When somebody says to me, "Jesus love you," or "God loves you,"

[raccoon]

to me it is meaningless.

About 6 months ago, in an Al Anon meeting, one woman told another (and it wasn't me), "But God loves you."

Let me add that this was inappropriate, cross-talk, and certainly isn't the norm for Al Anon meetings, even here in Redstate. But I had to bite my tongue.

Somebody might as well say, "Robin Hood loves you," or "George Clooney loves you." Maybe this works for some people, but it doesn't for me, never has and probably never will.

[rosesaylavee]

1. I don't know but

I think 'George Clooney loves you' would make me sit up and take notice. :)

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

2. Yep.

[Axle_techie]

29. HAHAHAHA Buddy Christ

[xultar]

3. The next time someone says that 2 u tell them u know someone

Who wants Vin Diesel to love her and to put in a good word 4 her

I know he is Gay or Bi that is why I want the good word put in

[valerief]

4. Daffy Duck loves me, and I'm not even a furry. nt

[sandnsea]

5. God as you understand "him"

Loves you. Nothing peculiar about that in an Al-Anon meeting, at least not the ones I've been to even in the west.

Most folks find a belief in something greater than themselves, nature, karma, great spirit, something.

[Sal Minella]

13. If they want to believe that their "something" loves me,

that's fine, but they can do me a favor and keep it to themselves.

[sandnsea]

23. Take what you like and leave the rest

That's not the way Al-Anon works. People are free to say whatever they want and offer ideas for living that work for them. It's your responsibility to filter out what doesn't work for you.

[wookie72]

39. Just ignore it

So you dont believe it. BFD.

[Green_Lantern]

44. why should they keep it to themselves at a group who tells

Members to turn their lives over to God?

[Maraya1969]

31. "God as you understand God"

I was at a meeting once and someone asked me to lead in the Lord's prayer at the end of the meeting and I started Like this:

...........And a 1 And a 2 as I taped my foot on the floor during the ones and twos.

Several people laughed. The religious part of old 12 steep meetings were set up many years ago. You don't have to conform to everything.

[sandnsea]

33. Why did you assume that's what I meant? n/t

[elocs]

6. Well, I'm glad you got that burden off your chest.

It must have been important to have come to the Religion/Theology forum to post it.

Although I would believe that anyone who says that to you does not intend it to be a personal affront or insult. I've experienced similar situations and have graciously let it pass.

[sandnsea]

7. Depends on the circumstances

Expecting god not to be mentioned at an Al-Anon meeting is a little weird.

[raccoon]

9. I don't expect God not to be mentioned at an Al Anon meeting, I just

don't expect for people to say "God loves you."

I guess this thing seems trivial to a lot of people. But having heard all my life about God love you, Jesus love you...and to me that is vague, nebulous, and meaningless.

[sandnsea]

24. It is to me too

I don't even like people to say "I'll pray for you", I mean, who asked you?

But to the person saying it, it's a very comforting thing. As it pertains to Al-Anon, and only 12 step programs really, letting people speak their mind and heart freely is part of the package. It's vital.

Part of growing in Al-Anon is also learning to not be so swayed by other's opinions and remarks.

Grace.

[Green_Lantern]

46. some people say the same thing about AA meetings..

Secondly telling someone God loves them may have a positive effect if the other person has only experienced judgment by religion.

By the way good luck on your recovery. Keep up the good work.

[JuniperLea]

14. I do too...

I was raised in a Fundy family (still recovering)... I have cousins who are preachers, a couple of which are missionaries in foreign countries. "Jesus Loves Me" was the very first song I ever learned to sing; "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" was the second... I think I was all of two-years-old. I just smile, give a hug, whatever the situation calls for... I know they mean well. I try to only call them on their hypocrisy when it's in my face:)

I went to the Ronnie James Dio memorial service several months back and ran into some of our favorite Fred Phelps, Westboro Baptist Church haters... I wanted to yell "Jesus loves you anyway" to them... but decided not to in Dio's honor. I'll hold that in my hip pocket for possible use at another, more appropriate time.

