Comments on: I Will Pray For You http://atheists.org/blog/2009/05/07/i-will-pray-for-you A Blog of Atheist Thought Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:40:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: sgrill http://atheists.org/blog/2009/05/07/i-will-pray-for-you/comment-page-3#comment-101069 sgrill Sat, 16 May 2009 03:28:25 +0000 http://atheists.org/blog/?p=1640#comment-101069 When someone says they will pray for me, I take it that they are just wishing me their best in the way they think (of course it is a weird idea to me). Everyone I know, knows my beliefs and realize I don't think their prayers have any magical power over me. However, if I am going through something difficult, it is nice to know people are thinking about me and wishing me the best. I think there is some psychological benefit to it (placebo effect). I am in a family with varying degrees of religious belief. When everyone says they are praying for someone who is going through difficult time, I tell the person, I am thinking about them and if there were a god, it would accept my thoughts as prayers. We are trying to support each other and I think me offering my thoughts offers some psychological support to the person. I don't think we benefit from being in the face of people we love when they need support. That is one reason when I ordered solstice cards a few years ago from American Atheists, I did not send them out. The message on the back about the mythical god is IMO inappropriate when sending friends holiday wishes. There is a time for discussion and debate. Sending a card during the Christmas season to friends and pointing out that their beliefs are silly, is a way to lose friends. I think we need to lighten up sometimes. When someone says they will pray for me, I take it that they are just wishing me their best in the way they think (of course it is a weird idea to me). Everyone I know, knows my beliefs and realize I don’t think their prayers have any magical power over me. However, if I am going through something difficult, it is nice to know people are thinking about me and wishing me the best. I think there is some psychological benefit to it (placebo effect). I am in a family with varying degrees of religious belief. When everyone says they are praying for someone who is going through difficult time, I tell the person, I am thinking about them and if there were a god, it would accept my thoughts as prayers. We are trying to support each other and I think me offering my thoughts offers some psychological support to the person. I don’t think we benefit from being in the face of people we love when they need support. That is one reason when I ordered solstice cards a few years ago from American Atheists, I did not send them out. The message on the back about the mythical god is IMO inappropriate when sending friends holiday wishes. There is a time for discussion and debate. Sending a card during the Christmas season to friends and pointing out that their beliefs are silly, is a way to lose friends. I think we need to lighten up sometimes.

]]> By: leisuresuitbruce http://atheists.org/blog/2009/05/07/i-will-pray-for-you/comment-page-3#comment-100872 leisuresuitbruce Tue, 12 May 2009 17:42:21 +0000 http://atheists.org/blog/?p=1640#comment-100872 "I will pray for you" is theist for "fuck you". “I will pray for you” is theist for “fuck you”.

]]> By: what http://atheists.org/blog/2009/05/07/i-will-pray-for-you/comment-page-3#comment-100787 what Mon, 11 May 2009 05:44:31 +0000 http://atheists.org/blog/?p=1640#comment-100787 Atheist: I am an Atheist. Theist: I will pray for you. Atheist: I guess that's better than preying upon me. Atheist: I am an Atheist.

Theist: I will pray for you.

Atheist: I guess that’s better than preying upon me.

]]> By: Krystalline Apostate http://atheists.org/blog/2009/05/07/i-will-pray-for-you/comment-page-3#comment-100784 Krystalline Apostate Mon, 11 May 2009 05:19:24 +0000 http://atheists.org/blog/?p=1640#comment-100784 reason: <blockquote>what the hell was a central american doing helping you at the polls.</blockquote> A. Wasn't working @ the polls, & B. He was a US citizen. reason:

what the hell was a central american doing helping you at the polls.

A. Wasn’t working @ the polls, &
B. He was a US citizen.

]]> By: Asemodeus http://atheists.org/blog/2009/05/07/i-will-pray-for-you/comment-page-3#comment-100777 Asemodeus Mon, 11 May 2009 03:09:57 +0000 http://atheists.org/blog/?p=1640#comment-100777 I always thought that the reason why the devil was allowed to continue to exist was that he made too good of a scapegoat. Without him around the church would actually have to look inward, which is definitely something they wanted to avoid at all costs. Plus you know, it is mighty effective at scaring children, which is always a plus when it comes to religion. I always thought that the reason why the devil was allowed to continue to exist was that he made too good of a scapegoat. Without him around the church would actually have to look inward, which is definitely something they wanted to avoid at all costs.

Plus you know, it is mighty effective at scaring children, which is always a plus when it comes to religion.

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