# Praying if you are agnostic **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 22, 2015, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/praying-if-you-are-agnostic/720583 "2015-05-22T12:30:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![monavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@monavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monavis)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/praying-if-you-are-agnostic/720583/61 "2015-05-27T01:24:33Z")
> [@Oddball\_92](#): > > God would be far from “happy” about condemning someone to hell. God the Father established a plan for salvation long before we were conceived. He gave us His word (the Bible) for us to use as a guide to get to that salvation. He also gave us free will to accept or reject Him. God is not going to come down and thump you or me on the head and say “You got it, Dude”. He left it up to us. I really hope you reconsider. You are aware of the fact that it was humans who said or decided what was of God and what was not, so one believes in a human not any God. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/praying-if-you-are-agnostic/720583/62 "2015-05-27T01:24:41Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > I was raised Catholic and this is not necessarily true of all Christian belief. It’s a lot more complex than that. Well sure, some of us believe in God and Christ but don’t believe people go to hell or that Atheists won’t go to heaven too if they’ve lived moral lives. But OP, your prayers are fine. If God exists he won’t be bothered by them even though they’re not backed by any particular belief. And if he doesn’t, what does it matter? ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/praying-if-you-are-agnostic/720583/63 "2015-05-27T01:29:09Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > That actually raises more questions, for starters it would mean that indeed the majority of humans never had the original sin then. It is a whoosh, of sorts. The _entire book of genesis_ is like unto a poem. It was never meant to be taken literally, so the details are not very relevant. But as far as your point goes, Noah counts as the actual nexus, the singular sire to all mankind that followed, so if you want to believe this hereditary corruption, it would have be delivered to the world off the end of _his_ dick. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/praying-if-you-are-agnostic/720583/64 "2015-05-27T01:35:26Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > It is a whoosh, of sorts. The _entire book of genesis_ is like unto a poem. It was never meant to be taken literally, so the details are not very relevant. > > But as far as your point goes, Noah counts as the actual nexus, the singular sire to all mankind that followed, so if you want to believe this hereditary corruption, it would have be delivered to the world off the end of _his_ dick. Way ahead of you, one has to point to them that ancient Egypt just ignored that “universal” flood bit. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2015, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/praying-if-you-are-agnostic/720583/65 "2015-05-27T02:10:31Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Technically, the story of Adam and Eve is primarily a metaphor about humans “discovering” moral code (or more accurately, developing the basis of morality, condensed from centuries into an evening). No part of Genesis, on up to Exodus 20, was ever meant to be taken literally, only ignoramuses, charlatans and SDAs preach that doctrine. > [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > Yes, I can buy that as an acceptable interpretation of Genesis. However, **Oddball\_92** sounds like the kind of Christian who _does_ take it literally. I was just pointing out the implications of his claims. > [@Oddball\_92](#): > > I believe the story of Adam and Eve is indeed a literal truth as I do the Genesis account of creation. The Bible does contain allegories and hyperboles but I do not believe the Adan and Eve story is one of them. Called it. ---
**Author:** ![Smartass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@Smartass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smartass)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2015, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/praying-if-you-are-agnostic/720583/66 "2015-05-29T01:45:45Z")
> [@buns3000](#): > > I still sort of “pray”, in the sense that I sit quietly and reflect with thanks for the good things in my life and I also think positive thoughts about people who are important to me and I sort of mentally will them to do well and be happy. Sounds silly and probably is, but I like to think this somehow benefits them even though of course that isn’t logical. I would say it’s not particularly different than knocking on wood. Seems to be somewhat in our nature to try to perform magic every now and then, even when we know it won’t work. For what it’s worth, I don’t see any harm in an agnostic or atheist praying. It seems somewhat axiomatic to me that if you pray to a God who isn’t there, He won’t mind. Unless you’re suggesting that your prayer might be the last one needed to cause the God of the Hebrews to suddenly spring into metaphysical existence. In which case, maybe you should really try to stop, because He’s an asshole. It just occurred to me that your agnostic prayer seems to have something in common with masturbation–in which case you’re pretending to have another sort of relations with a person who isn’t there (hopefully, with less begging). And they usually don’t mind either, unless that’s part of the fantasy… The point is, prayer and masturbation are both harmless activities that mostly take place in your head and make you feel better. You shouldn’t feel guilty about either one, but I think masturbation is generally more effective at making you feel better. However, if you insist on \*talking \*about it, you’ll find people will feign more interest in your prayer stories than your self-love escapades. -VM ---
