Anyone can comment on this site, even Evangelicals and Independent Fundamentalist Baptists. All I ask is that commenters follow the comment policy. Unfortunately, many followers of Jesus either can’t read or they think the comment policy doesn’t apply to them. In their minds, they are servants of Jesus, so whatever he tells them to do or say, they do it, Bruce be damned.
Over the past week, a new Evangelical commenter has been commenting on this blog. She has also sent me numerous emails. Her behavior gave me pause, but I thought I would let her continue to comment. Well, today brought the following comment which I want to respond to:
Ar the risk of being given the “boot” for mentioning prayer on here, I was just so touched, I had to send this. I wasn’t gonna say a blessed thing about prayers going up.for your health condition, 🙏 but was clandestinely putting you on every healing prayer site I could possibly find, in hopes that you would begin to regain some strength, and hope that you aren’t “destined” to continue suffering like this.
Yes, you have indeed crossed a line. I do not appreciate your conduct. Did I ask you to contact people and ask them to pray for me? No. Did I ask you to share my health problems with them? No. Yet, you felt you had the “right” to parade my name and health issues before others. You could have kept this to yourself, but you didn’t. No, you needed me to know that you and your Christian ceiling knockers were praying for me, ignoring what Jesus said about praying in secret.
I can’t stop people from praying for me. If Christians want to babble at the ceiling, so be it. However, I am not interested in being apprised of your vacuous, empty prayers. Yes, empty. Thousands of Christians are allegedly praying for me, yet my health remains the same, and I am still an unrepentant atheist. It is evident, at least to me, that prayer doesn’t work. It can’t, because the Christian God is a myth. He can no more answer a prayer than another mythical being, Satan.
That said, if I am instantly healed of gastroparesis (incurable), exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (incurable), degenerative spine disease (incurable), and peripheral neuropathy (incurable), I will repent and put my faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Time to put up or shut up. Surely, with all these prayer warriors praying for me, healing is but an utterance away.
This commenter gossiped about me with a pastor associated with Catch the Fire Ottawa. This pastor sent the woman a copy of what he prayed (all spelling and grammar in the original):
— begin prayer —
Lord Jesus,
We lift up Bruce to You today. You see his pain, You know every part of his body that is suffering, and You understand the depths of the times of despair he has felt at times bevause of it. He has said that if You cared enough to heal him, he would believe. Lord, we know that You do care — deeply. You cared enough to come, to suffer, and to die so that we might have life.
So we boldly ask, in Your mercy, that You would touch Bruce’s spine and body. Heal what doctors say is incurable. Bring relief where there has been only pain. Speak peace into the storm of his body and mind. Let healing flow through every part of his nervous system, his muscles, his digestive system, his pancreas — and especially his spine. Let him be able to say, “God heard me. God helped me. God is real.
But more than just healing, Lord, we ask that You would draw Bruce to Yourself. In Your gentleness, open his heart to Your love. Reveal Yourself not just as a healer, but as a Father and a Friend. God loves the fatherless. Meet him in the dark places with Your light. Give him hope not only for his body, but for his heart and inner well-being, healing from trauma and deep brokenness.
You often used healing in Scripture to bring people to faith — not just to restore their bodies, but to re-invite them into a relationship with You. Would You do that for Bruce? Not just to lessen his pain, but to show him You have never forgotten him.
We ask all this in Your powerful and compassionate name, Jesus Christ, our Healer and Redeemer.
Amen.
Yes, Lord! We ask for a regenerative miracle for Bruce.
Amen
— end of prayer —
What more can I say other than “sigh.” (Please see Why I Use the Word “Sigh.”) Just another example of a follower of Jesus who shows no regard or respect for me or thinks she knows what is best for me. Such behavior is unsurprising. I’ve been blogging for seventeen years. I have seen this boorish behavior over and over again.
For the record, I wish I weren’t sick. I wish I weren’t in pain all the time. But wishing, like prayer, is a waste of time. Life is what it is, and no amount of babbling to the ceiling will change that fact. I accept that this is my lot in life. As I mentioned above, most of my health problems are incurable. There’s nothing doctors can do except treat my symptoms and try to alleviate my suffering.
