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DO ATHEISTS PRAY?

I really don't know if they do or not, but this one certainly does. Actually for me, I prefer the term "Secular Humanist" as it sounds less harsh and causes most that read the term to seek a dictionary or Wikipedia.

But yes, I pray. And to whom do I pray? No one in particular. My prayers are more like a wish. I will wish for good health for a sick friend. I will wish for peace and solace for the families that lost their children in the recent Connecticut massacre. Without addressing a particular deity, I have done this kind of praying for many years with the thought that with there being so many supposed deity's out there, I wouldn't want to offend a particular one, so throw the prayer or wish out there for any deity that wishes to pick up on it. Sometimes I will even selfishly pray or wish for something good for my self, and guess what? Sometimes my prayers are answered and sometimes they are not. I've been running about 50/50. I think it's important that people pray, whether to a deity or not, because it is a positive action rather than a negative one, assuming of course that the prayer has no malicious intent. Prayer I suspect makes most people feel good and there is certainly nothing wrong with that.

that's fine. My personal thought is that religious references are slowly becoming obsolete in our language, variants of pray[er] included.

As an Atheist, I don't pray as such but I do talk to my Dad, who died some 25 years ago. I don't expect or seek any response but it's a sort of comfort, however absurd it may be

Snowfire;1417226 wrote: As an Atheist, I don't pray as such but I do talk to my Dad, who died some 25 years ago. I don't expect or seek any response but it's a sort of comfort, however absurd it may beSo does Dexter. Uh Oh!

Snowfire;1417226 wrote: As an Atheist, I don't pray as such but I do talk to my Dad, who died some 25 years ago. I don't expect or seek any response but it's a sort of comfort, however absurd it may be


It's not absurd....

oscar;1417234 wrote: It's not absurd....


Well, it sorta is for an atheist who doesnt believe in an afterlife.

Although I have heard of a scientific explanation/theory that may allow for an afterlife. Most of which went over my head at the time. I'll try and dig it out

Snowfire;1417226 wrote: As an Atheist, I don't pray as such but I do talk to my Dad, who died some 25 years ago. I don't expect or seek any response but it's a sort of comfort, however absurd it may be


Not absurd at all---I don't believe in a afterlife but talk occasionally to my deceased wife that died 24 years ago.

Lon;1417247 wrote: Not absurd at all---I don't believe in a afterlife but talk occasionally to my deceased wife that died 24 years ago.


I enjoy my relationship with my late Father. I talk to him often, often about the things that have changed, places he would not now recognise, music he may have enjoyed listening too. I even ask him for guidance when things have gone a bit off piste, even thanking him if problem disappears.

We were just developing a strong relationship before he became ill. As much a friend as a Father, so I suppose I'm subconsciously continuing that

Snowfire;1417241 wrote: Well, it sorta is for an atheist who doesnt believe in an afterlife.

Although I have heard of a scientific explanation/theory that may allow for an afterlife. Most of which went over my head at the time. I'll try and dig it out


Parallel Universes, worm holes, string theory.... scientists are finding out more and more.

oscar;1417250 wrote: Parallel Universes, worm holes, string theory.... scientists are finding out more and more.


Quantum entanglement

Quantum Theory of the Afterlife

Also found this

Robert Lanza » Does Death Exist? New Theory Says ‘No’

Snowfire;1417241 wrote: Well, it sorta is for an atheist who doesnt believe in an afterlife.

Although I have heard of a scientific explanation/theory that may allow for an afterlife. Most of which went over my head at the time. I'll try and dig it out


IF there is an afterlife, why would it depend on the existence of

god(s)?

I don't think an atheist would pray. Have wishful thoughts? You'd have to train yourself out of wishful thoughts for good or ill.

AnneBoleyn;1417323 wrote: IF there is an afterlife, why would it depend on the existence of

god(s)?

I don't think an atheist would pray. Have wishful thoughts? You'd have to train yourself out of wishful thoughts for good or ill.


Well at the moment, only religion or spiritual philosophy allows for a place we go after we die unless we start to explore recent scientific theory, such as I posted. For most of us without a faith, what is left is a final "lights out"

There is no death because there is no "moment" of death, no awareness of actual death, so there is no death for the one who dies.

Well at the moment, only religion or spiritual philosophy allows for a place we go after we die unless we start to explore recent scientific theory


That's only because the living attribute it that way. If existence continues it doesn't need gods, like what Hawkins said about the big bang theory. We use gods as a default. "Well, I don't know, can't see the reason, so I attribute it to my gods". Like the American Right Wing does for most stuff.

There's a strong need for humanity to believe in another existence after this one. We all crave it, religious or not. This life's too short, well for me it is.

For there to be a continuation or a new beginning would be wonderful. Especially without the constraints of the physical body

This thread started strange then got stranger.

I am agnostic with atheist tendencies who likes to hedge my bets at times, if wishing strongly could be construed to be praying, I pray.

If there is noone there it won't hurt if there is..... it might work.

I have been prayed over and had hands laid on me, my missus reckons that's why I am so healthy, nothing to do with the NHS of course.

Yes, I agree, it would be wonderful. That old saying............"If it's too good to be true then it isn't"..............in this life, at least, that's been a truism. Gosh, you're a strange atheist!

(this was to snowfire's last comment)

AnneBoleyn;1417335 wrote: Yes, I agree, it would be wonderful. That old saying............"If it's too good to be true then it isn't"..............in this life, at least, that's been a truism. Gosh, you're a strange atheist!

(this was to snowfire's last comment)


That's interesting. In what way do you think I am a strange atheist ? I happen to think I'm normal but then I would wouldn't I ? There are no rules to not believing in a creator bar "not believing in a creator" That just about rounds it all up. Doesnt mean I cant lust for an afterlife. This one hasn't been long enough and my body is holding me back from doing more of what I did when I was young slip of a thing.

Not sure what else I may have alluded to that might make you think I'm a strange atheist. Strange! Oh yeah I might be strange. I'm not offended by the way just curious :wah:

Snowfire;1417344 wrote: That's interesting. In what way do you think I am a strange atheist ? I happen to think I'm normal but then I would wouldn't I ? There are no rules to not believing in a creator bar "not believing in a creator" That just about rounds it all up. Doesnt mean I cant lust for an afterlife. This one hasn't been long enough and my body is holding me back from doing more of what I did when I was young slip of a thing.

Not sure what else I may have alluded to that might make you think I'm a strange atheist. Strange! Oh yeah I might be strange. I'm not offended by the way just curious :wah:


Strange is a bad thing? Not necessarily! Would it have been different if I used 'eccentric' or something like that? Of course there are no rules, it's just that I never met an atheist who longed for an afterlife, most just take this one life as all that is necessary, that's just the way it is, mate, for a grown-up at least--lol. Of course you're not offended, you're not a jerk! That's what I love about you, simple give&take!