Religion

rug

(82,333 posts) Sun Feb 14, 2016, 08:52 AM Feb 2016

Church of England criticized over prayers for atheist Richard Dawkins [View all]

Updated 5:09 AM ET, Sun February 14, 2016

London (CNN) The Church of England has been accused of "trolling" scientist Richard Dawkins after it tweeted it was praying for the outspoken atheist's recovery from a stroke.

Dawkins, a distinguished evolutionary biologist at Oxford, is one of the world's leading voices for secularism, and a fierce critic of religion.

When news broke Friday that the 74-year-old had suffered a minor stroke, forcing him to cancel scheduled appearances in Australia and New Zealand, the Church of England retweeted a report of his condition with a statement offering "prayers for Prof. Dawkins and his family."

Church of England ✔ @c_of_e

Prayers for Prof Dawkins and his family https://twitter.com/independent/status/698248478632194049
…
3:56 PM - 12 Feb 2016
1,663 1,663 Retweets 1,196 1,196 likes

The remark proved divisive on Twitter, with some describing it as insensitive given Dawkins' widely known disdain for religion.

http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/14/europe/uk-dawkins-stroke-tweet/index.html

https://twitter.com/c_of_e/status/698249409663000577?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

79 replies

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Church of England criticized over prayers for atheist Richard Dawkins [View all] rug Feb 2016 OP

Perhaps they are following the example of Christ? Human101948 Feb 2016 #1

Matthew trumps twitter. rug Feb 2016 #2

Christ also told his followers to pray privately. Mariana Feb 2016 #7

Yes he certainly did...but that's one of those commands that are ignored by the "devout" Human101948 Feb 2016 #8

I've seen people on their knees praying on the steps of the US Supreme Court before. stone space Feb 2016 #15

He was calling out ostentatious, insincere hypocrites. rug Feb 2016 #9

Ostentatious, yes. Mariana Feb 2016 #10

A post on twitter is hardly ostentatious. rug Feb 2016 #11

Why announce it at all? Mariana Feb 2016 #12

Two possibilities. rug Feb 2016 #13

Third possibility: Dick move - trolling AtheistCrusader Feb 2016 #17

How is praying for somebody to get well a dick move? stone space Feb 2016 #22

Telling a known atheist you're doing it can absolutely be a sanctimonious asshole thing to do. AtheistCrusader Feb 2016 #23

Since when do we atheists object to prayers? stone space Feb 2016 #27

'we' are a variety of people with a variety of backgrounds. AtheistCrusader Feb 2016 #43

Do you get upset at folks who pray for you when you are hospitalized? stone space Feb 2016 #54

I am annoyed when people who know me, attempt to do so, yes. AtheistCrusader Feb 2016 #56

Maybe you just need to mellow out a bit. stone space Feb 2016 #59

When people do something disrespectful to me, it's my fault for not liking it. AtheistCrusader Feb 2016 #60

Praying for you to get well is not disrespectful. stone space Feb 2016 #62

It certainly can be. AtheistCrusader Feb 2016 #63

Projection. There's a hell of a lot more trolling in here on a daily basis. rug Feb 2016 #25

And? AtheistCrusader Feb 2016 #29

Yo're in no position to surmise the CoE's intentions. rug Feb 2016 #32

I'm not? AtheistCrusader Feb 2016 #42

No, what you are referring to is actually called projection, not inference. rug Feb 2016 #44

So you're really going to sit there, a grown-assed man, and pretend there's no chance whatsoever AtheistCrusader Feb 2016 #46

I never gave odds but it's slight. Very slight. rug Feb 2016 #47

Is it? AtheistCrusader Feb 2016 #49

Yep, maybe, yep. AtheistCrusader Feb 2016 #18

Aren't Christians suppose to pray? TexasProgresive Feb 2016 #3

Message auto-removed Name removed Feb 2016 #4

This is bizarre. I don't know what to make of it. stone space Feb 2016 #5

I'm not the one to ask. rug Feb 2016 #6

Somebody should be around soon to point out... stone space Feb 2016 #14

Does she rub it in your face? AtheistCrusader Feb 2016 #16

I don't see praying as rubbing anything in anybody's face. stone space Feb 2016 #19

Praying isn't. But the "HEY I'M PRAYING FOR YOU!!!" thing is kinda, a little bit, wouldn't you say? AtheistCrusader Feb 2016 #20

Oh, well...if that's your standard, then yes, she does rub it in my face. stone space Feb 2016 #21

"Why should she not tell me?" AtheistCrusader Feb 2016 #24

Don't pretend that praying for somebody is offensive. It is not. stone space Feb 2016 #26

Says you. AtheistCrusader Feb 2016 #28

You have no arguement, so you simply change the subject to food. stone space Feb 2016 #30

It's an example, based on a philosophy. AtheistCrusader Feb 2016 #31

How is praying for somebody to get well offensive? stone space Feb 2016 #33

Sorry you don't understand. AtheistCrusader Feb 2016 #34

You haven't even attempted to explain. stone space Feb 2016 #35

I gave you a useful analogy that included taking into account people's feelings AtheistCrusader Feb 2016 #36

How are atheists harmed by prayers? stone space Feb 2016 #37

Is it respectful of beliefs? Goblinmonger Feb 2016 #38

What are his beliefs? stone space Feb 2016 #50

"Not unless they believed that his prayers were insincere." AtheistCrusader Feb 2016 #58

Then complain about insincerity, not prayer. stone space Feb 2016 #61

Inseparable. AtheistCrusader Feb 2016 #64

Bullshit. (nt) stone space Feb 2016 #65

It's funny you want me to tolerate your, and the beliefs of others, and no consideration is given AtheistCrusader Feb 2016 #66

What are your beliefs? stone space Feb 2016 #67

Prayer is an insincere and meaningless cop-out to avoid materially helping someone who could AtheistCrusader Feb 2016 #68

Wh not just say you believe that religious folks are assholes? stone space Feb 2016 #69

Because that's not my position. AtheistCrusader Feb 2016 #70

At least you don't claim that it has anything to do with atheism. stone space Feb 2016 #71

I never did. AtheistCrusader Feb 2016 #72

Are atheists more likely than non-atheists to be sanctimonious assholes? stone space Feb 2016 #73

You seem to be stringing random words together now. AtheistCrusader Feb 2016 #74

How is a vegan harmed by someone eating meat 'for them'? AtheistCrusader Feb 2016 #39

Hmm, have you seen the cartoons posted in here? rug Feb 2016 #40

Not clear how that relates to stoned's question. AtheistCrusader Feb 2016 #41

It relates to your post and your unusual concern for offending people. rug Feb 2016 #45

I think it relates more to your reading comprehension. AtheistCrusader Feb 2016 #48

Anybody can feign offense. stone space Feb 2016 #52

My reading comprehension is fine. rug Feb 2016 #75

If you could accurately repeat it, that would be something, wouldn't it? AtheistCrusader Feb 2016 #77

We aren't talking about cheeseburgers. Try again. (nt) stone space Feb 2016 #51

Aaaaand you're caught in a loop again. Oh well. AtheistCrusader Feb 2016 #53

I'm not the one continually trying to... stone space Feb 2016 #55

I refer you back to post 39, have fun looping. AtheistCrusader Feb 2016 #57

I'm an atheist. I'm on numerous prayer chains and the like dorkzilla Feb 2016 #76

I guess the difference is they know you don't mind. Mariana Feb 2016 #78

Fair point dorkzilla Feb 2016 #79