Slog - Comments on Dear Fellow Atheists

Comment by Dan Savage

Dan Savage — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:30:21 -0800

Amen.

Comment by SeMe

SeMe — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:32:13 -0800

nope. i have no use for gods who help elect palins.

Comment by mackro mackro

mackro mackro — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:32:27 -0800

There's nothing contradictory about an atheist praying.

Comment by since you asked

since you asked — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:32:30 -0800

No; could there be anything more retarded than begging an invisible imaginary being to intervene on behalf of an election? It's like wishing on a star or something as a little kid for a present you really really want Santa to bring you.

Besides, Obama's already won. It's over before the votes are even counted. Talk about wasted prayers; it would be like begging God to let Reagan somehow defeat that political titan Carter in 1980...

Comment by diggum

diggum — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:32:35 -0800

no, but i will maintain FAITH in my fellow americans that they'll do the right thing, having now exhausted almost all other options.

sincerely,
diggum

Comment by kid icarus

kid icarus — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:36:18 -0800

I'd like to believe I have the strength of my convictions.

Comment by the Uke

the Uke — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:37:00 -0800

Well you certainly wouldn't have to pray to god.

Comment by w7ngman

w7ngman — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:37:29 -0800

No.

(This question is also valid for agnostics, too.)

Comment by Dan Savage

Dan Savage — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:37:54 -0800

Amen.

Comment by josiethefiend

josiethefiend — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:38:20 -0800

Ativan's the same thing as prayer, right?

Comment by Sirkowski

Sirkowski — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:38:50 -0800

Nope.

Comment by Lesley

Lesley — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:40:14 -0800

Nope--I'll be volunteering in Nevada for Obama on election night, hopefully I'll be too busy to have time to pray.

Comment by Matthew

Matthew — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:42:06 -0800

No. But I may cross my fingers for good luck.

Comment by Nora

Nora — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:42:33 -0800

Nope. It's the same as praying for the outcome of a football game.

I'm in Ohio, and I already voted. I'll do what I can to get out the vote, and then get me some junk food and booze and watch our greatest spectator sport.

Comment by Levislade

Levislade — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:43:04 -0800

I won't be praying, but I will be hoping and crossing my fingers and knocking wood and throwing salt over my shoulder . . .

Comment by Don't you think he looks tired?

Don't you think he looks tired? — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:45:09 -0800

That would be dumb.

Comment by Chris B

Chris B — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:45:30 -0800

God, no!

Comment by Laurie Mann

Laurie Mann — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:45:43 -0800

Absolutely not.

I will vote, write for the Internet about the election, work for Obama, give a little money...I will NOT waste any time on things that don't matter.

Comment by Tiffany

Tiffany — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:51:51 -0800

Definitely not.

Comment by randy beaver

randy beaver — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:53:28 -0800

is sacrificing virgin republicans praying?

Comment by what?

what? — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:56:24 -0800

No. But there will be much drinking!

Comment by An agnostic weighs in

An agnostic weighs in — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:58:07 -0800

I may consciously redirect some of my anxious, super-stressing mental energy as fuel for the belief that he'll win. Which, when you think about, is pretty much the same as praying, only without the delusion that it does any good.

Comment by Jeremy from Seattle

Jeremy from Seattle — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:58:20 -0800

Praying/Meditation is good for focusing your thinking, but not for affecting external events.

So no, I will not.

Comment by ingo

ingo — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:59:56 -0800

no indeed.

whiskey is my only deity and it shall flow forth copiously on november 4th regardless of the outcome.

Comment by Gurldoggie

Gurldoggie — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:00:24 -0800

No way.
Like any moral atheist I will strive to set a good example by my vote, will have a modicum of faith in my fellow humans to do the right thing, and will deal with the consequences if they fail to.

Comment by Geni

Geni — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:01:09 -0800

No, but I do plan on drinking heavily and occasionally sneaking a furtive peek at the electoral map.

Comment by carrma

carrma — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:01:26 -0800

The only praying I will be doing will be at the porcelin alter if McCain somehow pulls off a victory...

