Why even atheists should pray

Even if you don't believe that there might be a God out there somewhere who can hear your prayers-- or if you think that there might be a God who can hear them, but just isn't too keen on answering them for whatever reason, I still think it may be very beneficial for everyone to pray every day.

Here is what prayer does.

1). It is an opportunity for you to verbally list all of the things which you are grateful for. EVERY DAY.

2). It is an opportunity for you to talk about the things that may be concerning you, which is quite therapeutic actually.

3. It is an opportunity for you to state what it is that you want. Which is actually THE vital component of nearly every goal oriented program.

4. It gives you a moment to just sit there and go inside of yourself and meditate. Its quite relaxing if done properly.

So that is what prayer can do for you, even if you don't believe in God... But what does it do if you are open to the idea that there may be a God out there?

4. It gives you an opportunity to express remorse for times when you betrayed your own conscience and to apologize to the God/The universe/yourself and start over with a clean slate and a stronger commitment to do what you think/feel is right and good.

5. It strengthens faith. This is ideal for people who prefer to have faith in God, over the alternative options of belief. Speaking to God is exercising faith that God can hear you, and asking for things is exercising faith that God has the capacity to answer your plea. It also exercising faith that God is loving and merciful-- because why else would God listen to you and answer your prayers if it were not so?

6. If there is a God and if God does hear your prayers and if God does answer your prayers... obviously it is beneficial to pray...

How do I expect God to answer my prayers?

1). I expect God (or the act of prayer itself) to help me be more at peace with my situation.

2). I expect that God (or the action of prayer itself) will help me to focus on my situation in a better and enlightened way so that I may resolve it.

3). I expect God to perhaps touch someones heart or mind in some way that they may perhaps have a touch of enlightenment or a spark of idea or a drop of love to in some way act in such a way that may answer my prayer. If nothing else, since I prayed for it, I will be looking for it-- and looking for something is the first step to finding something.

I personally don't believe that pure and true religion is for God (in the sense that God is telling us to do random things because of a selfish reason)-- rather, I believe that pure and true religion is for mankind to help them in some capacity. Prayer is a perfect example of something that I believe God has commanded because it is good for us.

Is it possible that there is no God and that EVERYTHING about religion is a construct of the human mind? Sure, its possible. I guess anything is possible.  Whether or not it is possible, or plausible is less important to me. What is more important is what has the highest likelihood of being beneficial-- the word is "Pragmatic". Religion-- if done properly, is beneficial to me whether it is fiction or non-fiction. I cant provide irrefutable proof either way. So in the mean time. I will be praying every morning, night and throughout the day.