# Idiots who pray **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 21, 2012, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiots-who-pray/632189 "2012-08-21T18:05:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiots-who-pray/632189/101 "2012-08-22T20:56:54Z")
Once again, I know which way the cat’s fur is brushed in this country. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiots-who-pray/632189/102 "2012-08-22T20:58:50Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > Polite _people_ don’t denigrate well wishes because they don’t approve the manner in which they’re given. Being an atheist has nothing to do with it. . . Thank you, that was well-put. We go over this each December with the whole Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays nonsense. Look, someone is telling you that they wish you well, in they way they were taught to do so, now don’t shit all over their decent intentions. It’s not a matter of whether you’re right or they’re wrong or whether religion is a comfort or a crutch or a pile of nonsense; it’s just plain _ **rude** _. Look, I’m as atheist-y as they get. So’s my husband. He’s in the hospital right now, and when people say “We’re praying for him to get better” I simply hear their intended message: “We hope he gets better!” and then I say “Thank you, I appreciate it” in return. Consider it a politeness filter: I filter what they say into what they meant, and I respond in kind. There’s a gaggle of little old Baptist ladies praying for his recovery. Am I going to look them in the eye and tell them they’re being stupid, or am I going to say, “thank you, that’s so sweet.” ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiots-who-pray/632189/103 "2012-08-22T21:07:53Z")
You’ve got to hand it to dopers. They’ll step over a group of people arguing whether Superman could beat the Hulk in a fight and around a group of people discussing whether James Kirk was a better starship captain than Jean-Luc Picard to spit in the eye of someone who says “God bless you” to someone who sneezes. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiots-who-pray/632189/104 "2012-08-22T21:29:50Z")
> [@Bill\_Door](#): > > You’ve got to hand it to dopers. They’ll step over a group of people arguing whether Superman could beat the Hulk in a fight and around a group of people discussing whether James Kirk was a better starship captain than Jean-Luc Picard to spit in the eye of someone who says “God bless you” to someone who sneezes. Bull-_fucking_-shit. What usually happens is that when atheists try to talk about the cumulative effect of having to give all those small concessions to the Christian majority, jackasses come out of the woodwork to take one of concessions out of context and wildly exaggerate our reactions. It’s always “How does _that_ little ol’ thing hurt ya, ya big crybaby?” and “Why do you want to spit in the face of little old ladies, huh?” Nobody’s spitting in the faces of little old ladies, not even in this Pit thread, let alone in real life. ---
**Author:** ![Bozuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/edb3f5/32.png) [@Bozuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bozuit)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiots-who-pray/632189/105 "2012-08-22T21:44:12Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Don’t worry your pretty little head about it. Like most atheists here I’ve been indoctrinated my whole life with messages like “What does it hurt?”, “Go with the flow”, “It would be impolite to bring _that_ up”, “It’s not religious-it’s traditional” and numerous other stifles. > It’s only a piece of straw, right? “It’s not religious; it’s traditional” it’s actually very useful for those who dislike religion. “No that is part of your religion it’s just what people do in a country where your religion is popular.” ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiots-who-pray/632189/106 "2012-08-22T21:53:54Z")
> [@Bozuit](#): > > “It’s not religious; it’s traditional” it’s actually very useful for those who dislike religion. “No that is part of your religion it’s just what people do in a country where your religion is popular.” It’s our tradition not to overly annoy the Christians. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2012, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiots-who-pray/632189/107 "2012-08-22T22:49:12Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > Everybody dies far as I know. Except Elvis. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiots-who-pray/632189/108 "2012-08-23T00:35:14Z")
> [@Bozuit](#): > > People pray for you because they believe in it, not because you do. If someone wants to pray for you just take it as they care. If they want you to pray for them then I think it’s reasonable to say you don’t believe in it. Although if they’ll never know better and it means a lot there’s not much harm in just saying you’ll do it. Actually, it’s not the fact that people pray that bothers me. Again, it’s the fact that they feel the need to inform me of this. Telling me that they’re gonna pray for me is just them patting themselves on the back about what a good Christian they are. It’s not gonna wreck my day, unless I manage to strain an eye muscle when I roll my eyes. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiots-who-pray/632189/109 "2012-08-23T00:38:40Z")
So what is up with people who make a donation to a Catholic charity in the name of the deceased? What is that supposed to do? ---
