Correct me if I'm wrong, but I assume either you haven't made clear your views (for one reason or another) or you're pretending to believe something that you don't.

What is it about this incident in particular that made you feel like you were being dishonest?

If you're feeling guilty about lying then you could always consider praying for real.

Praying to pagan gods can be quite fun.

(October 27, 2015 at 5:13 pm)Jaxxie1181 Wrote: A dear friend of mine just posted on FB that her mother has had a stroke and the treatment they want to use on her could potentially be fatal if not administered flawlessly. Yesterday was the one-year anniversary of her father's death. This woman is not emotionally in a place to cope with the death of her other parent. Her post said, "I urgently need prayers for my momma!" I lied and said I'd pray, because for someone reason in a sea of, "praying!" comments I just couldn't bear the thought of being the lone, "positive thoughts!" but I also didn't want to say nothing either, because she's my friend.

I'm sorry she doesn't know you're atheist but now is not the time to ťell her. You did right.

(October 27, 2015 at 5:46 pm)Mathilda Wrote: If you're feeling guilty about lying then you could always consider praying for real.

Praying to pagan gods can be quite fun.

Especially the various sacrifices.

I'm building a wicker man at the moment...

When my mom was in the process of being eaten alive by cancer, I asked for prayers on the Broncos message board I'm a member of. Not because I believed they would do any good, but because I could print the thread and let my dad read them to her. They did nothing for me, but they were a comfort to mom. If that was deceitful or lying, so be it. There wasn't much I wouldn't have done for mom at that time. If I could have traded another's life for hers... Well, I know some people the world would be better off without.

While I prefer a hard truth to a comforting lie, I don't think there's any harm in that comfort. A little white lie to that purpose is a good thing.

(October 27, 2015 at 5:55 pm)Beccs Wrote:

(October 27, 2015 at 5:46 pm)Mathilda Wrote: If you're feeling guilty about lying then you could always consider praying for real.

Praying to pagan gods can be quite fun.

Especially the various sacrifices.

I'm building a wicker man at the moment...

Building a wicker man, you say? This might be a good time to point out that I am neither a Christian nor a virgin, and I would bang the shit out of any hot pagan chick who insisted on seducing me. Find another sacrificial victim.

(October 27, 2015 at 5:13 pm)Jaxxie1181 Wrote: A dear friend of mine just posted on FB that her mother has had a stroke and the treatment they want to use on her could potentially be fatal if not administered flawlessly.

A real friend or what facebook calls friends?

In any case, why should it bother you? As opposed to some I'm not in the camp of rubbing it into the faces of people already on the floor. You absolutely did the right thing.

(October 27, 2015 at 5:18 pm)Jaxxie1181 Wrote:

(October 27, 2015 at 5:15 pm)houseofcantor Wrote: Uh... OK?

I was just sharing something, because it's the first time since coming to terms with being an atheist I have said the words, "praying for you". It was just such a cliche phrase I used and it seemed like the right thing to say at the time, even if it wasn't true. I guess I was just looking for some support or reassurance that I'm not a total assbag for being dishonest.

K. My comment was merely an invitation for enhancement, which occurred. Probably better than backing the truck up and unloading derision, which was my first impulse.

You've gotten your support which would have been dishonest coming from me so I let my peeps tell it. I ain't praying for nobody, but your situation is not mine. Everybody on my fb knows I'm a psychopath and an atheist, I don't get sympathy requests.

(October 27, 2015 at 5:46 pm)Mathilda Wrote: If you're feeling guilty about lying then you could always consider praying for real.

Praying to pagan gods can be quite fun.

How's that for a facebook -
"I'll pray for you! I already got the live chicken, the milk pump and the disposable paper cups ready! All I need now is your blood type. "

(October 27, 2015 at 5:59 pm)Crossless1 Wrote:

(October 27, 2015 at 5:55 pm)Beccs Wrote: Especially the various sacrifices.

I'm building a wicker man at the moment...

Building a wicker man, you say? This might be a good time to point out that I am neither a Christian nor a virgin, and I would bang the shit out of any hot pagan chick who insisted on seducing me. Find another sacrificial victim.

He protests too much, methinks....