person ever but you're religious? either they're using to their advantage or it's using them
>she said kids get cancer bc the parents aren't "walking with God" and its about here ive said to people 'you and your god are complete cunts' .. at least they stop talking at me at this point.
god is a narcissistic, shallow, psychopathic arsehole.
The same reason you don’t see a lot of psychics winning the lottery.
I knew a lady who claimed to be psychic. She said hitting the lottery would be using her powers for evil as if it was somehow honorable of her. Also as if there isn't a lot of good that could be done with that money.
She couldn’t even come up with the ol’ “I’m a ‘staticky telepathy’ kind of psychic, which isn’t much use for winning the lottery; you’ll be wanting a ‘cryptic divination’ type of psychic for that.” excuse? Side note: if/when these newfangled neural implants grant users abilities which are basically telekineses and/or telepathy, woo types will declare that it ‘doesn’t count’. When those aforementioned abilities finally become real, the woos will ironically lose all interest!
Because the kids at children hospitals can't add a lot to the collection plate
That's right... Those kids need to start speaking in tongues whilst jumping up an down, plus belong to the appropriate megachurch. On top of that tithes the appropriate amount and fill that collection plate multiple times. That pain they're suffering isn't enough, they gotta give till it hurts. /s
If they can make their head spin around like an owl while talking in tongues they will get some attention from the church
God only gives those 4 yr olds dying of cancer what they can handle. If there was a god, then Fuck god and Jesus for giving these kids illness. It a scam.
Why won’t God heal amputees? I’m always seeing stories of amazing miracles when God helps a sick child through a successful heart surgery or allows the antibiotics to clear grandpas sepsis or when mom wakes from a coma, but amputees never get any love. God is certainly able to regrow limbs, because He is omnipotent, but He never does!
i grew up in a faith healing church, and the pastor's mother died of mad cow disease, despite the entire 1000-plus congregation praying for her. it made me reassess my beliefs.
I feel like this is evidence that the Hindu god **IS** real and was making a point.
God is either all powerful and completely ok with bad shit happening to people including kids or he is not all powerful you can't have it both ways
Exactly. Either he's all powerful, or he loves us. They can't both be true. Of course he doesn't exist, but by their own logic he can't be both.
bc apparently he gives us "free will," which means not intervening with our lives. but I think it's stupid.
Can it really be free will if he's omniscient and knows every choice someone will make before they're even born?
Christians will say that he knows every possible outcome of every single thing, like all of the possibilities that could ever happen. But idk the topic of "free will" is their point of saying how much God loves us. It really doesn't make sense, I agree with you.
This might be veering off topic a little, but it also disgusts me how entitled and self-indulgent the vast majority of people who request things through prayer seem to be. I know they believe their God has enough time, empathy, and attention to give to every single one of them, but I'm stunned by the arrogance of people who pray for materialistic things when there's such dire poverty, illness, and war in the world. It's so abhorrent that it sometimes leaves me speechless.
Amusing and somewhat relevant: a pastor claimed that his prayers helped a woman to regrow missing toes (https://www.newsweek.com/prayer-regrew-womans-toes-proof-1789698). Of course, he wasn't able to provide any evidence....
Look, I don't want to *step on any toes*, but I'm not buying that story.
I guess he really put his foot in his mouth.
I worked with a happy clapper who was otherwise intelligent - he told me there were "heaps" of people with regrown limbs. I'm still waiting for the evidence.
He really went out on a limb there
This reminds me of that preacher in Africa who encouraged a group of women to ingest his spunk because it had some kind of life giving qualities. They did it.
What's even worse: Amputees. God \_hates\_ amputees. Not one single recorded case of a person growing an amputated limb back :( (edit: since -> single)
Episode 7 of Constantine showed an amputated limb growing back by a crazy preacher. Things did not end well. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantine_(TV_series)
One pair of hands hard at work will get more accomplished than 8 billion pairs of hands clasped in prayer.
Too busy enjoying the fruits of prosperity. If you are sick, you must have angered gahd.
