Atheist Prayer

Atheists don't pray, don't want to pray and don't have anything or anybody to pray to. However that does not stop Christians asking an atheist to say a prayer, if they make the wrong assumption that anybody well behaved and white must be a Christian like them. This is not a prayer, but it can fill the otherwise uncomfortable silence when an atheist is asked to lead a group in prayer.

Let us take responsibility for our own actions, inactions, strengths and frailties and not project them onto ghosts, spirits, stars, portents and gods unseen.

Let us have the courage to accept that one person's faith is another person's bloody-minded pig-headed refusal to accept the obvious.

Let us have the courage to accept that the person at the front of all crowds, including this one, doesn't know all the answers.

Let us have the wisdom to accept that if our ancestors had fared differently in wars our communities would be holding different absurdities up as sacred truths, and the willingness to accept those absurdities would be seen as the badge of social trustworthiness or even the right to be allowed to draw breath.

Let us accept that the difference between a prophet and a madman is not what they say but whether the crowd accepts the story and tells their children to believe it.

Let us have the courage to accept that wanting to believe in something with every fibre of our being does not and cannot make it true.

Truth needs no help, no believers, no bowed heads and no amens.

http://mwillett.org/atheism/atheist-prayer.htm

Category:

Education

Tags:

• atheist
• prayer
• martin
• willett
• pray
• atheism
• athiest

[AtheistPhilosophy]

prayer is the most useless thing

[MartinJWillett]

@AtheistPhilosophy I am not suggesting that anybody should say a prayer, only that if somebody demands that you say a prayer here is an alternative.

[danfourdeals]

isn't "the atheist prayer" an oxymoron...???

[MartinJWillett]

@danfourdeals Read the description. 

[ULAPZ]

yes a creator who created himself, because that totally makes sense.

[MartinJWillett]

Bullshit.

[AGNOSTICEXTREME]

I believe prayer has a function irrespective of spirits and gods- to concentrate the mind on achievement of an outcome. I might pray like this: "We pray that we can protect ourselves in battle, and defend our position from capture." This kind of prayer probably reaches to subconscious levels and effects split second battle decisions.

It's a non-spiritual prayer I suppose.

[DarkShad0w]

Do you tell a madman that he is mad and expect him to become sane?

The world dosn't work like that, yet people insist on pushing their views on others and expect them to believe it. It's insane.

If I managed to convince 10 people that ''Jack and the Beanstalk'' was real, and told them to convince other people, and my only evidence was the story book itself, it still does not make it TRUE or REAL... just because Religion is a popular and ''acceptable'' form of insanity, it's still not REAL...

[123456wasp]

@MartinJWillett I would never lead them or say a prayer period.Cause I don't believe in God so saying a prayer seems insane too me.They seem insane to me!But I will bow my head in respect for them and their believes but nothing more!

[MartinJWillett]

@123456wasp Do you respect their beliefs? I don't. I just respect them as people enough not to make a scene - but if I was asked to say a prayer, if somebody had crassly assumed that I was Christian just because I'm white and don't have tattoos, then perhaps I would try to give this prayer.

[123456wasp]

@MartinJWillett Do what I do i just bow my head and wait for them to finish they all know I'm an atheist they know I'm not praying but by bowing my head I show respect for their beliefs.We all get along great!!

[zeldagamerDX6]

I believe that I am responsible for what I do as an individual of free will.

I look at what my fellow human beings of different points of view are saying to eachother........ it sounds pretty hateful.

well, whatever hate is being spurned between them, I want no part in it.

instead of sucumbing to the hate, malice, and spite of the hypocrits and of the evil of the self-centered and self-serving, I will sit and meditate so that i'm spiritually rested for the dark times ahead. "ooooommmmmm."

[yakitoriPB]

@rodneyhatch56 There is no WE in atheism. My atheism is different than yours. My point is why is there a "gathering" or "congregation" of atheist that seem to keep acting like there is a need to share in fellowship. I could give a rats ass what you believe. I dont believe in god...do you? Great...who the fuck cares what you believe in. Why do you speak in your believe as in "we"....and my notions are not "preconcieved"....they are based on OBSERVATION. As is my opinion of religion.

[rodneyhatch56]

@yakitoriPB haha be very annoyed. Are we wrong not to meet your preconceived notions or are we evil?

[SlinkShady]

Dear god, if you exist, then protect me from those who come in your name.