prayerPossible Duplicate:
What should an Atheist do when someone asks them to pray for them?
If they said they pray for my misfortune, I would simply say thanks. But what if they said do you want us to pray for you? If you were me, how would you reply?
“Thank you. It’s very kind of you to think of me.” End of discussion.
If I’m so bad off that people are offering to pray for me, I’m not in a position to pick philosophical fights about the truth of the universe.
I’d ask them to do something more constructive…
If there’s no assistance they could offer but prayer, then I’d thank them and say, “knock yourself out.”
If they’re offering prayer instead of doing something more immediate and useful, I’d say, “Thanks, but I’d really prefer it if you did <some other thing> instead.”
I have had this happen to me before. I was in the hospital and my (family’s) synagogue friends offered to pray for me. I accepted their offer because I believe that praying can make believers more comfortable. It can’t do any harm, so I would continue to simply accept if offered in a gracious way. But I do always make it clear that I am an atheist (if it is
Simply: “No. Spare that time to do something more pleasant for you; I don’t believe in prayers!”
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