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Original poster

following on from another post, is it that odd to pray for someone else?

35 replies

Mummiehunnie · 15/11/2010 17:20

I am finding it strange that someone commented that someone, who from the posters comments has behaved badly, is not worth praying for, it is really that out of date to pray for others?

I know it is not cool to admit you pray, surely people do still pray, they just don't discuss it...

OP posts:

JandT · 15/11/2010 17:23

I don't think it's odd to pray for other people. In fact (and I know some people really would find this odd) I often pray for people who have been nasty/unfair to me or those I know as I think they probably need it more than me.

But then I suppose it probably all depends on whether you believe in God or not.

I went to our local cathedral town earlier and ended up popping in and praying for a resolution in the CofE at the moment. I don't agree with a lot of what's going on but who am I to decide what God wants? I think it's better to pray for people and put your trust in God.

Yep I'm obviously not cool!!

gorionine · 15/11/2010 17:24

I have no idea what post/thread you are refering to but I think it is nice when someone offers to pray for you in general.

overmydeadbody · 15/11/2010 17:24

a thread about a thread?

I don't think it's out of date to pray for others, just not in keeping with everyone's beliefs. I tihnk you need to believe in God in order to pray, and not everyone does do they?

AMumInScotland · 15/11/2010 17:27

I don't think its odd to pray for someone, if you have a religious faith. I do find it odd that someone who does have faith would think that a person was "not worth praying for", since Jesus generally did the most to help those who were the least "deserving" of his time and effort. Those who are least "worth" our prayers are those who need them most.

SparklingExplosionGoldBrass · 15/11/2010 17:30

I don't think it's a big deal. Totally pointless of course as there aren't any gods to listen. And it's not great if you pray for a person in difficulties rather than actually, you know, do anything to help.

expatinscotland · 15/11/2010 17:33

But to those of faith, SGB, praying is doing something to help.

frakkinup · 15/11/2010 17:34

I don't think it's a big deal to pray for someone although I hate it when it's used in a superior way as in 'oh, well, you don't know any better so I'll pray for you and then you'll come round to my way of thinking'.

I also wouldn't offer to pray for anyone who wasn't religious and wouldn't pray for someone unless they were okay with it.

ClaireDeLoon · 15/11/2010 17:35

It makes me feel strange when people tell me they'll pray for me because I don't believe at all, but I smile and say thank you because it would be rude not too, they're being kind after all.

I'm not sure what the thread is or the situation to be state you aren't going to pray for someone rounds a tad strange. Why say anything at all in that case?

ClaireDeLoon · 15/11/2010 17:36

'but to state' not 'to be state'

JandT · 15/11/2010 17:38

I do youthwork with a Christian charity for non-Christian teenagers. We do pray for them (sometimes as a group, sometimes on our own) but we don't tend to tell them as we know it'll 'freak them out'. However, sometimes if you feel it's right you do ask if they'd like you to pray. It's amazing how many of them say yes please and ask the next week if we did!

JiggeryPoverty · 15/11/2010 17:41

'out of date' to pray for someone?

What are we supposed to do, email God?

He's not on Twitter, you know.

Forgive me, Lord, for I have tweeted thy name in vain

TooBlessed · 15/11/2010 20:31

i have read the thread you speak of,the OP is clearly distressed and all you managed to pick were a few lines written by someone under stress,is it that important to you?i din't think it was worth starting a new thread really,,and to answer your question there is nothing wrong in praying for someone,in some cases the person you pray for can know about it,but in others,nope,because prayer is personal,telling someone that you are praying for them is just putting pressure on them,,i pray for my husband every day,but i never tell him that 'honey now i am going to pray for you'..

Original poster

Mummiehunnie · 15/11/2010 23:58

I have been praying the last two years, I had lost my way a bit for a while, i have found it comforting to pray for myself and for others that hurt me. I don't tell them i pray for them, I pray that they get well mentally and make good choices regarding the children. I know faith is out of fashion and I don't mention it in life in general, I am not ashamed it is just not something I have discussed with people in life really. I hear from time to time peopel ridicule religion and faith of others and I don't get it in this day and age!