Saved by Reason,
Bruce Gerencser, 68, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 47 years. He and his wife have six grown children and sixteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.
Your comments are welcome and appreciated. All first-time comments are moderated. Please read the commenting rules before commenting.
You can email Bruce via the Contact Form.
I didn’t share your full name, and only asked prayer for your specific health conditions. So nobody knows who I was asking prayer for. I guess, with people I know, even unbelievers, all of them are glad to get prayer, pretty much without exception. So I truly didn’t think it would be a breach of boundary. I read your commenting rules, one of which was, ” don’t say, ‘I’ll pray for you’ like an empty promise. That’s why I didn’t say it, I just did it. I truly thought this response from this person was so touching, sincere and full of compassion, that’s the only reason I sent it to you. I honestly thought it would encourage you a little bit…to know that not everyone condemns the innocent (sick people).
And for the record, I’m a girl, not a guy. Steve only makes rare appearances online.
This pastor mentioned my health problems by name, so,either he reads this blog or you gave him specifics about my health,
As far as your name is concerned, you used a variety of names on your comments. Why?
I’m sure you meant well. However, this is me telling you that I don’t appreciate what you did. Want to pray for me? Have at it, but there’s no need for you tell me about it. I don’t care and neither do many of the readers of this blog.
Enough said . . .
Bruce
Well, 3 of us live here. And we all use same email address. Too lazy (or efficient) to bother creating 3 separate accounts. And the guy said “Bruce” because I usually give the first name of person I’m requesting prayer 🙏 for (usually sick people who need some hope and relief) and I told specific health problems, so they’d know what to pray for. I didn’t share any link to your blog, I’m a pretty discreet person myself, and didn’t feel it important or necessary to do that.
Funny how your God needs all that information to “heal” me. He knows where I am and what I need, no need for middlemen.
Terri,
This man is deceived to the 900th degree 😭. Pray for Jesus Christ to save him
Terri might want to know that you are the most vile, vulgar, ugly so-called Christian I have ever met. Maybe I’ll share with her your comments detailing graphic scenes of prison rape and violence.
Terri: “Ar the risk of being given the “boot” for mentioning prayer on here, …”
Zoe: Terri, you clearly demonstrate here that you did in fact know that you were breaking boundaries.
Terri, shame on you. There is no excuse for what you did, none whatsoever, and no amount of notpologizing after the fact will make up for what you did.
Well Bruce I have a soft spot for good intentions and it seems these folks praying for your relief mean you well, even though all to no affect whatever. Certainly they mean you no harm. Just so you know; I also wish you well and to prove it I burned some sagebrush, and scattered some chicken bones over the ashes while chanting your name. It won’t help but it won’t hurt none niether. I woulda sacrificed a goat but I don’t have a goat and besides blood makes me nauseus.
I occasionally have someone say they prayed or will pray for me, not knowing I don’t do religion anymore. It makes me a little uncomfortable but I take it as well meant and caring. That someone cares how I feel is welcome and I prefer that to ill wishes or even indifference.
I don’t doubt her intentions. That said, she read the comment policy, so she knew whether I was interested in being prayed for. By all means, pray for me, but don’t tell me about it. If God divinely heals me, they will be the first to know. 🤣🤣 I’ll be singing praises to Jesus. That said, I might have a few questions about the prayer game. How many prayers are required for healing? How many pray-ers are required for healing? Will any sort of Christian prayer do, or do I need only IFB, Evangelical, or Charismatic prayers? What team are you on, Jesus?
So many questions, so few answers. 🤣🤣
Just this past week my spouse got the bad news that she has cancer. Simply put we are devastated about what this means for our family. Now people are coming out of the woodwork and saying “I’m praying for you.” or some such line. Now I understand how irritating it is to be on the receiving end of these kinds of remarks. It would be better if nothing were said.
Yeah. I guess some people this really encourages, but I guess not everyone. It’s basically meant as, “Hey, we’re on your team, rootin’ for ya, we care and want to see you well!!”
We’re not on the same team. You are an Evangelical Christian and I’m an atheist. You think you are going to Heaven and I’m going to Hell,
Besides, I specifically ask in the comment policy for people not to send me “I’m praying for you” emails or leave similar comments. Surely it’s not too much to ask, yes?
