On that note, it reminds me of Dan Dennett's response, which I love - on the matter of when he had almost died from a heart attack (and it's my bolding by the way):
Link to full article here: http://www.edge.org/3rd_culture/dennett0...index.html
Quote:[...] messages from my family and from friends around the world have been literally heart-warming in my case, and I am grateful for the boost in morale (to truly manic heights, I fear!) that it has produced in me. But I am not joking when I say that I have had to forgive my friends who said that they were praying for me. I have resisted the temptation to respond "Thanks, I appreciate it, but did you also sacrifice a goat?" I feel about this the same way I would feel if one of them said "I just paid a voodoo doctor to cast a spell for your health." What a gullible waste of money that could have been spent on more important projects! Don't expect me to be grateful, or even indifferent. I do appreciate the affection and generosity of spirit that motivated you, but wish you had found a more reasonable way of expressing it.
Link to full article here: http://www.edge.org/3rd_culture/dennett0...index.html