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Why do you pray?

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sleeper's avatar

sleeper

Legend

27,879 posts
Jan 17, 2012 5:26 PM
I promise I will not attack you or make fun of you in this thread.

I'm merely wondering why people do it? If you are honest with yourself, God never responds either verbally or physically. If you pray for snow, and it snows, it does not mean it snowed because you prayed. The cause and effect are disassociated with each other tremendously and its never been proven that praying does anything in the world.

So, I ask you, the religious folks, why do you pray?
Jan 17, 2012 5:26pm
DeyDurkie5's avatar

DeyDurkie5

Senior Member

11,324 posts
Jan 17, 2012 5:28 PM
I pray because it works.

Ask me to prove it, and Ill say you just gotta believe man!

/religious people
Jan 17, 2012 5:28pm
T

tuskytuffguy

Senior Member

615 posts
Jan 17, 2012 5:29 PM
One will still get the same results, whether they pray or not, at an average of about 50% success rate. So, I say, why bother praying?
Jan 17, 2012 5:29pm
Fab1b's avatar

Fab1b

The Bald A-Hole!!

12,949 posts
Jan 17, 2012 5:32 PM
Jan 17, 2012 5:32pm
Fab1b's avatar

Fab1b

The Bald A-Hole!!

12,949 posts
Jan 17, 2012 5:33 PM
Jan 17, 2012 5:33pm
Skyhook79's avatar

Skyhook79

Senior Member

5,739 posts
Jan 17, 2012 5:50 PM
sleeper;1056115 wrote:I promise I will not attack you or make fun of you in this thread.

I'm merely wondering why people do it? If you are honest with yourself, God never responds either verbally or physically. If you pray for snow, and it snows, it does not mean it snowed because you prayed. The cause and effect are disassociated with each other tremendously and its never been proven that praying does anything in the world.

So, I ask you, the religious folks, why do you pray?
I prayed a week ago that you would start a thread on prayer. Boom /thread.
Jan 17, 2012 5:50pm
M

mella

Senior Member

647 posts
Jan 17, 2012 6:15 PM
I pray because it works. It does not always work the way I intended and when I wish it would, but for a person of faith prayer gives meaning and direction to situations that don't always make sense. I don't pray for stupid things like snow and money to show up in my mailbox. I pray for understanding, direction,... it allows me time to reflect and think about situations in my life, why and how things occur in my life. Some might be random chance and some things don't make sense immediately but in the long run I think prayer makes a difference. I also take an active role in my life and don't sit back and assume that prayer replaces action. For example, I don't pray for a bettter job while I sit on my couch. I work hard, apply myself, and have faith that my actions will work out for the better.
Jan 17, 2012 6:15pm
FatHobbit's avatar

FatHobbit

Senior Member

8,651 posts
Jan 17, 2012 6:22 PM
Why do you care? It doesn't affect you.
Jan 17, 2012 6:22pm
S

Steel Valley Football

Senior Member

4,548 posts
Jan 17, 2012 6:36 PM
sleeper;1056115 wrote:I promise I will not attack you or make fun of you in this thread.

I'm merely wondering why people do it? If you are honest with yourself, God never responds either verbally or physically. If you pray for snow, and it snows, it does not mean it snowed because you prayed. The cause and effect are disassociated with each other tremendously and its never been proven that praying does anything in the world.

So, I ask you, the religious folks, why do you pray?

There are effects of prayer that are not fully understood. Much like people who beat cancer due to positive outlooks and attitudes, which science has no explanation for. Another similar phenomenon is that married people live longer, which also has no scientific reasoning behind it.

I see you as someone who thinks they have life all figured out because, in your mind, you've mastered logic and reason. When, in reality, you've got a lot to learn.
Jan 17, 2012 6:36pm
Cat Food Flambe''s avatar

Cat Food Flambe'

Senior Member

1,230 posts
Jan 17, 2012 7:05 PM
Why not? :)


Even so - I don't care for public prayer - heartfelt prayer is best done mano-a-Dios, and not everyone feels the same way about it. I certainly wouldn't be forced to sit through a Buddhist chant.
Jan 17, 2012 7:05pm
sleeper's avatar

sleeper

Legend

27,879 posts
Jan 17, 2012 7:23 PM
FatHobbit;1056170 wrote:Why do you care? It doesn't affect you.
Really? This is terrible logic. Very few things in this world affect me. A kid was paralyzed in Ohio recently, but it doesn't affect me so why should I care?

I'll give you a moment to re-think your ignorant statement.

I appreciate the response from mella, even though I disagree with it. I find the idea of prayer interesting.
Jan 17, 2012 7:23pm
sleeper's avatar

sleeper

Legend

27,879 posts
Jan 17, 2012 7:24 PM
Steel Valley Football;1056180 wrote:There are effects of prayer that are not fully understood. Much like people who beat cancer due to positive outlooks and attitudes, which science has no explanation for. Another similar phenomenon is that married people live longer, which also has no scientific reasoning behind it.

I see you as someone who thinks they have life all figured out because, in your mind, you've mastered logic and reason. When, in reality, you've got a lot to learn.
What does married people living longer have anything to do with prayer? This is another ignorant statement.

