Just because I'm not religious, doesn't mean I'm ungrateful....
@VivaLaDani13 (60355)
Perth, Australia
July 16, 2019 10:13am CST
I was just thinking about some conversations I've seen and been apart of in regards to religion and I've noticed a sort of assumption amongst some religious people. And I do mean some and in no way am I attacking religious people. I'm just venting about something I've observed and experienced personally.
I've spoken about religion here and there and most of you know I'm not religious nor am I atheist. I'm just someone who is open minded but also lost with what the heck this is all about. I'm open minded about MANY things. But I will always remain on the fence until there is proof.
But the thing I want to discuss is that some religious people are under the impression that those who aren't religious aren't thankful for what they have.
I can't and won't speak for all people here. But I will speak for myself as I've had this experience.
I'm just not understanding the connection between not being religious and being ungrateful. 
I personally love all animals, plants, seasons, beautiful scenery, the night sky and food ( I could go on and on ). Not too fond of people I will give you that but I love so much on this Earth. But just because I'm not 100% on board that everything came from God, that makes me ungrateful?
I don't see the connection and it makes me sad to see people assume such a thing. Can someone please explain? Just because I don't know....I didn't say I didn't believe it was God. I'm saying I don't know if it was him, but doesn't mean I'm ungrateful or don't admire the beauty this world possesses nor am I not thankful for anything positive that comes my way.
To say I am ungrateful will bother me regardless but to say I am ungrateful because my belief system alters from most....well I just don't get it. It's like looking down on me and judging me without knowing me.
I personally love all animals, plants, seasons, beautiful scenery, the night sky and food ( I could go on and on ). Not too fond of people I will give you that but I love so much on this Earth. But just because I'm not 100% on board that everything came from God, that makes me ungrateful?
I don't see the connection and it makes me sad to see people assume such a thing. Can someone please explain? Just because I don't know....I didn't say I didn't believe it was God. I'm saying I don't know if it was him, but doesn't mean I'm ungrateful or don't admire the beauty this world possesses nor am I not thankful for anything positive that comes my way.
To say I am ungrateful will bother me regardless but to say I am ungrateful because my belief system alters from most....well I just don't get it. It's like looking down on me and judging me without knowing me.19 people like this
19 responses
@LowRiderX (22907)
• Serbia
16 Jul 19
I try to avoid the topic of religion, but I understand you, I do not think you are ungrateful
4 people like this
@VivaLaDani13 (60355)
• Perth, Australia
16 Jul 19
@LowRiderX I totally understand as religion is one of the topics that causes fights. Thank you so much for reading anyway. I was just trying to vent as this is something that bothers me. And thank you for your kind words. Makes me feel better!
2 people like this
@VivaLaDani13 (60355)
• Perth, Australia
17 Jul 19
@LowRiderX aw thank you SO much! I really appreciate that!
1 person likes this
@LowRiderX (22907)
• Serbia
17 Jul 19
@VivaLaDani13 Yes exactly, cause fights and that's why I keep myself from that sort of topic. I read and commented just for you, otherwise, I would skip this discussion
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60355)
• Perth, Australia
17 Jul 19
@LadyDuck Thank you for understanding where I was coming from. I agree. Being a good person is what matters! Actually doing good is much better than claiming to be good just because of a religion you follow.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (458230)
• Switzerland
17 Jul 19
@VivaLaDani13 Exactly what I think, it's not because someone shows up in Church every Sunday that it's necessary a good person.
2 people like this
@VivaLaDani13 (60355)
• Perth, Australia
17 Jul 19
@LadyDuck Can't help it but use my Aunty as an example again. She goes to church along with some camps that take place and she helps cook the meals which IS nice but doesn't take away all the other things she does and says when her Christian family aren't looking. 
1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
17 Jul 19
I am not religious either...it's actually all about relationship--with Jesus. I can't stand religion--which is all about rules, customs (eating/drinking/doing things certain ways) and the spread of HATE. My relationship is the exact opposite of religion! Religion is about works--what we can "DO" to please God-Jesus is all about grace and nothing about what we do or don't do, Jesus is all about LOVE and the spreading of it.
There will never ever be 100% proof for your mind to understand because my Father isn't a mind thing it's a heart thing. Trust me if you ask God to make Himself real to you-He will. And He accepts you as you are right now.
