Honestly even if you aren’t religious, I think sitting down each night and thinking about your priorities, what you want from life, and what you actually really care about can be beneficial.
Many nonreligious people pray simply for that reason. One can pray to the void much like one writes in a journal.
I used to pray all the time, and none of it came true, which is one thing that led me away from Christianity. Surprisingly I still feel the urge to pray, even 10+ years after becoming an atheist and 10+ years of regular meditation, though I recognize it now as me working through my thoughts.
Honestly though, I miss the sentiment of “I’m praying for you” when shit gets tough, like when somebody you know gets cancer. “I’m sending good vibes your way” just doesn’t sound as sincere, even though it’s just as trite.
im a staunch atheist. I have many theistic acquaintances… they like to pray with me regularly. I like to participate as a healthy “think positive thoughts” exercise.
fake it til you make it
“I’m sending good vibes your way” just doesn’t sound as sincere, even though it’s just as trite.
I use “I’m crossing my fingers for you”. Its an acknowledgement of care and empathy but also recognizes that the act of saying it is the important part. It also gives you something to do with your hands if you need a physical gesture (which some people do with praying hands when saying the other thing).
Had a coworker argue that prayer was real and meditation was bullshit. I’ll spare you my counter arguments, but I basically said, “They both work, they’re the same thing and accomplish the same purpose.” He was a little stunned, new thought for him.
Thinking that prayer will solve real world issues? Meh. Nobody’s listening, but prayer can still solve problems in the way that meditation does.
I don’t believe in God and I’m honestly against most organized religion, but if someone who genuinely believes in a higher power says they’ll pray for me during a tough time, it means a lot.
Does it though? I found that it means they’ll do the absolute minimum for you. Or, it’s something they say and don’t do because they will forget because you’re really not that important to them.
I dunno, maybe your experience is different from mine. But communities really tend to pull for one another in tough times. Often “I’m praying for you” means they’re keeping you in their thoughts, you’re in their mind, and sometimes that shows in actual help.
For example when my grandma died, people from our church brought my parents meals every day for over a week. And we returned that favor to other families. These kinds of little things aren’t going to change the world, but they definitely make a difference and help you to feel cared for.
Community support is great, and an actual action separate from prayer. Usually when people have said they would pray for me, my first thought is “why didn’t you pray for me before this shit happened?”
Of course I keep it cordial and thank them, but it does really irk me.
It seems like this is a mistake many people make in their religious beliefs: how can you expect a supreme being to grant your wishes? How are your selfish desires for priority over the rest of the universe? Most of us aren’t praying to a genie.
It’s just one more thing that shows how Christianity is an abusive relationship. The Christian god makes you explicitly ask for things like health and happiness instead of just providing what he knows we all want, and even then he’ll give your 1 year old leukemia because torturing a child to death is a great way to test the faith of that child’s family.
One thing about being in an abusive relationship is it’s so hard to see that you’re in one until after you’ve left.
That’s a pretty shallow understanding of Christianity. Most people grow out of that: if you think prayer is for making your personal wishes come true, go find a lamp to rub in the hope of finding a Genie
I pray to communicate hopes that my parents are taken care of in heaven, that my old friends are doing well, that other challenged places in the world might see a relief, and that my future the next day or week might be lighter. We all need it.
I talk to God about things I could do better and ask him to help me help myself to be kinder more patient or both. Then I thank God for my life, my family and friends, the family and friends I have lost, and the time I got with them. Then a general plea for sanity in this world and help for those people who need it. Amen.
I don’t ask for things for myself. I do ask for others lol that’s the general plea for sanity. Some things work out, some don’t. That’s life, we can pray all day for Grandma to get better but sometimes Grandma is just old and everyone eventually dies. If my friend is going through it I ask God to help them go through it. I don’t expect God to answer my prayers, I hope he does. Sometimes the answer I want isn’t the answer I get, and sometimes I don’t think I get any answer at all.
I pray to have the strength to cope with what is thrown my way. So far, so good.
I pray for guidance and strength and it always comes true.
I’m praying for rain. I’m praying for tidal waves.
But have you learned to swim?
Are you building a huge boat in your back yard?
We’re about due for another flood if you ask me
I pray to calm down. I ask for genuine connection with others, the wellbeing of my country, a wife, that my customers at work would enjoy themselves and we would make ends meet. Ask and you will receive.
Definitely making progress this year but it’s been a slow road to 40. Friends with a common interest, that’s finally coming about.
I am kinda in the same boat I am 40 and an agnostic.
Patience, serenity, understanding, and yeah mostly it’s come.
Though, really, prayer isn’t about asking for things. It’s about thankfulness, and having a quite conversation with someone you love.
I pray for cocaine and street hookers, haven’t been disappointed yet.
I’ve heard that gods help those that help themselves.
I believe god have his favorites.
Brother your cup’eth overflow’eth
God has a way of pulling me out of potentially disastrous situations just before they become really bad. He hasn’t let me down yet.
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That article literally argues that the problem with the scientific study on prayer being ineffective might be that they didn’t get the “right people” to pray long and hard enough. 🙄
That’s stupid. Why do people think they can control a supreme being, if there is one?
S