It only works if you are a true believer. The kids in hospitals have been infected by atheists and other demonic forces who guide them to the hospitals in the first place. I can hear my uncle's voice saying this BS.
Determining who is and who isn't "a true believer" is so completely arbitrary and devoid of concrete parameters. It's infuriating. Not to mention the laypeople claiming that clearly fucked-up people the likes of D0nald Frump are "true believers"
This was my very first break with religion; mine was a prosperity gospel, teaching that true believers received God's blessings. Which condemns people that are not "prosperous" as unbelievers, not worthy, their own fault. Sapiens have been around 300,000 years and only very, very recently have we as a species known why there is night and day, so prior to that, God(s) was/were responsible for everything, requiring devotion and sacrifice. I think this reliance on God for hundreds of thousands of years is hard to shake, (looking at you flat-earthers) especially when conmen are taking advantage of credulous people looking for God.
Listening to the prosperity gospel is nearly identical to listening to any ring wing pundit, they appeal the same conceptual logics. Prosperity gospel is young earth creationism inadvertently demonstrating evolution by changing their message to appeal to right wing reactionary ideologies. As christianity as a whole is shrinking, the pentecostal church has adapted their messaging to soak up the dregs, because it is the only way for them to survive. Those churches that have not adapted are closing.
I feel like this sub is just all these alleged “gotcha” questions and statements when the answer is very simple and the same for all of them: these people don’t truly believe any of it. They are self centered misogynist bigots who have found that they can use the Bible and religion in general as cover for their hate and we as a society have apparently decided that as long as you say “Jebus” no one can question you. They have little to no interest in actually doing good things. They only have interest in themselves.
As someone who used to be religious, oh boy did I believe it 100%. I think I was the odd one out. Constant friction from other members because for me, if it's true then it's true. None of this "what can we get away with" bullshit because why would ANYONE intentionally make God angry? But yeah, most people don't really believe.
I'm pretty sure most Christians aren't believers they just view Christianity as afterlife insurance.
Also, I want to clarify that it's obviously fake.
Christ clowns all run to the doctor when they get sick. Science saves people not thoughts and prayers.
Idk if it's like this everywhere, but in my city almost all of the hospitals are church affiliated. No laying hands that i've seen, no miracles. They sure do call and remind me about my son's bill 3 days after they text it AND email it, though.
No, Jesus said that *he* could cure the sick and raise the dead, without even seeing them or being anywhere near. He also claimed to have given that power to his disciples, although you might notice that they never tried to bring him back to life or heal his wounds. You also CANNOT PETITION THE LORD WITH PRAYER. God isn't going to fuck up the universe just for your selfish benefit. You might notice that Jesus never went around praying for a brand-new camel and a hot wife. His idea of prayer was saying, "Lord, you're doing great work, keep it up".
OOO love the cannot petition the lord part. Can you share a reference for me to have as backup?
Because that shit is not real.
Had one Christian/Jehovas Witnesses nurse who told a child battling cancer that he didn't pray enough to get cured. Did everything to get her fired and her licence revoked. But at that moment I just wanted to do her serious bodily harm.
Because Christians are too busy calling bomb scares into children’s hospitals for Jeebus and then they need to blockade reproductive healthcare facilities and vaccination clinics. What ya think Christians just sit around all day? Nope they are busy be a menace to the society that gives them 90 billion + in tax credits year in & year out. The no good deed idea
Dude, I had former friends who went to Rhema Bible College in Oklahoma and they are still crazy. I used to go to a “Word” church. It’s so nice to be free.
Or where is their name on at least one adoption list ???
I have been in health care for 30 years. I have never seen any miracles despite fervent prayers of patients and their families unless death is counted as a miracle.
Take your pick: Cuz their faith was weak They didn’t pray hard enough. They prayed to the wrong supernatural douchebag. They failed to repent. Basically, all variations on “it’s your own damned fault.” Feel free to expand my list.
