If you were really going through a hard time (be it a death in the family, death of a close friend, an illness, child problems etc etc) would you allow me to pray to God for you?
If not, and I did anyway, what would your reaction be?
2007-05-19 08:31:36 · 34 answers · asked by Kaliko 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
honestly i have no problem with this. you would be praying for me because you believe it's a good thing to do which shows compassion.
the only time i have a problem with people saying "i'll pray for you" is when they do it because i've told them i don't believe in god. that type of prayer is judgemental. the type you just mentioned in kind and compassionate. there's a huge difference. i don't belive it will work, but i honestly appreciate the thought.
2007-05-19 08:37:48 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 0⤋
In the case of the above mentioned examples there would be no harm done. Your heart is in the right place in those cases. And I will understand that you are offering help in a way in which you understand. It is when people tell me they will pray for me because I "need to convert" or "find the truth" than it becomes offensive.
But on the same note if I wanted to cast a spell to help you, or give you a talisman or amulet to help get through difficult times how would you feel about that?
2007-05-19 08:46:38 · answer #2 · answered by The_Slasher_of_Veils 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your beleif is your own..
If the situation were as such..
You asked me if you could... I said "No please do not." and you did anyway then came to me and said "I prayed for you." I would be upset I specificly asked you not to and you did it anyway..
If however you did it without my knowledge and without being told specificly "No" then you can to me and said "I know you are going through a hard time I prayed for you." I would be polite and say "Thank you for your thoughts."
I see the second being far less invasive upon my wishes and beleifs..
In the past after a death in my family I have had co-workers who know I am Athiest say "I prayed for you lastnight for the lose of your grandmother." I have thanked them for their thoughts and not made an issue of it...
At the same time another co-worker called my home and asked "Can I pray for you?" I replyed "No thank you, I am Atheist and do not beleive in prayer or a deity but thank you for your thoughts." the next day at work that co-worker said "I prayed for you lastnight because I thought you needed it even if you said no." To me that felt like complete disrespect of my veiws, I was extremely upset and told my co-worker...
After a few weeks the co-worker said "All I did was pray because you needed it." to which I replied "No, you phones to ask permission and when permission was denied you did it anyway, who are you to decide what I need or don't need.."
My co-worker left the company shortly there after... She went around the office asking everyones opinion and was not happy when she was told she was in the wrong because she asked and still did it when denied permission..
I know some people turn to prayer at the first sign of any difficulty as that is their veiw and beleif.. I respect that veiw and beleif as theirs... The company I worked for was owned by a christian man and most of the employees were christian.. On occassion there would be a prayer or other religious based happening at work, I would politely excuse myself or should I come upon the event quietly slip away shpuld I be able to do so without causing a disturbance.. For instance we often had group pot luck lunches opened with a prayer.. the lunch would begin at 12:30 promptly so I would slip away and use the restroom while they prayed and join in for the lunch after their ritual.. I really enjoyed working with the people at the company there were a lot of very sweet nice people there I would probably still be working there had I not gotten married and moved with my hisband and his job...
Mutual respect it works if all show it..
2007-05-19 08:59:09 · answer #3 · answered by Diane (PFLAG) 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As a Christian, the answers are very enlightening for me. But know that praying for something is not for my own benefit. After all, it is a case of me taking time to pray for you. But I pray because I believe that God can help when all other situations fail.
2007-05-19 08:55:06 · answer #4 · answered by Searcher 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course I'd let you pray to your God for me. Why not? Positive thoughts are positive thoughts regardless which deity you're praying to.
The only time I object to people praying for me is when they approach me out of the blue based on what I'm wearing (an inverse or point up pentagram, for example) or something they've overheard me say (I'm infamous for exclaiming, "Holy Daemons!" every now and again)and start asking if they can pray with me because I don't share their Christian beliefs. I find that offensive.
2007-05-19 08:42:42 · answer #5 · answered by swordarkeereon 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It's your life pray all you want but you are only wasting your time and effort. You could just as well drop a coin in a wishing well. It takes less time and the percentages of success are probably higher than praying.
2007-05-19 08:45:09 · answer #6 · answered by ndmagicman 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would be happy for you to pray for me, because of the gesture it means from you as a friend doing everything you could to help. I may not believe it makes a difference, but you do, and that's your way of helping.
If you asked me to pray with you, I'd probably be grumpy about it and just say no thanks, but if you pushed it at a time like that, I'd be offended.
2007-05-19 08:55:29 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I look at prayers as well wishes, it does not bother me when my Christian Friends or family pray for me during bad times. I don't like it when people tell me they are praying to save my soul from my lack of faith .
When my christian Friends are in trouble I often give them my best wishes,and if possible reflect on ways to help them
You pray, I wish you the best. a rose by another name still smells like a rose
2007-05-19 08:47:53 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Allow you?
I don't have control over your behavior. I wouldn't mind a prayer at all - it's no skin off of my back, and if it's sincere, it's a nice, friendly gesture.
A number of times various believers here have asked me to pray for them. I respond that I don't, but I send my best wishes and hopes anyway.
2007-05-19 08:40:46 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can do whatever you want. I probably wouldn't even know you had prayed for me. If you told me, I'd be too busy dealing with the problem, trying to make the situation better, that I'd forget you even prayed for me.
2007-05-19 08:38:37 · answer #10 · answered by KS 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