"I Will Pray for You"

[dust1n]

So, by all means, pray for me if you would like. I'm not going to mind it. Quite the contrary, actually; I tend to appreciate it when it is done with sincerity.

Why is it necessary to inform someone you are praying for them? If you pray for someone, what difference would it make if you told you were going to prayer for them or not?

 

[TheGoblinMonster]

Why is it necessary to inform someone you are praying for them? If you pray for someone, what difference would it make if you told you were going to prayer for them or not?

It makes them feel better to say it but it's defiantly NOT necessary and I feel it's better not to say it and just do it in private to avoid possible bad reactions with some people. Everyone reacts differently after all.

 

[dust1n]

It makes them feel better to say it but it's defiantly NOT necessary and I feel it's better not to say it and just do it in private to avoid possible bad reactions with some people. Everyone reacts differently after all.

I guess presumably if the prayer is going to work either way, and some godlike thing gets to decide which prayers get to be answered, I wouldn't tell someone I was going to prayer for them knowing such a godlike entity might decide to fulfill any particular request. No need to get my hopes on that God's gonna help when no one knows if the God if going to answer the prayer anyway.

 

[viole]

Sure, do it. Some atheists, especially self-identified "strong atheists," are offended by this sentence, but I don't mind it at all. I actually appreciate it, just like I appreciate when a believer says, "God be with you."

Why would I appreciate those phrases despite being an anti-religious atheist? Because these are often sincere expressions of good will on the believer's part. When a Muslim tells me that they hope Allah helps me with something, or they wish that Allah "guides" me to the right path, I take little to no offense because these prayers actually represent the epitome of what the average Muslim considers to be good and desirable. They are not wishing me harm; they are wishing me the very best thing according to their beliefs.

So, by all means, pray for me if you would like. I'm not going to mind it. Quite the contrary, actually; I tend to appreciate it when it is done with sincerity.

I am never offended by that, despite being a pretty strong atheist.

I always sincerely thank believers who pray for me because of my unbelief.

Mainly for two reasons: one emotional, the other rational.

1) it is usually well meaned. The praying person appears mostly to be genuinely concerned
2) it provides additional evidence that prayers are useless

Ciao

- viole

 

[Unification]

Sure, do it. Some atheists, especially self-identified "strong atheists," are offended by this sentence, but I don't mind it at all. I actually appreciate it, just like I appreciate when a believer says, "God be with you."

Why would I appreciate those phrases despite being an anti-religious atheist? Because these are often sincere expressions of good will on the believer's part. When a Muslim tells me that they hope Allah helps me with something, or they wish that Allah "guides" me to the right path, I take little to no offense because these prayers actually represent the epitome of what the average Muslim considers to be good and desirable. They are not wishing me harm; they are wishing me the very best thing according to their beliefs.

So, by all means, pray for me if you would like. I'm not going to mind it. Quite the contrary, actually; I tend to appreciate it when it is done with sincerity.

I would not mind either, as long as the prayer request is direct and doesn't have to be sent in with money to another source.

 

[paarsurrey]

If an atheist prays to God, there is no harm in it. Is it?
Regards

 

[TheGoblinMonster]

If an atheist prays to God, there is no harm in it. Is it?
Regards

Why would an atheist pray to god?

 

[Mycroft]

I think people are free to waste their time in whatever fashion they choose.

 

[TheGoblinMonster]

I think people are free to waste their time in whatever fashion they choose.

I agree but the problem is not about "free to waste their time".
Some people say "I'll pray for you" just to call them stupid, moron and only god can help you. In that case it can be offensive when used against an Atheist. It's like the "F" word... It can be used to express your passion in something you like or it can be used to offend someone.

For example: "F YOU Moron!" - This can be offensive
"I F-ING LOVE YOU!" - This can be taken as a compliment

Not sure if I'm aloud to say the "F" word here but I feel it's a good example to make my point.

 

[Mycroft]

I agree but the problem is not about "free to waste their time".
Some people say "I'll pray for you" just to call them stupid, moron and only god can help you. In that case it can be offensive when used against an Atheist. It's like the "F" word... It can be used to express your passion in something you like or it can be used to offend someone.

For example: "F YOU Moron!" - This can be offensive
"I F-ING LOVE YOU!" - This can be taken as a compliment

Not sure if I'm aloud to say the "F" word here but I feel it's a good example to make my point.

I view praying as a waste of time, since I am an atheist. But people are free to pray anyway. Hence: they are free to waste their time.

 

[TheGoblinMonster]

I view praying as a waste of time, since I am an atheist. But people are free to pray anyway. Hence: they are free to waste their time.

That's fine but that doesn't change the fact how someone uses a word to another can be used in an offensive manner.
While I agree praying is a waste of time, I don't think anyone should tell another "I'll pray for you" since nobody needs to know. But if someone does say it then fine, just don't use it in an offensive manner.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

It's very contextual. Aimed at me, typically, it's not used in a good way, and is known for also including things about "seeing the truth" or "being brought into god's grace" or "being made aware of my sinful ways and seeking repentance."

 

[TheGoblinMonster]

It's very contextual. Aimed at me, typically, it's not used in a good way, and is known for also including things about "seeing the truth" or "being brought into god's grace" or "being made aware of my sinful ways and seeking repentance."

I agree and I know how you feel.
From my experience, Christians don't realize what they say can be very offensive.

For example:
When they say stuff like "You need to see the truth" - can translates to "You're belief is a lie and if you don't believe what I belief then you're living a lie. Don't believe in lies, believe what I do. The truth"

I know in America we have freedom of speech and that's great and all but I feel like there should be a line where one cannot abuse this privilege to offend others or even harm others verbally.

 

[Vouthon]

I wonder what people might think of an unconventional Catholic perspective on this, from the mystic Meister Eckhart:

"...When I pray for aught, my prayer goes for naught; when I pray for naught, I pray as I ought. When I am united with the God within which all beings exist whether past, present or future, they are all equally near and equally one; they are all in God and all in me. Then there’s no need to think of Henry or Conrad [he means of people to pray for, like Tom Dick and Harry as we would say]...

I ask, 'What is the prayer of a detached heart?' My answer is that detachment and purity cannot pray, for whoever prays wants God to grant him something, or else wants God to take something from him. But a detached heart desires nothing at all, nor has it anything it wants to get rid of. Therefore it is free of all prayers, or its prayer consists of nothing but being uniform with God. That is all its prayer...

When I pray for nothing, then I pray rightly, and that prayer is proper and powerful. But if anyone prays for anything else, he is praying to a false God...I never pray so well as when I pray for nothing and for nobody, not for Heinrich or Conrad. Those who pray truly pray to God in truth and spirit, that is to say, in the Holy Spirit...

People often say to me, 'Pray for me'. And I think, 'Why do you go out? Why do you not stay within yourself and draw on your own treasure? For you have the whole truth in its essence within you.' That we may thus truly stay within, that we may possess all truth immediately, without distinction, in true blessedness, may God help us..."

- Meister Eckhart (c. 1260 – c. 1327), Catholic mystic & Dominican priest​

Seems like not all theists are even in agreement concerning this. Although as stated, Eckhart was a very radical and free-thinking theist, so he is hardly representative of the standard perspective on this.