I wouldn’t mind if someone prays for me. I don’t believe in it, but it makes them feel better. It is awkward, though, when they tell me they’re praying for me. Since I’m not a believer, I feel awkward and just say “thank you” and change the subject. But that’s a personal thing, and I understand responses can be different and appropriate – I just don’t want to deal with confrontation. However, I feel that telling others about my specifics or posting in online groups is crossing a boundary of privacy. If I didn’t consent to being part of verbal or online groups, that’s a breach of privacy. No matter how well-meaning they are, if people do something you’ve asked them not to do, that’s a breach.
Alright. Perhaps I should have just put his initial, “B”. But there are millions of Bruce’s out there. To me, it was anonymous. But I’ll consider that next time I send prayer 🙏 requests. It’s a learning curve. I’m just the type of person who doesn’t care if people know I’m going through sickness, I didn’t consider or did it even occur to me that someone would. We’re all different and it’s good to get to know people’s wishes so we don’t cross boundaries without meaning to.
To the commenter who said I knew I was crossing a boundary, no, I honestly didn’t. Because in Bruce’s rules, he says, “Don’t say you’ll pray for me”. I didn’t tell him.i was gonna do that. I just got such a beautiful, compassionate response from a praying person, that I felt to share. Thinking it would encourage him that not every “believer” wants to treat him like crap. But, I had a hunch it could possibly be risky anyway, even if rules were followed. Since I’m so used to getting flack for nothing anyway. Lol. Not a big deal, I understand the effects of PTSD on people. He’s like a war vet. I’d probably be the same way, given his experiences.
There’s only ONE Bruce Gerencser in the world.
“I understand the effects of PTSD on people. He’s like a war vet. I’d probably be the same way, given his experiences.”
I don’t have PTSD.
Zoe is my name and Terri, you are not being honest about recognizing you were entering into crossing boundaries.
It is a big deal when you can’t admit your error and your intentions.
Terri: ” I understand the effects of PTSD on people. He’s like a war vet. I’d probably be the same way, given his experiences.
Zoe: Where are you going with this Terri? I’d back away from commenting further until you think about what you are saying here.
Well, maybe 🤔 not in the same context as a real war vet…or normal trauma survivor. However, I’ve found that, unlike Bruce Gerencser, there IS more than one kind of PTSD that exists. It stands for Post Theological Shit Drama. So, there we go.
Terri-
I am John S. I am a practicing Catholic who has read and posted on Bruce’s page for the past few years.
I read and post because like a lot of Bruce’s regular readers, I too am sorting through the effect religion had on my childhood. I have only been Catholic for the last 7 years (I’m 54). I was raised in a Pentecostal fundamentalist yay-Jesus! charismatic church called the Assemblies of God. Maybe you’ve heard of them? Modern in some sense, old fashioned in another. The hardest issue I had when I was a teenager was the expectation of enthusiasm for each of the 2 hour worship services. The waiving of hands, the dancing in the isles, the subtle pressure to go up for an altar call while, “Just like I am” was sung over..and over…and over again until every secret teenage sinner finally just went up so they could get it over with. The pressure to speak in tongues because that’s what a True Christian ®️should strive for. Oh did I mention that I was just a teenager?
It was like what I’ve read about Communist re-education camps, but with Jesus instead of Lenin. Wear the person down and condition them to believe and behave the way they are supposed too. It’s all good because it’s for Jesus!
So when someone knows I’m Catholic and comes at me with a bunch of evangelical stuff that many times is subtly anti-Catholic, I get a little upset. It’s one thing if they don’t know me, but if they do and still persist, I find it to be disrespectful, regardless of the person’s good intentions. Also, I’m not here to defend or promote the Catholic Church, or to minimize the horrible things that happened from pervert priests or their enabling bishops. I identify myself as Catholic because that is who I am. I would never expect Bruce or anyone else to “respect” that by not posting legitimate stories of abuse by a priest, for example in the “Black Collar Crime” series, or to talk about problems within the Catholic religion.
This is Bruce’s page, not mine. Bruce is an agnostic atheist after years of searching. I respect Bruce very highly and have learned a lot from him that has helped me in my own spiritual/religious journey. So when I post on here I (hopefully) keep that in mind. My only “witness” is to hopefully show that I as a Catholic and former evangelical can both listen and engage in meaningful conversation and also be respectful of the other person(s) view and sensibilities. If you want your “lane” as a Christian to be respected, it is good to respect the lane of others who are not.
