When someone says they will pray for me or for something I secretely make fun but I appreciate the kind thought and would never say anything. Lol. I just think "oh brother"It seems to me all our problems will be solved without religion. Poverty global warming cures for diseases eventually getting off this rock alternative energy crime racism pollution equality and every other issue we have will be solved without religion.
Perhaps. But I am not sure what crime has to do with religion, for example. I would be pretty confident arguing that our prisons are not filled with people who were very faithful adherents to religion at the time they were arrested. I think what the community of faith can do in regard to the things you list is offer support and love. Eliminating famine or poverty comes from a motivation of love for one's fellow man. Theists do a great deal in that regard. Developing alternate energy, perhaps not so much, but according to scripture we are to be good stewards of the planet, thus we should support environmental causes.
Unless you think praying matters?
Well people generally pray for thanks or to ask for something they want. In a sense they are making a choice. So if, for example, a person prays for racism to be eradicated from society, they are, in a sense, choosing that. If enough people pray for it, it means by extension, more and more people are choosing it, and therefore it has a greater likelihood of becoming reality, not so much through the power of God but through collective choice.
I will say this...it certainly doesn't hurt. I have yet to run into an atheist who was in a desperate position and told me not to bother when I said I would pray for them to have a positive outcome.
You seem like a great person BTW. With more theists were like you. My brothers the same. Great man. I wouldnt want to hurt him or disrespect his beliefs no matter how dumb I think they are.
I'm only a militant athiest on usmb.