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 Michelle on September 29, 2009 at 8:22pm

If they are praying for me because of an illness or an unfortunate event, I say "thank you".

If someone told me that they were praying for me, so I don't go to Hell.....then, I'd probably tell them to go to Hell! LOL :)

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Howard S. Dunn on December 5, 2009 at 11:30am

Oooo - that's a good one too. :^D

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Grace Conyers on October 5, 2009 at 8:24pm

My mother has recently gotten into being a born again Christian, so she prays about everything. When she tells me she is praying for me, I smile warmly and say, "Thank you for your love, support and thoughts. It means a lot." She knows I'm an atheist, and she knows I don't believe in prayer. However, I am sincere when I tell her thank you. She knows that.

Sometimes I think that all that matters it the thought in my situation. It shows that you are appreciative of their thoughts, no matter if you believe they are misguided.

On the other hand, I'm not afraid to bite back with something sarcastic if I get the inkling that they are doing something to irk me.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Vest on October 6, 2009 at 1:07pm

I say "No need thanks" to my cousin who wants to pray for me

I don't wanna help them in their delusion :)

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Tracy Donahue on October 12, 2009 at 8:25pm

I've been sick lately and hear this regularly from family and acquaintances. They believe that their prayers are going to make me better and are therefore trying to do something nice for me. I despise it when people preach to me about god so I feel preaching to them about a lack thereof would be hypocritical. I thank them for the good wishes and quietly hope that they will find their way to fight a lifetime of brainwashing.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Dave Johnson on October 14, 2009 at 2:00am

Context, context, context. If you feel a person is wishing you well or you're not sure, just say "thank you." If it's delivered in such a way you know they're just expressing their contempt for you ... I've been known to say: pray where it's really needed ... pray for yourself. Just understand "them's fightin' words."

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by MsFortune on October 14, 2009 at 10:59pm

It depends on the context. If I think they are well intentioned, I will either thank them or say nothing.

If they were to say it in response to finding out that I was an atheist, my response would be harsh, swift and not kind. I'd tell them I don't need a shout out to their zombie jesus, thank you very much.