I’ll conclude. Imagine you had a friend who is a witch (Wiccan). They are all in, they cast spells, celebrate Yule, etc. This friend knows you’re a devout Christian. They find out you’re sick and they cast a spell for you with their fellow witches. They then tell you about what they’ve done and also deliver an object for you that represents the “healing spell” they cast, and tell you to put it by your bed.
How would you react as a devout Christian? Certainly your friend had good intentions for you. But they also crossed a personal boundary that would probably put you in an uncomfortable position.
‘Imagine you had a friend who is a witch (Wiccan). They are all in, they cast spells, celebrate Yule, etc. This friend knows you’re a devout Christian. They find out you’re sick and they cast a spell for you with their fellow witches. They then tell you about what they’ve done and also deliver an object for you that represents the “healing spell” they cast, and tell you to put it by your bed.
How would you react as a devout Christian? Certainly your friend had good intentions for you. But they also crossed a personal boundary that would probably put you in an uncomfortable position.”
Spot on, John. I often use a similar illustration. Sadly, religious conditioning and indoctrination keep many people from seeing how their behaviors might be offensive. If their interpretation of the Bible gives them justification for their actions, that’s all they need. When challenged, they will say, “Your argument is with God, not me.”
“Your argument is with God, not me.”
Thanks, Bruce. I know I’ve posted about my late father before. He heard these arguments all the time from his religious friends and relatives.
I love my father dearly and miss him. He was in all ways wiser and more talented in life than I’ll ever be. He was from a different time.
This response from his Christian acquaintances drove him up the wall. To him it was the ultimate cop-out when you couldn’t win an argument “on the merits” and decided to appeal to an invisible referee.
Zoe, do you KNOW what He’s been through? Have you read his childhood story? Have you been in churches like IBF? I had similar tragedies in my childhood, minus the religious upbringing. Abuse from age 2. I’ve BEEN through PTSD myself. I once tried a youth group in a church similar to IFB, and I couldn’t even TOUCH the New Testament for over 2 years, because all I could see it through was the “lens” of the distortion of God that place represented. So, I know a little bit of what I’m talking about.
And John, I’m so sorry for any abuse you’ve been through. I’ve had my share of it too. And I empathize!! And just so u know, I’m a Catholic myself. I don’t “go” to church, but I love the Sacraments, the saints (their stories, not praying to them) and a wonderful 🙏 Catholic lady whose online devotions I glean from every day. More than that, I’m not even “denominational” , I like alot of different ones, and have friends that are in a variety of them. I also have Sikh and witch friends and family members, although I don’t share same beliefs. Neither of them mind at all if i offer prayer for them when they’re in need.
And Bruce….are you referring to the Ozzy Osbourne /Marilyn Manson comments we left?
Because we BOTH here feel that way. You know, there was a time when I would have hated Manson’s guts for what he did, ESPECIALLY considering I’m a woman, who has been mistreated by men!!!!!
But you know what? All I could feel for him when his “story” came out, was profound sadness for him, I cried ALL day for him. Have you LISTENED to his music? Have you ever bothered to even READ his lyrics?
All the religious Pharisees were pointing the finger at him for YEARS, never hearing the pain 😢 behind the music. All I could feel was compassion, which is a MIRACLE, because there is no way I could have ever felt that for my “enemies” before
Believers in Jesus believe what the Bible says about how He did not come for the self-righteous, but for the sick, broken, and the sinners who KNEW they needed God.
I’m VERY quick to defend the outcast, the marginalized, the mentally ill, the stigmatized, and those with their “demons”.
Why I never stayed in that IFB -like church was because of terrible judgments on people like this.
Zoe is my oldest friend on this site. She’s been reading this blog since its inception. She has an intimate knowledge of IFB doctrine and practice. As far as my health is concerned, she’s familiar with that too.
“ And just so u know, I’m a Catholic myself. I don’t “go” to church, but I love the Sacraments, the saints (their stories, not praying to them)”
To quote the one and only Bruce Gerencser- “Sigh”.
