Anyway, I arrived at the feast just in time for the prayer. I had no problem with the prayer; if people wanted to exercise their private beliefs, I would not stop them. But they literally grabbed and dragged me into the circle with them and held me by the hands while they prayed.
What's sad here is that they not only assumed you were one with their beliefs, but that they were being nice and kind by including you. Some Christians tend to overdo this sort of thing.
I once had a certain customer grab my hand and that of another customer at the check out while I was working, and insist that God had led her to pray for my cough! She then proclaimed her prayer right out loud. I was totally embarrassed and had no clue how to respond. This same customer will never say "Have a nice day", it's always "Have a blessed day".
I'm not one who believes in a lot of public horn-tooting about my faith. It's appropriate in a discussion like this, or among friends or acquaintances in church settings, or within certain other contexts. I happen to believe that we are admonished to pray privately, and to keep our faith between ourselves and our God.
When I see people with religious slogans on their T-shirts and "WWJD" bracelets and so forth, I think it cheapens Christianity and it seems to me that some people have turned their faith into a fandom!
What's sad here is that they not only assumed you were one with their beliefs, but that they were being nice and kind by including you. Some Christians tend to overdo this sort of thing.
And what if it happens the other way around? Beltain Bonfire or Litha celebration? Folks get carried away and drag a Christian into the dance... I do not believe that they will take that for granted.
I once followed a discussion where a man who belonged to a minority, however once someone prayed for his salvation, he panicked and kept on asking this person not to do that because his own soul was put at risk if they did that for him. Yet his pleas were ignored and this person insisted on praying because oh he was led astray, so they prayed harder for him.
This is what I find quite scary to be honest, that objections of a person is brushed aside like that.
I visit a church from time to time. Not because I am a Christian, but more that I do know that what I believe in has many faces and is always present, especially there.
What's sad here is that they not only assumed you were one with their beliefs, but that they were being nice and kind by including you. Some Christians tend to overdo this sort of thing.
I once had a certain customer grab my hand and that of another customer at the check out while I was working, and insist that God had led her to pray for my cough! She then proclaimed her prayer right out loud. I was totally embarrassed and had no clue how to respond. This same customer will never say "Have a nice day", it's always "Have a blessed day".
I'm not one who believes in a lot of public horn-tooting about my faith. It's appropriate in a discussion like this, or among friends or acquaintances in church settings, or within certain other contexts. I happen to believe that we are admonished to pray privately, and to keep our faith between ourselves and our God.
When I see people with religious slogans on their T-shirts and "WWJD" bracelets and so forth, I think it cheapens Christianity and it seems to me that some people have turned their faith into a fandom!
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And what if it happens the other way around? Beltain Bonfire or Litha celebration? Folks get carried away and drag a Christian into the dance... I do not believe that they will take that for granted.
I once followed a discussion where a man who belonged to a minority, however once someone prayed for his salvation, he panicked and kept on asking this person not to do that because his own soul was put at risk if they did that for him. Yet his pleas were ignored and this person insisted on praying because oh he was led astray, so they prayed harder for him.
This is what I find quite scary to be honest, that objections of a person is brushed aside like that.
I visit a church from time to time. Not because I am a Christian, but more that I do know that what I believe in has many faces and is always present, especially there.
Reply
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