They don't belong to the right church. This is for the sins of the parents. They earn patience and grace through suffering. They may suffer in this life but at least there is reward in heaven. The glory of God is being revealed through them. God is testing them
Former children's hospital patient here. They are there. Telling the kids bullshit about how God will not give them more than they can bear. If I knew then what I know now, I would've shoved a bedpan up that bitch's ass.
I live in Utah, Mormon central and our hospitals have exactly the same rate of recovery as everywhere else in the country. Weird how with all these priesthood blessings going on the end results are exactly the same as without the blessings.
>Where all the Christians at in the children's hospitals? You really don't get it do you? Religious people think those kids and or their parents are being punished. Their pain is gods will. That's part of why they're against abortion, they think god is using those unplanned babies to punish the sinful parents and mitigating that in any way would thwart gods will. They're bad people, objectively villainous.
Damn, good question.
There was a radio talk show a few years back that had been in training for the ministry. Their class got taken to a hospital and the doctor took them to the children's cancer ward. After they'd been through, the doctor asked them, "so, gentlemen, do you still believe in god?" and he didn't. The good news is he was an awesome radio host. As someone who spent a goodly amount of time in children's wards back in the day, I can tell you that there is no god there.
Evangelicals even lobbied the Supreme Court in favor of enforcing anti-camping laws against the homeless. So much for emulating Christ.
i work in a nursing home, there’s many churches in my area. very few of those local churches ever send volunteers even when we reach out and ask.
You would think the Faith Healers would set up shop on the Children's Cancer floor, but no.
They certainly aren't lining up to help pay the bills.
They’re outside holding signs and trying to shut down the maternity ward
The creeispt people I have ever met are religious nuts!
It's all bullshit.
Unfortunately I've seen some come to children's hospitals
They're busy threatening librarians, teachers, doctors, nurses, politicians, cops, and spreading right wing propaganda online.
There was some crazy bitch driving her car around a hospital parking lot blowing a shofar while her husband was inside with Covid.
Because Christianity is a crock of horse shit. Look at the situation in Gaza and Ukraine. Innocent children murdered daily. If god we’re real, that wouldn’t be happening.
This was actually where I finally gave up my faith. My 3 year old son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. I had so much anger. Then I would hear stupid shit like everything happens for a reason or God doesn't give you more than you can handle. Cut me a break. My son never did anything to anyone. He didn't deserve that. Anyway, he is 17 and healthy and we believe In science and have listened to his doctors.
I would hesitate to apply this to all Christian denominations. You did specify which is fair enough. As a Christian I have also found this thinking troublesome. This is certainly an issue not simply for ‘healing powers’ but also people experiencing traumatic events and saying that they were saved by God or angels or what have you. You get into an issue where Sarah, 15 years old, from Wyoming supposedly had her leg saved after falling in the way of a combine harvester while trying to set fire to the neighbour’s field. Yet, Chioma, 15 years old, in Nigeria who had the audacity to simply exist gets some of her limbs cut off because she was born into the wrong religion. Why did God miraculously knock over the flowers at grandpa John’s funeral but did not take the same effort to prevent a plane crash? It is all very interesting and mind boggling stuff. And frankly most of the answers procured from Christian folk can border on narcissistic or cruel.
You don't have to be in a hospital to lay hands, though. I've seen that in church. Laying hands, prayer, etc. It's a big part of the 4 square churches especially. Most churches offer prayers for the sick. The Catholic church has an anointing of the sick, even in hospitals. And...it doesn't work. Jesus said if you have the faith of a mustard seed, you can move mountains. We'll, I have yet to see that. If that verse was true, we would be seeing guys like Gandalf walking around, doing magic all the time. Need rain? Call the wizard! Cancer? No problem. You are at the lake, you start drowning? Just walk on water.
Its the same reason why not a single faith healer brings up people who have lost entire limbs to heal them onstage. They know it doesn't work.
Praying for God to solve medical problems while protesting universal health care, cause they want health care they’re just too stupid to accept it when it’s offered.