As for your question-sorry got off subject there! Lol. I guess some people imply that because they are confused as to who you are grateful to for all that you have? That's the only thing I can think of. Hope you never thought I implied that...it's always great to be grateful! =)
2 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
17 Jul 19
@VivaLaDani13 It is so easy to read your novels-you write beautifully and it keeps interest. =)
I am so glad I have never come across that way, it would break my heart if I ever did. I love others and I love my Father and I pray that is all that ever shows in me and my words. 
I have prayed for you, for God to make Himself real to you. With that I will tell you, things have to happen in order for God to show up. And you have to be looking for Him. Let me clarify...what some people call "coincedence" I call it a miracle or God's hand in things.
To explain further-not because you don't get it but because it's easier to explain with examples...When my family was homeless, literally people would walk up to us and say God laid this on our heart to help you. They would give us $100 or pay for our motel room for a week or buy us food! These were strangers helping us! We weren't begging, we were walking to the store from the motel room with the last $10-$20 we had to buy some food for our kids.
Most people who don't believe in God would say-oh coincedence or they were just being nice, God had nothing to do with it. Because we believe we 100% knew it was God laying it on their heart to help our family. =) We survived that ordeal with God's help only--we had no vehicle and no jobs and the motel cost $75 per night...
But see, if we weren't homeless we would not have the faith we do now because we saw God working in our lives and other people's through that really tough situation. Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people? Partly, so their faith can grow. Faith doesn't grow by smooth sailing-if everything is good in your life we sometimes tend to feel we don't need God for anything...
Hope this all made sense and now I'm the one who wrote the novel!! 
I have prayed for you, for God to make Himself real to you. With that I will tell you, things have to happen in order for God to show up. And you have to be looking for Him. Let me clarify...what some people call "coincedence" I call it a miracle or God's hand in things.
To explain further-not because you don't get it but because it's easier to explain with examples...When my family was homeless, literally people would walk up to us and say God laid this on our heart to help you. They would give us $100 or pay for our motel room for a week or buy us food! These were strangers helping us! We weren't begging, we were walking to the store from the motel room with the last $10-$20 we had to buy some food for our kids.
Most people who don't believe in God would say-oh coincedence or they were just being nice, God had nothing to do with it. Because we believe we 100% knew it was God laying it on their heart to help our family. =) We survived that ordeal with God's help only--we had no vehicle and no jobs and the motel cost $75 per night...
But see, if we weren't homeless we would not have the faith we do now because we saw God working in our lives and other people's through that really tough situation. Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people? Partly, so their faith can grow. Faith doesn't grow by smooth sailing-if everything is good in your life we sometimes tend to feel we don't need God for anything...
Hope this all made sense and now I'm the one who wrote the novel!! 1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60355)
• Perth, Australia
18 Jul 19
@LovingMyBabies Thank you kindly for your response. It's ok if it's long like a novel. 
I really do thank you and find it sweet for you to pray for me. I may not be 100% sure prayers work but I really do find it sweet for people to take a little bit of their time to think of others like that so thank you kindly.
Thank you for telling me more of your story too. I did know some of it but of course I don't know everything and I appreciate you opening up and telling me your story. I am glad for you getting help and your stories, like many stories out there are always food for thought. I take these sorts of stories into consideration just as much as stories who give the opposite side / opinion.
I really do thank you and find it sweet for you to pray for me. I may not be 100% sure prayers work but I really do find it sweet for people to take a little bit of their time to think of others like that so thank you kindly.
Thank you for telling me more of your story too. I did know some of it but of course I don't know everything and I appreciate you opening up and telling me your story. I am glad for you getting help and your stories, like many stories out there are always food for thought. I take these sorts of stories into consideration just as much as stories who give the opposite side / opinion.
@VivaLaDani13 (60355)
• Perth, Australia
16 Jul 19
@jaboUK I agree. Thank you kindly for reading and answering.
2 people like this
@VivaLaDani13 (60355)
• Perth, Australia
16 Jul 19
@just4him I agree with you. Thanks for answering.
2 people like this
@just4him (306355)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
16 Jul 19
@VivaLaDani13 You're welcome.
