Atheists: A question about prayer and religion in general.?

"Does a particular faith bother you more than others?"

Only the intolerant ones bother me and Christianity is at the top of that list. You guys stick your noses in other people lives and it's not appreciated. I couldn't care a less if you talk to yourself (pray). If you think that prayer is the problem you aren't paying attention. What do you want to hear? Your religion paints atheists as the wicked dregs of humanity (you know damn well the Bible is full of derogatory verses regarding non believers), so isn't that enough on it's own? Do you really think we should welcome with open arms a belief system that teaches we are "filthy, corrupt, despicable, abominations, fools, none that doeth any good, wicked, evil....? You religion is disrespectful and so are all the Christians that treat atheists according to what the Bible says about them.

Prayer only bothers me when it's state-sponsored. I don't think it's appropriate for a secular government to engage in religious observances before meetings or anything like that. If it's a couple government officials praying in an office or something, fine, but I'm really sick of the US government acting like Christian rituals are somehow secular just because the US is primarily Christian.

Christianity bothers me more than most other faiths, because it's the pushiest in the US. Christianity has also hindered scientific progress, and it's the main reason why same-sex marriage is not yet legal. I'm irritated by how intent many Christians are on injecting their beliefs into matters of public policy.

When people pray they are out of touch with how life works. Poor starving people, ill people pray everyday and die. Because prayers simply does not work. Comedian George Carlin suggested praying to Joe Pesci had a higher success rate than praying to God. Watch the youtube clip, very funny. The conversation people have with a supernatural Gods may make some people feel good inside. But prayer often seems selfish and silly. If there is an all powerful God, he is not all loving. If there is an all loving God, he is not all powerful. As of now no Gods have actually been proven to exist.

Any religion that suggests others are hell bound bothers me. This statement is divisive and hateful. There is no place for it in the modern world.

It sometimes does bother me. Not so much because its a religious expression that I don't believe in, but because when people do it, they really seem to be talking to one another. They are all thinking about what wonderful hing they are going to say to impress others or say something they believe will encourage others. At that point it's not praying.

People are praying just to hear one another talk. How long would people pray together, in public, if they were not talking out loud but doing so quietly?

When politicians do it, it seems worse. Then it really seems like they are playing the prayer card to attract attention and support. At some point it seems like a tool to influence people more than an attempt to communicate with god.

Prayer doesn't bother me as long as it's personal and private. I understand that people need to seek comfort in any way that works for them, and if prayer gives you peace and comfort, I'm not opposed to it. When I'm in a really dark place or I need some peace I go into my closet and meditate, sometimes I even talk to myself to try and work things out. It's the same idea with prayer.

It bothers me a when government officials pray if it's and official ceremony, or something with regards to government because our country believes in separation of Church and State. To be honest it would bother me a lot less if ALL religions were present in public prayers, but it seems the ones I'm familiar with only the Christian faith is represented. Our First Amendment gives us the freedom of religion, meaning any religion, not just the Christian one. So all religions should be represented, not just one. (Then I would be less offended.)

Christianity bothers a lot more than most (if not all) other faiths. They seem to want to tell people how to live their lives, what should be taught in schools, what we can watch or read or study. I have no problem with religion if they keep to themselves, it seems like Christianity just can't do that. They seem to want everyone to believe in the same god they do without considering what it would be like for someone else, or if it was another religion pushing their faith on them, into their schools, government, bedrooms, etc.

Prayers don't bother me at all, people can religiously express themselves as much as they want to as long as I'm not forced to doing it. I usually will just participate in a prayer if other people are doing it just for the hell of it I guess. National Day of Prayer does not bother me either.

Christianity would probably bother me the most out of any religion just because there are so many people who claim to be a Christian who commit sin on a daily basis just so they can be forgiven every Sunday. To me, that is COMPLETE bullshit and totally defeating the entire purpose of being a Christian.

The thought of hell also really bothers me. The thought that a god is angered when a tiny insignificant peson does not believe in him, or does not ask for forgiveness is sent to unending damnation is just a truly stupid notion. Why would a god so all knowing and majestic be so punishing to beings that are obviously below him?

Anyway, that's my opinion. I hope you see this as an okay answer.

Polytheist and no. I don't care what a person's beliefs are or who they pray to or when they pray.

The only time it bothers me is when a government official or someone running for office makes a big show of doing so to earn votes. That's not true religion and we have the separation of church and state in this country, so I don't like seeing people who use their faith(or presumed faith) to earn votes or make a big show of how their faith "guides" their decisions.

I know that many people who truly believe let their faith guide their decisions and that's fine. I just hate it when they make a big deal out of it and rub it in everyone's face that they believe this or that.

If a politician prayed for guidance in private in their office to make the right decision, hey, whatever, I don't care. But to go on TV and flaunt how "religious" they supposedly are is disgusting.

Prayer... it depends on what a person is praying for. As for National Prayer day, I personally think it has some legal issues.

"Does a particular faith bother you more than others?"

There are some religions that bother me more than others.

Praying doesn't bother me, but I believe people are just talking to themselves.

Err I guess you could say a more extremist faith bothers me, but it's whichever faith is getting in your face about what you should be doing with your life.

National days of prayer, nope. We should respect the constitution and leave everyone in their own peace of decisions.

I don't care if people pray, its a free country. But if you want to bash on me for stating my opinions, than it pisses me off when you then spout off your opinions like I give a sh%t. And yes prayer in government is bullsh%t seeing as there is supposed to be a separation of "church and state" which never actually happens. If people would just keep their opinions to themselves instead of pushing them in others faces, I believe we'd all be a lot happier. And honestly all faiths bother me, because I think it's a crock of sh%t. But I don't go around telling all religious people that they are stupid and believe in make-believe sh%t. So I'd love it if people would stop going around trying to "pray" for me and my sins of dis-belief.