"I Will Pray for You"

[Debater Slayer]

Sure, do it. Some atheists, especially self-identified "strong atheists," are offended by this sentence, but I don't mind it at all. I actually appreciate it, just like I appreciate when a believer says, "God be with you."

Why would I appreciate those phrases despite being an anti-religious atheist? Because these are often sincere expressions of good will on the believer's part. When a Muslim tells me that they hope Allah helps me with something, or they wish that Allah "guides" me to the right path, I take little to no offense because these prayers actually represent the epitome of what the average Muslim considers to be good and desirable. They are not wishing me harm; they are wishing me the very best thing according to their beliefs.

So, by all means, pray for me if you would like. I'm not going to mind it. Quite the contrary, actually; I tend to appreciate it when it is done with sincerity.

 

[1137]

Plenty of people use such sayings as an insult.

 

[Debater Slayer]

Plenty of people use such sayings as an insult.

Most don't. That's the point.

 

[1137]

I honestly think most do, even if they aren't aware of it.

 

[Quintessence]

I honestly think most do, even if they aren't aware of it.

If they're not aware of it, they can't intend it as an insult, so... uh... they're not saying it as an insult.

Mighty cynical perspective you've got there, I must say.

 

[MARCELLO]

I will pray for you Africa.(priority,don't misunderstand me)

I will pray for you France.

I will pray for you Turkey,Lebanon,Syria and Israel and Iraq

I will pray for you Afghanistan.

Let this be our worst day.

 

[savagewind]

I think I understand @1137. Sometimes when someone knows what you do and it is against the rule of his god then his saying, "I'll pray for you", really means that you should stop being you and start being like him. That is an insult.

 

[Draka]

Most the time I see or hear anyone say "I'll pray for you" it is usually in response to bad news. Being sick, hurt, injured, loved one in hospital, loss of job, loss of loved one, and so on. The insulting type exists, yes, but I tend to find it rarer than the actual goodwill.

 

[Rival]

I think I understand @1137. Sometimes when someone knows what you do and it is against the rule of his god then his saying, "I'll pray for you", really means that you should stop being you and start being like him. That is an insult.

How does it mean this?

 

[savagewind]

How does it mean this?

I don't understand the question.
Let's try it.
I shall pray for you to be more like I am.

How's that?

 

[savagewind]

Maybe some background will help. I was Jehovah's Witness. My job was to make more Jehovah's Witnesses so that would be my prayer.

 

[Rival]

I don't understand the question.
Let's try it.
I shall pray for you to be more like I am.

How's that?

But that's not what the praying person means.

When I say "I'll pray for you" I mean "I wish you all the best and hope the situation improves" how does that translate to 'be more like me'?

 

[savagewind]

But that's not what the praying person means.

When I say "I'll pray for you" I mean "I wish you all the best and hope the situation improves" how does that translate to 'be more like me'?

I posted why. #11 I am not saying it is always that way. I was looking for an example of why it might be an insult. OK?

 

[Draka]

Or the gay person who is told by an evangelical, disdain in their voice, "I'll pray for you." They may well pray for them, but it certainly doesn't come off as goodwill. Again though, I do think the positive prayer offers outnumber the disdain.

 

[Revoltingest]

I don't mind others praying for me.
They express this every now & then.
I know they mean well, but it's weird.
But I have endured a few imprecatory prayers.
That's even weirder.....the idea that summon their god to fix my wagon.
This often precedes their eviction.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

But that's not what the praying person means.

When I say "I'll pray for you" I mean "I wish you all the best and hope the situation improves" how does that translate to 'be more like me'?

It can, although that's certainly not usually the case in my experience. Still, I've had people suggest they'll pray for me when they find out I'm an atheist. That certainly is an indication that they want me to be more like them.
*shrugs*

Almost always, prayer has been offered as a goodwill gesture, and I have no issue with people praying for me.

 

[Rival]

I suppose the debate here is on the context in which the person offers the prayers. "I'll pray for you" is not something I say often and when I do, it's never intended to get a person to join my faith. If I wanted to do that I'd use debate and discussion.

 

[1137]

If they're not aware of it, they can't intend it as an insult, so... uh... they're not saying it as an insult.

Mighty cynical perspective you've got there, I must say.

When someone says "I'll pray for you", there are two possibilities. One is that you're sick or something, and a caring person wants to pray for you. This is wonderful, and I would fully accept the prayers. The second, and much more common possibility, as that "I'll pray for you" essentially equates to "you're a lost cause/evil/stupid/etc and only god can help you". There's nothing friendly about that.

 

[Adramelek]

A Christian friend of mine just last night said to me, "may God watch over you tonight and always". It doesn't bother me at all, I found it to be a sign of her affection for me.

Darkest Blessings.
/Adramelek\

 

[Father Heathen]

I've seen it used with a smug, sanctimonious tone on many occasions, usually upon the conclusion of an argument/debate involving religion. Still not offensive, though.