Cinema ban on the Lord's Prayer

[Leafitout]

Surely if anyone finds this advert offensive they can choose not to watch it. I can't see the problem with showing it.

Offred, if I pray for you in my head - which I already have done - can you explain to me how this manifests itself as having infringed your human rights? What are you afraid will now happen to that particular supplication to God. And what would you assume I actually prayed about/for?

And yes I have been abused physically, sexually, been homeless from teenage, missed out on education, self harmed, attempted suicide, been threatened with being sent to a magdalen laundry in Italy and many other horrible things which have all flowed from my family's belief that they are entitled to impose their religious practices on me. You don't have a monopoly on suffering and I shouldn't have to go through my entire life history to prove I deserve respect when I ask people not to pray for me.

But with respect ego I think you can understand the transphobia analogy in that if someone holds those beliefs they are potentially a danger to you whether or not at some point they act on them or whether or not their acts are actually dangerous to you personally.

That is how I feel about people praying for me. I am deeply deeply uncomfortable with people co-opting me into their religious practices and disrespecting my request not to do that.

And part of my horrible experiences have been people praying for me. Being made to lean over my dying grandad and apologise for being 'bad' and endure my grandmothers prayers for my soul as he died.

I do not want people to pray for me.

I understand that for some people they see it as an act of kindness and love. Equally, some people use it as a weapon.

I just want people to respect my wishes to not be prayed for no matter their intentions or personal values relating to prayer. I do not share those values about prayer, I am particularly opposed to the imposition of prayer when I've asked people not to.

". I like to frame my thoughts in prayer"

Good for you. Just don't do that when you're thinking about someone who doesn't want to be prayed for.

I have never, ever seen such an astonishingly blatant attempt at controlling another person. It brings the notion of a Thought Police to a really scary new level.

where did the human rights stuff come from?

'Are you praying for me?'

'Um..'

'ARE YOU PRAYING FOR ME?'

'Um, yes, well...I was..'

'Well don't. I don't like it.'

'But I...it's what I do when I speak to God and I think of you and..'

'I'm calling the police, you disrespectful, narcissistic bastard!'

'Um...okay'.

Think what you like.

I am asking you not to pray.

What if I asked you not to comment further on this thread?

Catholic prayers are very similar/the same. The difference is usually in the level of fundamentalism by the adherents.

Faberge, I think that's my favourite of all your works of fiction on this thread so far! Still only a C+, you need to make your outright inventions a little less glaring for a better mark.

Really? Well you are certainly coming off well on this thread faberge...

Jassy - originally from the CofE's response. They said it's an infringement of the right to free speech and said they were looking into legal action.

How does your right to pray for someone trump their right not to be prayed for?

Dunno, but it's the law. I can pray..you can't do anything about it.

No one in my family cares if I am happy, in good health etc. they only care whether I am Catholic IMO.

No-one can do anything about it no.

No-one has an absolute right to practise their religion in any way they choose under the law btw.

Religious people have to respect other people's beliefs in the way their religious beliefs are manifested. That's the actual law if you want to be a pedant.

I do not agree that asking someone not to pray for them is an attack on their freedom of thought. I think you are disingenuous to keep framing it in those terms.

Keep reading this. And then read it again and again - and hopefully you will see it is utter, utter nonsense. Asking someone not to pray for you is acceptable. Demanding that they do not pray for you - in private - is thought control. And far more dangerous than anything IS have achieved thus far.

You don't live in North Korea, perchance?