[swatcoder]

They didn't. It's just their way of showing sympathy.

The OP may not find the prayer itself practical, as indeed many on the planet mightn't, but the expression doesn't assume so. Common secular expressions like "Sending good thoughts" or "I feel you" are just immaterial and seemingly ineffectual but similarly get across the point that someone has slowed down long enough to show care.

[ShamelessC]

It's really not a big deal. I understand what they meant. I just think the secular variety of expression is preferable to (some) who have lost someone. Religions deal with the afterlife in different ways, and so it could be seen as someone else making "judgemental" assumptions.

[scrapcode]

He literally just stated that he personally prayed to his God for them... you are the one evangelizing here.

[mpalmer]

Devil's (heh) advocate: the prayer itself matters and is a nice thought, but mentioning the recipient of the prayer makes it a soft pitch, which some might reasonably find unwelcome or awkward.

[edgyquant]

Or you could not over analyze a well intentioned attempt at comforting another and move on.

[mpalmer]

I've prayed on this to Tlazolteotl, eater of sins, and have decided to disregard your comment as excessively meta.

[lfkdev]

Not really Devils Advocat, this is literally what it is

[ShamelessC]

Okay, sorry if I came across as evangelical. I understand there's no malicious intent.

[soperj]

I thought Jesus was supposed to be God's son, not literally god?

[scrapcode]

I think it can vary depending on denomination but within the belief of the trinity, it is one god in the form of three persons (father, son, holy spirit). I am certainly no theologian, though, so take that with a grain of salt.

[_a_a_a_]

Just what is the holy spirit? I get the father/son, nobody ever bothered to let us know what that 3rd bit was supposed to be. Or why.

[scrapcode]

I want to preface that I am agnostic at this point in my life and I struggle with a good understanding of a great example of these and mostly the inconsistencies of their descriptions throughout denominations. But I think in general the "holy spirit" is supposed to be the "feelings" you get that "draw you into" God, or for some people the "callings" they seem to have.

[soperj]

Why have God if you already have Jesus? Why do you need both?

[Teever]

It's not their way of showing sympathy. It's their way of shoehorning their religion into a conversation about technical stuff.

It's the equivalent of corporate astorturfing, but the product they're advertising is Jesus.

"This comment brought to you by Christ."

[_a_a_a_]

Sometimes it is, here it doesn't feel like it.

(Atheist)