**Author:** ![Bozuit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/edb3f5/32.png) [@Bozuit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bozuit)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiots-who-pray/632189/110 "2012-08-23T02:00:33Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > Actually, it’s not the fact that people pray that bothers me. Again, it’s the fact that they feel the need to inform me of this. Telling me that they’re gonna pray for me is just them patting themselves on the back about what a good Christian they are. > > It’s not gonna wreck my day, unless I manage to strain an eye muscle when I roll my eyes. If they hope you get better do you have a problem with them saying that? Should they just hope in private instead of patting themselves on the back for being _just such a nice guy_? ---
**Author:** ![Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimmy_Gibbler)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiots-who-pray/632189/111 "2012-08-23T02:05:50Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > I get offended … No shit!?!? Now, I’ve heard everything! ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiots-who-pray/632189/112 "2012-08-24T01:05:57Z")
Can someone explain to me why atheists should politely accept prayer “in the spirit it was intended” but the Mormons posthumously baptize someone and all of the fires of Hades are unleashed upon their heads? This atheist cannot really see a difference between someone saying “God bless you” and someone performing a ritual that they believe will allow you to receive God’s blessings. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiots-who-pray/632189/113 "2012-08-24T01:18:31Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > I am His humble disciple. Oh, no you don’t! You ain’t unloading any of your bad karma on to me! I didn’t lead you anywhere, you were there when I got there! ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiots-who-pray/632189/114 "2012-08-24T01:22:47Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > I think prayer is redundant. If you believe, when you pray, you’re telling God what you want. But if he’s all-knowing, he already knows. So what’s the point of praying? I suppose they think praying is good for the soul of the . . . prayor? The person praying. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiots-who-pray/632189/115 "2012-08-24T01:35:11Z")
It is entirely possible that when a person hears that others are praying for her, that she feels cared for by a larger group and because of that, she heals more rapidly. Unfortunately, studies indicate otherwise, but humans are irrational beings by and large. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiots-who-pray/632189/116 "2012-08-24T02:21:24Z")
> [@Cyros](#): > > Can someone explain to me why atheists should politely accept prayer “in the spirit it was intended” but the Mormons posthumously baptize someone and all of the fires of Hades are unleashed upon their heads? > > This atheist cannot really see a difference between someone saying “God bless you” and someone performing a ritual that they believe will allow you to receive God’s blessings. :dubious: Seriously? It seems pretty obvious to me that there’s a significant difference between, on the one hand, briefly and slightly intruding one’s faith on a living person who doesn’t share that faith, and on the other hand, **officially, ritually and permanently co-opting a dead person as a putative member of a faith they never chose in life**. Sheesh. Can you also not see a difference between being handed a military recruitment pamphlet and being drafted into the Army? ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiots-who-pray/632189/117 "2012-08-24T02:58:09Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > :dubious: Seriously? It seems pretty obvious to me that there’s a significant difference between, on the one hand, briefly and slightly intruding one’s faith on a living person who doesn’t share that faith, and on the other hand, **officially, ritually and permanently co-opting a dead person as a putative member of a faith they never chose in life**. > > Sheesh. Can you also not see a difference between being handed a military recruitment pamphlet and being drafted into the Army? I don’t think I would care if I was drafted after I was dead. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiots-who-pray/632189/118 "2012-08-24T03:23:58Z")
I think the next time someone tells me “good luck”, I’m going to quote Obi-Wan Kenobi and say, “In my experience, there’s no such thing as luck, fuck you.” Jesus, people, if this is what you think is “persecution”, and “you don’t know what it’s like being a minority, having to be silent!” you really, REALLY need to get a new hobbie. Talk about FWP. (Right now, I’m praying that everyone will stop being jackasses. That’s EVERYONE, I don’t care what you believe or don’t believe. Fuck it.) ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiots-who-pray/632189/119 "2012-08-24T12:10:07Z")
Good luck. If it doesn’t work, you should try sacrificing a virgin. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2012, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiots-who-pray/632189/120 "2012-08-24T12:44:51Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > :dubious: Seriously? It seems pretty obvious to me that there’s a significant difference between, on the one hand, briefly and slightly intruding one’s faith on a living person who doesn’t share that faith, and on the other hand, **officially, ritually and permanently co-opting a dead person as a putative member of a faith they never chose in life**. > > Sheesh. Can you also not see a difference between being handed a military recruitment pamphlet and being drafted into the Army? Would Southern Baptists (for example) really believe that just because some Mormon baptized them posthumously that they would no longer be a Southern Baptists? No? Then, as \*\*Chimera \*\*so kindly pointed out, why can’t they just not be dicks because people mention things they don’t believe in? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiots-who-pray/632189.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idiots-who-pray/632189.md?page=7)