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.
“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.
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 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 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.
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