I'll Pray For You. Hope You Don't Get Stuck By Lightning!
@cynicalandoutspoken (4726)
United States
February 15, 2008 1:18pm CST
I just told a very dear friend of mine today that I will pray for him during this time in his life that is causing him a great deal of pain.
I then felt the need to explain my religion to him. Since it should be pretty obvious by now I am not a devout anything and that religion does not play a huge part in my life.
How would you feel if someone told you that they would pray for you but you knew that the person saying this was not very religious?
I have my beliefs. They are mine and I don't shove them in anyones face. I pray, but I noticed that I only do so when something terrible happens or when something amazing happens.
Like yesterday I prayed to Saint Anthony to help me find my ring. I found half of it. So someone is listening. But usually I don't get on my knees for anything.
So how would you feel if your semi-religious friend were going to be praying for you? Would you be afraid something worse was going to happen because (insert deity of choice) was being particularly vengeful and wanted to teach them a lesson about only contacting the higher power when they needed something? Or would you be thankful for all the help you could get?
5 people like this
9 responses
@devilsangel (1817)
• United States
15 Feb 08
Well given that I'm not really all that religious either, in fact I think most "religions" are full of crap, I don't think it would bother me to much. To me it sounds as if you have him on your mind and in your heart and you're sending him all the best wishes and hopes you can for him to get through this hard time. In a sense thats all I get from when folks say they'll pray for me.. is that I'm in their heart and they have my best intrest at mind. The only time I get offended when someone say's they'll pray for me is if its some crazy zealot who is trying to convert me and won't accept the fact that I have no intrest in their religion.
2 people like this
@cynicalandoutspoken (4726)
• United States
15 Feb 08
I used to laugh at the guys dressed all in black that would gather outside of rock and roll concerts trying to convert all of the "satan worshipers" who were going inside to the show.
I told one of them that if listening to Pantera meant I was going to burn in the fires of hell that at least I would be warm and have some kick @$$ tunes to listen to for all eternity.
You're right though. He knows that he is very dear to me and that my thoughts are with him.
2 people like this
@Petercheung (681)
• China
16 Feb 08
Hi,I dont have my religion,but once my friend Weal from Egypt were chatting with for almost 6 hours about his religions and also he prayed for me,And I said thanks,of course I will,because that was his feeling from his heart,I know.but till now I dont have my religion,and I am live happy:)
@vera5d (4006)
• United States
16 Feb 08
i am forever praying to saint anthony. people laugh at me or mock me for this, but I honestly believe in saint anthony for everything. Why just the other day he helped us find a library movie we misplaced! I have prayed to saint anthony for bigger things, too - a house, a job, money...all in someway or another my prayers have been answered...
I have a very hard time explaining my beliefs, but I am comfortable with them, and I feel close to god...which is more than people who go to church regularly can say!
at any rate, i believe to answer your question, no, god would not seek vengance, so there is no reason to be afraid. When I pray, I always think outloud "if it is meant to be"...I know sometimes things are part of a bigger plan I'm not aware of, so I always add that...
@bellaofchaos (11549)
• United States
15 Feb 08
Well though I highly doubt that they would chose this particular situation to be vengeful I do think that I would be happy for the help but kinda worried all at once. LOL!!
1 person likes this
@cynicalandoutspoken (4726)
• United States
15 Feb 08
LOL. Thanks for the laugh Bella. You're right, god wouldn't be vengeful given this particular circumstance. So I will be praying for him without further fear of him getting struck by lightning.
1 person likes this
@morgandrake (2136)
• United States
15 Feb 08
I have always wondered how my Christian friends feel when I, a pagan, pray for them. I only say a prayer for others when they are in trouble. I don't mind not-so-devout believers praying for me. The ones that I do mind are the ones who decide to pray for my soul. I have made my religous choice, and no amount of praying is going to convince me that my religion is wrong for me.
@MsTickle (25050)
• Australia
22 Feb 08
I'd be thankful for all the help I could get. I'm not religious either because I was raised a Catholic but was shown nothing but hypocrisy. There was a huge abscence of love in my life. I've only found out about other religions since joining myLot. Oh sure, I knew there were Buddhists, Islamics and "non-catholics" which covered baptists, presbyterians, Anglicans etc but I had no knowledge of any of them.
I've come to realise that I may have choices other than being a non practicing Catholic. I haven't been able to figure out what religion means to me. I'm not even sure what I believe or who I should be praying to.
@twoey68 (13651)
• United States
17 Feb 08
I'm kind of like you in that I don't make a big scene about being religious. I have my beliefs and I pray. I've had ppl tell me that are surprised that I believe in things b/c I just don't seem like a religious person (???). In fact, once my older Brother and I were at my Mom's and we were talking about favorite Bible passages and my Mom walked in and had this look of shock on her face. Like she couldn't believe that we knew anything about the Bible. Go figure.
**AT PEACE WITHIN**
~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~
@skinnychick (6906)
• United States
16 Feb 08
Honestly, I think most people not all, only pray when something terrible happens or they need something. I'm not a Christian, if anything I believe in Buddhism but I still have much to learn about it. I don't care what people believe at all and don't care how often or not often they practice those beliefs. When it comes down to it, it's the thought that counts and when you are close to the person saying it, it comes down to care and love not religious beliefs and how often you practice them.
