Just wondering...

[elliotfc]

...and please no one take this the wrong way...

I'm bummed to hear about James Randi's health problems, and wish him sincere best wishes.

The...traditional way that religious believers respond when hearing about the health issues of others is to offer their prayers for them. Now I'm not starting this thread to hear about the skeptical opinion about this practice, though no doubt they'll be offered.

So anyhow, I'm just wondering...has any religious believer offered their prayers for Mr. Randi on this forum? I've only been dropping by for the past week or so.

That's all. I'm not trying to start a debate about whether or not it would be good/bad for that to happen, or, to have happened, and I think I already know the skeptical sentiment about that. I'm just wondering is all, as a point of fact.

I can certainly imagine that Mr. Randi would not appreciate prayers about his condition as it kind of goes against what his life stands for.

As a corollary...assuming that nobody has offered prayers for Randi in this forum, I wonder if any of the believers on this forum have considered doing so/dismissed the thought, etc.?

If this thread turns into rants about prayer I'll not participate (although the chance of that happening is large I guess), I'm just looking for factual clarification about whether or not any believer has publicly offered prayers for Randi in this community.

I wouldn't do such a thing, because I know that they prayers won't be appreciated (by and large) and would only inculcate anger, when this is a matter that deserves concern and not vitriol.

-Elliot

[El Greco]

I don't see why any rational atheist, including Mr. Randi, would not appreciate prayers about him. It just means that some people think well of him.

[Pauliesonne]

excactly

[LostAngeles]

I don't see why any rational atheist, including Mr. Randi, would not appreciate prayers about him. It just means that some people think well of him.

That's exactly how I take it. Very few times are the, "I'll pray for you," in these situations not meant well.

And hey, if we're wrong, someone put in a good word with Sky Papa.

[atari24]

People praying are only wasting their own time, not his, so I doubt he would care.

[elliotfc]

People praying are only wasting their own time, not his, so I doubt he would care.

That's what I'm thinking...because even in caring, in his opinion, he'd be wasting his time.

But I'm also thinking that if someone he cared about, or knew well, or respected, told them that he/she was praying for him, he would appreciate that sentiment (I think the vast majority of atheists would have that same appreciation). He probably wouldn't appreciate, or choose to recognize, a mass of strangers praying for him.

-Elliot

[Freethinker]

I can't speak for Randi, but the expression of good thoughts and wishes for recovery wouldn't be offensive to me, even if expressed in a way I believed ineffective. That fact that someone you disagree with wants you well is bound to have a positive effect on your personal well being.

[slingblade]

Speculating only, but I imagine there are a tiny handful of members (*cough-cough-hacKK!*) who might consider praying for Randi to be supporting the "enemy" (meaning Satan, of course), and so wouldn't think of it.

They don't like to let that pesky "do unto others" stuff get in their way, y'know.

I imagine there are Christian members here who are praying for him, but who thought some might find it offensive for them to say so, or who don't feel the need to blow a horn about their beliefs for whatever reason. I'm grateful to them for their prayers, regardless of what I believe. To do so just shows one cares about someone else in need. I think about Mr. Randi all the time, and hope he gets well soon. And I figure that and prayer are pretty much the same thing.

[Orangutango]

In this particular case, praying for Mr. Randi's well-being is a compassionate gesture on the part of those who are offering them. It is only when prayers are used in a more condecending manner (whether intentional or not) that I have issues with (for example: telling a non-believer that the religious person in question will pray on their behalf to someday finally "come around" and accept god).

[wastepanel]

I have said a prayer for him, as for any other suffering person.

Very good question to start a thread with.

[Iacchus]

And when we say "best wishes," are we in effect not offering up a prayer for someone? After all, it is just "wishful thinking" isn't it?

[elliotfc]

And when we say "best wishes," are we in effect not offering up a prayer for someone? After all, it is just "wishful thinking" isn't it?

It might be like people who say God Bless You, but don't really mean God Bless You.

It is possible to wish for something without wishing it to a direct source (i.e. God), but to just wish it in general. Granted, it would be a pretty impotent wish. If your point is that in order for the wish to have at least some perceived potency it needs to be directed at a some entity, I think that's a good point. But it's just a nice thing to say, best wishes.

You know, probably it is *basically* the same thing as saying I'll pray for you...but it does lack the religious sentiment.

-Elliot