The Power of Prayer?

[Jon Miller]

I was always uncomfortable when, in the hospital, families would ask me to pray with them. I would usually just stand silently by while they prayed.

I think that is the right thing to do. That is what I have done when I have been with other religions during prayer.

It is also why I don't generally ask others to be involved, and usually don't ask to pray for others unless I think it would be welcome.

JM

[Imran Siddiqui]

Finally, secularly, what does it mean? It means that the person who is offering to pray for you cares about you, cares about what you are going through, and wants the best for you. It is sort of like "I hope the best for you" or "good luck" to the atheist.

This.

[loinburger]

"What are your religious beliefs?"
"Something different than yours."
"I will pray for you in other words you will definitely need all the help you can get not to go to hell but really who am I fooling I'm pretty sure you're going to hell no matter how much praying I do so I'm not really going to pray for you I'm just going to sit here talking like a ****ing *****."
"Want to see the boil on my ass?"
"I thought you'd never ask honeycakes."
And that's how babies are made.

[Guynemer]

[Boris Godunov]

Prayer makes the people praying feel good. That's the only reason people do it. Whenever someone tells me "I'll pray for you," I know what he *really* means is that he's praying to make himself feel better. Whatever floats people's boats, but it makes no difference to me one way or another. It is akin to me telling someone I'm going to go have a shot of whiskey in his name. Since he isn't getting the whiskey, why the hell should he care?

I do find it amusing that some folks think an omnipotent, omniscient and benevolent deity is going to interfere only if someone begs him hard enough.

[Imran Siddiqui]

But said Deity really likes people groveling to him

[Boris Godunov]

But said Deity really likes people groveling to him

Which eliminates benevolence.

[Jon Miller]

When talking about mercy, at what point does benevolence start? At mercy being given 10 times? 100 times? More?

If God chooses to have mercy upon one person 100 times, and another person 101 times, does that mean God isn't benevolent? Even if He is asked to have mercy on the person He has mercy on 101 times.

JM

[Boris Godunov]

Only choosing to grant mercy to someone after someone does a requisite amount of begging is not benevolent in any way.

[MRT144]

When talking about mercy, at what point does benevolence start? At mercy being given 10 times? 100 times? More?

If God chooses to have mercy upon one person 100 times, and another person 101 times, does that mean God isn't benevolent? Even if He is asked to have mercy on the person He has mercy on 101 times.

JM

We only need mercy because of the rules he made in the first place.

[Jon Miller]

He gives us mercy, without pleading. But once more, why get upset if He gives mercy another time to someone who pleads, when He has already given mercy to everyone over and over again?

Without God we would cease to exist. Does He not have the right to say what should be done with His gifts? It isn't like He is making rules about something that isn't His.

JM
(And His rules come down to, basically, love God and love man. These don't seem so hard, but people break them continually.)

[Boris Godunov]

Jon, you're not talking about the same thing I'm talking about.

[Elok]

Opened this thread intending to finally reply. Too much ignorance going on, so screw it. May BK choose to inflict himself upon you all.

[rah]

That's why I usually say, they'll be in my thoughts, instead of I'll pray for them.

I think that's all people really care about, that you're remembering them.

[Riesstiu IV]

"You'll be in my thoughts" is just a simple way of saying "Boy, sucks to be you. I don't want to help monetarily or personally so how about I pretend to give a **** by thinking about you for 10 seconds later in the day?"