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As an atheist how do you respond to “i’ll pray for you.”?, I normally just smile and nod.

averykings 6 Nov 1
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57 comments

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4

I have been known to reply 'Good luck with that' which earns me a baffled look and makes me chuckle.

One of my friends used to reply to that comment by saying “hey, don’t pray for me, make me a sandwich or something”.

4

Depends upon who is saying it. There was a mentally challenged woman at a local fast food place that would run food out to cars. She always said have a blessed day. Didn’t bother me in the slightest because I knew she was just being nice and most likely didn’t have the mental capacity to critically think about religion.

Older/elderly people I usually let it slide.

Very occasionally I’ll say thanks but I’m not religious. If someone knows I’m atheist and is trying to get a rise out of me, I’ll tell them that they can pray but I prefer to think

Yes, it definitely depends on the context, my mother always tells me that she’ll pray to God for him to save my soul lol, i know she means well and always wants the best for me.

@averykings I cared for my dying mother in law who didn’t want to go into hospice. I spent about 30 hours a week with her in addition to working full time, going to college and having 2 tweenagers. My best friend, who knows I’m atheist, told me she knows I don’t believe but she was going to pray for me anyways. I sincerely thanked her and said I can use any positive thoughts.

Like you said, she just wanted the best for me and knew how stressed out I was. We’re 2 hours apart so there wasn’t really anything she could do to help other than offer moral support

3

Depends on the context. If they are saying it as a way of "saving" me from my pagan ways, I point out that it's a waste of time. If they are saying it as a way of giving me comfort during some bad times, I simply smile, nod and move on. But I usually get it in the former and not the latter, so I'm usually telling someone to save it for someone who cares.

3

It depends on circumstances but usually it is "please don't."

g

Haha

3

Me too I say, "Thank you. Appreciate it. I'll put in a good word for you too."

3

As agnostic I just say thanks and move on...

Best thing to do.

Isnt it interesting how those professing to be agnostic don’t care and atheists care very much.

Fascinating how a declared non-existent entity can cause such a fuss!

@Geoffrey51 ...really! ;D

@Geoffrey51 Some people take offence and some don’t.

3

I say thank you. They are only being nice. Why should that make me angry.

I just force a smile and nod, theist don’t mean it in a mean way.

@averykings Exactly 🙂

2

I respond with, “oh, well, I’m atheist, but ok.” If they are saying it in response to finding out I’m atheist, then I respond with something matching their level of rudeness

2

I run into the problem with - god bless you, when i or someone sneezes.
i am not saying it, and i cannot thank them for it if i do not believe.
it gets so that when i sneeze or someone else does,
i wanna run away from the situation. 😛
people get offended if you do not bless them after a sneeze
or if you do not say thanks after you sneeze and they bless you.
even when i did believe i thought
why waste a blessing on a sneeze?
manners? says who?
if someone is choking on something,
now there is a time for a blessing, not a sneeze. :\

I will often say “bleshyoo” simply out of politeness ingrained since childhood. I obviously don’t believe that me blessing someone after they sneeze is going to protect a piece of their soul as it leaves their body or whatever such nonsense is attributed to that pagan ritual. I suspect that the majority of people who say it don’t believe that either. It’s just habit.

I just say "Gesundheit" most of the idiots think it is german for god bless, it actually just means "good health"

2

I say, It is not helping you must make a better effort.

five out of ten must try harder lol😉👍

2

I take it as their way of appreciation/concern. It's not very useful, but I'm not one to ask for things from people so I can't really complain about what I do receive.

2

"Thanks. I'll be thinking well of you, too."
Fini.

2

I'd ask them which god they will pray to, and then when they respond, tell them, "OK, I will pray to Satan for you too." That's my smart ass remark for the day!

2

I simply thank the person as it's a way to wish you well. Why take it in a negative way? Just because we don't believe in the same thing?

2

Not an atheist and think that if it is meant benignly it is a lovely thought. If it is in a condescending manner just shows ignorance.

Nothing to get upset about.

No one hear is upset? i just wanted to know how people respond to it.

@averykings @Geoffrey51 Oh. There are those here that are upset. Doesn’t take much to pull some people off sides.

2

Depends on who says it and where I am.
-If I'm at work and a co-worker says it: "Why?" and/or "No, thanks."
-If I'm at work and a client says it: "Oh...umm, ok."
-If I'm out in public and a stranger says it: I'll laugh and walk away
-If I'm out in public and someone I know says it: I'll give them a "WTF?" look (because most likely they know I'm an atheist and that would be weird if they said that), say "Why?" but with an attitude like I'm pissed off

I 100% agree.

2

A little off topic, but it gives me a chuckle and a chuckle goes a long way for me these days.

Last year my wife and I were invited out to dinner by my female cousin along with about ten others. My uncle (her father) who was 90 at the time was the patriarch of the family and present at the dinner. He has never been religious, but my cousin had converted some years past. Dinner was served and my cousin asked her husband to pray for the food. We all bowed our heads (sans me and my uncle) and my uncle said (picture a 90 year old grumpy man - like Walter Matthau in “Grumpy Old Men) “What the hell is happening?” My cousin says we are going to pray. “What the hell for?” That was it for me. I had a full release of laughter that would not, could not be stifled. Will never forget it.

Hahaha i laughed at that.

2

"Thank you. I'm going to a party of cavorting druids and dung for dinner in your honour later."

😂😂😂

2

I’ve only had it a few times...but a simple thank you is all I think I responded with. Why be ungracious, especially if it’s said sincerely.

I agree, it does depend on the context though.

2

"That won't work," I reply merrily.

I would love to see the horror on theists faces!

2

Thanks, and I will think for you.

I used to say “my thoughts are with you” but some theists used to get offended so i stopped.

2

The same way I respond when people say "bless you" after I sneeze: "Thank you."

2

"thanks ... we can all use all the help we can get"

I normally smile and nod.

@averykings good for you!! it's not worth giving them space in my head. I actually feel sad for most of them just as I feel sad for some of the people here.

1

Thanks. I'll take all the good luck I can get. Do you carry a rabbit's foot?

1

"I wish you wouldn't, unless you think you would like for me to sacrifice a small animal for you?"

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