[Big Blue Marble]

8. So why do you need to share this here?

People around the world hold many different beliefs about the nature of reality. If you are comfortable with yours,
that is great. Now work on accepting that other's belief are different, not better or worse, just different. And then
let it go. Compassion and empathy are what we all want regardless of our beleifs.

[raccoon]

10. I guess it's because of a lifetime of people shoving Xianity down my throat. nt

[Big Blue Marble]

11. We live in a Christian culture.

That is just a fact. I am not Christian nor am I religious. But I do respect that many others hold beliefs far different than
mine. ( I live in the middle of the Bible Belt.) I respect that others hold their religious beliefs dearly and sometimes want
to share them. It is OK. I am not threatened as I am comfortable in my space. I support them being comfortable in theirs.

And at least in our culture no one can shove their beliefs down my throat. They can try, but I have the freedom to
believe what I choose.

[JuniperLea]

15. What an awesome post!

Thanks for that! You made my day!

You can't expect tolerance unless you know how to show it yourself, and maybe more importantly, understand when you are being intolerant. Sometimes people just don't get that. The irony being, Jesus taught tolerance.

[eppur_se_muova]

12. Is it OK for an atheist to respond "nobody loves you"? nt

[amyrose2712]

16. HA!

[Warpy]

17. The Pollyanna god squad can be off putting

but I think of them as frightened people whistling as they walk through a graveyard. They're trying to make themselves feel better. They don't have to know I'm suppressing a gag.

What they believe has nothing to do with me

[ZombieHorde]

18. When someone says "God loves you," I hear...

"I have an imaginary friend and this friend has some very strong feelings for you."

[Green_Lantern]

47. that's pretty cynical...

nt

[EC]

19. Well, the

"George Clooney loves you" would excite me...:evilgrin:

[frebrd]

20. She was just proselytizing for........

her alternate addiction.

[Green_Lantern]

48. an addiction...oh wow that's original..

nt

[metapunditedgy]

21. In some parts of America, kids are killed for their tennis shoes. I remember reading

about a 5-year-old in Iraq who was horribly burned by some thugs, just to make a point about... something or other.

I bristle at the statement "God loves you," as well. I grew up wanting to believe that, but the sentiment has become offensive to me, given all the things that go on in this world. If God loves me but burns little children, he is at best... creepy.

[Green_Lantern]

49. what do you mean....God didn't burn the kid....

Idiots making war on each other did it.

I don't think God is like a person making a rational decision to allow kids to be killed or hurt.

[sailor65]

22. So the woman wasn't even talking to you?

A private conversation that didn't include you? Of course you had to bite your tongue. It wasn't your damned business.

Is there a Neurotic Nosy Anonymous by any chance?

[raccoon]

26. People aren't supposed to hold PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS in 12 step groups.

Don't be so nasty when you don't even know what you're talking about.

[rug]

25. I guess you never heard Easy Does It in Al-Anon.

[Igel]

27. You hear the words.

You ignore the intent. The intent should be obvious.

Whether "Jesus loves you" or "Mithra loves you," the intent is to express good will and support, to try to encourage.

Even if you believed and took the words at face value, they'd still be fairly meaningless. "God loves you." "Yes, he loved Jesus, too, and look at what happened to him!"

"Jesus loves you." "Didn't keep Peter from being martyred, did it? And what about that Job fellow. May as well curse God and die."

"God loves you." "Yeah, but my girlfriend left me, my best friend stole my gin after my boss fired me, my parents kicked me out. Oh, yeah, and my dog bit me. Twice. When I was peeing. Some 'love'."

Yet the intent of what was said would still be the same.

Google "speech act theory."

[cleanhippie]

28. I ask why god/jesus doesnt love amputees.

[wookie72]

40. Now *that's* meaningless

I've heard this argument before. It's meaningless. Because God doesn't heal limbs, he doesn't love amputees? Really?

