The World's Largest Coalition of Nontheists and Nontheist Communities!

What do you say?

When someone comments that they will pray for you, what do you say back? Even when I was a pretending christian I felt awkward when people said they would pray for me....

Two hands working can do more than a thousand clasped in prayer. - Anonymous

and another one I am pseudo-quoting since I can't find a reference at the moment........

Helping hands are far more useful than praying ones.

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Najo on May 20, 2009 at 12:49am

Right, if it's sincere, I just smile. I don't find it offensive.

But when a person tells me this right after they realize that I'm an atheist, I find it annoying. But I still act civil. I don't say 'thank you' or anything else that would encourage it since I don't want to be flooded with invitations to their next prayer meeting. XD

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Brigette Nonya on May 21, 2009 at 7:32pm

As an ICU/ER RN I get lots of folks wanting me to pray with them. I often participate as I see it as a harmless (albiet useless) gesture, that helps the family of a dying loved one.
When people say they will pray for me I say thanks and leave it at that...as they don't know me, or they'd never offer.

I love the annonymous quote!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Liz Richey on May 22, 2009 at 1:21pm

I live in the south and am a member of the local Woman's club full of a bunch of the good ole' southern ladies. Only 2 members (both from NY as I am) know I am an Atheist. When someone offers to pray for me I say thanks. My better half has told his Aunt when she has said it "OK- if it makes you feel any better about yourself-do it!"

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Heather Crosby on May 25, 2009 at 4:57am

It all depends on how they say it to me. If it a genuine well wishing I take it as such. Like if I say my mom is really ill, and someone says that they will pray she gets better, I thank them and move on.

If I tell someone about my lack of beliefs and they say they'll pray for me, I remind them that such action would be pointless. :P

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by SBrooks on May 28, 2009 at 9:01am

I'm with most everyone else; for the most part I just say thank you and move on. I take it as the nice sentiment that they usually mean it to be. Now if they are being smarta$$ about it, where in I tell someone that I am not a christian and then they tell me they will pray for me, well i dont like that so much sometimes I might say something, other times I just let it go. My parents have known for sometime that I am atheist but they still say lets pray when we eat dinner together and I just bow my head and wait for them to finish at first I thought why should I indulge them in any way. But I came to realize that its part of who they are and they have accepted me as non christian so I must accept them and not cause a stink everytime I'm put in a religous situation. Part of that conclusion came from the fact that I am an atheist but do not think it defines me. It is but a small part of who I am. Unfortunately we live (well me anyway, KY is all about church) in a society where it is impossible to live a life that isnt in some way affected by religion.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by NamelessGenXer on June 8, 2009 at 7:05am

"Helping hands are far more useful than praying ones." is right on the money! I usually say something like "Listen: since praying is a total waste of time, why don't you do something that actually creates positive results, like tutoring inner city children or cleaning up a park."

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Dacx on July 5, 2009 at 11:10pm

I tell them I don't need their prayer...I just need their money.

Actually, I don't worry too much about it. If they want to pray for me, let them pray for me as long as they aren't pushing their crap on to me I'm fine.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Hank Fox on July 5, 2009 at 11:32pm

It's happened a couple of times, and I'm never sure how to answer it.

If they know you're an unbeliever, the one thing you MUST do is realize they're insulting you. There can be no more condescending thing to say than the equivalent of "I don't respect your beliefs, so I'll just do as I see fit, you poor misguided thing."

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Hank Fox on July 5, 2009 at 11:41pm

Heh. Another thing I do, come to think of it, is when a person says "Bless you!" when I sneeze, I sometimes say "No, thanks - I'm a Sneeze Atheist!"

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Barmaid on August 8, 2009 at 5:43pm

Talking to your imaginary friend only helps you; not me. Have a nice day.

Best one so far! Though I do still like "I'll think for you" and Dennett's "sacrificing a goat" - now a more entertaining collection of retorts - thanks!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Sarah Doli on September 3, 2009 at 4:35pm

Hahaha, we call this Christian-Lite.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jeff on July 13, 2009 at 11:08pm

I can't remember anyone ever saying they would pray for me.

But if they did I'd ask how they think it would help, and if they tell me god will answer their prayers I'd tell them about the research that have proved that praying does no good at all.