2007-06-28 00:08:45 · 30 answers · asked by Emperor Insania Says Bye! 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'm not talking about prayers that say for you to see the light... Prayers for real concerns.
2007-06-28 00:13:13 · update #1
Heh OK - I understand that those who are atheist will see this as a waste of time. Sorry about that.
2007-06-28 00:15:07 · update #2
Oh great Bilbo Baggins - finder of the One Ring, hear me oh great one!
Sorry - just responding to an answer...
2007-06-28 00:17:48 · update #3
i can...but i don't...and think it an insult when people say they are going to pray for me when i have clearly informed them i am atheist...it is just rude
2007-06-28 00:11:43 · answer #1 · answered by Daisy 6 · 1⤊ 3⤋
I am a Catholic and I will tell you this story I was in a hospital on the upper east side visiting my Aunt who had Knee surgeory and as a good catholic school that I am my aunt was sharing a room with a jewish lady who also had some kind if surgeory her daughter was late and the woman was thirsty so I ofered to fill her water bin and get ice too. Well her daughter finally showed up asking for money was rude and at one point a priest or someone from the catholic missionaries came into the room to give a blessing and I was so upset the daughter made a dirty look face and I thought how rude we are all people and I respect Prayer Catholic Jewish Universal good thoughts to help one another just like I had helped the girls mother when she was not there my point is do you think the daughter would have got my aunt some water if she needed it!!!!I wonder I really do the whole thing upset and I just told my aunt and she said just ignore and that is what i did hahaha I was in hospital so I had to be respectful either way I hope you see my point on this :))))
2007-06-28 22:37:55 · answer #2 · answered by Rita 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
More often prayer is offered in an aggressive way especially here, when you say something they disagree with...in effect it's the veiled threat of hell and damnation they are so fond of.
When prayers are offered in sincerity and with good will why not!... it won't do any good or harm as far as I'm concerned but it still makes me uneasy, it's like a witch saying she will do a ritual for you or a voodoo priest...it just seems odd when you are an atheist and don't subscribe to supernatural forces.
2007-06-28 08:05:59 · answer #3 · answered by CHEESUS GROYST 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that as long as it is coming from a place of true concern (i.e. I'm very ill and they want to pray that I'll get better) then I'm OK with it. In my last job my clients would occasionally ask me to pray with them and I would just sit quietly while they prayed. It was more support than anything. I don't appreciate it when someone says that they are going to pray for me so that I don't go to Hell just because my beliefs are different then theirs. That's when I tend to get offended. All in all there's no harm in it and I would accept a prayer if someone felt that they wanted to pray for me. It doesn't mean that I have to participate and if it's not malicious then there's no real harm so why let it become a big deal.
2007-06-28 07:30:22 · answer #4 · answered by Trouble_13 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A prayer relates to a god, and therefore a Christian prayer has meaning to a fellow Christian. Bilboa baggins whilst a nice fellow would not reasonably be considered a Christian God. Therefore praise to his good works exclusive of any Christian meaning would be OK.
2007-06-28 07:24:50 · answer #5 · answered by Barbarian 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think the greatest show of courtesy for someone who wants to pray is to just do it in privacy, especially if you know the person doesn't like it or doesn't believe in god. It's common decency respect them. Don't talk about it. It feels so condescending for someone to say it. Consider it giving someone a secret gift. It doesn't change the power of the prayer to not discuss it with the person who doesn't appreciate it. Why rub it in their face? And that is what it is! Like, I'm gonna do whether you like it or not! Nhe ne ne ne ne ne! How unkind!
2007-06-29 00:08:17 · answer #6 · answered by jaicee 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the prayer is intended in goodwill then I will take it as such. Since a christian believes prayer can make a difference it would be no different than another person wishing you well.
2007-06-28 22:50:54 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If anyone feels like praying for me to any god or fairy or to Bilbo Baggins, he or she is free to do so. If someone shows serious concern for me and my affairs, I will even appreciate it, though of course I will point out respectfully that it will not do any good.
2007-06-28 07:15:51 · answer #8 · answered by NaturalBornKieler 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Depends on what they are praying for. If it is for my conversion - finding god or Jesus or something. It does bug me a bit. I understand that from their perspective, they are only trying to help me, but it seems terribly presumptuous. I mean - I don't wish them to become atheists. I'm happy for them to continue believing whatever makes them happy (so long as they don't impose it on me.)
On the other hand, if they are praying for bad things not to happen to me, for my health, or for good things to happen to me, then I take it as an expression of great good will and feel grateful for it. Of course, I don't expect it to cause an intervention by God, since I'm an atheist. But it really is nice and I take it in the same vein as I would when any friend of mine hopes for good things for me.
2007-06-28 14:32:12 · answer #9 · answered by Thomas C 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No matter what religion or race we all need caring prayers. The world would be a happier place, because prayers show we actually care.
2007-06-29 01:40:21 · answer #10 · answered by Yoshi 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just like Mr.Zwink said, as long as their prayers are not concerning salvation etc. i can accept the prayers..
2007-06-28 07:42:43 · answer #11 · answered by Lamya 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