Reason 2: Christians try to "bless" you by bragging

Topics in why I consider myself an ex-Christian

Reason 2: Christians try to "bless" you by bragging.

Call it what you will: encourage, bless, share... They all sound like clanging symbols in my ears. Here are some bilious ways Christians try to "bless" you: talk about how close they feel to God, how they are experiencing the joy of God, how they have a special connection with God, how God revealed some secret to you recently. It's a form of bragging. If you don't like that word, how about this: It's a way for you to convince yourself that life isn't as volatile as you feel. Either way, it's self focused. I know why Christians think they should talk this way. They think it's either their responsibility to testify about the moment of spiritual bliss they experienced (bragging), or they think if you hear how "well" they are doing, you might be convinced that you too can have the same joy in your life. These are shallow excuses. If Christians really empathized with the person they were talking to, they would shut up and listen. That's how you bless someone. Not by spouting how great your spiritual life has been lately.

(The other side of the coin would be to share some vague notions of suffering they've had lately. Sounds like a longer version of this: I've been struggling lately, but God is good.)

Reason 1: Christians always have an agenda

Why I consider myself an ex-Christian.

Reason 1: Christians always have an agenda. 

When I was a fundy, this is what I hated most about myself. Every person I met and was friendly to, I had an agenda. I wanted to guide the conversation somehow to faith, God, church. Well, at first I was just interested in the person. They were funny, smart, appealing. Then, as a true believer, I needed to do my part in helping them see the light--that they needed a relationship with God just as I had some years ago. In fact, a conversation didn't feel complete unless I mentioned faith somehow. Bonus points if I could peak their interest. This became quickly annoying, since it's rather difficult bringing up God all the time. What's more despicable is that I never liked someone just to like them. Deep down, it was always about the agenda.