What actions should you consider? One straightforward approach might be to shout, “Is anyone out there? If you are, wise being, please make your presence known!” This seems reasonable, even if your belief in such a wise being is minimal. The existence of this wise entity appears to be a significant question—one that warrants exploration. After all, unless you’re completely convinced there’s no possibility of this being existing, it seems illogical not to reach out. You have nothing to lose, after all.
Praying to Overcome Atheism
The analogy is clear. Even if you don’t believe in God, if there is even a slight chance he exists and you consider the question of his existence to be vital, it seems sensible to pray for help in believing. Tim Richardson, a scholar at Oxford specializing in religious philosophy, argues that praying for belief in God is as rational as calling out in a dark room. In his paper, “Praying to Stop Being an Atheist,” published in the International Journal of the Philosophy of Religion, Richardson posits, “If you perceive a non-negligible chance that God exists and deem his existence significant, then—barring a few technicalities—you should pray to God for assistance.”
This argument is compelling. The question of God’s existence carries profound implications for how you view the world, navigate your life, and contemplate your mortality. Praying occasionally is not a burdensome task; it only requires a few minutes before sleep. If there’s a small action you can take that could illuminate a crucial question, why not try it?
What About Fairies in the Garden?
You likely believe there are no fairies at the bottom of your garden, but can you be entirely certain? There exists a faint possibility that your flowerbeds are home to mystical creatures. It wouldn’t take much effort to call out to them as you prepare breakfast: “Hello, fairies! If you’re there, please show yourselves!”
If Richardson’s argument holds, shouldn’t we also call out to the fairies? Should we write letters to Santa Claus or leave our teeth under pillows for the tooth fairy? Not necessarily. The critical factor is evaluating how important the question is and the cost of seeking more information. While discovering fairies would be delightful, their existence does not carry the same weight as the existence of God.
Avoiding Self-Deception
Another concern may be that adopting a prayer habit could lead to self-deception—making you more inclined to believe in a deity that doesn’t exist. However, as Richardson points out, the mere chance that a test might yield a false positive does not negate its value. In scientific research, experiments often have the potential for misleading results, yet we still conduct them to gain knowledge. If we didn’t, we wouldn’t have advancements in life-saving medications or treatments. Moreover, the goal of praying is not to shift your belief system radically but to reassess your confidence in atheism.
Richardson acknowledges that this “praying as an experiment” concept works both ways. “If a believer prays and receives no discernible answer, their confidence in God’s existence should wane. It’s precisely because this form of prayer can yield various outcomes that people of all beliefs should consider engaging in it.”
Should You Pray to a God You Don’t Believe In?
Richardson concedes that praying to cease being an atheist may not resonate with everyone. “You must consider the question of God’s existence significant. You also need to believe there’s a reasonable chance he exists; praying should require minimal effort; and you should not be overly worried about it leading to deluded beliefs in your case. However, these conditions apply to a considerable number of atheists. For those individuals, it is indeed worthwhile to pray to shift their atheistic perspective.”
At the very least, you cannot claim that prayer is devoid of value. If you feel compelled to reflect on the foundations of your atheism, praying serves as an effective method to challenge your assumptions.
Will I start praying? I’m uncertain. I meet all the criteria outlined, and the question of God seems so crucial that it’s surprising I haven’t devoted more time to it. Honestly, I find it hard to envision praying to a deity I don’t believe in without feeling somewhat ridiculous. Yet, since “feeling silly” is rarely a valid excuse for avoiding an action, I’m likely to give it a shot.
For additional insights on why atheists might benefit from prayer, you can check out a fascinating podcast interview with Tim Richardson here. Additionally, there was an intriguing “atheist prayer experiment” conducted by Premier Radio, where 70 atheists attempted daily prayer for forty days; their findings are discussed here. If you’re considering home insemination, you may also find useful information on how to use a home insemination kit, as detailed in our blog post here. For a more comprehensive understanding of conception methods, visit here, or explore here for an excellent resource on pregnancy and home insemination.
Summary
In summary, the question of whether to pray to a deity in whom you do not believe is a nuanced issue that merits consideration. Engaging in prayer could serve as a valuable exploration of your beliefs, especially if you view the existence of God as a significant question. While concerns about self-deception may arise, the potential benefits of reflection and reassessment could far outweigh the risks.