Nobody put a gun to Dennis's head. A friend asked him for help, I would have done the same thing.
That's just called "not being an asshole".
I probably would have done the same thing too if my friend had insisted upon it, but I wouldn't actually pray for him. I would lie and say that I did. The goal is to make my friend feel better, but I see no reason to actually go through with the mumbo jumbo.
I did it because I said that I would.
Isn't insisting that someone do something they don't want to do, or don't believe make that person an asshole?
I don't think so, but you might know more about assholes than I do.