Also, just because science has no explanation for something doesn't automatically mean "god" or at least any biblical god did anything to help it.
Jan 17, 2012 7:24pm
believer's avatar

believer

Senior Member

8,153 posts
Jan 17, 2012 8:48 PM
sleeper;1056230 wrote:Also, just because science has no explanation for something doesn't automatically mean "god" or at least any biblical god did anything to help it.
Conversely, just because science believes it has an explanation for something doesn't mean God had nothing to do with it.
Jan 17, 2012 8:48pm
S

Steel Valley Football

Senior Member

4,548 posts
Jan 17, 2012 9:42 PM
sleeper;1056230 wrote:What does married people living longer have anything to do with prayer? This is another ignorant statement.

Also, just because science has no explanation for something doesn't automatically mean "god" or at least any biblical god did anything to help it.

Try to keep up.

Prayer can help people simply because they believe it's helping. It's a proven fact that our mental state drives our physical well being, though it's almost impossible to quantify that phenomenon from a medical standpoint. That's not to say it has anything to w God. I never once said that, you did. Likewise, married people live longer on the average. Though, the effects of that can't be quantified or explained. Again, nothng to do w God.

So, in short, people pray because it helps improve their mental state and, therefore, their physical state. And, it has nothing to do with whether God exists or does not exist.
Jan 17, 2012 9:42pm
sleeper's avatar

sleeper

Legend

27,879 posts
Jan 17, 2012 9:44 PM
So positive thoughts = praying in your eyes?

Interesting. I can have positive thoughts without praying.
Jan 17, 2012 9:44pm
LJ's avatar

LJ

Senior Member

16,351 posts
Jan 17, 2012 9:46 PM
I pray just because it bothers people like sleeper who cares about what others do with their own lives.
Jan 17, 2012 9:46pm
S

Steel Valley Football

Senior Member

4,548 posts
Jan 17, 2012 9:47 PM
sleeper;1056380 wrote:So positive thoughts = praying in your eyes?

Interesting. I can have positive thoughts without praying.

No.

Though, you most certainly can have positive thoughts w/o praying.

You asked why people prayed. I answered. The best answer yet, btw.
Jan 17, 2012 9:47pm
gerb131's avatar

gerb131

Senior Member

9,932 posts
Jan 17, 2012 9:47 PM
I pray just to make it today
Jan 17, 2012 9:47pm
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
Jan 17, 2012 9:49 PM
I do not pray but I do understand why people do. SVF pretty much nailed it.
Jan 17, 2012 9:49pm
wes_mantooth's avatar

wes_mantooth

Tomfoolery & shenanigans

17,977 posts
Jan 17, 2012 9:50 PM
justincredible;1056391 wrote:I do not pray but I do understand why people do. SVF pretty much nailed it.
Same here. Whatever helps people's outlook/mental state....go for it.
Jan 17, 2012 9:50pm
FatHobbit's avatar

FatHobbit

Senior Member

8,651 posts
Jan 17, 2012 10:00 PM
sleeper;1056227 wrote:Really? This is terrible logic. Very few things in this world affect me. A kid was paralyzed in Ohio recently, but it doesn't affect me so why should I care?

I'll give you a moment to re-think your ignorant statement.
Can you do anything to help the kid who was paralyzed? Then it doesn't matter if you care or not. Why can't people just admit that maybe they don't know everything and let other people do whatever makes them happy if it doesn't bother them. If ye harm none, do as ye will.
Jan 17, 2012 10:00pm
swoosh's avatar

swoosh

Account not Activated

303 posts
Jan 17, 2012 10:08 PM
God will answer your prayers, whether it's the outcome you expected/wanted or not. You pray for help from God. He will help you and answer you. Just gotta be patient. It'll happen eventually.
Jan 17, 2012 10:08pm
hasbeen's avatar

hasbeen

Excuse me, Flo?

6,504 posts
Jan 17, 2012 10:12 PM
IchsCreekPRIDE;1056415 wrote:God will answer your prayers, whether it's the outcome you expected/wanted or not. You pray for help from God. He will help you and answer you. Just gotta be patient. It'll happen eventually.
So if I pray for something and don't get it; it's because God wanted it that way. If I pray for something and do get it; it's because God wanted it that way.

Got it.
Jan 17, 2012 10:12pm
DeadliestWarrior34's avatar

DeadliestWarrior34

gooby pls

3,101 posts
Jan 17, 2012 10:19 PM
pnhasbeen;1056419 wrote:So if I pray for something and don't get it; it's because God wanted it that way. If I pray for something and do get it; it's because God wanted it that way..
Yes
Jan 17, 2012 10:19pm
S

Steel Valley Football

Senior Member

4,548 posts
Jan 17, 2012 10:19 PM
pnhasbeen;1056419 wrote:So if I pray for something and don't get it; it's because God wanted it that way. If I pray for something and do get it; it's because God wanted it that way.

Got it.

Yeah that's hard logic to argue against lol. It's like people who argue that "it was their destiny". No matter what happens, it's good because fate controlled it.
Jan 17, 2012 10:19pm