Is anyone else an atheist with BC besides me?

Ooh, Spookiesmom, that's a tough one when it creeps into your home. I hope someone has a better idea than mine, which is outblasting his TV with NOVA and Carl Sagan reruns.

Lauren,

Brilliant!

I am not a religious person despite being in the pew every Sunday growing up. I'm probably best described as agnostic (my husband says I'm hedging my bet 😂), and when people tell me they are praying for me I always say, “Thank you for your kindness". I live in the Bible Belt, so random people say this frequently and I tell myself they are well meaning and don't take offense. My husband, however, was raised in a Southern Baptist home and is now atheist and has much more anger about it. When someone tells him they are praying for me he is polite but then later says to me, “where was God when that damned cancer got in your breast?". I don't know the answers, just the questions (maybe I should go on Jeopardy 😂). I do feel fortunate that my in-laws have not asked their minister to come pray with me but rather just asked my permission to put me on the prayer list at their church. I know it gives them comfort and a sense of “doing something". Ultimately, it is the kindness that matters to me as long as they don't try to impose their beliefs on me or judge me for my values. Judge not lest ye be judged.....a Christian value too often not adhered to by Christians.

Addendum: my husband has recently begun responding to “God bless" with “Praise be" from Handmaids Tale. Can't wait to read Margaret Atwood's new book. Heard an interesting interview w her on PBS last Tues on the trip to see MO.

In one of the kidney cancer forums I'm in (that I haven't been kicked out of yet!), one woman was going on and on and on about her religion, and how she insisted that her urologist join her in prayer before the surgery! He acquiesced, unfortunately. I'd have asked her if she demands that her minister perform operations.

I'm really starting to wonder if there's a correlation between excessive religion and kidney cancer.

Ah, it must be some sort of physical-spiritual-psychological tightassery Venn diagram.

I have questions about something that perhaps others can clear up for me. When someone tells me, " You will be in my prayers." how long a time do they mean? Will I be in their prayers for just the one time or for a week or forever? How many people do they pray for during any one prayer cycle? Is it just one or a dozen? If they promise to pray for others as part of their daily conversation, how much time will they have to spend praying in order to cover their commitments?

Good question. I have always imagined one prayer with a list of people they want included. Or perhaps it's just a polite phrase. Sort of sending thoughts and prayers after a mass shooting.

Since prayer is for the pray-er to feel better about themselves and the situation and not at all about the pray-ee, they’ll pray “about” you until they feel better, not you.

FYI : this thread  was just shared by bco on Facebook, so we may see some new faces ❤️

Hi PontiacPeggy! Glad to see you here among the heathens and unchurched. 😈

Hi Peggy - I’m new to this thread too. Grateful to have found it so I can have a place where I can actually say what I’m thinking (except I haven’t dropped any f-bombs yet and I always think those about cancer and religion).

Lovely and well made!