If you have suffered a tragedy and someone says, “you’re in my prayers” with sincerity, and you respond with some egotistical shit about being atheist you are an emotionally inept moron.
For real though, like think about it. If someone is religious, there’s really no kinder sentiment they can express than appealing to the highest power they know for your recovery. Whether or not you think it “works” is irrelevant— the kindness is absolutely real.
This is true. I’m an atheist. “Thank you.” is the proper answer to someone else’s intent to pray for you. It’s not emotionally inept or moronic to explain that you’re an atheist at such a time, but it is piss poor manners.