I know some readers are probably very confused at this title, because we're all taught that when someone prays over dinner, you bow your head and close your eyes, regardless of your own religious affiliation- or lack thereof. I've been pondering this phenomenon for a few days, and I've come to the conclusion that there is a double standard in the works.
Now, if you are a Christian (which I'm guessing a lot of you are considering my friends and family tend to be Christian), you probably have at least one friend of another religious denomination. You also probably have Atheist friends.
Why is it considered rude of an Atheist not to pray, while you would never even ask a friend of another religious denomination to pray? How can we have such a double standard?
To be clear, yes this is a small thing in the grand scheme of things, but it still can be uncomfortable and a way of silencing people who, let's face it, just don't believe in that big guy in the sky. Just this past week, I've been asked to pray by people who I know are fully aware of my spiritual beliefs - or lack thereof- and my sister has also confided in me that she feels pressured from Christians to pray.
We are told we are rude for not praying- that it's just "what you do"- but I think it's the other way around. I think it's rude of people to not respect my beliefs and then expect me to respect theirs. I'm perfectly fine with people praying over their food, but don't expect me to do it with you. I don't make you read from "The God Delusion" so please don't make me read from the bible.
We have to stop the myth that not complying with Christian culture is somehow "rude". What's rude is not respecting others' beliefs.
Some may counter this by saying "it's not going to hurt you to pray", and while that may be true, it can be very uncomfortable to be silenced. I myself have moral reasons to not partake in the rituals of Christianity- I don't agree with it as a religion or what it's done to the general population as a system of oppression.
So there you have it, you'd never ask a Jewish or Muslim person to pray to Jesus, so why do you ask me? Why do you perceive Atheists and Agnostics as "rude"? Because we're so used to religion, Atheists can be a shock.
But please, don't ask us to pray, because we deserve space too. We deserve space to say no, just like you deserve space to say no to believing in evolution.
Don't slight people by making them pray when you know they don't believe, it's just mean. It's hurtful, and, quite frankly, it's the opposite of evangelizing. It's making me want to run far far away.
