Do atheists pray?

[Sharpie44]

Obviously I don’t think you ask a god for help with your taxes or anything like that but oddly enough deists do pray once in a while. So maybe atheists have their moments.

A friend of mine served 3 tours in Iraq and Afghanistan(three total). He’s a deist and even you guys would be hard pressed to match his contempt for organized religion. He admitted too there being times when he would ask a higher power for a little back up. As in. “O shit! Whoever is up there I’m going to need some help with this one.” And no he wasn’t talking to the air support. Odd thing for a deist to do but he was also getting shot at. So it might not count.

[davo]

I don't see the use in it, beside the obvious fact atheists don't believe in a god.

Even in the remote possibility there was a god (which to me is impossible that there could be an omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent being) it doesn't work anyway.

Myself, I would be calling in air support, there's a bigger chance you'll get help.

Hmm, what happens if he prays to a 'christian god' fighting islamicists, and the all seeing allah hears? could work in reverse eh?

praying is useless, doesn't make sense, and no atheist would do so. If someone did, they wouldn't be atheist would they? the question just doesn't work ...

[Sharpie44]

lol well deists don't beliave in a personal got that answers prayers or even knows you exist so it's just as silly for one of us to pray.

It's just odd that we would look to a higher authority to save your ass. Maybe atheists do the same thing in times of stress. Could just be an innate reaction to a situation. it's a useless thing to do but it might help physiologically I guess.


I don't see the use in it, beside the obvious fact atheists don't believe in a god.

Even in the remote possibility there was a god (which to me is impossible that there could be an omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent being) it doesn't work anyway.

Myself, I would be calling in air support, there's a bigger chance you'll get help.

Hmm, what happens if he prays to a 'christian god' fighting islamicists, and the all seeing allah hears? could work in reverse eh?

praying is useless, doesn't make sense, and no atheist would do so. If someone did, they wouldn't be atheist would they? the question just doesn't work ...

[David Nicholls]

Sharpie44,

I think you are onto something with your comment about looking to a higher authority as an ‘innate’ response to certain circumstances. It could also be because of cultural conditioning. Or a bit of both.

I’m about to lose my job when I tell you this, but hey, it’s only a job. This happens mainly when I am driving and I see a ‘blob’ on the road ahead and I think, “Oh fuck, some poor animal has been killed by some dickhead.” I then think, “ Exi (Short for existential existence) make that blob the result of someone’s thoughtless rubbish throwing habits” or something like that.

Whatever the ‘blob’ turns out to be, I spend a few minutes castigating myself for even thinking in that manner when I know it is bullshit. It even shows itself to be bullshit statistically as what the ‘blob’ is, invariably is unaffected by my irrational thoughts. But I do it every time I see a ‘blob’ further down the road. I also say, “Thanks Exi” if it is not a dead animal, or worse, and injured one.

My other noticeable foray into fantasy is when I pass the grave of our much loved dog, Phantom. I always think words to the effect of, “C’mon mate lets go for a walk.”

The interesting part of all of this is that I never use the Exi ‘thing’ in reference to my own predicaments.

Now, whoever takes over the presidency, please turn off the light and close the door when you have finished for the day. :)

David

[davo]

My other noticeable foray into fantasy is when I pass the grave of our much loved dog, Phantom. I always think words to the effect of, “C’mon mate lets go for a walk.”

I'd argue that this is not an acceptance of an afterlife or slip in doing so, but simply a psychological way of dealing with the loss by 'release'.

For instance my dog was in hospital not long ago, yet I 'talked' to him in my head, and a couple of times out loud, tho I fully understood he could not hear me.

I wasn't expecting him to hear me, it was just one way of dealing with the stress in my own head, an outburst as I felt tied up inside .. if that makes sense ...

[eclectic]

Prayer was never a reflexive thing for me, even when I was a fundie, and I don't pray in crises.

I may be more like that whale in Douglas Adams' well-known Hitch Hiker's Guide To The Galaxy when it comes to utterances. My first car crash is mostly unremembered (it was rather serious) apart from the totally irrelevant cry of "Oh no, not again."

(That was in 1976. Maybe I should sue his estate.)

Why "again" I don't know. The reincarnation people are free to chime in here and tell me I was Shirley Maclaine in at least three former lives.

I'm sorry Mr Black, but I believe the whale tried to befriend the ground coming up to meet it, and it was the bowl of petunias simultaneously created whom you are quoting. :p

I don't think I would pray inadvertantly... but I still thank christ or some similar character when something is looking like going to pot and then works out okay, so I guess it's still there a bit. I'd say the praying phenomenon is more cultural than ingrained human nature, but maybe I just want that to be the case.

[Kid]

My other noticeable foray into fantasy is when I pass the grave of our much loved dog, Phantom. I always think words to the effect of, “C’mon mate lets go for a walk.”

That's so sad, stop making me cry!
No, I see that not so much as a foray into fantasy, but more like nostalgia, or a longing for the past and the good old days when you and a loved one were together and enjoying life. A return to the days when life was good for a while. Memories.

