I figure when people post a plea for prayers online, they are requesting prayers from people who also believe in the power of prayer, so it gives them a feeling of comfort. As an atheist or agnostic, I can assure them they are in my thoughts, since that is pretty much what they are asking.

The message may also just be their way of announcement about the illness, alerting folks who may not know the bad news. In this way they might be giving fair warning not request too much of the family during the challenging time.

Sure, a nicety or donation of time or money to make life more comfortable for them during this trying time might have more tangible significance physical benefit, if you are in a position to do so, but when they are just asking for thoughts and prayers, they will get plenty. They obviously have your thoughts, since you are writing about it.

Leave the thoughts and prayers avenue to those who believe it will help. Ignore what doesn't pertain to you, and do what you feel is right and good.

It is hard to sometimes control the urge to shout and scream at their stupidity....but we all manage to do so....somehow! I hear people all the time say ... for instance ....“pray to god that so and so’s operation is a success”, I heard that just last week uttered by a choir friend! I said to her, “ you know I don’t believe in god, that’s a load of bollocks because it’s the surgeon’s skill that will determine whether it’s a success or not”. She looked me in the eye and said , “ yes , but I do believe in the power of prayer”. I then asked her if she thought that the surgeon would do a worse job if she didn’t pray to god, and that his seven years of training as a surgeon were dependent on her prayers, and she got annoyed with me. I ended up saying that we had better just agree to differ, as I don’t really want to antagonise her completely....idiotic she may be in her beliefs, but she is a very caring friend in other ways. Sometimes I think it’s just better to ignore their idiotic superstitious utterings and beliefs....if at all possible.

I didn't grasp fully how ridiculous some peoples beliefs are untill I found this site. During the week I had a full grown woman tell me about doggie heaven . It's not for me to burst her bubble .I hope your niece can beat her illness.

I look at it like this... They are similar to Star Trek fans... All caught up in the story... The only difference is they believe the story... So just approach it as though they are fanatics and smile on the inside ?