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60355)
• Perth, Australia
16 Jul 19
@CarolDM I understand and I thank you for reading this as well as answering anyway. Was just doing this post to vent a little. Thank you.
2 people like this
@CarolDM (203452)
• Nashville, Tennessee
16 Jul 19
@VivaLaDani13 I completely understand, we all need that from time to time.
2 people like this
@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
17 Jul 19
My own stance is flat out atheism, but I do appreciate beauty, wonder etc and I am grateful to my ancestry - people should not try to label or pigeon-hole you into some category that suits their thinking.
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
18 Jul 19
@VivaLaDani13 Mylot is a good site for such sharing
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60355)
• Perth, Australia
18 Jul 19
@arthurchappell I agree. I do know that venting actually bothers some people and I will respect their opinion on that as it's how they think. For me though, I encourage people to speak their minds and let things out. Better out than in.
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60355)
• Perth, Australia
17 Jul 19
@arthurchappell I am like you with how I view life. Thank you for reading and understanding where I was coming from. I HAD to get it off my chest!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118459)
• Gainesville, Florida
17 Jul 19
I try not to judge anyone based on religious beliefs or lack thereof. I just try to get to know the person for who they are, not for what they do or don't believe in.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118459)
• Gainesville, Florida
18 Jul 19
@VivaLaDani13 Don't you be calling me by bad words like that!
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60355)
• Perth, Australia
18 Jul 19
@moffittjc Bad words? lol how so? Cherub is a good word. 
1 person likes this
@Daljinder (23233)
• Bangalore, India
17 Jul 19
You are ungrateful because you aren't falling in line. Isn't it the usual logic of all arrogants?
Isn't it the usual logic of all arrogants?1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60355)
• Perth, Australia
17 Jul 19
@Daljinder LOL exactly right!!!! 
It's kinda like when I get called "difficult" when I don't see eye to eye with ones beliefs. Me not agreeing or believing means I'm....difficult.
It couldn't possibly be anything else like me having my own mind or anything. 
It's kinda like when I get called "difficult" when I don't see eye to eye with ones beliefs. Me not agreeing or believing means I'm....difficult.
It couldn't possibly be anything else like me having my own mind or anything. 1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60355)
• Perth, Australia
20 Jul 19
@Daljinder Oh my goodness! It's friggen annoying isn't it?!
1 person likes this
@Daljinder (23233)
• Bangalore, India
19 Jul 19
@VivaLaDani13 yeah specifically by your aunt.
The last sentence dude!! I feel exactly the same when having disagreements with Dad.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129481)
• Israel
17 Jul 19
@VivaLaDani13
I would say you are on a journey and still not sure which way to go. How does that sound?
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60355)
• Perth, Australia
17 Jul 19
@Hannihar I feel that is a fair statement. It's like what I've told a few people recently. I don't know what life is all about or what the purpose of me and everyone in general being here is. I am open to all, what I call "theories." But I don't like when people think of me as bad or stupid or just something I'm not when in all honesty, I'm just a lost person on Earth trying to do what she can in life as well as wanting to know the cliche questions like how, why, who etc. I don't like when people try to force me to believe in something as that only pushes me away.
Where I go on my journey and how I think on my journey is between me, my mind, my heart and for any being we can't see who may understand me already.
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60355)
• Perth, Australia
18 Jul 19
@Hannihar Thank you very much. I appreciate your words.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129481)
• Israel
18 Jul 19
@VivaLaDani13
You are far from stupid. You want to know things and why they are why and that is very normal. I have always been a curious person but not everyone wants to answer my questions. Dany, it is very true what you said.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34368)
•
19 Jul 19
Religion and one's beliefs about it are a very controversial topic. “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven." A popular religious saying which those attacking your beliefs should follow!
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60355)
• Perth, Australia
19 Jul 19
@dgobucks226 I agree. Yet, I seem to bump more into those who act more judgemental and kinda cruel.
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60355)
• Perth, Australia
22 Jul 19
@dgobucks226 oh tell me about it! I can't believe the silly crap people are offended by. It's mental!
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (34368)
•
21 Jul 19
@VivaLaDani13 Yes, the World is full of people looking to be offended by something...
