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Can an Atheist Pray?

Dunemeister

Well-Known Member
Even in the Christian tradition, there are different forms of prayer. Liturgical, extemporaneous, ejaculatory (!), meditation, centering, stillness, worship, adoration, thanksgiving, supplication, intercession, and still others. I'm sure that many atheists have done things that resemble these activities. The main differences might be that (1) the atheist prays to "whoever's listening" whereas Christians has a more definite idea who they're praying to, and (2) the Christian prays in and as a result of faith whereas atheists, if they are to stay atheists, don't.
 

Alceste

Vagabond
I suppose the best prayer that an atheist could pray would be for God to prove himself to that particular atheist. He will accept the challenge.

Funnily enough, I did this only yesterday. I told god that if s/he would arrange for me to win at least half a million in the lottery tonight I would take it as proof or her/it/his existence and believe her/him/it for life. I'll let you know later whether or not god accepted the challenge.
 

SageTree

Spiritual Friend
Premium Member
I am a Buddhist, and I pray. I don't pray to any deities or outside entities. My prayers are "from" not "to". They are offerings of merit or positive energy/wishes towards the object of the prayer, and they are oftentimes spoken aloud during service.

Ditto.

I'm thinking Metta meditation especially here.
 

Green Kepi

Active Member
Funnily enough, I did this only yesterday. I told god that if s/he would arrange for me to win at least half a million in the lottery tonight I would take it as proof or her/it/his existence and believe her/him/it for life. I'll let you know later whether or not god accepted the challenge.

Sound's good but...Jesus stated, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test"...He was talking about just what you did....
 

Alceste

Vagabond
Sound's good but...Jesus stated, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test"...He was talking about just what you did....

I'm OK then, because your Lord is not my God, and Jesus doesn't even enter into it. What I did was provide "god", whatever that may mean, the opportunity to become my "lord" by demonstrating a) a personal interest in my life and b) omnipotence. Interesting to see you weasel out of your earlier claim that god accepts every such challenge so easily though. What's the matter - suddenly experienced a crisis of faith?
 

Green Kepi

Active Member
I'm OK then, because your Lord is not my God, and Jesus doesn't even enter into it. What I did was provide "god", whatever that may mean, the opportunity to become my "lord" by demonstrating a) a personal interest in my life and b) omnipotence. Interesting to see you weasel out of your earlier claim that god accepts every such challenge so easily though. What's the matter - suddenly experienced a crisis of faith?

Naw...I'm good....
 

Green Kepi

Active Member
Whoops, seems that was Danmac's god who accepts every challenge, not yours. Sorry for mixing them up. :)

I understand that you do not pray as Christians do...I think you not believe there is no God to hear the prayers or to act upon them. If you seek answers to life's problems through inner meditation and outer observation...I guess I need more help than to try to do that...I'm ADHD to the max. and cannot stay on subject that long...:)
 

9-10ths_Penguin

1/10 Subway Stalinist
Premium Member
Sound's good but...Jesus stated, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test"...He was talking about just what you did....

I suppose the best prayer that an atheist could pray would be for God to prove himself to that particular atheist. He will accept the challenge.
I wish you guys would get your stories straight. If only you had a book or something that told you what the "correct" Christian beliefs are. ;)
 

Green Kepi

Active Member
I wish you guys would get your stories straight. If only you had a book or something that told you what the "correct" Christian beliefs are. ;)

I thought "my Book" was the Holy Scriptures in which He told 'me' what He expected from me...but...I realize any number of people can read the same thing and come up with different opinions...just as your opinion that "my Book" isn't real....
 
Sure, why not?

I talk to myself all the time.

i think this is probably the most accurate for me. when i quit praying i felt as if i had to cut myself off whenever i asked questions to nobody and expected answers. it was horrible, i felt like i was always wrong for wanting to verbalize my thoughts and seek understanding from what felt like an outside source. after a lot of torturing myself by not participating in an old and familiar practice, i finally recognized that i was doing more harm by not 'praying' than i ever did by talking to someone who didn't exist. so i just started letting it out, and my prayers were answered, by myself. i've had an incredibly healthy relationship with myself and with all the characters living inside my brain ever since and i hold my conversations with myself in as high esteem as i ever did my communication with a 'creator'. this might not be the right way for everyone, but not a day goes by that i dont talk (often aloud) with myself in order to bring clarity to my thoughts.

I suppose the best prayer that an atheist could pray would be for God to prove himself to that particular atheist. He will accept the challenge.
i actually have asked 'the l-rd' at least once a day for months now if he would like to come down and wrestle with me, and aside from bringing a few freak rain storms on my head during a grueling bike ride and having a girl or two treat me like dirt he's sort of a no-show. he wont even send one measly angel down here to rough me up and i'm beginning to think that maybe he's not there at all. :rolleyes: lolz. or perhaps he's just out of my weight class?
 

Alceste

Vagabond
I understand that you do not pray as Christians do...I think you not believe there is no God to hear the prayers or to act upon them. If you seek answers to life's problems through inner meditation and outer observation...I guess I need more help than to try to do that...I'm ADHD to the max. and cannot stay on subject that long...:)

I don't believe there is a god to hear and act on prayers. You're right, I'm an inner reflection / outer observation type, but I don't have many questions that I feel need answers. The deal I made with "god" was a spur of the moment kind of thing. The thought just popped into my head while I was lining up to buy some mayonnaise and I went with it. Bought a lottery ticket, ya da ya da. Which is not to say I'm not sincere. It might be a challenge to change my views, but I could potentially accept such improbable good fortune as "proof" (on a purely personal level) there is an omnipotent god and it wants my love.
 
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