Do I pray? Of course not, I'm an atheist. But god and Jeebus are great for swearing with!

[SchizoDeluxe]

Never have prayed, never will pray. Even when I was more agnostic than atheist I never even thought about praying, I guess in some way I could of been a deist but either way, praying 'never sounded useful at all. It does make me curious about another question which I'll pop up in a new topic

[Godless Ray]

Not praying as such. Maybe the odd wish for good luck? Maybe seen as asking for outside help but really just being hopefull to myself

Godless Ray

[Duffy]

I reckon I pray to myself. I ask myself to hold strong and use what I know I possess to carry on through the tough times.

When I was a littlee, mum told us to pray for what we wanted so I closed my eyes and told her I wanted a new bike. She told me I had the whole thing wrong...but I did get a bike. I can't remember seriously praying ever in my life.

[youngmoigle]

Religious folk have often told me that I will pray for help when I'm facing death (no atheists in foxholes). My standard reply is that I put god on the same level as the Tooth Fairy - and that chance that I will pray to god for help is about the same as a believer asking the Tooth Fairy for assistance. It just won't happen...

[Buddhish]

Does blasphemy count?? I do that habitually when things go wrong - old habits die hard!

I sometimes still "wish" good things for other people - wishing them to be well etc - based on Buddhist metta meditation. Often this seems to be confused with prayer, but it's not appealing to a higher being, it's just wishing something good for someone else.

I don't think for one moment that this helps the other person; but it does sometimes help me in feeling like I've done what little i can in some situations, or to overcome any annoyance and frustration I have toward the recipient of my wishes - so I guess it's more a method of consciously changing my thoughts using a routine that I find works for me.

Prayers to be answered? no...

[GenericBox]

Is 'hoping' the same as praying?

Because many a time am I heard to say:

"Bloody hell, I hope this works".

[Duffy]

Is 'hoping' the same as praying?

Because many a time am I heard to say:

"Bloody hell, I hope this works".

Isn't language funny? No wonder foreigners are puzzled. I know exactly what you are saying but pull the words apart and....??? Bloody...Hell?? Are you praying to hell? That's enough to get the purest's head spinning.:D

[Seamus]

Yep language is funny;

Read today in the Weekend Australian letters to the editor;


Traditional; " Love of money is the root of all evil'

George Bernard Shaw; "Lack of money is the root of all evil"


Joel Beasant ; "I have no money and I am rooted"

[joely]

Thanks Seamus. Glad you liked my little play on words there.

Joel

[Fearless]

Well I am guilty of saying 'oh my god' probably more times in my life time than I can remember but it has no deeper meaning for me, I think I just use it without purpose, more as a standard address to a given situation, like a figure of speech.

I can't explain it.

[Atrax Robustus]

I'm often guilty of "God bless [his/her/your] cotton socks" - perhaps that's a prayer of some merit in the salvation stakes?:)

I'm sure I blow any brownie points I might have stored up whenever I scream something like "Jesus Fucking H Christ on a pogo stick" though!:eek:

[Iridescence]

I talk to myself often, when I need reassurance that whatever is causing my inner crisis is my reptile brain speaking, not my rational brain. But it's not a prayer to some god. I am even now trying to remove words like god, jesus, hell, holy, etc from my vocab, even in cursewords. they have no place in my life whatsoever. Although the Dutch godverdomme comes up every now and again :) (the fact that it is the "baddest of bad" Dutch words makes me giggle) :D

LOL! "Jesus Fucking H Christ on a pogo stick" is one of my hubby's favourites!! hahaha

[gibreel farishta]

never prayed even when i was close to death, there are definately atheists in foxholes, but obviously some conman thousands of years ago could see all this exi stuff etc going on and decided to cash in . the priests justified the chief as gods rep and the king justified the priests as knowing gods will ,
The rise of the kleptocracy,

[Shnoz]

I suppose whether atheists pray or not depends on the definition of praying. If I really want something I might ask 'Lady Luck' for it, but I don't expect results and usually go back to obsessing over the statistical chances involved.:D But I don't know if that counts as praying.

[Atrax Robustus]

Although the Dutch godverdomme comes up every now and again :) (the fact that it is the "baddest of bad" Dutch words makes me giggle) :D

godverdomme:eek:

When I was a kid we lived beside a dutch family and 'dad' was always yelling this out at the top of his voice.

I'll always remember when they got a visit from a close family member from the Netherlands . . . he was a priest.

Now, picture this . . . the entire family was in the back yard on a balmy summers evening - the language and general demeanour of our neighbours had been somewhat subdued for quite some time, apparently in deference to the visiting relative's vocation. They had all become very pious and incredibly well behaved . . .

Then, our sulphur crested cocky decided to screech out a word that he had learned through repetition over a number of years . . . . . .:rolleyes:

[peterthames]

Years ago when sometimes I would, I kept thinking, this just isn't right, how can some god here all these prayers, and there is thousands going on all over the world, and people would pray for something and it did not happen, I had faith for a while but now, no more, this Atheist does not pray, and why, because there is no God, it even seems so pitiful now to see others doing it, I feel sorry for them, thinking they believe pray works.