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (85328)
• Bangalore, India
16 Jul 19
It's a choice to be religious or not. And one has to be respectful to others. And even in people who are religious, there is varying degrees. Some are God fearing while others like me are more of God loving. I call myself more of spiritual than religious.
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60355)
• Perth, Australia
16 Jul 19
@arunima25 I completely agree with you. There's really no reason to look down on someone just because of their beliefs. If they were actually a bad person I would understand but otherwise there's no need to treat someone badly due to what they believe or don't believe.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (85328)
• Bangalore, India
16 Jul 19
@VivaLaDani13 A person should be badly treated if and only if he /she is anti social element and has committed a crime with full consciousness. You can be treated bad if you disobey the rules of the land. And no rule of land in a civilized society imposes religious beliefs.
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60355)
• Perth, Australia
16 Jul 19
@arunima25 Very well said. I agree with you!
1 person likes this
@ihasaquestion (8274)
•
16 Jul 19
Religious people can be ungrateful too. There is no link to whether the ungratefulness stems from one being religious or not. But also adding, at some point that we do have to appreciate the works of our Creator.
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60355)
• Perth, Australia
17 Jul 19
@ihasaquestion I agree with you that even religious people can be ungrateful too as I've known some who had a nasty attitude like that. I respect the other thing you added. Thanks for answering.
Thanks for answering.1 person likes this
@ihasaquestion (8274)
•
17 Jul 19
@VivaLaDani13 Yes, so it's pretty much an individual thing. You're most welcome.
1 person likes this
@Nakitakona (56302)
• Philippines
18 Jul 19
It's not good to judge people and to come out with a generalization. That because they're not religious they're ungrateful. That's wrong. We should respect everyone whether they're believing in God or not.
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60355)
• Perth, Australia
18 Jul 19
@Nakitakona I completely agree with everything you said!
1 person likes this
@Nakitakona (56302)
• Philippines
19 Jul 19
@VivaLaDani13 That's wonderful. We've things in common.
1 person likes this
@much2say (53958)
• Los Angeles, California
16 Jul 19
I've heard silly things like that too . And often nervy. It's not even enough to have a faith . . . to some it also has to be a particular faith . . . but that's a whole 'nother discussion. Essentially we hope that all people would live by similar core principles that are "good". And that doesn't mean that folks like us understand any less . . . we just arrived at the same points of goodness in different ways. I just wish others could be more respectful of that - not everyone learns the ways of life via a religion - and that is not a bad thing.
. And often nervy. It's not even enough to have a faith . . . to some it also has to be a particular faith . . . but that's a whole 'nother discussion. Essentially we hope that all people would live by similar core principles that are "good". And that doesn't mean that folks like us understand any less . . . we just arrived at the same points of goodness in different ways. I just wish others could be more respectful of that - not everyone learns the ways of life via a religion - and that is not a bad thing.1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60355)
• Perth, Australia
16 Jul 19
@much2say Boo yeah! *claps* Well said!
1 person likes this
@psanasangma (5884)
• India
17 Jul 19
Sometimes I feel, Being religious is discrimination because there are so many restriction which ultimately led to judge other people 
. Somewhat.Open minded like me sometimes it feels like we are in chain
. Somewhat.Open minded like me sometimes it feels like we are in chain1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60355)
• Perth, Australia
17 Jul 19
@psanasangma I understand where you are coming from. Thank you for answering.
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70035)
• United States
16 Jul 19
I do not see the correlation between that either.
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60355)
• Perth, Australia
16 Jul 19
@TiarasOceanView I wish I could understand. It's even worse if there is no reason.
1 person likes this
@Mike197602 (15487)
• United Kingdom
16 Jul 19
I'm not religious because most religions are based on a book or something and the reality is that these books haven't changed for many (thousands in some cases) years.
Science changes as our knowledge increases, it never stand still so what is accepted fact in the 1600's has changed greatly today...religious texts are seen as fact but they never change and that's what makes me think following a religion is somewhat silly in this day and age.
1 person likes this
@VivaLaDani13 (60355)
• Perth, Australia
17 Jul 19
@Mike197602 MIKE! Thank you for your answer. I understand where you are coming from for sure!
I hope you are doing well! Always happy to see you pop up here.
Thank you for your answer. I understand where you are coming from for sure!
I hope you are doing well! Always happy to see you pop up here.
