If you're an Atheist and met a televangelist on the street, would you accept prayer from him?

I would not recognize a televangelist on the street if he came up and bit me on the ass.

I don’t watch televangelism. And I’m not even an atheist.

What…? Hell no lol.

Out of curiosity I’d probably let him. Being in a depressed state wouldn’t lead me to accept anything he says more readily though. For me there’s a big line between depression and insanity.

I’m uncomfortable receiving a prayer from anyone. Representatives of religious organizations on campus and at the bus stop have approached me… I just don’t want to talk to them about my lack of religious beliefs. I don’t want to engage in debate. I don’t want a pamphlet.

That said, like @BarnacleBill – there’s no way I would recognize a televangelist.

I’d just think he wanted me to give to his church or something, I’d try to be polite, but brush him off like others who just want my money (credit card application peeps,bums etc).

I would steal his wallet while he steals mine. His probably has more money in it.

@BarnacleBill Fortunately, there’s a small chance of him doing that. LOL !!! at least someone got this website rocking

If he had to explain to me who he was, I would probably think it was an exercise in showmanship and self-serving, make a snarky comment, and escape.

..and I thought I was a sceptic. So no one would recognize Jim Bakker, Jimmy Swaggert, the guy from Colorado Springs,
the 700 Club honcho, TD Jakes, (memory fails past dark) all of them would be unrecognizable??? And out for your CC number??

When anyone offers to pray for me .I say “Save it and pray for someone who cares. There are many more people worse off than me.”
End of discussion.

If you are an atheist I would think it wouldn’t matter if someone prayed for you.

When the televangelist got to the ”God is asking me to” part, I’d recognize that as my cue to leave.

He can keep his prayers to himself.

I don’t mind if people pray for me. It doesn’t bother me. I think it’s a nice gesture for the most part.
That doesn’t mean that I think it does any good… but it’s a nice gesture. No harm done. I really don’t care.

Even if I don’t believe in God, if someone wants to pray for me I always feel all warm and appreciative, because it’s one way for them to show empathy and concern. The intent is there, and a genuine one always makes one feel better, unless they do it to spite you.
But yeah, I don’t mind. I prayed for people before, who asked me too, even if I don’t believe it’s real. If they feel better knowing you are, why not?

I wouldn’t have a problem having someone pray for me, but in the kind of situation described in the question I would think it strange.

^ Exactly. It’s not the praying for me part that I mind, it’s the fact that this guy somehow has a direct line to god, and god wants him to help “save” me. Pray for me if you wish, but don’t impart your BS upon me.

My fragile mental state (in real life) was brought on by ravenous fundamental Christians. It would take all of my moral fortitude to not spit in the bastard’s face. Walking away, probably with a biting remark about liars being cast into the lake of fire, would be the best option.

I’m agnostic leaning toward atheism. I’d say “sure,” and keep walking. Fine by me if he wants to pray for me, but I don’t need to stick around to hear it.

It doesn’t hurt me to let him pray for me, so there’s no reason for me to prohibit him from doing so.
I think it gives peace of mind to the person who prays, thinking he’ll be improving the quality of life of someone, so I figure that collectively, we’re better off if he prays, despite there being no supernatural effect.

I’m a theist and I wouldn’t want any religious zealot praying for me. I have my own prayers and ways of saying them. I’m always skeptical when anyone religious says they will “pray” for you. Sometimes they are good intentioned but the majority of the time they are “praying” for you so you do not go to their fictional hell. I had enough experiences running into Jehovahs Witnesses and people with other religious beliefs trying to tell me I’m going to hell, seems I always have the good luck of running into them randomly going about my business as it is already. Thanks but no thanks.

I wouldn’t recognize a TV evangelist, nor (most likely) any other TV character or personality. They can all pray for whatever they want and don’t need my permission.

But I would object to having someone force himself on me and use that ploy as a gimmick to get my attention.

@Sarcasm Prayer: How people feel like they’re doing something without actually doing anything.

Funny quote I saw somewhere.

Great quote, BB.

Even if I was a devout Christian I wouldn’t accept a prayer from a televangelist.

I wouldn’t recognise a famous evangelist if one smacked me in the face (we don’t have them here). But if anyone – famous or not – wanted to pray for me I would politely decline, or ask that they do so later in their own time, when I’m not around. I find it horribly embarrassing and also rather disturbing and creepy.

I would let him pray for me if he paid me.

I’m an atheist and I’d accept the prayer because I think I’d be safer in his company than alone on a deserted street where rapists and wolves could attack me.

As an atheist I’m a free thinker so his evangelistic words would not have the power to permeate my brain anyway.

I’d tell him to fuck off. Seriously.

I would accept the good-will and let the evangelist pray his empty head right off.
On the other hand, a famous evangelist on a deserted street and a cold night, is not there to pray for the “less fortunate”. They’re looking for hookers and blow.