I believe in a strange religion: but I will pray with whomever sincerely asks for my support.
As an atheist, I don’t ‘pray’ and I wouldn’t pretend to, no matter who asked. From my point of view, it sounds like a meaningless request, much as if someone were to ask me to choose the ‘correct’ homeopathic remedy or the roundest circle. If other people want to talk to themselves and fantasise that they are doing something more than that, then they are entitled to their comforting delusion. But I don’t see why they would expect me to go along with it.
I believe in expressing warmth, sympathy, tact, respect, thoughtfulness and kindness. I believe in having and offering an optimistic and a hopeful attitude, and I believe in supporting people who are having a rough time. I know that I’ve helped many, many people through bad or difficult times, because they’ve told me so afterwards. But no, I wouldn’t pretend that ‘praying’ is anything other than what it really is, and I wouldn’t join in with the farce. I think I can be more honest and more helpful than that.
If someone were to ask me to pray with them, I guess my view would be, sure, I could pretend to, but instead why don’t I actually do something useful, helpful or meaningful?
It was the “you need to stick to your religious doctrine” that confused me, I guess.
Yes, I would. I mean, within reason I would want to help out a grieving person, right? If what helps them is having me pray with them, it’s no different to me than taking care of their cat or something. It’s about them right now, not about me.
I’m an atheist, and grieving people can get all the hugs and soft words they need from me, but prayer? Not a fuck. I’d be offended at the temerity of the assumption that I’d want to. I can at least trust my friends and family to already know this.
I just don’t see how this can be communicated to them without it seeming like an attack.
I’m Episcopalian and have prayed with Jewish people at several bar mitzvahs and weddings. I don’t mind in the least.
I’ll direct my prayers to Whom it may concern, and if nobody listens out there, it still may give comfort to the person I am praying with.
Agreeing with Marienee. Pass the blue mud.
Well, that’s because it’s an attack, sillkins!
Ah, that explains it…
Yeah, you were thinking about it too hard. 
“I think your beliefs are stupid and a waste of time.”
hug
Speaking as a Catholic… it depends.
I could join in prayer with almost any Protestant. I could join in an Eastern Orthodox prayer without a problem.
And, while there are major differences between Christianity and Judaism, and bettween Chrstianity and Islam, I could probably join in prayer with a Jew or Muslim, depending on how the prayer was constructed.
I could not and would not join in a prayer offered by a Wiccan/pagan, a Hindu, or a Buddhist.
Atheist, and I voted I would pray with anyone. By “pray”, I mean sit quietly, hold their hands, close my eyes while they pray. I could not and would not offer any words of prayer myself.
I would pray with them, just out of respect to them. It’s not going to kill me.
I think the world would be a much better place if people realized there is a time and a place for everything. No matter what you do or do not believe you don’t need to go around all the time trying to make a point.
If I go to eat and the host prays I would bow my head and go along with it. It has nothing to do with prayer but showing respect to the host.
Same with a grieving person. If they thought my praying would help I would do so, because of them.
I would do whatever it took to comfort the person, whether that is just being quiet, or faking a prayer. It isn’t aboutme at all.
I would pray the prayer of my own religion.
There really should have been a better choice than: “I believe in Religion X, and I refuse to pray with anyone of another faith.” which currently has 0.
It should have been “I believe in religion X and I refuse to pray with anyone of faith Y” to be more accurate it seems.
Ah well, I can’t say I didn’t expect it though. Human nature, I suppose.
Interesting- the one option nobody picked was “I belong to Religion X and I refuse to pray with someone of Religion Y”. Make of that what you will.