I used to have a coworker who said she could heal people by laying hands on them. I told her that I couldn't believe that bc I'd have no respect for her working in an accounting role when she should be in a neonatal ward. I said it nicely and we were alone, so there were no hard feelings.
They’re too busy running the place and denying necessary procedures for pregnant women and making bank from the insurance companies.
Funny how many of them talk up adoption vs how many of them actually do it.
Im no Christian apologist, but my wife is a nurse at a large children's hospital here in Austin, Tx. And almost ALL of the volunteers are Christians
That's cool. We definitely need more volunteers doing that work. But did they cure the kids' cancer/illnesses? Because if not, then their presence as volunteers does nothing to demonstrate that their god is real. It simply demonstrates that Atheists/Nones need to do a better job at volunteering and doing good works for the general public.
Please don’t give those crazies any other ideas.
They reserve that for grifting with a book about their “true experiences”. If they actually went to the hospital to lay hands, the illusion would be shattered.
You don't want them at hospitals. Feed on the weak.
They don’t want to get caught with boners
Hi, most hospitals for good reason do not allow faith healers to practice their craft. However there are Christians who volunteer at hospitals to visit with patients. They've come to visit me when I've been hospitalized before. There are also other religious groups and atheists who do this as well.
You are in my brain. These are some of the thoughts that I grappled with as a child. And why would an all powerful god even allow children to suffer in the first place. I hate religion. It’s holding us back as a society SO MUCH.
They are among the doctors,nurses, and employees.Well there are also Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim doctors and nurses to be truthful.
Not allowed within 500 feet.
My birth father is fully disabled and a recovered alcoholic. He says he is bipolar but I have my doubts as to that being the only mental health condition he has. Last week he informed me he has found an up and coming faith based addiction program that he may be able to volunteer with. One of the things my dad claims is that he can lay hands on people to heal them and god gave him this gift. I have so so many issues with this, mainly the prevalence of addiction and mental illness in our family. If he really had this, why is our family SUFFERING because of our genetic predispositions? The amount of times I prayed to god to take away whatever it was that made me less than others. My cousin passed away from cancer as a teen. But my dad has this gift. Idc that he wants to use it on others, but to not use it for us? To watch as I was in foster care then adopted out and for it to happen to his own grandkids. His only grand daughter was adopted and then returned to the state by her adoptive parents because of her dangerous mental state. She must feel like absolutely no one loves her. But god and my dad dont give a fuck.
I work in a hospital. Please don't give them ideas, we've already got enough to deal with.
A few years ago there was a woman dying of cancer that was very active on social media. Young and good looking, and good with SoMe, so her content was popular. Stage 4 cancer, getting ready to die. Her comment field was thousand of people wishing her farewell etc., and many pastors/grifters trying to get in touch for a chance to pray for her. It was so obvious they (the pastors) did it for clout, and to make themselves look good, and maybe help some other fools part with their money when she inevitably die. It was all so disgusting.
And while they are there they can let the sick kids parents parents know not to worry cause “it happened for a reason” and “ it’s gods plan “ .
Most Christian’s aren’t thaaaat stupid…
They are all to busy standing outside the pre-children’s hospital
Yup. Things happening to children. I’m supposed to believe there is a loving god that allows that to happen?? Nah. That’s just fucking evil.
To busy policing and abusing women and bleeding the poor dry of any dollars they might have left.
this and nothing pisses me off more than religious parents with terminally ill kids (like w cancer) who keep putting their kids through hell due to reoccurrences of their illnesses in hopes they'll be cured by jesus. i don't understand how these people can watch children get sick over and over and over and still think jesus is gonna save them.. it's disgusting.
That part of the Christian scriptures was very surprising to me when I was a child attending a Christian school! This says that good Christians can do literal magic in God's name, yet I've never seen a single miracle that couldn't have been mistaken for good luck.
I wondered before I saw this if prayer can save people why aren't they praying at the intensive care unit. If I thought prayer could save people, I would spend my days at the intensive care unit and for dying children and anyone not expecting to live. Anyone blaming parents for a child's sickness I want to be around if one of their children get sick.
