High Punishment

[lupinebear]

Here's a fun-filled question for everyone: If someone important in your life told you that God was punishing them through you, and they are religious and seriously believe this, then would you do your best to prove to them that they're wrong OR do your best to prove to them that they're correct? Why?

Cheers!
- Wrath of Dhole

Comments

[chrishansenhome]

God does not punish people through any natural means, including people. Natural disasters, annoying people, are not sent from God to punish anyone.

As to proving that, I can't. I just know it empirically. Remember that old ditty about the 1906 SF earthquake:

Some say that God did spank the town
For being over frisky.
So why did He burn the churches down,
and save McCarthy's whisky?

Wise words.

If the person near and dear to you really believes that, then I'd get them to therapy, fast. The person who's punishing them is them.

[snousle]

Personally, I would do my best to prove that they would never have any contact again with you for any reason. That's what you call a win-win solution.

If "run away screaming" is not an option, at the very least it would be time to visit a pastor or a shrink. One or the other. I don't think that kind of attitude has any place in religious practice and I can't believe any legitimate religious authority would affirm it.

[soappuppy]

I agree with the above; I would do my best to prove to them that they will never be speaking with me again.

If that idea can even fit in their head, much less be spoken, then clearly whatever relationship you have with them cannot be called "friendship". In that case, you are under no compunction to put up with that bullshit.

Not everyone deserves your time. You're worth more than putting up with that.

[ubermunkey]

I'd need more context than this. Punishing them in which way? Because you are queer? Because you hurt their feelings?

[bitterlawngnome]

In all seriousness, most likely nothing you do will have any effect on what they believe, because their belief is not based in empirical evidence.

On a funner note, you should start engineering portents in their day to day life.