to think that the phrase "God Botherer" isn't meant kindly.

[FoxtrotFoxtrotSierra]

DH and I were at a church wedding at the weekend which included a full Eucharist. I'm a practising Christian and took communion at the service. DH isn't hugely religious, but has a lot of respect for the church and went up for a blessing at that point.

After the service we were chatting to some people when an old university friend of DH came over and said "I didn't have you down as God Botherers" to us! I did say at the time (be proud MN) "Did you mean to be so rude?" to which he said he didn't and conversation continued.

We've just received an apology via email saying "I certainly didn't mean to be rude, but if I was I apologise to you both" - which is a bit contingent on the apology bit, but I'll let that drop, but has got me thinking about the phrase.

AIBU to think that there's no other way to use the phrase God Botherer unless to be rude? Particularly to someone who has just taken communion/been for a blessing as they're obviously Christian/involved in some way in the church.

David Icke and a lot of other people TudorJess.

But why is David Icke's belief any odder than the rest of them. There's no proof fro any of them.

David Icke? Well you learn something new every day :o

Proof or no proof, I just think it's pretty rude to accost someone and call them a "god botherer" when they were just minding their own business.

Sure, complain to the church if you have a problem with it, debate religion and be open about your belief or non-belief. But just going up to someone and mocking their personal beliefs? I think that's unpleasant and uncalled for.

No-one accosted anyone. The person saying it was a good friend of the OP's DH who they were in conversation with. In this situation, it was obviously intended as harmless banter.

David Icke is a lizard-botherer.

"The person saying it was a good friend of the OP's DH who they were in conversation with"

Not quite - from what the OP says, this person came over specifically to make this remark.

Ah yes, have just reread, you're right that they weren't already in conversation. it's hard to say though whether he came over specifically just to 'mock' them. I would imagine it's more likely that he wanted to speak to his old Uni mate anyway and chose that as the way to start the conversation. And I would take that as harmless curiosity, personally. A bit clumsy, maybe, but not malicious, I don't suppose.

He didn't mean to be rude, it was probably meant to sound funny, maybe it was even hilarious inside his head.

God botherer is a common term for religious people because most believe their salvation requires them to convert others. As a result they tend to bother everyone about their god. Obviously you haven't been bothering people and you probably seem quite 'normal', hence his surprise.

Why is it ok to insult Christians? But not Muslims, disabled people? Gay people, women?

Have you heard of Frankie Boyle?

no group gets protected status
it's about where you draw line
but no group gets special dispensation to not get teased.rightly so

No! God botherer is someone who bothers God. Who prays. I'm not evangelical in the least. Not all Christians are.

Have you heard of Frankie Boyle?
Well no, actually, I've heard the name here, but I don't really have any idea who he is!

I think "Did you mean to be so rude?" is quite aggressive. It would be appropriate if the person was very rude, but for banter i think it is a bit cringemaking and I feel a bit sorry for the guy.

The term ?god botherer? to me means someone who bothers god with their praying (asking for stuff) and singing to him rather than someone who bothers other people with their beliefs. However, IMO it?s a slightly dodgy term because it can be interpreted differently by other people, so best not to be said to a religious person?s face.

Foxtrot the man said he didn?t mean to be rude so as far as I see it there is no offense to be taken really. It?s all about context. Of course he could?ve been thinking ?how can such intelligent people believe in such outlandish unproven nonsense given the scientific progress we?ve made in society. I never thought they?d be weird god botherers?. Thing is you?ll never know, he?s apologised, so all you can do is take it that he didn?t mean to cause offense and move on.

And 'letterboxhead' is very offensive. I am extremely uncomfortable with women in full veils, but that's my Western feminist sentiments talking. I override them by telling myself that these women are fully veiled by personal choice and just hope it's true

Hmm, even if they are not made to wear it in fear of emotional or physical assault, is it ?personal choice? or indoctrination though? Choosing religion as a mature adult, after considering all the options and possibilities is a far cry from being brainwashed from birth by religious parents.

The 'did you mean that to sound so rude' was thought up as a response to friends who are habitually 'diggy' and subtly derogative. I wouldn't have used it in this situation.

He might well have wanted to start a conversation about your beliefs and been curious about the catholic faith but your retort would have put paid to that.

As someone else further up thread pointed out, if you're keeping your Christian faith to yourself and not bothering people then you're not following the NT on preaching to the world.

did you mean to be so rude is passive aggressive
and yes would be obvious retort
it's uppity and really mc aghast

"if you're keeping your Christian faith to yourself and not bothering people then you're not following the NT on preaching to the world."

That's a frequent misunderstanding.

Where exactly does Jesus say you have to "bother" anyone? By all means set a good example of loving your neighbour, and be prepared to give others an answer if they ask. But "bothering" and pestering people with the effect that it just drives them away? I can't find anywhere in the Bible that suggests we do that.

YANBU and you are perfectly entitled to find something offensive. There is a very broad definition of what is considered "banter" and we all get to draw our own line in the sand.

Saggy - People do indeed feel very free to be rude to Muslims. You would not believe some of the nasty things I've had said to me by complete strangers.

Tudor - there's plenty of room between pestering and keeping it a secret though. The point I'm making is that often times Christians on here talk about how their beliefs are a 'personal issue'. I think Jesus would beg to differ don't you?