Comment by Adrael

Adrael — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:02:19 -0800

Short answer: No; long answer: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

But how about I sacrifice a chicken, put on a bear skin and perform a magic dance?. That'd be less stupid. ("oh lighten up, you filthy heathens") ^_^

Comment by Sean

Sean — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:03:13 -0800

Perhaps you are unclear on what "atheist" means. There isn't much point attempting to bother an imaginary sky fairy.

Comment by cochise.

cochise. — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:06:19 -0800

(This question is MORE valid for agnostics, hypocritical for an atheist to even think about)

Comment by monkey

monkey — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:07:11 -0800

I'm not sure I'd be listened to.

Comment by Parsnip

Parsnip — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:12:13 -0800

Probably not.

Comment by Max Bell

Max Bell — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:12:43 -0800

Absolutely not.

Comment by Abby

Abby — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:13:42 -0800

I may light some incense in front of my cheap little statue of Apollo the night before, as I do for soccer games. A little superstition calms me down.

Comment by snoozebar

snoozebar — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:17:00 -0800

@Adrael: Nice Yahtzee reference. I giggled.

There might be some "Oh my God"s and "Please please please let this turn out okay", but I'm talking to myself, 'cause I'm the only one here.

Comment by flamingbanjo

flamingbanjo — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:17:33 -0800

There are no atheists in foxholes!

Naw, I'll be considering the best options if the election is stolen. The current front-runner is "general strike." Start saving up your essential foodstuffs!

Comment by Superfrankenstein

Superfrankenstein — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:19:16 -0800

No. But I might sin extra hard.

Comment by Anne

Anne — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:20:00 -0800

I'm totally gonna pray for an Obama win. Bigtime. I'm going to be saying a special individualized prayer on Election Day to every last one of those dudes--Buddha, God, Allah, Kali, Mary, Santa, etc., etc.

I'm an atheist, but with something this important, I figure it doesn't hurt to hedge my bets.

Comment by Peggy G.

Peggy G. — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:20:53 -0800

Hell yes. I know it won't help, but at least it can't hurt, either; and I won't be able to help myself anyway. Childhood habits die hard or not at all.

It's less praying and more just simple repetition. ... please please please please please please, please, please, please ... To help from going insane.

Comment by Julie in Chicago

Julie in Chicago — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:24:53 -0800

I will be praying to Allah, just like Obama.

Comment by Hernandez

Hernandez — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:25:28 -0800

If by "pray" you mean "find a Republican and punch him/her in the face" then yes, I plan on doing lots o' praying on election night.

Comment by Helena

Helena — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:28:24 -0800

Hell no.

My beliefs aside, consider the contingencies:

1. (most likely) God does not exist - no point in praying

2. God supports McCain/Palin - praying for Obama to win would in theory increase chances of going to hell. However, if such a god exists, I am already going to hell for having premarital sex and endorsing/participating in gay weddings. No point in praying.

3. God supports Obama/Biden - God clearly has more influence than my solitary vote in a red state (Kentucky). No point in praying.

4. God is undecided - God cannot tell the difference between chicken and a plate of shit with bits of glass in it. God is an idiot. No point in praying.

QED

Comment by hillpagan

hillpagan — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:31:18 -0800

I am an atheist but in the Mutant Message Down Under vein, I submit to Jim Morrison that in fact You CAN Petition the Lord with Prayer!!!!!

PLEASE let the best outcome befall us!

Comment by Vince

Vince — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:31:23 -0800

It seems to me the only prayer worth giving is one of thanks.

Comment by Carry

Carry — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:32:56 -0800

I'll just be holding my breath and pacing...close enough? (maybe even drink if things get at all close)

Comment by Miss Poppy Hussein Dixon

Miss Poppy Hussein Dixon — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:33:42 -0800

No. I'll either work the phone banks or send more money. Prayer is just lazy.

Comment by Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:34:50 -0800

Obama's got it. My prayers are for Prop. 1

Comment by Shilo Urban

Shilo Urban — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:35:06 -0800

FUCK GOD.

Comment by N

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:35:27 -0800

No.

Comment by jason

jason — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:40:06 -0800

who would you pray TO, yourself?

Comment by 4f...sake

4f...sake — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:40:07 -0800

prayer shmayer

Comment by Lee

Lee — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:47:05 -0800

the only thing for which i pray is that humans may wake from their infantile superstitions in time to save ourselves from the dark night of oblivion.

