When faced with existential questions, one immediate response might be to cry out, “Is anyone out there? If you are, wise figure, please respond!” This seems like a perfectly rational action, even if you doubt the existence of such a wise being. The question of whether this figure exists is significant enough to warrant exploration. After all, unless you are entirely convinced that this entity is nonexistent, it would be illogical not to reach out. What do you really have to lose?
The Case for Prayer
You might not hold a belief in God, but if there’s even the slightest chance that such a being exists, and if you think the existence of God is vital, then praying might be a reasonable step. Tim Redding, a philosopher from Harvard, argues this point in his paper, “Praying to Foster Belief.” He suggests that praying to God for assistance in believing in Him is akin to calling out in a dark room. “If you believe there’s a non-zero chance that God exists and deem that question important, you should ask God for guidance,” Redding asserts.
This argument is compelling. The existence of God has profound implications for your worldview, life choices, and views on mortality. Spending a couple of minutes in prayer isn’t a huge investment, and if it may illuminate a crucial question, why not give it a try?
What About Fairies?
You might feel quite sure that there are no fairies in your garden (if not, perhaps it’s time to chat with someone…). However, there remains a tiny fraction of possibility that your flowerbeds could house tiny, magical creatures. A simple shout down the garden, “Hello, fairies! If you exist, please show yourselves!” wouldn’t take much effort.
If Redding’s argument holds, should we also be calling out to fairies? Should we leave messages for extraterrestrial visitors or even write letters to Santa Claus as adults? Well, not necessarily. The crux of the matter is the significance of the question at hand and how much effort it takes to seek answers. While discovering fairies would be delightful, their existence doesn’t carry the same weight as the existence of God. Moreover, shouting every morning could disturb your neighbors or bewilder your family.
The Risk of Self-Deception
Another concern is that regularly praying might lead you to imagine that God is responding, potentially leading to self-deception. Yet, as Redding explains, the possibility of a false positive shouldn’t deter you from seeking answers. In scientific research, experiments often carry the risk of misleading outcomes, but this doesn’t negate their value. If we avoided all experiments due to potential errors, we wouldn’t have breakthroughs in medicine or life-saving treatments. The essence of Redding’s idea is to test whether your confidence in atheism shifts rather than simply converting you.
Redding acknowledges that this “prayer as an experiment” concept applies to everyone. “If a believer prays and receives no answer, it should lower their confidence in God’s existence. Since various outcomes are possible, people from all belief systems should participate in this exploration.”
So, Should You Pray to a God You Don’t Believe In?
Redding admits that praying to abandon atheism might not resonate with everyone. “You need to consider whether the question of God’s existence holds significance,” he notes. “You must also believe there’s a reasonable chance of God existing, that praying requires minimal effort, and that you’re comfortable with any potential for self-deception.” For many atheists, these conditions apply, thus making a case for them to pray.
At minimum, you can’t say that praying lacks merit—if you think it’s worth reflecting on whether your atheism is well-founded, prayer might serve as a valuable test of your beliefs.
Will I start praying? I’m unsure. I fit the criteria outlined, and the “God question” seems crucial enough that I feel I should ponder it more deeply. However, the thought of praying to a deity I don’t believe in feels a bit silly. But since “feeling silly” isn’t usually a valid reason to avoid action, I might just give it a shot.
If you’re curious about Tim Redding’s insights on why atheists should pray, check out his podcast interview. Additionally, you can explore an interesting “atheist prayer experiment” conducted by Premier Radio, where 70 atheists prayed daily for forty days; the findings are worth a read.
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Summary
In summary, considering the act of praying, even if you identify as an atheist, can be a reasonable exploration of beliefs and doubts. The potential benefits of reflecting on such significant questions may outweigh any discomfort associated with the practice.