Church of England defends prayer tweet for Richard Dawkins after stroke.

[Bradyns]

[QUOTE]On Friday, the Church tweeted “prayers for Prof Dawkins and his family” in response to a post by The Independent newspaper reporting on his health.

[media]https://twitter.com/c_of_e/status/698249409663000577[/media]

The Church’s post was retweeted more than 1000 times, with many people speculating that the concern was less than sincere.

[URL="http://cofecomms.tumblr.com/post/139239114452/prayfordawkins"]The Church’s communications director issued a statement[/URL] following what it called the “Twitterstorm” surrounding the post.

“I wish Professor Dawkins well. I hope he makes swift and full recovery and wish him the best of health. I will pray for him too. It is the very least I can do.”

Source:
[url]https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/feb/14/church-of-england-defends-prayer-tweet-for-richard-dawkins-after-stroke?CMP=soc_567[/url][/QUOTE]

They sound sincere, but surely they must see how it came off as a dick move.

[Mr. Scorpio]

I don't see what's wrong with praying for an atheist. It's just a show of concern and sympathy.

[Vasili]

I didn't even know he had a stroke prior, I'm annoyed no one bothered to post it here before.

[Bradyns]

[QUOTE=Vasili;49737520]I didn't even know he had a stroke prior, I'm annoyed no one bothered to post it here before.[/QUOTE]

I didn't know either.. this just popped up on my feed.

Felt it was a 'two birds one stone' sort of deal.

[Sableye]

[QUOTE=Vasili;49737520]I didn't even know he had a stroke prior, I'm annoyed no one bothered to post it here before.[/QUOTE]

That's cause Dawkins is sort of a dick about things

Anyway it's a good gesture, even though some circles of athiests probably are fuming about this

[Provost]

Forgiveness of one's enemies is part of Christian doctrine.

I really do wish more people would exercise it.

[MIPS]

[QUOTE=Mr. Scorpio;49737515]I don't see what's wrong with praying for an atheist. It's just a show of concern and sympathy.[/QUOTE]

The branch he represents is overly paranoid everyone is out to get them.

[Sgt. Napalm]

[QUOTE=Vasili;49737520]I didn't even know he had a stroke prior, I'm annoyed no one bothered to post it here before.[/QUOTE]

My first reaction was "... Richard Dawkins had a stroke?!?"

[Download]

I doubt Dawkins gave a shit. Probably people being offended on his behalf.

[343N]

there's like nothing wrong with this

[Glitchvid]

[QUOTE=MIPS;49737550][B]The branch he represents[/B] is overly paranoid everyone is out to get them.[/QUOTE]

I take it you've never read any of his books, huh?

[343N]

nothing wrong with what the church did*

[Bradyns]

Purely with the context of the tweet, and not the statement, is it really that hard to understand how people may have perceived this as insincere?

[Pib]

it doesn't matter how people perceived it if it wasn't the intent

[Mark Unread]

[QUOTE=Bradyns;49737586]Purely with the context of the tweet, and not the statement, is it really that hard to understand how people may have perceived this as insincere?[/QUOTE]

It seems the people that would have perceived this as insincere are the same types as conspiracy nuts
Doesn't Dawkins encourage knowledge of religions for atheists or something? If the people getting offended on his behalf were really fans of him they would have taken this to heart and realized that kindness to people whether you are or aren't on good terms with them is a core Christian value

[Glitchvid]

[QUOTE=Mark Unread;49737611]It seems the people that would have perceived this as insincere are the same types as conspiracy nuts
Doesn't Dawkins encourage knowledge of religions for atheists or something? If the people getting offended on his behalf were really fans of him they would have taken this to heart and realized that kindness to people whether you are or aren't on good terms with them is a core Christian value[/QUOTE]

Yes, but it goes beyond that.
Most people who are "against" saying prayers for people are against it for other reasons. Many view it as a way for religious people to feel good about themselves, without actually doing anything to help a person or persons in need. In cases like this though, there's very little to be upset about, they're genuinely expressing their sympathies the way they know how.

[CoolKingKaso]

Dawkins digs Christians now, I was surprised to hear that there was any outrage.

[343N]

[QUOTE=Pikablu07;49737590]it doesn't matter how people perceived it if it wasn't the intent[/QUOTE]

took the words out my mouth

[codenamecueball]

[QUOTE=CoolKingKaso;49737705]Dawkins digs Christians now, I was surprised to hear that there was any outrage.[/QUOTE]

edgy 14 year old atheists and edgy 28 year old basement dwelling twitter armed atheists might disagree there

[Rangergxi]

[QUOTE=Sableye;49737537]That's cause Dawkins is sort of a dick about things
[/QUOTE]

In what way?

[Bradyns]

[QUOTE=Mark Unread;49737611]It seems the people that would have perceived this as insincere are the same types as conspiracy nuts[/QUOTE]

So you've never heard of any instance in history when person A has heavily criticized person B and then something negative has happened to person A, and person B has made a smart ass response?

I am merely asking if you can see how it was perceived that way, not if you justify that perception or even the implications.

[Spazi]

It kinda could be insincere, but it as well could not be, and there's no reason to believe it insincere unless you go out of your way to interpret it insincerely.

[AK'z]

how is it a dick move?

a dick move would be "Our god will pull you thru m8".

This is purely out of respect.

[BusterBluth]

[QUOTE=Rangergxi;49738133]In what way?[/QUOTE]

Dawkins is generally considered a pretentious asshat, even by those who agree with his position on things.

Saying stuff like not aborting a down syndrome fetus is immoral and rating different types of rape in severity isn't really well received.

[Mingebox]

[QUOTE=BusterBluth;49738695]Dawkins is generally considered a pretentious asshat, even by those who agree with his position on things.

Saying stuff like not aborting a down syndrome fetus is immoral and rating different types of rape in severity isn't really well received.[/QUOTE]

And then there was that time he said being raised Catholic is worse than being molested as a kid.

[Zillamaster55]

[QUOTE=BusterBluth;49738695]rating different types of rape in severity isn't really well received.[/QUOTE]

I remember when retards here tried to defend that move.

Imagine being so shallow that you try to play the game of "yeah well mine's worse!" when it comes to sexual assault/rape which is something that no two people react to the same way.

[Cypher_09]

Actually a nice gesture from them. I was baptised CoE :v:

[Conely]

[QUOTE=Mingebox;49738715]And then there was that time he said being raised Catholic is worse than being molested as a kid.[/QUOTE]

and then there was that elevator thing, in which he told someone to check their privilege in a way so stupid and pointlessly hostile even he felt the need to apologize

[Thlis]

I don't see how it's really bad. It's just them saying that they essentially hope he gets better.

[QUOTE=Zillamaster55;49739077]I remember when retards here tried to defend that move.

Imagine being so shallow that you try to play the game of "yeah well mine's worse!" when it comes to sexual assault/rape which is something that no two people react to the same way.[/QUOTE]
Imagine being so moronic that you think two minors involved in statutory rape is equivalent to brutal gang rape.

[Laputa]

[QUOTE=Mingebox;49738715]And then there was that time he said being raised Catholic is worse than being molested as a kid.[/QUOTE]

He said that based on account that the psychological effect of rape was smaller compared to the perpetual guilt and shame as a result of an extreme catholic upbringing, not to directly compare rape and religious upbringing, but to demonstrate what an upbringing like that can do on a person's perspective.