How to pray if you’re a non-believer?

[Anonymous]

A close friend lost her infant daughter recently. When asked how we could help, she had only one request of her friends and family-to pray.

I’m an atheist but I love my friend dearly.

I’m trying to think how to honor her request in a way that is genuine.

Any ideas how to approach this?

[Anonymous]

I had a friend with ALS who asked for prayers. I am not religious. I decided to rally my friends on social media who are religious to include her in their prayers. They were happy to do so. I asked my friend's permission first and just shared her first name online.

As for you, just being there when she needs you is the best thing. Keep checking in to see how she is doing.

[Anonymous]

I think it's genuine to think about her and the baby. I am agnostic, but I "pray" by thinking about all the members of my family (and their pets) quite frequently!

[Anonymous]

TBH your friend is a little rude if she knows you're an atheist. By definition you can't "pray," and the request makes no sense. I understand she just lost her daughter, but even my conservative southern great mother from a very different era told me when her husband was on his death bed, "ask your friends to pray for me if they believe in that sort of thing."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:TBH your friend is a little rude if she knows you're an atheist. By definition you can't "pray," and the request makes no sense. I understand she just lost her daughter, but even my conservative southern great mother from a very different era told me when her husband was on his death bed, "ask your friends to pray for me if they believe in that sort of thing."

*great grandmother not great mother lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:TBH your friend is a little rude if she knows you're an atheist. By definition you can't "pray," and the request makes no sense. I understand she just lost her daughter, but even my conservative southern great mother from a very different era told me when her husband was on his death bed, "ask your friends to pray for me if they believe in that sort of thing."

Op here. I really don’t think it’s rude but even if it was, moms who just lost their babies are deserving of metric eff tons of grace.

I think her faith is keeping her afloat during this time, and has become more important than ever. It’s not about me.

[Anonymous]

Let her request go. Be a good friend, check in on her, send over some food, plant a tree in honor of the child, etc.

There is not more that you can do.

[Anonymous]

I am not sure any of my teens believe anything they hear when I drag them to church but its ll good.

I just tell them no one is harmed by spending a quiet or "prayerful hour" reflecting on their lives and how to try to live good ones.

Any thoughts you harbor about the child and her short life and how to help your friend would all count as prayerful in my book.

[Anonymous]

Just think of the baby, use her name when you talk tour friend, and yes, be there (drop off food etc).

[Anonymous]

I would make a donation in her daughter’s memory to their church/religion

[Anonymous]

I have prayed to the Universe, or with the hope that the goodness in the Universe can help someone heal. I have “prayed” in the hope that my sincere good wishes can somehow reach and touch someone I love. Prayer can be directed towards someone that you want to hold in prayer — without identifying a specific divine intermediary. I have a friend who prayed with and for me during a time of crisis and I truly valued the gifts of his spirit.
As others have said, you can also reach out in other ways — particularly as time passes, to let you know that they are in your thoughts and to offer practical assistance.

[Anonymous]

Just pray that she’s given the strength to get through this. Send positive vibes (silently obviously).

God hears you, even if you think he’s not real.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have prayed to the Universe, or with the hope that the goodness in the Universe can help someone heal. I have “prayed” in the hope that my sincere good wishes can somehow reach and touch someone I love. Prayer can be directed towards someone that you want to hold in prayer — without identifying a specific divine intermediary. I have a friend who prayed with and for me during a time of crisis and I truly valued the gifts of his spirit.
As others have said, you can also reach out in other ways — particularly as time passes, to let you know that they are in your thoughts and to offer practical assistance.

If I made a video of me and my child “praying” in this way, would it be offensive to someone religious?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have prayed to the Universe, or with the hope that the goodness in the Universe can help someone heal. I have “prayed” in the hope that my sincere good wishes can somehow reach and touch someone I love. Prayer can be directed towards someone that you want to hold in prayer — without identifying a specific divine intermediary. I have a friend who prayed with and for me during a time of crisis and I truly valued the gifts of his spirit.
As others have said, you can also reach out in other ways — particularly as time passes, to let you know that they are in your thoughts and to offer practical assistance.

If I made a video of me and my child “praying” in this way, would it be offensive to someone religious?

Why would you make a video of this to send to anyone???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have prayed to the Universe, or with the hope that the goodness in the Universe can help someone heal. I have “prayed” in the hope that my sincere good wishes can somehow reach and touch someone I love. Prayer can be directed towards someone that you want to hold in prayer — without identifying a specific divine intermediary. I have a friend who prayed with and for me during a time of crisis and I truly valued the gifts of his spirit.
As others have said, you can also reach out in other ways — particularly as time passes, to let you know that they are in your thoughts and to offer practical assistance.

If I made a video of me and my child “praying” in this way, would it be offensive to someone religious?

Why would you make a video of this to send to anyone???

Because my friend asked for it and it’s what lots of our friends have been doing-making these videos for her of them praying together. It’s important to her, I think it’s one way she’s deriving meaning from this tragedy is to think it has inspired people to pray.