If your mother is a devoted christian and you are an atheist--------------------

We all have to make our own choices when it comes to religion. We may adopt different views and beliefs than our parents. We have to follow what is in our own hearts.

Perhaps a loving atheist son would pretend to pray ... Perhaps an unloving atheist son would disappoint religious mother big time :) What do you think ?

The child has nothing to lose by fulfilling her mother's wishes, does she? But I think it'll be better if mother is told beforehand that the child is an atheist. If the child is wrong and mother has strong reasons why the child is right and the child can be given good reasons why such position is unhealthy and wrong then things might perhaps change. Or is mother is wrong she might change. Being on the side of truth is much better than otherwise. So had I been in the situation I would tell my mom before such situation arises. But that's just me!

Since the atheist doesn't believe in God, what harm is there in fulfilling the mother's last request, particularly if it brings her comfort? Now if the atheist's mother asked him/her if he/she is a believer, the atheist shouldn't lie.

i see nothing wrong in praying for your Mom.Whatever your belief is or isn't ,she is still your Mother and her request shouldn't be that hard for you. just think of all the things she's done for you in your life.Also i wouldn't tell her about your atheism , what can it possibly do for her or you? what if one day after she is long gone(although it may seem impossible for yout to imagine) you come to believe in God, wouldn't you wish you had fulfilled this small request? Anything that can help her pass on in peace, should be acknowledged.

if something like that you expressed that maybe I would lie to my mother, I know even though lying is not good action but I do not want to hurt the feelings of my mother so I was forced to lie

I am not sure what an athiest is or actually believes or does not believe. Except they do not believe in a God above all. I am sure they believe in creation which we are all part of as to how it came about I guess if you do not believe in a creator then you probably think it just always was somehow or maybe it just suddenly happened from nothing. Whatever there is the skies, the stars, the planets, the universe the solar system. So just pray to the universe or whatever there might be. Your not praying to a specific God but your honoring your mothers dying wish out of love for her. While still keeping to your own values.

Well.... I am not atheist but I am not religious. I have no problem with what anybody decides to do or believe in, but I am pretty straightforward about not necessarily believing in things other people do. If it came down to it, I would pray for somebody - FOR THEM. If it is their wish and they believe it will do good, it just might. That doesn't mean I have to believe whatever they do in order to fulfill their request. Do you know what I mean? I have very religious relatives and I have told them how it is for me. I don't understand why they are upset or sad about it, there is no reason whatsoever for anybody to be upset or sad that someone else doesn't share their views. After all, we are all free to have our own views and those do not affect anybody but ourselves. Now if your views cause you to hurt somebody or interfere with their lives, that could be different.

My mum is a devoted Christian and I'm an atheist. But I still respect my mum for whatever she believed. I'm proud of all her prayers. Praying is not a bad thing to do, I pray too, just in a different way, very very silent, but I'm still using the words, hoping and praying exactly for the same things as my mum does. I'm always happy that she is actually giving me a prayer when I'm always far away from her, but like I said...I respect it, it doesn't change me, I'm just fine about it. Differences of beliefs in my family is very big so we respect each other for what we are. As for your question, if she really does asks me to pray for her, then yes why not. I don't have to tell her that I'm an atheist, as she always knew I don't go to church lol. But we sometimes must try to avoid from mixing our own belief and our love for a family. Have a nice day :)

I am a pagan. So I pray anyway- but I would just tell my dying mother that I would pray for her because I would want her mind to be easy in her last hours. I would pray for her, but in my own way. I don't believe in hell... soooo. I don't know if that helped, lol.

id pray anyways. i dont think i would want my mom to dying hating me or being angry with with, whatever the case may be. id just pray, even if i didnt really want to

its ok.. as long you have respect for each others belief and related practices. i am a full blooded Catholic. I, for one, will not force anybody, but i will tell you, I am welcoming you anytime to learn what may faith is. :-)

No matter whether we are an atheist or christian we all belong to almighty whether god exists or not its upto us. I feel god is in each one of us,we take the names of other gods and rituals to awaken and enlighten the god that we are. But those who are truly atheists can awaken god in them by belief in themselves. i want to say we are god i will pray for her sake as i know no matter what i am god