Bad gifts

[Nika]

Why would someone give a giant book on religious child rearing to someone who has never brought up religion to them?

How would religious people like getting a book on atheism for their special occasion?

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Whoa.
Any chance it was meant as a curiosity or gag gift?

[Nika]

Nope. The guy is religious, and the book is expensive.

[hamchan]

It's a not so subtle hint. And pretty rude IMO.

[snafu]

People who are strongly religious likely hope/believe you will benefit from their gift. I doubt he has considered how it would make you feel. There are people who go door-to-door proselytizing never considering the residents may find it inconvenient to listen. You can take the book back to the store and request a refund since any gift, once given to the recipient is their property to do as they wish.

We all get gifts we find inappropriate and wonder 'what were they thinking!'

[creditcardfree]

We get religious gifts from my mother in law that do not align with our beliefs. She is trying to change our beliefs to her beliefs. The gift giver in your case, and our case and more concerned with their desires than the desires of the recipient.

Feel free to return book, or donate. Then move on!

[LivingAlmostLarge]

donate the book. And shrug.

[GoodSteward]

As a pastor, I wouldn't give a gift like that unless I felt strongly compelled to do so(very unlikely). I understand if you are not already religious, being strongly religious to someone will come off as being pushy and can cause the opposite effect of the desired result. They feel they are being helpful, but I have found personally it isn't.

For instance, I don't bring up bible stuff on here constantly for the same reason. You may not know this but the same basic financial principals that are typically accepted on this site can also be found in scripture. The Bible advises against spending everything you have, and warns about the burden debt can be(doesn't forbid it). Just because that is the case doesn't mean I need to use scripture to discuss everything on here. I try to be respectful of others opinions and views, and I only bring religious stuff up when it may be the only or strongest reason for how I perceive something such as paying tithes.

As mentioned above, I wouldn't want a book on atheism as a gift and would consider it a fairly disrespectful gesture if they knew how I felt beforehand. I would imagine the other way around would still make someone feel the same.

[GoodSteward]

I also just realized someone brought this old thread up. Oh well. I'll leave my response.