[Goblinmonger]

45. It's a satirical response

aimed at those that feel like their prayers are answered and because of that they are blessed (read: loved) by god. One would guess that amputees pray that they weren't amputees, but to date no such prayer has been granted. Hence, they aren't blessed. Was that really that hard. The point being that prayer is relatively pointless and that we credit random chance to god but don't use the bad stuff to take away from god.

[Green_Lantern]

51. it's pity...

People like this expect amputees to be bitter and miserable.

Most I've met are strong and hopeful people especially the ones who survived near death incidents.

[cleanhippie]

54. No, its not at all.

Or maybe I can ask back "if god loves me, why doesnt he love that baby that was born with its brain on the outside of its skull?" or "why doent god love all those starving children I see Sally Struthers begging me to help on late night TV?"


Meaningless? Only if god is meaningless.

[Green_Lantern]

50. huh? who says God doesn't love amputees..

Why do you pity amputees? Why do you consider the life of an amputee as a punishment?

Most amputees I've met certainly aren't hopeless people.

[Axle_techie]

30. and why is it such an insult?

[Nihil]

32. If your only tool is a hammer, everything is seen as a nail.

Some people have so little tolerance for "the other" ...

It doesn't vary that much whether "the other" is "Christianity", "Islam",
"Atheism", "Black Skin", "Gay Men", "Blonde Hair", "Toyota Drivers",
"People-who-dress-up-in-the-wrong-period-costume-for-battle-renactments",
or any other arbitrary category you care to name.

:shrug:

Maybe they were a bit short on oversized molehills that day?

[laconicsax]

34. Jesus loves you!!!

:P

[frogmarch]

35. Let us accept and give a nod to

all forms of delusion, so as not to alienate the delusional.

[wookie72]

41. Because, of course, you see reality exactly as it is nt.

[struggle4progress]

36. Y'know, when I was a 20-something-year-old a-hole (instead of

the 50-something-year-old a-hole I am now), it would really burn my ass when people said stupid crap like "How are you?" (Yeah, like you really care how I am!) or "Have a nice day!" (Oh, come on! How the fug can I have a nice day with the warmongering fascists in control and the planet headed for environmental disaster?)

Other things that really used to burn my ass were haircuts and television and other stuff like that

I dunno. I finally decided it wasn't worth being so thin-skinned

Pick your fights intelligently

[lazarus]

37. I used to just laugh

now I just feel sorry for them. But....

I had a minor medical issue come up recently that could have been bad. (False alarm.) My ex (we're weirdly friends now, for some reason) has turned fundie since the divorce, and she said she knew I didn't believe, but she was going to pray for me anyway.

I took it as a compliment, as a friend who wanted to do something she felt would help. Yeah, I still think she's nuts, but it was kind of sweet.

[wookie72]

38. They were saying it to each other

What's it to you? If it's meaningless, it should be neutral, not having you "biting your tongue."

[Green_Lantern]

42. I'm not sure why what she said is bad or inappropriate

I thought one of the 12 steps involves turning your life over to God.

[Goblinmonger]

43. So only believers should be able to do a 12-step program?

Seems kinda shitty.

[Green_Lantern]

52. I didn't start AA....1 of the 12 steps is to turn your life over to

God as you define God.

Yes I hik recovering from addiction requires believe in some higher power...I don't care if it's Zeus, Jesus, nature, etc. or following Buddhism.

[Goblinmonger]

53. You didn't start AA

but you don't believe an atheist can recover from addiction.

OK, then.

If I said ANYTHING close to that about theists, there would be choruses of "fundamentalist atheist" in response.

[Green_Lantern]

55. I never said atheists can't recover from addiction...

I think you need to believe in something higher than yourself. That doesn't have to mean God.

But if you're nihilist who think life has no meaning I doubt recovery is possible.