"I'll pray for you."

[Cyberman]

As one with visible mobility issues (spina bifida), I am a magnet for those types, and I know at least a few in my life have actually put their hands on me and prayed.

Oh, I've experienced the 'laying on of hands' thing myself. On occasion, back in the day, my sweet Sam would be prone to epileptic-style seizures, sometimes with blackouts, which could be enormously traumatic for everyone involved. One certain guy, an incorrigible alcoholic with many mental problems who may or may not have been her true father (it's complicated) and who believed - among lots of other things - he had the gift of healing, has been known to place his hand on top of her head to 'heal' her as she lay in the recovery position into which I would place her to keep her safe and let her ride things out. He apparently truly believed he was doing good, even though he certainly didn't help and in fact only caused her greater distress than she was already experiencing. It took promises of personal damage to stop him.

[Doubting Thomas]

I'm tempted to respond to anyone who says "I'll pray for you" with "OK, and I'll sacrifice a goat for you" since they'd likely have the same effect. But, the way most Christians around here think of atheists they'd probably think I was serious.

---

Next to never. Though, after my first miscarriage my husband's grandmother told me she was going to light a candle for the baby. I have absolutely no idea what that means. She's Catholic. I don't understand it.

As an ex-Catholic I know what it probably means. Most Catholic churches have racks of votive candles you can light for a small donation. She was going to go to her church, drop a quarter in the box, light one of those votive candles, and say a prayer. Honestly I don't know why lighting a candle is supposed to have any greater prayer power than just praying, but I suspect it's just another way for the church to get donations.

[KichigaiNeko]

---

As one with visible mobility issues (spina bifida), I am a magnet for those types, and I know at least a few in my life have actually put their hands on me and prayed.

Oh, I've experienced the 'laying on of hands' thing myself. On occasion, back in the day, my sweet Sam would be prone to epileptic-style seizures, sometimes with blackouts, which could be enormously traumatic for everyone involved. One certain guy, an incorrigible alcoholic with many mental problems who may or may not have been her true father (it's complicated) and who believed - among lots of other things - he had the gift of healing, has been known to place his hand on top of her head to 'heal' her as she lay in the recovery position into which I would place her to keep her safe and let her ride things out. He apparently truly believed he was doing good, even though he certainly didn't help and in fact only caused her greater distress than she was already experiencing. It took promises of personal damage to stop him.

Epilepsy is scary enough at the best of times Stimbo. So sorry for your loss.

[NoraBrimstone]

Oh, I've experienced the 'laying on of hands' thing myself. On occasion, back in the day, my sweet Sam would be prone to epileptic-style seizures, sometimes with blackouts, which could be enormously traumatic for everyone involved. One certain guy, an incorrigible alcoholic with many mental problems who may or may not have been her true father (it's complicated) and who believed - among lots of other things - he had the gift of healing, has been known to place his hand on top of her head to 'heal' her as she lay in the recovery position into which I would place her to keep her safe and let her ride things out. He apparently truly believed he was doing good, even though he certainly didn't help and in fact only caused her greater distress than she was already experiencing. It took promises of personal damage to stop him.

That's awful

[Tonus]

Glory and praise the sweet name of Jay-zus!

YO! 'SUP! *gang sign*

[Doubting Thomas]

Almost as bad as "I'll pray for you" is when you sneeze and some Christian says "Bless you," and then sits there expecting you to thank them. OK, I just had a normal bodily function and you want me to thank you for invoking superstition because of it. Next time I fart do you want to praise Jesus? Come to think of it, I have had someone exclaim "Jesus Christ!" after I floated one.

[Eric9001]

I've heard "I'll pray for you" more times than I can recall, but I wonder how many people actually kneel down at the side of their bed and pray for me to find God when they get home that night.

Just out of curiosity, how many of you have been told that you would be prayed for?

Too much...
I have some overly Christian cousins who have told me they'll pray for me since the day they found out I am atheist. They sent me a letter saying they would pray for me one day when I was sick. Instead of making me feel better they really just made me annoyed me, because they only did that because they knew I was atheist. The dad of these cousins has a tendency to leave bibles in places like Chinese restaurants because he wants the Chinese workers to 'see the light.' So, it doesn't surprise me he would try to pull something like this on me when I was sick and in his opinion, vulnerable.

---

Almost as bad as "I'll pray for you" is when you sneeze and some Christian says "Bless you," and then sits there expecting you to thank them. OK, I just had a normal bodily function and you want me to thank you for invoking superstition because of it. Next time I fart do you want to praise Jesus? Come to think of it, I have had someone exclaim "Jesus Christ!" after I floated one.

I agree. In fact, I prefer it when people shout "Gesundheit!" at me because the word translates to "good health" which is a much more caring thing to say to someone who may have an illness.

[thesummerqueen]

Depends on the Christian it comes out of. I've never heard it out of a Jewish mouth, unless you count the Rabbi giving us a blessing. Anyway, the one guy I know who deserves the True Christian title, when he said it, I believed it, and I felt good for it. Because he truly believed that he was sending good vibes my way, or something....but I also knew that if distance hadn't separated us after I moved, he'd also have actually been there to talk/counsel me (as a friend, not a pastor-figure) or do heavy lifting or whatever. He was a peach.

Pretty much any other Christian though, I call it a cop out.

[Cyberman]

Epilepsy is scary enough at the best of times Stimbo. So sorry for your loss.

That's awful

Many thanks to you both. Yes, much of the distress in these situations was down to gawking passers-by, some of whom clearly meant well but who we wished would have just let us alone. The idiot I mentioned only served to draw more unwanted attention, not to mention increasing the drama unnecessarily. The really peculiar thing is that whatever was causing her condition, epilepsy was definitely ruled out as a factor and the term 'pseudo-epileptic seizure' employed instead. Of course, to Sam this meant that the doctors and specialists thought she was making it all up, which I always had to assure her is not what it means at all. It did mean however that we never got an answer to the mystery.

---

Almost as bad as "I'll pray for you" is when you sneeze and some Christian says "Bless you," and then sits there expecting you to thank them. OK, I just had a normal bodily function and you want me to thank you for invoking superstition because of it.

I've mentioned this before but one of my favourite YouTubers, the artist known as Desertphile (I urge you to check him out; please tell him KeplersDream sent you), once uploaded a video in which he was dissecting some random creationist or something. At the end, said creationist ejaculated the standard "Bless you", at which point Desertphile responded with "I did not sneeze". It was one of those wonderful fall-out-of-my-chair-with-laughter moments; a rare animal indeed for me nowadays.

[Savannahw]

I've heard "I'll pray for you" more times than I can recall, but I wonder how many people actually kneel down at the side of their bed and pray for me to find God when they get home that night.

Just out of curiosity, how many of you have been told that you would be prayed for?

Maybe this is because I live in the bible belt, but I hear it all the time. Most of them are sincere. I know people who have a prayer book. A prayer book is a little book where they write down names and reasons they need prayer. When the prayer is answered they take your name off the list. I think they tell you because they feel it is their duty to pray for you, and they want you to thnk of them as "good" christians.