**Author:** ![Smartass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@Smartass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smartass)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2015, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/praying-if-you-are-agnostic/720583/67 "2015-05-29T15:33:36Z")
> [@buns3000](#): > > …but I like to think this somehow benefits them even though of course that isn’t logical. I thought I could let this lie, but I find that I can’t. Here’s the thing about praying for other people: It’s really easy, and probably does them no good whatsoever, but allows you to feel better about yourself. If these people really are important to you, and you really want them to be happy, then you could try to DO something to improve their lives. But that might be difficult. However, silently wishing good things for them is unbelievably fast and easy. Plus, if the magic works, then you’ve just done a good deed and can give yourself a hearty pat on the back. “I’m so happy to hear about your good news. You know, I’ve been praying for it.” So, really, you should be thanking m\*\*e. I can’t help but believe that this kind of thinking explains all the damn colored ribbons we see–most notably the pink ones in the fall. The ribbons are cheap, contribute virtually nothing to efforts to eradicate breast cancer, but allow you to tell yourself that you’ve joined into the fight. “See this? I’m fighting breast cancer _right now_. What are you doing?” As for me, I’m still thinking about getting a custom T-shirt, with a picture of a great big colorful ribbon, along with the text, “THANK ME. I made a token gesture today.” -VM ---
**Author:** ![Reno\_Nevada](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Reno\_Nevada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reno_Nevada)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2015, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/praying-if-you-are-agnostic/720583/68 "2015-06-04T03:23:46Z")
Man, this thread wandered a little bit from the OP. I kind of expected the first few postings to include the Agnostic’s Prayer. [QUOTE=Roger Zelazny] Insofar as I may be heard by anything, which may or may not care what I say, I ask, if it matters, that you be forgiven for anything you may have done or failed to do which requires forgiveness. Conversely, if not forgiveness but something else may be required to ensure any possible benefit for which you may be eligible after the destruction of your body, I ask that this, whatever it may be, be granted or withheld, as the case may be, in such a manner as to insure your receiving said benefit. I ask this in my capacity as your elected intermediary between yourself and that which may not be yourself, but which may have an interest in the matter of your receiving as much as it is possible for you to receive of this thing, and which may in some way be influenced by this ceremony. Amen. [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![barfridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9de053/32.png) [@barfridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barfridge)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2015, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/praying-if-you-are-agnostic/720583/69 "2015-06-14T02:11:47Z")
Buns I also was brought up in a Christian religious environment and taught to pray. Now in my sixties, I realise I wasted a lot of time identifying with theism’s reasons for quiet reflection and being confused about it’s value. Instead of saying the word prayer, why not say, meditations or reflection or getting in touch with my/your real feelings. It doesn’t matter wether there is or is not a god for you to include in these moments. It only matters that they are important for you and bring clarity. Humans are complex beings, the road to being truly oneself has no ending. You deserve clarity without the un needed myths and theist dogma. ---
**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:** [June 14, 2015, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/praying-if-you-are-agnostic/720583/70 "2015-06-14T02:17:52Z")
I don’t know if I am a thiest or agnostic. I tend to believe that something started all of this. On a concious level I tend to accept a Christian Diety. I like having a running around God I can talk to on a regular basis. On a deeper level I don’t believe that any religion has anything to do with reality but it doesn’t seem to bother me. I figure I am doing the best I can with what I have to work with. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/praying-if-you-are-agnostic/720583.md?page=3)