The people I know who might describe themselves as atheists or agnostics actually typically believe that humans are not capable of knowing for sure whether there is a God such as is described in the Christian bible or not. They don't believe that one should adopt beliefs just because it seems right or because their parents taught them something. They have not witnessed the "proof" that seems to drive the beliefs of devout believers.

As a result they might acknowledge that prayers could work and if they are facing a crisis such as your friend is they might want to hedge their bets a little. They also might just want to reach out to you, their friend, in a way that they know you can relate to.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But your answer was kind of gross. You’d pray for healing only if it’s God’s will? Really? You feel some need to tell her that? ugh!

Yes, I did. God has a plan and, in my life, I have learned to ask for His will to be done. If you don't believe, fine, but don't question my belief or how I pray.

Not questioning your beliefs. I am questioning why you had to share them with a dying person?

OP is INCREDIBLY insensitive... OMG. What the f' is wrong with you OP!!

¯\_(?)_/¯

The End
by Mark Strand

Not every man knows what he shall sing at the end,
Watching the pier as the ship sails away, or what it will seem like
When he’s held by the sea’s roar, motionless, there at the end,
Or what he shall hope for once it is clear that he’ll never go back.

When the time has passed to prune the rose or caress the cat,
When the sunset torching the lawn and the full moon icing it down
No longer appear, not every man knows what he’ll discover instead.
When the weight of the past leans against nothing, and the sky

Is no more than remembered light, and the stories of cirrus
And cumulus come to a close, and all the birds are suspended in flight,
Not every man knows what is waiting for him, or what he shall sing
When the ship he is on slips into darkness, there at the end.

I don't generally hear about atheists asking for prayers. I'm an atheist and I always steer away from that or from promising to pray for anyone when I know I will not do it.

This post reads like you "caught" your atheist friend being hypocritical and you want everyone to know about it because it helps prove your case that God exists and that your beliefs are superior. Weird flex, but okay.

Anonymous wrote:If you don't believe, fine, but don't question my belief or how I pray.

OP how many atheists do you know who have asked for prayers? Also, it seems like you are questioning the beliefs of your friend. I know I could be wrong but I'm going to assume you are Christian. If you are able to do so respectfully and with love (1 Cor 13: 1-2, Gal 5:22-23), why not just ask her yourself? If not, I just move on and live your life.

Maybe she doesn’t think you ever “keep people in your thoughts” so she has to work with what you can do.

Or she changed her mind.

I think for many people when you are confronted with your own mortality, you question your own beliefs. It can be a bit of an existential crisis - both to make sense of the life you have loved and might be leaving and also thinking about the dying process, death, and after death.

It sounds like your friend was reaching out for support. She knows one of the kinds of support you offer is prayer, and right now, she wants that support in the form that you offer it. It could be she is just open to anything working or it could be comforting for her to know you are praying for her.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you know she is atheist?

She told me many times.

Why are you asking, OP? Is this supposed to be an illustrative case study, or is there something you expected to rule out? An answer you are convinced is right?

Why ask, and why here?

Because if a person goes through life saying they are athesists, why ask for prayers.. I guess Ernie Pyle was right when he said, "there are no athesists in the fox holes."

Is this OP?

Ah, so this was supposed to illustrate that common story that goes around about atheism and theism.

Gee, thanks for sharing the lesson. I'll take it under advisement.

One of my best friends is an atheist who grew up evangelical. Sometimes the language she grew up with still slips in like "God willing" or "I pray..." I think this is pretty common. It doesn't mean they believe, or maybe for some they find it again. Why don't you ask your friend OP?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But your answer was kind of gross. You’d pray for healing only if it’s God’s will? Really? You feel some need to tell her that? ugh!

Yes, I did. God has a plan and, in my life, I have learned to ask for His will to be done. If you don't believe, fine, but don't question my belief or how I pray.

Not questioning your beliefs. I am questioning why you had to share them with a dying person?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your instinct is to remotely question or pause when someone with stage 4 pancreatic cancer reaches out to you for prayer, or even "good thoughts," you are not truly a person of faith.

+1

B's! If you don't believe in God or prayer, why ask a person who believes to pray for you?

Like I said, sometimes it's verbal shorthand.

Why do people ask for a BandAid if it's a different brand of bandage? Why do some 43-year-old women get called "baby" or "honey" by their sweethearts, even though they are neither babies nor the product of bees?

Words mean different things in different contexts. If you know a Christian believer, you know "pray for me" will go over well. Sometimes, in fact, it's just a way to end an awkward conversation.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you know she is atheist?

She told me many times.

Why are you asking, OP? Is this supposed to be an illustrative case study, or is there something you expected to rule out? An answer you are convinced is right?

Why ask, and why here?

Because if a person goes through life saying they are athesists, why ask for prayers.. I guess Ernie Pyle was right when he said, "there are no athesists in the fox holes."

Anonymous wrote:But your answer was kind of gross. You’d pray for healing only if it’s God’s will? Really? You feel some need to tell her that? ugh!

Yes, I did. God has a plan and, in my life, I have learned to ask for His will to be done. If you don't believe, fine, but don't question my belief or how I pray.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do you know she is atheist?

She told me many times.

Why are you asking, OP? Is this supposed to be an illustrative case study, or is there something you expected to rule out? An answer you are convinced is right?

Why ask, and why here?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If your instinct is to remotely question or pause when someone with stage 4 pancreatic cancer reaches out to you for prayer, or even "good thoughts," you are not truly a person of faith.

+1

B's! If you don't believe in God or prayer, why ask a person who believes to pray for you?