"I have been open about this fact but do not advertise it carelessly. Most of my family and dear friends are devoutly religious people who are aware that I am an atheist. They frequently offer to pray for me or ask that I pray for them. When people offer prayers on my behalf, I answer with something like Thank you. That's so very kind of you to keep me in your prayers."
"My parents, on the other hand, go out to eat pretty much daily, sometimes twice daily; they rarely cook. I thought this would change when they both retired, but it has not. My husband is very uncomfortable with this. When we are visiting my parents, he tells me I need to speak up and tell them that we cannot afford to go out so much, not to mention that constant restaurant food doesn't make us feel good."
A late-middle-aged atheist has long told family and friends about his lack of belief but accepts their offers of prayer with polite thanks. He finds promising to pray for them dishonest and seeks a truthful way to show care. The suggested wording for nonbelievers is to express sincere goodwill and to say that they will be kept in the person's thoughts. A separate correspondent reports a frugal husband uncomfortable with parents who dine out daily and often pay the bill; prior requests to curb spending were ignored. The parents' behavior raises health concerns because the father is scheduled for imminent quadruple bypass surgery.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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