I've never prayed that I can recall; not even as a kid. Since you pray to a potential God, you're an agnostic atheist. I, however, am a gnostic atheist. I don't think there is any sort of higher power whatsoever. Thus, there is nothing to pray to, so I don't do it. That said, of course I'll think things like "I hope they get better" and the such, but never a prayer. I'd prefer searching my own thoughts for a rational reason why something will improve and hope for it, rather than asking some imaginary force/being for it.
I thought we were all agnostic - whether atheists or theists - since we don't know. Even you say "I don't think there is any sort of higher power". This equals agnostic atheist. A gnostic atheist would say "I know there is no higher power". EDIT: And of course, there are different levels of agnosticism as well. You are more convinced that there isn't a God as opposed to somebody who prays like dharocks prays (it seems nutty to thank somebody you don't think exists...).
Not to step on T's answer, but I personally avoid using 'know' in most situations, no matter the context. Even going so far as to commonly use 'i think i know' instead. I don't think there is a god. I think people that 'know' there is or 'know' there isn't are a bit silly.
"I don't think" means my opinion; it's not wishywashy. My personal opinion is that there is no higher power. Period. Science hasn't told us what began the Big Bang yet, but it will, and when it does there will be proof to back-up my certainty. But I am certain nonetheless. If you were to ask me "How can you be so certain?" I wouldn't really have an answer for you other than that I am and I have faith that humanity/science will explain what ignited the Big Bang eventually... and it won't be some sort of God/creator/power. I'll admit I have no evidence for my knowledge that there is no higher power, so if that makes me agnostic, so be it.
I've said these things before, so I apologize if I sound like a broken record - but I think it's important to discuss this early in the thread. Agnosticism/Gnosticism deals with knowledge. Atheism/Theism deals with belief. Therefore, the two sets of labels are not mutually exclusive. Agnosticism is not the middle ground between theism and atheism, as it is commonly perceived. So we end up with four combinations here: Agnostic Theist - you believe in god, but don't claim absolute knowledge. (most self-proclaimed "theists" likely fall under this label) Gnostic Theist - you believe in god, AND claim absolute knowledge. Agnostic Atheist - you don't believe in god, and don't claim absolute knowledge. (most self-proclaimed "atheists" AND "agnostics" likely fall under this label) Gnostic Atheist - you don't believe in god, AND claim absolute knowledge. (sometimes referred to as "hard atheism") I have been a self-proclaimed atheist for a while now, and thus have dozens of atheist friends. Most of them, like myself, are agnostic atheists. In other words, they don't believe in god(s), but also do not claim to know for sure. Generally speaking, atheists actually tend to take the position that is most (erroneously) associated with the cultural definition of "agnostic". As for the topic of prayer, I suppose that - technically - there's nothing keeping an atheist from praying and retaining some hope that it will actually pay off. Although, I doubt that if there were a god, he/she/it would reward those who ask for assistance whilst simultaneously lacking true belief. In that sense, it seems pretty pointless. Why? There's no contemporary extra-Biblical evidence that the Jesus of Christianity was real. This may already be clear based on my explanations above, but there are no degrees of atheism. You either believe (theist), or you don't (atheist). There is nothing preventing an atheist from leaving room for the existence of a god - it just means they're an agnostic atheist.
I pray whenever I think I'm going to die, or someone that I know is very sick. I think that many atheist will prey when they are on their deathbed just as a hedge.
True, some might. But honestly, it's pointless. <iframe width="420" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/rypf-hlHv8g" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
My signature is the closest thing I have to a prayer. It's just something I mutter to myself before I do something big, so it could be a prayer. But the King isn't God, so it's not a religious prayer in the slightest.
Pray to something, or simply hope for it? Important distinction. Hoping/wishing/having delusions isn't praying. P.S. - Attractive girls ride the bus? Pics or it didn't happen.
I do. And I even use religious language ("God") sometimes when I do it. But I am fully aware when doing it that I am not praying; I am wishing.
I find that I pray out of habit from watching movies, reading books, friends who pray, etc. It's a bit like saying "Jesus Christ" or "Oh my God" as a reaction to something unbelievable. So rather than thinking "I hope they make a 3 pointer here" sometimes I inherently think "I pray they make a 3 pointer here". FWIW, I'm an opportunistic worshipper. When I'm in Houston, I don't go to church and don't pray. When I visited Italy, I prayed at just about every cathedral I went to, as well as in the Vatican. Since I've been in China, I have prayed in front of various Buddhas, bodhisattvas, small deities like General Guan Yu, etc. for various needs. Hey, got to go with the flow.