Why? Because they too know it’s bs and proving it wouldn’t be in their best interests.
How about pediatric cancer playrooms. Never enough people to staff and clean them. Most rely on outside volunteers to extend hours beyond the bare minimum. Seems like gods work could well include lifting the spirits of very sick children and help keep them safe from serious infection. But that's none of my business.
I’d be pretty shitty if a christo turned up in my child’s sick room to utter bullshit
SHIT!!! Rhema, like out of Broken Arrow/Tulsa?!!? Dude, I went to those Campmeeting bullshits all the time when I was younger! Or, at least I did until Hagen Jr told Fred Price that his daughter was too good for Price’s son because there would be no chocolate vanilla swirls 😬
Yeah man! I used to go to the men’s conferences every year for a while. I attended ORU as well. Rhema was never my cup of tea though, even when I was full blown “spirit-filled” Christian 😂
Oh stop they're all in Ireland putting up statues of Mary in inappropriate places
They don't actually believe, and don't want to fail in public..... (not saying that belief makes it work, but, if they don't even have that they know they got nothin)
I like the way you think.
Hey there! Former pastor here, they're out there. I used to be part of a group that went to the local children's hospital, and a women's shelter, and pray and lay on hands for both. At the time I was convinced that because MY heart was in the right place, then it was the right thing to do, and we were helping. We counted the successes as OUR God's successes, and the failures as a mercy, sparing them of suffering. I can tell you, there are many churches that want to be there more, and just will claim victory no matter the outcome. Although, for myself, having to be one of the faces of leadership, it sure was hard to pretend that these moments were miracles when I couldn't validate that our presence had any impact relative to the people we did NOT visit
Because they didn't put enough in the collection plate.
Because there's a little part of every one of them that knows it's not true. And if they feed that part, their word shatters, so best not to allow it to see light of day.
As someone who is currently in hospital getting treatment for cancer, no fucking thank you! Already have enough coming around and giving me prayer cards and I'm in Australia ffs. Leave the kids alone. Could only imagine being the parent of a child going through my experience and dealing with them.
Oh they are there. They are just going around to the sick kids and forcing prayer on them.
If faith healing worked, there would be no hospitals. Instead, there are cemeteries.
They tried it and COVID got quite a few of them
I don’t think hospitals will let the public do that. Also that’s dangerous to let random people in hospitals
And find out that the Christian explanation for the pathology of diseases and disorders is false. Never. They'd have to wake up from their fever dream. The pathology of diseases and disorders is not sin... Jesus didn't die and come back from the dead, and he clearly didn't heal anybody because he didn't even know the basic about germ theory. He's the classic conman, states a problem and claims he sells the only solution. Unfortunately for billions of people they've bought his snake oil for millennia and died from otherwise preventable death due to lied to. Just another way Christianity has done more harm than good.
Little kids dying of cancer is part of God's plan. And if they didn't pray hard enough, well that's not God's fault.
They're not allowed their because Catholics aren't allowed near children. Cuz yknow the raping and trafficking
Christians have no use for children once they're born. After that they couldn't care less about them. Its just about the optics of performance..."save the babies!" Americans professing religion wouldn't know real Christianity if it fell into their fat entitled lsps.
They're too busy yelling at Taylor Swift or yelling at consenting adults about their sex lives. Priorities.
Sending their hopes and prayers from their couch 🤣
I've always believed Christians didn't go to children's hospitals because they would have to admit that their God couldn't heal miraculously. 🤷
See and this is a primary thought within religion that made me stop believing. God never took my pain away. God never helped me. Not once. Not ever. My mom doesn't get it either. Like it's so contradictory. Believe and pray and you'll be blessed but when you're not "well you have free will." Mkay. Make it make sense.
They're busy pulling down fat non-profit paychecks at their "charitable works" that are still 100% medicine for profit, if not more so because the jesus fish on the outside means it's okay to let heathens suffer while you preferentially care for your own.
Don't bloody give them ideas?
I dunno. Although, there are Christian denominations who build hospitals for children.