There is a third variety of "I'll pray for you," which I have (I believe) encountered only once: I got into conversation with a Wee Free Christian at a bus stop, and on discovering that I was reared a Quaker, she asked "So what do Friends believe?"
I had the usual difficulty explaining, but I tried, and then she asked "What do you do at your... church services?"
I explained that anyone who wanted to could get up and speak as the spirit moved them. She looked extremely dubious, but before she left she assured me that she would pray for me.
I think that this was a genuine offer not of either bullying or comfort but because she was afraid that, with my beliefs, I would go to hell. So I thanked her: because, even though I do not believe any such thing, to her, evidently, the risk was real, and she was offering me something real to help.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2004-04-07 07:28 am (UTC)I had the usual difficulty explaining, but I tried, and then she asked "What do you do at your... church services?"
I explained that anyone who wanted to could get up and speak as the spirit moved them. She looked extremely dubious, but before she left she assured me that she would pray for me.
I think that this was a genuine offer not of either bullying or comfort but because she was afraid that, with my beliefs, I would go to hell. So I thanked her: because, even though I do not believe any such thing, to her, evidently, the risk was real, and she was offering me something real to help.