# Atheist equivalent to prayer **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 9, 2015, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-equivalent-to-prayer/734024 "2015-10-09T13:31:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-equivalent-to-prayer/734024/1 "2015-10-09T13:31:34Z")
I get up very early every morning, usually around 4 am. I pour my coffee, turn on the computer and have a cigarette. The news is playing in the background. I scan through my e emails and web sights and I might make a comment or respond to an e email but for the most part I feel like I am setting the stage for my day. ``` Usually within the first 1/2 hour of being awake I drift off into this reflective state I can only describe as prayer. I gave up years ago trying to maintain a concept of any god although I firmly believe in some kind of higher power. I get into this intense but very relaxing state of yearning to attain this pureness of purpose that seems to elude me each day. I feel like I am standing before God acknowledging all my failures from the day before and at the same time feeling grateful that I can have a fresh start today and none of that bullshit from the past has to carry forward unless I choose to carry it. I start off each day feeling motivated and energized and I like to think I finish each day a little better than I did the day before. I am curious as to whether or not atheists have some kind of prescribed method for renewing themselves each day. I often feel like I am a borderline atheist but I just can't seem to make things work if I don't have a God in my equation. ``` ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-equivalent-to-prayer/734024/2 "2015-10-09T13:54:46Z")
I am an atheist - I simply call these states ‘meditation’ or ‘relaxation’ - no higher power required. Many mistake this as me simply staring off into space. They wouldn’t be entirely wrong ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-equivalent-to-prayer/734024/3 "2015-10-09T14:07:26Z")
On Sundays I often listed to TED talks on NPR. It strikes me that many are very similar to sermons, and probably play a similar role in the lives of non-believers as the sermon does for the believers. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-equivalent-to-prayer/734024/4 "2015-10-09T14:23:33Z")
I do nothing even remotely like prayer. Unless you count the setting up exercises prescribed by my chiropracter. Then I have breakfast and then sit down at my computer and sign on to TSD. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-equivalent-to-prayer/734024/5 "2015-10-09T14:30:39Z")
Coffee. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-equivalent-to-prayer/734024/6 "2015-10-09T15:10:13Z")
Weed. Hail Mary Jane full of grace The Lord is with thee blessed are you … ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-equivalent-to-prayer/734024/7 "2015-10-09T15:13:36Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Weed. > > Hail Mary Jane full of grace The Lord is with thee blessed are you … Not sure if you are joking or not but weed does seem to be therapeutic in this regard. ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-equivalent-to-prayer/734024/8 "2015-10-09T15:16:58Z")
I became interested in “The Power of Prayer” based on my experiences within AA. Looking into what the faithful get from prayer, I reached the following conclusions: -It is a framework to maintain hope in the face of adversity. I am unconvinced of “the power of positive thinking” but it seems obvious that telling yourself “I can’t” pretty well guarantees failure. I don’t think depression ever made anything better. -It can be a way to inventory what really matters to us, to focus intention. -Prayer can and does change the way the prayer thinks and feels. With changed thoughts and feelings, different actions can be taken. Different actions tend to lead to different outcomes. I am convinced that this is how prayer “works” to whatever extent that it does. So while I don’t believe in gods, I do sort of “pray”: -I start by reflecting on my situation and how much better it is that the vast majority of humans that have ever lived. That all of my problems are literally “first world” problems. -I think about what isn’t going so well in my life, and what action I could take to change those things, and how I might avoid such problems in the future. And very importantly, do these things really matter? -I consider what things I might need help with…from friends, by hiring professionals, etc. There are very few issues where there isn’t someone waiting to fix it for a fee, and letting them deal with it can often be a bargain. -And then I breath deeply and focus on my breath, and let my mind clear of all thoughts if possible. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-equivalent-to-prayer/734024/9 "2015-10-09T15:35:20Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > Not sure if you are joking or not but weed does seem to be therapeutic in this regard. [No](http://www.hailmaryjane.com/)[joke](https://www.google.com/search?q=hail+mary+jane&safe=off&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0CEsQsARqFQoTCJ-mgMXbtcgCFUNvPgod4sEPkw&biw=1366&bih=635). ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-equivalent-to-prayer/734024/10 "2015-10-09T18:06:01Z")
When I was a kid (in the 1970’s), I’d hear about people saying every morning, “Every day in every way I am getting better and better.” Wikipedia says it’s by Emile Coue. I also remember people saying, “Today is the first day of the rest of your life.” Charles Dederich, Sr. is supposed to have written that one. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-equivalent-to-prayer/734024/11 "2015-10-09T18:24:48Z")
I often jokingly refer to nature as “my church.” Don’t do any meditation or anything, but walking in a park, or even digging in my yard almost always puts my head in a better place. The world around us is full of wonders. I never can understand why someone needs make believe. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-equivalent-to-prayer/734024/12 "2015-10-09T18:39:41Z")
I guess my equivalent is when I sit in the shower eating Oreos and crying. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-equivalent-to-prayer/734024/13 "2015-10-09T19:11:19Z")
> [@ratatoskK](#): > > Coffee. May peace be upon it, and blessings. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-equivalent-to-prayer/734024/14 "2015-10-09T19:13:09Z")
Atheist’s only pray the last few minutes of their life. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-equivalent-to-prayer/734024/15 "2015-10-09T19:20:10Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > Atheist’s only pray the last few minutes of their life. You’re confusing incoherent semiconscious rambling for prayer. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-equivalent-to-prayer/734024/16 "2015-10-09T19:22:44Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > Atheist’s only pray the last few minutes of their life. flat out nonsense ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-equivalent-to-prayer/734024/17 "2015-10-09T19:32:04Z")
I don’t do anything prayerlike. Well, I guess I do have a mantra. “Stop it, you fucking idiot” said to myself early and often. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-equivalent-to-prayer/734024/18 "2015-10-09T19:33:41Z")
We still hope. We just don’t pin our hopes on any mythical or supernatural agency. ---
**Author:** ![black\_rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-equivalent-to-prayer/734024/19 "2015-10-09T19:40:12Z")
Cussing under my breath. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2015, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-equivalent-to-prayer/734024/20 "2015-10-09T20:14:54Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > Atheist’s only pray the last few minutes of their life. I’m an apostrophist. I do not believe in the plural apostrophe. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atheist-equivalent-to-prayer/734024.md?page=2)