Atheists? How do you deal with religious people?

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I'm an atheist. I am uncomfortable around religious situations. I haven't started nursing school yet (14 weeks to go). I'm concerned with being confronted with people that would ask me to "Pray for them" and stuff. I don't know if this is a common occurrence among patients, etc. Aside from not wanting to be included in religious sentiments, I also am very uncomfortable with lying. I think I would find moral difficulty with saying "Okay" to someone that would ask me to pray for them.

I'd prefer to hear from atheists how they deal with situations like that. I'd rather not get into a religion discussion, if it can be avoided.

I was trying to search for old threads, but the links from the search engine are not going to the correct pages.

Diane,

I meant that in nature the weak are often the easiest prey.

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My tone or words can be easily twisted by someone that is repulsed by the mere word "Christian, God or Jesus" I could say "I love you" and someone that hates Christians could take those kind words and easily make me look like a fool if they so choose. What I said to "Loner" was with good intentions, and would be clearly respectful and kind by most people's judgement. For those that have a hatred toward God, I guess I'm fair game and have been throughly punished for my faith.

Wow....did you really type that?! Not only are you insulting and condescending, but the gall to insinuate you're being prosecuted for your faith rather than for what you have posted is so ridiculous it borders on embarrassing. Are you SERIOUS??

I don't remember Atheists claiming to HATE God, they simply do not BELIEVE in Him....though Lord knows if they do hate God, it would be because of statements like yours.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
Diane,

I meant that in nature the weak are often the easiest prey.

That's circular. Being easier prey is what defines "weak".

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Specializes in Psychiatry.
Diane,

I meant that in nature the weak are often the easiest prey.

Ok, thanks. I was trying to figure out how it related to the topic....

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Specializes in Hospice.
Stanley,

Well, you got one last blow in right as I am about to exit. No need to continue the onslaught against me, as I will not be here to read it. Someone told me once to not apologize when you have done no wrong, but I did anyway. Maybe that was my mistake. (some think that apologizing makes one appear weak) I think we all know that the weak will be the first to be taken out, just like in nature. Best wishes to everyone and I hope that for the sake of your patients that you do not treat them as you have treated me here. Feel free to twist my words as much as you like without mercy, as you have already done.

Absolutely13,

If you think that ridicule will somehow make me respond in anger, it won't work. I refuse to speak to any of you in the tone of rage you have used against me. You claim I haven't used respect, when in fact respect is the very reason I have not insulted any of you. If not for me, for the profession of nursing please stop the attacks.

To quote a tag line from a member of another site:

"Yanno, if you stop patting yourself on the back, you would have BOTH hands available to carry that cross."

I think this thread is irretrievably derailed. I hope Loner has been able to pick out the good suggestions ... there have been quite a few.

G'night, all.

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Specializes in or/trauma/teaching/geriatrics.

that is a ditto for me...........this is way past derailed.

good luck Loner with your journey, and your nursing career!

good night all and uhhhhh GOD BLESS US EACH AND EVERYONE :yeahthat:

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I did respond to the question directly on page 9. That was the most relevant post I made and I hope it is the one that Loner will focus on out of my posts. Many others here had great info that I hope Loner can use.

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Specializes in Psychiatry.

Loner,

Regardless of some of the flack you have received on this thread, I'm sure you will be an awesome nurse.

You are smart to begin to critically think about these issues, especially since you feel so strongly about it.

I admire you for that.

I hope you found some of the answers you are looking for. Don't ever let anyone treat you with less than

respect because of what you believe in. Stay strong!

Happy New Year,

Diane

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Absolutely13,

If you think that ridicule will somehow make me respond in anger, it won't work. I refuse to speak to any of you in the tone of rage you have used against me. You claim I haven't used respect, when in fact respect is the very reason I have not insulted any of you. If not for me, for the profession of nursing please stop the attacks.

Disagreeing with you isn't attacking you. Tone of rage? I don't understand. I have pointed out some things I feel were disrespectful, but that's not attacking you.

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the road to hell is paved with good intentions. your statements weren't respectful or kind. maybe you 'thought' they were but they weren't. hidden and subconscious condescension is still condescension.

wow!

a persecution complex is a term within psychological discourse afforded to an array of complex behaviours that specifically deal with the [color=#002bb8]perception of being [color=#002bb8]persecuted for various possible reasons, imagined or real.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/persecution_complex

well, i can see how some of the statements might make a person feel attacked.:coollook:

this thread is now unfortunately playing out what happens in real life - people get defensive and the conversation shuts down. on both sides.

my advice - which was asked of us the first day of nursing school - is to think about and identify our biases and then work on that so we become our patient's advocate - regardless of where they come from.

my bias is drug addicts - but i realized that in school and work hard to not let that bleed into my work.

patients come first.

steph

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Roman, I'm sorry that you feel so hurt by the response to you in this thread. I hope that you can re-read what you wrote and see where someone might have been offended, even if they don't "hate God." I can't hate a being in which I do not believe.

Again, I'm sorry you feel so attacked. You were certainly outnumbered but again, and I say this with kind intentions, try to see this from the point of view of those you were addressing.

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Specializes in Medsurg/ICU, Mental Health, Home Health.
No more so than a preachy evangelical... ;)

That's the thing, Stanley, love. Your garden variety "loud-mouthed Christian" and your garden variety "loud-mouthed atheist" are both examples of "preachy evangelicals."

I'm one of those fundies everyone complains about (and I really don't mind if people complain...I feel all people who have impassioned beliefs, from atheists to Baptists to Mormons to Muslims...to vegans, even, are complained about, and it's my choice to believe what I do, I was just making a point) and I don't want to work with anyone who's going to have a holier than thou attitude (even if the person doesn't believe anything to be holy, the attitude can still exist!) or try to tell everyone that his or her beliefs are the way.

If asked, like you, I'll talk. I'll discuss things I did with my college ministry, or people I know from my church, and that's how most people find out that I'm a Christian.

I, too, was once a non-believer, and I have no desire to make other uncomfortable. Respect is a two-way street, so unless I have someone ripping apart my faith, I'm going to keep things to myself unless asked.

And, no, Stanley, I'm not beatin' up on you. I just wanted to point out that preaching about beliefs goes above and beyond the followers of Jesus.

Also, I HATE the word "religious." Man created religion, and has used it as an excuse to do a great deal of damage. It's just one of my bugaboos...

*~Jess~*

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