[Iridescence]

godverdomme:eek:

When I was a kid we lived beside a dutch family and 'dad' was always yelling this out at the top of his voice.

I'll always remember when they got a visit from a close family member from the Netherlands . . . he was a priest.

Now, picture this . . . the entire family was in the back yard on a balmy summers evening - the language and general demeanour of our neighbours had been somewhat subdued for quite some time, apparently in deference to the visiting relative's vocation. They had all become very pious and incredibly well behaved . . .

Then, our sulphur crested cocky decided to screech out a word that he had learned through repetition over a number of years . . . . . .:rolleyes:

*snort* Great story, thanks for the laugh! My Dutch husband thought that was hilarious! :D

Anyway - sorry for the hijack.. now back to the praying :)

[SinisterDexter]

Nothing fails like prayer.

Atheists don't pray. Not seriously. There is a disconnect in intent here. An atheist might go through the motions of praying (or something similar) due to enculturation or similar, but they will never expect a result to come of it.

In contrast, the religious do expect some kind of result.

[Atrax Robustus]

In contrast, the religious do expect some kind of result.

. . . and they ALWAYS get a result as well. Just ask 'em. Of course, the response is always subject to god's greater plan and will.

[Durro]

I've been in a few near-death experiences (rupture appendix, ridden into a tree by a bolting horse) and a few dangerous near misses (attacked by a hippo while canoeing, emergency jumbo jet landing, serious car accident) and at none of those times did I pray. I was in a potentially dangerous or even deadly situation and never resorted to beseeching any deity, despite the dire predicament(s). To me, that's the best test of my lack of faith. No last minute hypocrisy for this little black duck I'm afraid.

I have spoken to myself to gee myself up or made internal commentary about the situations. But no appeal to the supernatural for intervention.

Durro

[Mister Pervert]

I have spoken to myself to gee myself up or made internal commentary about the situations. But no appeal to the supernatural for intervention.


I've had one serious car accident and on several occasions have had genuine cause to think I might die in a plane crash (air travel in Indonesia is exhillerating for this!) In all cases I didn't think for a moment I should be wasting any time in prayer and afterwards had even less reason to give thanks to any god for my good fortune.

I also once had what could clinically be described as a drug induced psychotic episode (not of my own doing) during which time I was convinced the gateway to Hell had opened in front of me. It was a fascinating experience that I might write about later but enough to say even this terrifying experience didn't lead to prayer.

For the record, I have a bazillion minor superstitions about innane things, but this is more likely OCD behavior than anything mystical.

[davo]

I've been in a few near-death experiences (rupture appendix, ridden into a tree by a bolting horse) and a few dangerous near misses (attacked by a hippo while canoeing, emergency jumbo jet landing, serious car accident) and at none of those times did I pray.

Is your nickname 'Lucky'?

;)

[Durro]

Is your nickname 'Lucky'?

;)

Over at the Dawkins website, I started a thread entitled "The Stupidest Thing You've Done To Yourself" and posted about 40 personal anecdotes about the dumb-ass things I've done.

http://www.richarddawkins.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=58&t=32979

"Lucky" ? Definitely not, unless you consider several brushes with death as fortunate. I'm the Mr Bean of the medical world and a traveller that you would think twice about going on a holiday with.

:(

Durro

[eccles]

I pray of course to my parton saint: "His Holiness" Dave Allen.
I attended one of his "prayer meetings" in the Comedy Theatre, Melbourne many years ago and came out very hoarse. One of the funniest shows ever.
:)

[Mister Pervert]

And after he said "Good night, and may your god go with you", you returned home alone?

One of my favorites, and probably Dave A's:

"Dial a prayer for atheists: you dial this number and nobody answers."

[Mister Pervert]

My fave Dave is the one about Paddy staggering home drunk with a 13 ounce flattie of whiskey in his back pocket, when he trips and falls

(and Dave could do mike noises like nobody else, couldn't he?)
BOOMPH!
on his backside.

As he stands and gathes himslef together, he feels something wet trickling down the back of his leg.

"Oh please god, let that be blood."


HAHAHAHAHAH!!!

He had another similar one - be damned if I can remember it - about a bloke in a wheelchair in similar circumstances.

Too funny!

[Brad]

Pray as in kneeling by the bed with my hands clasped together? Well, not since I was a kid - 'God help Mummy and Daddy...'.

When I was older and my old man was dieing, my mother prayed for him. I remember being so angry with myself that I couldn't because I knew it wasn't going to work. I was also angry with myself for wanting God to exist so I could ask Him for help - or have someone to blame.

I don't think that I could now, even in a life threatening situation. But if one of my kids was seriously ill, I'd want to try anything, so I could imagine me imploring something or someone to help. I think that's part of human nature. Hence religion.