For example, you put yourself through university by studying hard and working full time. Then someone says, you should thank god for giving you the strength. Like wtf do you mean, I busted my ass day in and day out but I’m supposed to thank god for it?
I’m not in any way religious, and it does irritate me when people say, of some senseless tragedy, “everything has a purpose.”
But I do see, in your specific example, that what they say has metaphorical value. You should be grateful that you had it in you to accomplish what you did, even if you don’t attribute it to some mythical being.
I often think the phase “there but for the grace of God, go I” because I don’t know a secular equivalent. Think of God as a metaphor for the universe.
It feels offensive to me that I chose to sacrifice sleep/social/leisure time for a better future then someone says, ah ya that wasn’t actually your effort that got you through
If someone says that, I say no, the universe is entropy, shithead.
Or better, dont engage because they’re 99% likely maga
The irony is, you’re the shithead, shithead.