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Agnostics and Atheists - do you ever pray?

post #1 of 236
4/24/11 at 2:26am
Thread Starter 
Has something occurred in your life, or in another person's life that has caused you to say a prayer?
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post #2 of 236
4/24/11 at 2:55am
I was raised a fundamentalist Christian. I never really succumbed to the expected lifestyle, but still, I prayed occasionally. Since coming to terms with the fact that I'm a nonbeliever (SHUN!) the simple answer is: No. I do not pray.

The more complex answer is not all that much more complex, really. When I see an exasperating thing on TV or something I may respond with "Oh, God..." but I don't think that counts.
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post #3 of 236
4/24/11 at 2:56am
Atheist. No, why would I pray when I do not believe in a "god". I find it self absorbed and plain irrational that a prayer made by myself would have any effect on any outcome.
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post #4 of 236
4/24/11 at 3:02am
I pray when in genuine fear for my life, and only then. No matter how strong my idealism, I eagerly trade in personal pride for the infinitesimal chance that God is listening and willing to help me out for some reason that only he knows. Then I realize it was just some turbulence and I put God back in my pocket next to the credit card and the condom, patiently waiting side by side for the next time they may be called upon.
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post #5 of 236
4/24/11 at 3:03am
I very rarely prayed when I still believed, and have not found myself doing so since I converted (as it were). I suspect the fact that I never felt any connection while praying had a lot to do with why I let the faith go.

I've had some big stuff happen since then too. The most conventionally prayer-relevant was probably watching my grandmother die in the hospital. I don't think it ever crossed my mind to pray.
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post #6 of 236
4/24/11 at 3:17am
Quote:
Originally Posted by MetroStyles View Post
I pray when in genuine fear for my life, and only then. No matter how strong my idealism, I eagerly trade in personal pride for the infinitesimal chance that God is listening and willing to help me out for some reason that only he knows. Then I realize it was just some turbulence and I put God back in my pocket next to the credit card and the condom, patiently waiting side by side for the next time they may be called upon.

this exactly
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post #7 of 236
4/24/11 at 3:55am
Quote:
Originally Posted by suited View Post
Has something occurred in your life, or in another person's life that has caused you to say a prayer?

Hell nah.
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post #8 of 236
4/24/11 at 4:48am
I might recite certain "psalms" to myself at certain times, but they are purely atheist in nature.
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post #9 of 236
4/24/11 at 4:51am
Quote:
Originally Posted by MetroStyles View Post
I pray when in genuine fear for my life, and only then. No matter how strong my idealism, I eagerly trade in personal pride for the infinitesimal chance that God is listening and willing to help me out for some reason that only he knows. Then I realize it was just some turbulence and I put God back in my pocket next to the credit card and the condom, patiently waiting side by side for the next time they may be called upon.

Actually this, when I thought I was about to die.
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post #10 of 236
4/24/11 at 6:41am
Quote:
Has something occurred in your life, or in another person's life that has caused you to say a prayer?
No. I'm an atheist.
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post #11 of 236
4/24/11 at 6:51am
Quote:
Originally Posted by MetroStyles View Post
I pray when in genuine fear for my life, and only then. No matter how strong my idealism, I eagerly trade in personal pride for the infinitesimal chance that God is listening and willing to help me out for some reason that only he knows. Then I realize it was just some turbulence and I put God back in my pocket next to the credit card and the condom, patiently waiting side by side for the next time they may be called upon.

What if that infinitesimally possible god hates people who pray?
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post #12 of 236
4/24/11 at 7:26am
I once represented a man accused of raping his niece. While waiting for the jury verdict his family asked if I would join them in prayer. Since they had paid over $20K for the trial I figured I owed it to them to do so and I mouthed the Lord's Prayer with them but in no way did I actually mean what was said.
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post #13 of 236
4/24/11 at 7:42am
nvm
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post #14 of 236
4/24/11 at 11:31am
Thread Starter 
Metro's post is sort of what I'm getting at. For instance, an atheist praying on a plane that's about to go down. What does it say about human nature, core beliefs, truth, etc? Are they praying for that outside chance, or are they praying for some other reason?
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post #15 of 236
4/24/11 at 11:42am
..
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