Why is it that non religious people and atheist turn to God and pray when something really bad happens?

Question

I know of many and when there life is in jeopardy they are praying for help.... hypocrisy?

Ok when the trade towers went down...i heard my work mates praying and they don't believe in God.........

Answer 1

I think that when people are desperate they will turn for help to anyone and anything, especially if they have a small ounce of faith in God but don't necessarily want to admit this or submit to God's authority.

Answer 2

I'm sure that many people yell for help (from other people) in desperate situations where they know no one is around or that no one could do anything. It doesn't mean they genuinely believe that someone is going to pop up and save them. It's just that in times like that, rationality can fade and give way to desperate reflexes. Considering how, in the States, we're surrounded by constant reminders of this god (churches everywhere, Christian radio, even currency), it's not surprising that it has become ingrained in our memories.

Of course, this isn't to say that your assertion is valid. A few cases don't define the actions of an entire group. For example, look up Atheists in Foxholes at atheistfoxholes.org.
Also, I could just as easily ask why people lose their faith when tragedy strikes. It's not something that happens to everyone, but it does happen.

Answer 3

I don't know many people who have, but I have seen tons of Theists that do this all the time; however, when things are okay, they take religion for granted.

You need to remember that non-believers are still human. When they are faced with difficult situations, they sometimes react in desperation with things they'd normally not do if their senses would be in place. The interesting thing is that when this happens it is always within cultural context. You never hear of someone that never heard of Hinduism getting on his knees and praying to Krishna, or someone that never heard of Jesus praying to Jesus. Also, I don't see why theists would be complaining. It is usually when people are most vulnerable that theist become like maggots and try to eat that person up into their religion

Answer 4

I haven't and don't. I have some serious problems in my cervical spine and lumbar spine and spend most of my time on pain killers with hot packs. I haven't prayed over it. It wouldn't do any good anyway nor for any followers of Benny Hinn and others who have whole churches praying and anointing. None of them get healed either. There is no power in prayer because there is no one on the end of the phone line to get the message. If there was a god that could read my thoughts and hear prayers of billions of "his" creation "he' would have gotten the facts straight in the bible due to the incredible intelligence such powers would possess. I challenge you and your buds to pray for me and heal my back and neck. If I spontaneously heal I will post my miracle here. Surgery and medical intervention doesn't count.

Answer 5

Most of the time, the people who claim this is true are actually overly religious people who can't seem to understand that not everyone believes what they do. When this situation actually occurs, the people who supposedly were atheists, were not actually atheists.
Perhaps we should all just live our own beliefs and let others do the same (like not accusing others of hypocrisy for changing their minds)

Answer 6

I used to do that.

'God' is so widely talked about, and all the "miricles" and such, that even ateists, in time of need, will turn to who they know best and have heard about more, hoping maybe they'll get an answer or their prayer answered, hoping there actually is a God.

Some atheists need someone they can follow. They may not believe in the Christian God, or haven't found the right religion is all. That was my case.

It is a bit hypocritical, I agree. I used to do it.

Answer 7

I am atheist and I have not prayed to God since I converted but some non believers will pray as a sense of security so incase some god does existent this horrible thing won't happen to them it's very hypocritically but it still happens.

Answer 8

I'm an Agnostic.

My father died last year, as did a good friend of mine who was only 18. I was also in a near fatal car accident.

I watched my father waste away for three long months. I had to go to the funeral of a boy who was younger than I was, who died, suddenly and tragically, far away from his family and friends. It took me months before I was brave enough to get behind the wheel again. And through all that, I did not pray to any god. Not once.

Now, how bad do things have to get before I magically find myself believing in something I didn't before?

Answer 9

sure is...... atheists, unlike true Christians, do not have patience or faith. Most of them were Christians before and have asked God for help and denounced him when he didn't come through or "helped" them. that's why i pay them no mind when they speak such nonsense about their non beliefs. total nonsense. If you notice there are more atheists in R&S than anyone else debunking Christians over something they are affirmitive doesnt exist. Why such persistence and consumed time? i had atheist friends during 9-11 that were on their knees praying *to a God they ridiculed and said didnt exist* and one specifically prayed to the same God when her son was dying in the hospital. *son made it through* I'm not talking about scammers on TV that call themselves healers through prayer like so many gullible atheists see everyday and judge such malicious behavior as an entire Christian practice. I am talking about true individual prayer from the soul. Atheists are nothing but closet wanna-be Christians who deny purposely the existence of God. Wait and they'll open their eyes soon enough.....I see it all the time. Let them continue to denounce God, yet that is their right as a human being. They'll praise him whether it be now during the midst of a hard time or when they see the silhouette of Satan's face on judgment day. Time will reveal itself........trust me.

Answer 10

Because when the experiance something they've never experiances before their unconscious minds sense a higher being who is allowing it to happen and is testing their faith; so their conscious mind prays. If you ask them why after they do it; they won't realize why they did it; but they'll know they did it. It's not really hypocrasy; it's just their unconscious mind; we were all born with the innate ability to trust in a higher being; it's how we were raised and our experiances which either brings it out or doesn't. ThaIt just goes to show you the power of God.

Answer 11

the only distinction between a fantasy and a faith is the kind of people who have faith in it. If there replaced into one guy who believed some guy died and got here back to existence, he'd be considered loopy. yet whilst there's a protracted custom with many human beings believing it, then you definately're considered loopy in case you do no longer have faith it. that's comparable to with Russel's celestial teapot - if all human beings have been to have faith it existed, then it does no longer be considered as fantasy yet could be prevalent as commonly used area of existence.