Re: Persecuted Christians


"Gareth McCaughan" <Gareth.McCaughan@xxxxxxxxx> a écrit dans le message de
news: 87skms1sb8.fsf@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Tim Tim R" wrote:

[Celia:]
I have had an atheist request that I shouldn't pray for him. (I hadn't
offered)
I respected his request but it is very difficult to remember not to
pray for someone.

I find this odd! Why should an atheist care if you prayed to a God he
doesn't believe exists? It's bizarre!

I don't think it's all that bizarre, though for my part I don't mind
at all if anyone chooses to pray for me.

1. He might simply not want Celia to waste her time.

2. He might see prayer as a disreputably primitive thing to do,
and find the idea of being in any way associated with it
distasteful.

3. He might be concerned that if things turned out well for him
then Celia would think her prayers were part of the cause,
or (probably worse in his eyes) she might tell others that
they were. (Not necessarily breaking any confidences;
consider comments like "Well, you wouldn't believe the
number of people in trouble I've prayed for who 'just
happened' to get sorted out soon afterwards.")

Indeed, it wouldn't bother me in the least either. But the circumstances of
Celia's comment need clarifying a little, because I find it a little odd
that an atheist would go out of his way to request someone doesn't pray for
him without having some sort of indication that the Christian wished to pray
for him/her in the first place. When asked, however, most atheists I know
would - respectfully or otherwise - decline.

pg




.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Persecuted Christians
    ...  I respected his request but it is very difficult  to remember not to ... at all if anyone chooses to pray for me. ...   distasteful. ... When asked, however, most atheists I know ...
    (uk.religion.christian)
  • Re: My sister-in-law
    ... > all people in general if I'm going to pray for things I know almost ... Is prayer like throwing random darts at a board ... Now Paul and I have peace with each other, ... what could I have written to make my request more meaningful to ...
    (uk.religion.christian)
  • Re: Popes visit: aide steps aside after comparing Britain to third world
    ... John R wrote: ... demanding that people who offer to pray with you are sacked, ... In a minority of cases non christians (it's not just atheists) have ... Christians get offended when they shouldn't, ...
    (uk.religion.christian)
  • Re: Native Americans upset by "Mike and Molly" joke
    ... Although I doubt it makes one whit of different ... anymore. ... While I don't know the punchline in question, anyone is likely to pray ... Atheists brought up in religious homes ...
    (rec.arts.tv)
  • Re: neurostim or ketamine infusion
    ... hope (and pray) for the best. ... (if I rember correctly, both you and Matt are atheists, aren't you?). ... Susan, the other Silberstein, is not my wife. ...
    (talk.origins)