Comment by ygduf

ygduf — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:50:05 -0800

I'm sure it will be like every other Atheist Sunday I have. I'm not sure if it's true prayer.

"Come on... Come on... You motherfuckers, come on... God Damnit the Vikings suck!"

Comment by merry

merry — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:55:06 -0800

Oh hell yeah. Been praying about this election for some time now anyway... Why should I stop on the 4th? (Anyone care to predict how long they'll take to count the hanging chads or whatever this time around - a week? Two? Three?)

And: I don't consider myself being "reduced" to prayer. It's more like "rising" to it.

Comment by A

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:59:21 -0800

Yes, Alhamdulillah.

Comment by Q*bert H. Humphrey

Q*bert H. Humphrey — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:04:10 -0800

I think I shall be praying to the sidewalk water fountain at Broadway and John. Unlike god, it actually exists and can be touched (not that I would, ewwww).

Comment by Adrael

Adrael — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:04:34 -0800

@snoozebar: Nice. I wasn't expecting that somebody would get it. +1 internets for you.

Also, this week's review just came out, in case you haven't watched it already. =P

Comment by CMR

CMR — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:10:05 -0800

No need. Just keep working/fighting up until the balloting is done. Then work/fight to verify the votes.

That's more useful than praying.

Comment by Greg

Greg — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:12:07 -0800

What do you expect, that some magical version of Santa Claus in the sky is going to swoop down and influence the election results just because you asked for it? That's retarded. Either commit to being an atheist and reject superstitious nonsense or go hold hands with the Antioch Bible Church crowd at their election night pray-in.

Comment by idaho

idaho — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:18:02 -0800

No.

Comment by idaho

idaho — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:20:41 -0800

@20: You think you can find virgin Republicans? It would certainly be worth trying. If it doesn't work, well, at least there will be 7 fewer Republicans.

Comment by blackhook

blackhook — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:28:58 -0800

Upon an Obama victory, I will shout HALLELUJAH! to the gods of malt & hops.

Comment by cranky

cranky — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:36:12 -0800

do unfocused, "begging thoughts" count as prayer?

Comment by Betsy

Betsy — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:37:20 -0800

Being a cultural Catholic, if not in actual belief, I believe I might be reduced to prayer on election night asking for Obama to win. Maybe it's just habit. If not to God, then to any random deity in hopes that someone or something might be listening. That may contradict my atheism, but so be it.

Comment by Ann

Ann — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:43:01 -0800

I'm agnostic, but I'll be secretly praying to God, the Tooth Fairy, Santa Clause, and any Genie I can find in a bottle. We need all the help we can get

Comment by Original Monique

Original Monique — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:45:25 -0800

@53: OMG I just laughed soooo hard.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Not gonna pray, but gonna drink and cringe. Drink and cringe. TheN maybe get pissed or excited. Just like watching any sports event. ;p

If he wins, I know I am going to cry. Damnit.

Comment by Sdizzle

Sdizzle — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:52:46 -0800

Praying no, willing it to be so, yes.

Comment by kerri harrop

kerri harrop — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:55:02 -0800

If by 'pray' you mean 'get high and spend way too much time analyzing up-to-the minute poll numbers and breaking stories,' the answer is YES.

Comment by DZ

DZ — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:59:35 -0800

Jesus Christ! Goddamnit! Okay, I'm done with praying!

To hold on to what miniscule amount of sanity we all have left, here are my suggestions: just get stoned and vote for what we know is right (well, smoke AFTER voting, we don't want any stupid mistakes!)-calm down-meditate on life and shit-smoke some more, and may as well drink too-listen to some kick-ass music-try not to hold our breath-and get ready, for whatever may happen!

If you are like me, you sway between total conviction that Obama will win, to abject horror that at the last minute McCain will win.

I want to believe in my fellow people, but we see and hear about so many total idiots every day that it is very hard to keep thinking that good will prevail!

I have some Republican family members (our curse), and here is an example of their stupidity. "I had lunch with Sarah Palin at a Republican function in Alaska once-she is so sweet and nice-she will totally make a great vice president!"

I had no idea that the perception of someone being sweet and nice was a qualification for vice president!

I'm trying not to be negative, but just sayin!

