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05 March 2012

Video: Responding to Requests for Prayers

By LOG ME IN

In Sunday's Philosophy in Action Webcast, I discussed requests for prayers. The question was:

What is the proper response of an atheist to requests for prayers? A relative of mine recently had surgery to have his appendix removed. I was asked by another relative to pray for the first relative, even though everyone in my family knows that I don't believe in God or the power of prayer. I tried to let it slide during the conversation, but she was insistent. How should I respond to such requests for prayers, particularly when I don't want to offend anyone or seem unconcerned?
My answer, in brief:
You should tailer your response to the context, but in most cases, you should be clear, firm, and kind in saying that you do not pray.
Here's the video of my full answer:
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