I also have learned that having faith is one of the ingredients of the things that leads to true happiness and contentment in life!

too blessed, I actually stood up for the person who was ridiculed for praying, well obviously you don't think it is worth starting a thread about, so why did you respond and in your post incinuate that I was the one being unpleasant on the other thread regarding religion when nothing could be further from the truth?

OP posts:

GothAnneGeddes · 16/11/2010 00:13

I generally pray for people I love and care about and the world generally.

I like praying just to talk to God, tbh, I find it tremendously uplifting.

Even if someone is an atheist, I don't think they should mind someone doing a bit of positive thinking/well wishing on their behalf.

Kewcumber · 16/11/2010 00:17

lots of people told my mum they would pray for her when she had cancer, I said (trying to look on the bright side) well that might help mightn't it? Cybicl motehr said "yes but the problme is that they're not prayng that I'm cured, they're praying that god gives me the strength to deal with it.

As it happened our prayers were answered by the nice people at the royal marsden instead (as well...?)

Kewcumber · 16/11/2010 00:18

and no Goth I don;t mind at all.

DontDropTheBaby · 16/11/2010 00:19

I think the beauty of prayer is that you can pray for anyone. You don't have to tell people you are praying for them of course, I do agree however that it is 'out of date' to pray. Doesn't stop me though

I am part of an outreach programme that involves praying with strangers, people can find it odd at first.

Original poster

Mummiehunnie · 16/11/2010 00:22

Kewcumber, that is great that the Royal Marsden was Gods way of answering the prayers...

I find it hard sometimes, that some prayers are answered and some are not, and sometimes you have to wait a long time for somethings...

OP posts:

Kewcumber · 16/11/2010 00:29

"Kewcumber, that is great that the Royal Marsden was Gods way of answering the prayers... " lol - I knew I was setting myself up for that! Each to their own! No problem with a prayer though espite my devout atheism.

Original poster

Mummiehunnie · 16/11/2010 00:33

Kewcumber, I have always believed in God, not always followed my origional faith, and not always been close to God, I have never believed that there was nothing there are all, how does it work for athiests? The only other athiest I knew was my ex husband, he believed in Alien's though!

OP posts:

Kewcumber · 16/11/2010 00:42

atheism is a bit like Christinaity - quite a broad church so you'd probably get different answers from differnet people. For me, I don;t beleive there is a god or any kind of supernatural spirit that has any kind of influence that what we do (good and bad) is of our own making, that people are pack animals and capable of extraordinary goodness and horrible evil. I don;t beleive anything happens after you die except decomposition; that how you live on after death is in the thoughts and experiences and influences you had on people whilst you were alive.

Original poster

Mummiehunnie · 16/11/2010 00:47

thanks for sharing x

OP posts:

dejavuaswell · 16/11/2010 08:20

Very early in my time here (I was probably still just a lurker) I remember a thread where somebody mentioned they prayed for family members. They got flamed by several well known members of this community and I can remember being shocked at the venom these people displayed.

SparklingExplosionGoldBrass · 16/11/2010 10:05

It really does depend a lot on the intentions or the other behaviour of the praying person whether it's a good thing, a bad thing or just 'meh'.
Making a big deal out of praying for someone when it would be a lot more helpful if you gave them money/babysat their challenging kids for an hour a week so they could get out of the house/gave them a regular lift somewhere is a bit wanky. Going on at a rational person about how you're praying for them to start believing in your imaginary friend is wanky (as is any behaviour to another person they have told you they do not appreciate - if you must persist in your delusion that you are doing something good in such circumstances, at least do it quietly).

And I only wish that religion would hurry up and go out of fashion - as a whole it's about the most negative, obsolete invention of the whole human race.

Unprune · 16/11/2010 10:14

I think if you are a religious person praying for an atheist, by far the safest thing to do is to keep that to yourself.
It depends on the circumstances - if the person is dealing with family illness or tragedy then they might appreciate it. But if you think it's all right to tell them you're going to pray that they change their life to be more in line with your ideal, you're far more likely to cause offence. IME.

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