Why do people say "I'll pray for you"...

[Jim Lane]

16. I disagree with your solution of checking

When I had cancer I experienced this both ways. One person said she would pray for me. I accepted that as her way of expressing sympathy, of doing what she could (or what she thought she could) to help me with a bad situation, etc.

Another person, who also meant well, asked me about my religious beliefs. I wasn't angry, precisely because I knew she meant well, but I found this annoying. I'm coping with cancer and I have to get into a theological discussion? On top of that, I know that praying for me, even if does nothing for me, will very probably make her feel better. Why should I deprive my religious friends of that solace?

Obviously, nonreligious people aren't a uniform bloc and we don't all react the same way. For my part, I prefer the people who just say they're praying for me. You prefer those who check first. I guess our religious friends must first check to see if we want them to check... no, that way madness lies.