2007-10-21 12:27:31 · 31 answers · asked by Brenda M 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'm glad I asked this question, I am starting to understand you better. I still find it frightning that their are people out here who don't believe in God, but I have to say I admire your honesty. I don't think I will answer any more of your questions on Yahoo.
2007-10-21 12:47:16 · update #1
I'm glad I asked this question, I am starting to understand you better. I still find it frightning that their are people out here who don't believe in God, but I have to say I admire your honesty. I don't think I will answer any more of your questions on Yahoo.
2007-10-21 12:47:17 · update #2
You are right. If I was talking to someone who said they would rub their lucky frog to bring me good fortune, I might not believe it will do anything but I do appreciate that a person is doing the best thing they know how on my behalf.
2007-10-21 12:33:32 · answer #1 · answered by h nitrogen 5 · 4⤊ 4⤋
That might anoy me, if the person said it in a patronising way. If for example, I say, "I don't believe in god" and the a christian would say "i will pray that you do" then that would be patronising, and they are avoiding actually debating the issue by saying that. So that really annoys me.
But in a more general sense for example i am going through a difficult time and a christian friend says "i will pray for you" that does not annoy me because they are just trying to be reassuring and nice and help, even though I do not believe that it will help, it's nice that the thought is there.
2007-10-21 19:38:35 · answer #2 · answered by munchkin 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't get angry. Why would I? They're trying to be nice usually when they say that. I wouldn't get angry unless it was to make fun of my beliefs or to purposely offend me. It would probably make me happy because I would know some one actually cared about me enough to. I don't usually tell some one I'm an atheist unless they ask or the subject comes up. If they pray for my happiness or health or something like that I don't mind. If they pray for me because they feel sorry for me because I'm an atheist that's pretty offensive. Also as long as they don't know I'm an atheist or forgot I don't mind. If that happens I don't even tell them I'm an atheist either.
2007-10-21 19:37:44 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the situation.
When I recently had minor surgery, some people told me I'd be in their prayers and I thanked them for their kind thoughts.
On the other side, there was a coworker who was so angry I am atheist he went out of his way to tell me he was praying for me. I'd smirk "As long as it's not my time being wasted, go ahead". He was angry and threatening toward me and kept claiming "I'm going to win this". Win what? A month later, I noticed his face was gray and out of compassion asked if he'd seen a doctor lately as he didn't look well. I got the usual angry response as he pounded the bible on his desk. The next day, his aorta burst while driving. He died a week later.
So, a prayer didn't kill that bear.
2007-10-21 19:34:20 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋
I am not a Christian nor an Atheist.
I do not get offended when someone says that they will pray for my health, happiness, wellbeing, etc. because I understand the pleasant intention of the thought.
I DO get offended when it is a snide quip to make the Christian feel more superior to me as they close their ears and walk away because I understand the un-pleasant intention of the thought.
2007-10-21 19:36:04 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Because what you're really saying is "You're not smart enough to do it yourself, so I'm going to do it for you child". You're being rude. And whether you intend it that way or not doesn't matter one bit. Its the fact that it comes across that way.
You see, the only reason for you to announce that you're going to pray for someone is that you're expecting a reaction. If you were really doing it to be what you consider a good person, then you wouldn't announce it, you'd just do it and say nothing at all.
2007-10-21 19:34:49 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 0⤋
I never did get angry about that. They have different reasons for saying it, I'm sure; but whatever the reason, it doesn't make me angry.
Depending on what the rest of the answer is, I sometimes find it amusing.
2007-10-21 19:31:32 · answer #7 · answered by 2.71828182845904 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well, I get angry because it's like an insult. It's like they're saying they feel bad and they will pray for you so you can be "saved". Atheists don't believe in that. That's how it feels to me anyway.
2007-10-21 19:34:23 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 0⤋
Because it's like insulting us. It's like you're saying we can't do things on our own. I was pissed when my grandfather said he was going to pray for me to do better in biology. When I passed my sister said it was due to the prayer and my parents wanted me to thank him for that. I don't need any prayers and I never will. I don't even like people to say "bless you" I don't need or want blessings. Think about it if a satanist said he was going to pray to satan for you wouldn't you be pissed?
2007-10-22 00:19:46 · answer #9 · answered by Dr. R PhD in Revolution 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think it's a tad sanctimonious that one will get all worked up and pray for a non-believer, the person doing the praying does it for themselves; but if it makes you happy knock yourself out - it won't affect a persons life in any way.
2007-10-21 19:32:48 · answer #10 · answered by genaddt 7 · 6⤊ 1⤋
It depends entirely on the individual saying that they'll pray for me. If it's one of my great-aunts upon hearing that I'm sick, I'm flattered (at least partly because I know they'll do it; at least one of them keeps a list). If it's someone on here in a debate, it tends to be shorthand for, "I can't win this argument, so I'll say I'm going to pray to my deity to change your mind for you."
2007-10-21 19:35:43 · answer #11 · answered by Doc Occam 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