ANSWERS: 34
  • It depends on the context. If they know you're going through a hard time, then a promise of prayer is a gesture of sympathy. If you tell them you're an atheist and they say "I'll pray for you," then it's just condescending.
  • yes but the only time I say something is when it is a person who pushes their religion on you.
  • No, I am very touched, especially because people don't tell me that that often.
  • No, I welcome all prayers. I need it daily.
  • only if weve just been speaking about how i dont believe in god and someone says "well i'll pray for you" thats pretty offensive to me. but if something bad happened or something and they say it for sympathy i'll always thank them
  • No, it's thoughtful and sweet. They could just say, to hell with your problems and forget you.
  • No, actually. It honors me to know someone wold take their time to pray and express grace for my well being. -Keeper22
  • No I just tell them I will pray for them in the name of Satan in return.
  • If someone is praying for me, I wish they would stop. They dont know my needs. And general prayers are meaningless.
  • I punched someone in the mouth for this offense not three days ago.
  • No, it's a comfort to me.
  • yeah it does. If i have a problem i want to be able to say that i worked it out myself and not have some bible-thumpin church-attending god-fearing cracker say that THEY worked it out because they 'prayed' for me. I don't believe in prayer and i don't give a damn about it either so i don't want people to pray for me. If i wanted to pray then i'd do it myself.
  • I appreciate someone praying for me.
  • I heard a woman telling this to a man a few weeks ago and I wanted to hurl. Are her fingers broken? Can she not press digits on a telephone to call up and find out how he is or could she show an ounce of concern for this man's wife? No, that would take effort. It's much easier to include someone in their prayers and then throw the burden on God. Plus, telling someone you have been praying for them is a way to make someone look all holy and pious, just like those in Jesus day that stood on the corners to be observed by others.
  • Just because I personally do not believe that prayers will work in the way that believers do (i.e. get through to God in the hope that he will intervene), doesn't mean that I don't appreciate the sentiment behind why someone wants to pray for me. From when I have had people say this to me it means that they care, that I am in their thoughts and that they will hope things work out for the best for me. I can't be down on them for that. I see it as the same as when I say to someone "I hope it works out for you" or "I will be thinking about you today" Maybe spiritually nothing will come of it, but it certainly feels nice and whether you are a believer, spiritual or not there is always hope, if you lose hope that things will turn out for the better, what do you have left? Of course you get the odd one or two that say it because of the whole sin business i.e. condescending, I do get offended at that, but only because they are judging me and I find that rude because I thought that was what their God was for and who gave them the authority to judge me. But although they stand out because they are offensive these are so minimum I wouldn't want to spoil it for the nice prayer people.
  • Though I personally do not believe in prayer, it does not offend me when someone tells me I am in their prayers. When a person believes in prayer, they are sending alot of positive energy out..I do believe in the power of energy. I appreciate that. :)
  • Not at all. It's almost comforting, because I'm so depressed, to know someone cares about me to think of me enough to pray. I don't know, I'm always confused about people caring about me- I can't decide if it's a good or bad thing. But I just think it's sweet when someone does this.
  • No; I can't say that it offends me .. NO reason to . Actually; it is kind of a compliment that someone cares enough about me to want to pray for me ...
  • What a strange little group is cobbled together here. My dad used to say, "People can find fault with the red cross." I see now that it must be true, because if someone can be offended from the sincere expression of concern implicit in a prayer, then they can truly find fault with ANYTHING. I've been prayed for by Taoist, a native American, and one time by a Wicca, though she called it something different, the intent was the same. As a Christian, I have my own beliefs about the efficacy of those prayers, but I can certainly appreciate and be truly grateful for the affection demonstrated through them.
  • I suppose it depends on the context, but in general if someone wants to waste their time praying for me that is their own prerogative. Some examples: Your mother is dying, so I will pray for you. Not offensive. You are gay, non-monogamous, Muslim, atheist, liberal, etc., so I will pray for you. Offensive.
  • usually means nothing to me.
  • No it does not.
  • Heck no! I appreciate that someone cares for me.
  • not at all. i think its nice of someone to pray for someone else.
  • Most of the time it doesn't. When someone appears to me to be insincere, I can get a little bit annoyed.
  • No, i think that is nice..:)
  • no - i feel comforted
  • No. I enjoy knowing people care about my physical, mental, or spiritual well-being.
  • Nope. It is a sign that that person cares.
  • It shouldn't, but sometimes I wish people would just say, 'I will be thinking about you' or 'I wish you all the best'.
  • Actually, I'd have to agree with celticmoonlight. If I have been in a heated discussion with a Christian about why I choose NOT to believe in the validity or existence of a god or gods and that person tells me that they'll pray for me (until I become a believer), I would find such a statement to be VERY offensive. Although, if it was intended in a friendly, unbiased and non-controlling manner, I'd consider it a compliment for someone to do so.
  • I am sitting here thinking and I can not remember a time I have ever been offended in my entire life. Many may not agree but I have always felt that being offended is a sign of weakness. Before anyone reads me the riot act on this, let me explain. Being offended means you allowed another human to say or do something that forced your emotions to drastically change to the point you lost control of your emotions. For me when you can not control or allow someone else to control any part of you then this is a weakness. I have always been the type that firmly believes in you should be able to say anything you desire and feel guilt free, those who do not like it should be told to walk away before their emotions get the better of them.
  • Unless it's said in a snide way (as if the person needs some type of unwanted 'saving' or moral improvement), I don't understand why it's reason to be offended. If one doesn't believe in a higher power, there is no harm in someone else offering well wishes by any means, prayer or otherwise. They don't have to believe it will make a difference.
  • no problem. if it makes them happy. it's not harming me.

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