Comment by east coaster

east coaster — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 16:05:22 -0800

I do not believe in a creator/ omnipotent/ omniscient God, but I do believe in the existence of a spiritual entity or entities that can help us in some ways and give us information through certain oracles. I have found that when I need an answer to a vexing question with only two possible answers it works to ask the spirits, designate which answer is to be indicated by heads and which by tails, and flip a coin. Because I know that coins are normally random I typically repeat the process for confirmation- and this has never once resulted in a reversal of the given answer. When dealing with more complicated questions I recommend the I Ching.

I am not sure of whether prayers are efficacious, but they can't hurt.

Comment by Melissa

Melissa — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 16:13:48 -0800

Don't pray... VOTE!
Nothing fails like prayer.
rather be doing something productive than wishing at the ceiling for things.

Comment by Ariel

Ariel — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 16:22:11 -0800

I'm going to pray, and also throw money at it ahead of time.

Comment by city_kitty

city_kitty — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 16:33:20 -0800

Barrack will win.
This atheist is praying for God to smote the violent kooks for the next eight years and forever. I want to start seeing some lightning bolts engaged in some choice smoting at Palin rallies. I wanna see crispy smoking confederate flags and exploded KKKers. I want deadly poisonous frogs to rain down on "Obama is a Muslim" t-shirts. I want pillars of salt and swarms of locusts and teeth for teeth and eyes for eyes. I'm praying for God to go all Old Testament on the haters and make them all too scared to leave their fortified bunkers.

I will totally become a Believer if this happens.

Comment by Woodbun

Woodbun — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 16:34:29 -0800

I have a signed peice of paper somewhere saying that if Obama is sworn in as president, I'll start believing in God.

-Woodbun

Comment by AK

AK — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 17:01:59 -0800

Hell yes.

Comment by another Lee

another Lee — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 17:08:47 -0800

I say go for it. I'm dyed in the wool atheist, but atheism is not a belief. it is a lck thereof. hence, we have no limitations with what we can and cannot do in the realm of faith. should we feel like getting all Catholic somedays, or Buddhist, we can. there is nothing threatening us with eternal damnation for straying from atheism. this is why I never got people who are atheists yet abstain from phrases such as "I swear to God", "OMG", etc. those phrases still serve a purpose and are a useful tool to express oneself. there's better activities you can be doing than policing your language.

prayer above all things shows positive feeling and a gesture of goodwill. as someone else said, it can never hurt. it shown that it can help, even if the extent of it's help is dubious. it would be better served for our outlook (and stomach lining) for all of us to make positive proclaimtions of things we hope to be true, rather than sabotaging ourselves with doubt.

Comment by elenchos

elenchos — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 17:25:06 -0800

I used to be an atheist, until McCain picked Sarah Palin. It was then that I realized there IS a God, and She is a Democrat.

Comment by Cookie W. Monster

Cookie W. Monster — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 18:00:50 -0800

I only pray to the aliens, and only because Gary Numan wrote a cool song about it.

Comment by JK

JK — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 18:19:36 -0800

I won't pray, but I do intend to unleash all of my Aspergers/OCD/Tourettes rocking, clapping, snapping, hooting, pacing, and explosive swearing tendencies. I'll try to do this at home.

Comment by anonymous

anonymous — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 18:26:27 -0800

Sure, with the same levity that I wish for a winning lotto ticket.

Comment by Cate

Cate — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 21:35:15 -0800

What? Why?

Comment by Glasses

Glasses — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 00:26:37 -0800

In my own way, yes. But I'm more on the humanist side of the spectrum.

Comment by violet_dagrinder

violet_dagrinder — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 07:04:06 -0800

No. I only talk to god during sex. Unless Obama or his lovely wife is available for a bit of election-night tension-release. . . no . . . no election-related piety from me.

Comment by MK

MK — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 08:06:17 -0800

Yes. I will be praying to everyone, from Jesus to the gods from Terry Pratchett books. I will also be drinking heavily. Democrats Abroad!

Comment by Baxter

Baxter — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 09:08:06 -0800

I'm going to wish on a Leprechaun's gold!

Comment by gloria

gloria — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 14:28:44 -0800

no way, even for Obama I won't sacrifice my convictions. On the other hand, can I do a good weather dance????