TimmyH
Can a Blessing be Offensive?
July 22nd 2008 09:09
I found it intersesting that during his visit, Pope Benedict thought it prudent to Bless all Australians. Quite frankly, I'm not happy about this.
The following was an offering from a religious friend of mine who thought that she was being very curteous.
"Why Tim? It's such a noble and harmless practice."
But what about if I don't want his blessing? What if I don't want any blessing and I am offended if one occurs?
"Well Tim, In that case, I shall pray for you."
So often we hear about people being prayed for, in fact statistics suggest that prayer for patients have something like 12% fewer medical complications. Many would hold this up as evidence for the "Power of Prayer." Rubbish. It has nothing to do with any super-natural force. Much like the Placebo effect which medical practitioners have been using for decades it is merely a trick of the mind.
But religious people often tell me that they will pray for me. Perhaps I am particularly in need of prayer in their opinion. But regardless, I don't want any prayer or blessing to be made in my name or in aid of anything I happen to be doing. I find is incredibly offensive that anyone should seek to influence my life, even if their intentions are good. It is an absurd practice.
Yet when I offer this to my religious friends they simply tell me that prayer is their right and that they will pray for me because they believe I am in need.
Here it is, once and for all! I reserve the right NOT to be prayer for. And NOT to be blessed. A moral person, regardless of religious affiliation, would respect this.
I can imagine that there would be quite a number of Agnostics, Atheists, Jews, Satanists, Muslims, Buddhists and heck, even Protestants who don't want to be lumped in with our Catholic Minority in Australia. So, Pope Benedict, you should have acknowledged this and NOT blessed all of us indiscriminately.
The following was an offering from a religious friend of mine who thought that she was being very curteous.
"Why Tim? It's such a noble and harmless practice."
But what about if I don't want his blessing? What if I don't want any blessing and I am offended if one occurs?
"Well Tim, In that case, I shall pray for you."
So often we hear about people being prayed for, in fact statistics suggest that prayer for patients have something like 12% fewer medical complications. Many would hold this up as evidence for the "Power of Prayer." Rubbish. It has nothing to do with any super-natural force. Much like the Placebo effect which medical practitioners have been using for decades it is merely a trick of the mind.
But religious people often tell me that they will pray for me. Perhaps I am particularly in need of prayer in their opinion. But regardless, I don't want any prayer or blessing to be made in my name or in aid of anything I happen to be doing. I find is incredibly offensive that anyone should seek to influence my life, even if their intentions are good. It is an absurd practice.
Yet when I offer this to my religious friends they simply tell me that prayer is their right and that they will pray for me because they believe I am in need.
Here it is, once and for all! I reserve the right NOT to be prayer for. And NOT to be blessed. A moral person, regardless of religious affiliation, would respect this.
I can imagine that there would be quite a number of Agnostics, Atheists, Jews, Satanists, Muslims, Buddhists and heck, even Protestants who don't want to be lumped in with our Catholic Minority in Australia. So, Pope Benedict, you should have acknowledged this and NOT blessed all of us indiscriminately.
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Comment by Cibbuano
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Comment by Joanne Fedler
Secret Writers Business
Personally, I'll take prayers and good wishes from anyone who feels like meting them out, but I respect your views expressed in this post.
Jo
Comment by Dianna G
I Wish This Was 42
Fictional Worlds
If he tried to bless all Canadians, I would start an uproar. I have no problem with friends of similar faiths to mine offering up a small blessing (you know, a 'I hope you do well and I hereby offer my help' type of thing, but not manipulating my life') or prayer ('I hope it all turns out well for you and that what you need is provided').
But if a POPE ever tried to BLESS ME? *Seeths with rage at the idea*.
I am nothing, I repeat NOTHING, approaching Christian, thank you very much, and if anyone so much as offers me a Christian blessing, I reject it out of hand. The only person allowed to pray for me that is vaguely Christian is my grandmother, kthx.
~Dianna