Practicing Catholics “go” to church (mass) to receive the sacraments, particularly the Eucharist. A practicing Catholic is supposed to do this as they are able once a week on either the Saturday Vigil or Sunday. The Catholic Church has 7 sacraments.
If a Catholic “prays to the saints” it is to ask their intercession to pray for them. They are not “mini-gods”.
Terri, please understand I am not wanting to mistreat you. I perceive you are probably a decent person. But it appears that you are trying to ingratiate yourself to Bruce and everyone else by trying to appeal to everyone’s unique “identity”.
My advice is to just be your best and genuine self, and respect the rules. Like everyone else (except Revival Liars, that is).
Terri: “Zoe, do you KNOW what He’s been through? Have you read his childhood story? Have you been in churches like IBF? I had similar tragedies in my childhood, minus the religious upbringing. Abuse from age 2. I’ve BEEN through PTSD myself. I once tried a youth group in a church similar to IFB, and I couldn’t even TOUCH the New Testament for over 2 years, because all I could see it through was the “lens” of the distortion of God that place represented. So, I know a little bit of what I’m talking about.”
Zoe: It appears the longer you try to defend yourself, the worse it gets Terri. No need for upper case, I clearly hear you, however, I’m not sure you hear yourself. You diagnosed Bruce with PTSD, or the assumption based on his story that he must have PTSD. Bruce has told you he does not have PTSD. You also are implying that I am ignorant of Bruce’s story. He has informed you otherwise.
So, my husband Steve is an ex-Hell”s Angel’s biker, drug addict, drug dealer and more. He tried for 5 years to get out of there alive. When he did, the only family members who were willing take him in, were his Pentecostal cousin and her husband. He stayed there for 11 months, got off the drugs, and was loved back to life, after 3 suicide attempts. He is one of the most loving, high-integrity, compassionate and selfless people ❤️ I have EVER met, not a vile, disgusting pervert. 💔 😢
“My husband is one of the most loving, high-integrity, compassionate and selfless people ❤️ I have EVER met, not a vile, disgusting pervert.”
Who said otherwise?
Well…you did, in the comments on this very blog! Post author
August 6, 2025 at 1:22 amReply
Terri might want to know that you are the most vile, vulgar, ugly so-called Christian I have ever met. Maybe I’ll share with her your comments detailing graphic scenes of prison rape and violence.
Please read in context. I said to REVIVAL FIRES:
“Terri might want to know that you are the most vile, vulgar, ugly so-called Christian I have ever met. Maybe I’ll share with her your comments detailing graphic scenes of prison rape and violence.”
Thank you.
Hi John, I know you don’t worship saints. And I have nothing against people invoking their favors, who am I to be the judge of that? Its just not something i do myself. Just being honest. And alot of folks can go online for virtual Mass, without having to leave their home. We can get the Eucharist wafers at a corner store close by, and we buy cranberry juice for Communion.
What’s “Revival Liars”, John? I’ve not heard that term before.
Terri might want to know that you [REVIVAL FIRES] are the most vile, vulgar, ugly so-called Christian I have ever met. Maybe I’ll share with her your comments detailing graphic scenes of prison rape and violence.
Lord Jesus,
We lift up Terri to You today. You see her pain in her feeble attempt to justify her boundary crossing. We boldly ask, in Your mercy, that You would touch Terri to the point that Terri says: “Bruce, I was wrong, I’m sorry, and I humbly apologize. Please forgive my trespass, just as the Lord has forgiven my trespasses.”
Amen!🤣🤣❤️❤️
I have no problem eating crow and admitting when I’m wrong…which has been often enough. Because, I know it when my motives have been “off”, not rooted in love. Sometimes, my attitude has been less-than-desirable, and I’ve had to apologize to people for it. In this case, I can honestly tell you that my motives were out of genuine compassion and a desire to affirm and encourage. I’d be lying if I said otherwise. I know it can feel cliche when someone says, “I’ll pray for you” And walks on. I’m not judging whether that person is actually gonna DO it or not, sometimes, they really DO. And that’s awesome. So, I get the “rule”. And the irritation the breaching of that could provoke. However, I did not know that it would be against the rule (boundary) on here to pray in concert with others, in the background. To me, it was just, “Don’t TELL them.you’re “going” to do it.” I just sorta took it literally, you know?
