It’s not going to do me a lick of good (or bad), so if they want to waste their time, that’s fine. Just don’t tell me that you’re doing it and expect me to be grateful.
It’s silly, but I need all the good wishes I can get (especially right now. I am sick as a dog!)
Going with, “it’s the thought that counts,” I chose option three. However, it always makes me chuckle because if these people actually think prayer works, they didn’t do much thinking.
This really depends. If there’s something rough going on in my life then it’s a nice if ultimately useless gesture. If it’s someone, especially someone I don’t know, praying for my heathen soul, then it’s an annoying hostile act. If it’s someone I don’t even know about then it doesn’t matter (example some religion secretly baptizing me in absentia).
I consider myself an agnostic, but when someone prays for me, I respect and appreciate the gesture, simply because it means they care.
I don’t believe in prayer, but I think it’s a nice, though useless, gesture, especially in situations where there’s nothing much else to do. When it can get annoying is in situations where it’s done as a no-cost, minimal-effort-free way of acting like your helping.
“I have to move out of my apartment this weekend!”
“I’ll pray you don’t hurt your back.”
"Bail has been set at $500.
“I’ll pray for your deliverance.”
I’d say thank you, but I wouldn’t be able to help thinking “What, I’m not worth praying for? I don’t believe in that crap but I know you do.”
I would be weirded out. People don’t really do that here. Old ladies might light a candle in church for someone, but praying? Weird.
Here’s a thought I always have: how many people just say “I’ll pray for you.” but don’t do it- I almost always consider it a “nice” thing to say- but I never really know if they go home and do pray for me- and how much did they pray? How did they pray for me?
I’m always curious on those sorts of things, and it’s one reason why I RARELY say “I’ll pray for you”- unless I genuinely am going to take the time out to pray for that person, I think it’s just better to comfort them with some secular words instead.
I can’t speak for others, but basically what I do is add the person to my regular prayers. And if I’m going to visit “my nuns” (my family regularly visits a convent of cloistered nuns, they make their living from embroidery but dedicate their life to praying) and we know someone has a surgery coming or whatever, we mention it to them so they will add them too.
I would have voted for an option between 1 and 2. It doesn’t piss me off but I am not apathetic towards it either. It irks me, especially if I say “no thanks” and they insist. For their efforts, which are admitted small, they could have done something else that is actually helpful to me. I think it’s supposed to make them feel better that they did something rather than me feel better
Hmmm…on second thought, I’ll vote for the first option
I don’t like people talking about me behind my back.
I like it even less when they tell me that they plan to talk about me behind my back.
I truly hope that you will be on the mend and better soon.
My hyper-religious aunt got very offended when my mom wished her good luck while on the phone with her. Apparently mom was supposed to offer to pray. Aunt’s response: “WHAT DID YOU SAY TO ME???”
Sheesh.
I’ll answer from the opposite viewpoint. I have no problem with people saying, “I’ll light a candle for you” or, “I’ll cast a spell for you” or anything similar. It means they’re thinking good, positive thoughts for me, even if it’s just for that moment. And any positive thoughts are seriously appreciated. All people are capable of positive thoughts: religion or lack thereof doesn’t have anything to do with that.
And personally, if I tell someone I will pray for them, I totally mean it. I write things down and keep a prayer journal. I am accountable to myself and my God if I don’t. And, once again, positive thoughts: praying for the best possible outcome of any situation.
Thank you. I’m now sick as a less-sick dog. 
Just don’t stick your head out the window of a moving car. 
Seriously: I’ll be sending good thoughts your way and praying for a speedy recovery.
Aw, you’re no fun!
Thanks for the kind thoughts.
Hey, it DOES work!
Whatever “it” is…
Without reading the post, as I want to give my reaction absent from being influenced.
- If it were me I would appreciate that you were thinking of me / my family
- I would appreciate the sentiment expressed
- I would still be uncomfortable however with “praying”
If I was in your shoes and sending the message, why couldn’t you have simply send that “my thoughts and best wishes are with you” or something similiar.
Instead of “praying for his comfort” sending him something like “sending thoughts of comfort your way” would have expressed the same sentiment without needing to be overtly religious.
Now - as a follow-up, I am not religious, however if I were to send a note in the same situation to a religious person, would it be hypocritical of me to insert a religious tone into the message? (not as overt as praying for you, but maybe - I’m sure she is looking down on you and would like to be remembered)
I don’t have a problem with it unless it’s replacing practical, concrete action that a person could take. My cousin’s fridge broke down and her landlord was refusing to buy her a new one. One of her friends said she’d pray for her, and my mom sent her a link to the local tenants rights group. Guess which action helped her get a new fridge?