And, from reading his blogs, I know Bruce has felt treated like sh#t by certain people on here. So, when I got a caring response in my email inbox, it just felt 🙃 like the “right” thing to share it with Bruce. That’s basically it. My expectation of it being risky had more to do with it being met with skepticism, (a natural, normal response from a person claiming to be an atheist – which is fine) than with irritation. If that bothers you, Bruce, to avoid any future confusion with others like this, maybe clarify in the rule section that you don’t want prayer mentioned AT ALL, in any context, and then you won’t encounter this again from anyone else in the future. It will leave no room for confusion, and accidental “faux pas”. So you won’t feel like your boundaries are being disrespected. Fair enough?
The comment rules have been shaped and honed by seventeen years of interacting with Evangelicals, Muslims, Conservative Catholics, and Independent Fundamentalist Baptists.
Few from this group of thousands have treated me with respect and followed the comment rules. Evidently, Jesus and the Bible mean more than being decent human beings. And what you may not know is that many of my readers and commenters have had similar — if not worse — experiences as I’ve had.
I’ve given you far more space than I typically give Christians. So, if there’s something else you want to say, this is your one chance to do it.
Bruce
Oh. It’s cuz in the comment, it didn’t say, “to Revival Fires 🔥 “, so I just thought you were mad because we mentioned Ozzy Osbourne and Marilyn Manson.
A misunderstanding.
Terri, there’s nothing wrong with praying for someone, but if they don’t want to be told about it being done, then simply respect their boundaries. Everyone has boundaries. As for Ozzy, I know that a lot of people wish him a bad afterlife after he died, and assumed he went to hell. Obviously gloating.. Were you there as he took his last breath? You don’t know his state of mind,or what he said that day, right? Even when a well known pastor or author dies, there’s always some ” Christians” saying that person went to hell. That’s pretty morbid 💩, and in poor taste ! It’s SO American, doing this. By the way, from his behavior for years on this site, Reviled and Fired isn’t an actual Christian, he thinks he is, that’s all.
What, exactly IS an evangelical?
Check out:
https://brucegerencser.net/2020/04/evangelicals-fundamentalists/
https://brucegerencser.net/2022/07/is-there-a-distinction-between-evangelicals-and-fundamentalists/
https://brucegerencser.net/2024/04/bruce-you-are-misrepresenting-evangelicals-2/
https://brucegerencser.net/2024/01/the-intractability-of-christian-fundamentalists/
https://brucegerencser.net/2021/09/ex-ifb-fundamentalists/
Why? Why would they wish Ozzy a bad afterlife? What do they know about the guy…what has he done to them?? And why would ANYONE want ANYONE a bad afterlife? Okay, yes. He took alot of drugs when he was younger. He ate the head off a bat, too. (He thought at the time it was a plastic one, so inebriated on stage was he). But so what??? Do some folks think 🤔 that they are any less a ‘sinner’ just because they grew up as prudes? (I’m not saying anyone here is a prude, please don’t write me letters after this, lol). What about the story of the prodigal son? What about leaving the 99 to go after the 1? Anyone who knows about Ozzy is that he was funny, very vulnerable, would give the shirt off his back to help a fellow human being. As a child and young teen, he struggled with anxiety so strong he was, and I quote, “terrified of everything”. Drugs were probably the only way he knew how to cope. He also, in his later years, worked very hard to become sober, and was clean 8 years before he died. In old age , he dealt with severe Parkinson’s disease, and still had a good attitude, 👍 still was thinking if others, was still kind. He was wonderful. And I say, “God bless him!!”
I’ve been gone for a while and am catching up by skimming what I missed and reading posts that grab my attention.
And after reading this I think everyone is missing a key point. You have people praying to the evangelical god, Catholic god, and numerous versions of the Christian god, plus Dutchguy is burning sage and casting chicken bones, and for all we know there are people of various religions and beliefs praying or performing rituals or conducting any number of religious activities hoping you are healed.
But, if you are healed, how do you know which ritual caused the healing? I mean, unless the entity said “yeah, Dutchguy’s sage and chicken bones got my attention so here I am” then there is no way to know who or what caused the healing.