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The Power of Prayer?

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  • #1

    The Power of Prayer?

    This actually isn't a troll thread, as a first disclaimer...

    In any case, I'm curious - why is it that the automatic response of many people is to say, "I'll keep X in my prayers."?

    My grandmother is in the hospital currently, and that has been the main response from people. My point is, why? What good does it do? Demonstrably none, given that if God exists and requires prayer in order to do "good things", then he's at the very least egotistical and it just goes from there, or if God doesn't exist, why prayer?

    So what do you think? Why is the phrase "X will be in my prayers", or some variation thereof, seem to be so prevalent, when it doesn't, or at least shouldn't, do any good?

    Discuss.
    Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/DaveDaDouche
    Read my seldom updated blog where I talk to myself: http://davedadouche.blogspot.com/
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  • #2
    If God has a plan (another frequent comment when someone is ill) why are people asking that he change it? Do they know better?
    "I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure." - Clarence Darrow
    "I didn't attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it." - Mark Twain

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    • #3
      Praying for others doesn't seem to work. However, a growing body of evidence has found that religious people tend to be healthier than average, and that people who pray when they are ill are likely to fare better than those who do not.
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      • #4
        What other factors are involved?

        At a guess, I would imagine that those who pray regularly tend to drink less, to start with.
        Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/DaveDaDouche
        Read my seldom updated blog where I talk to myself: http://davedadouche.blogspot.com/

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        • #5
          Originally posted by DinoDoc View Post
          Praying for others doesn't seem to work. However, a growing body of evidence has found that religious people tend to be healthier than average, and that people who pray when they are ill are likely to fare better than those who do not.
          Is any of that body of work at all reputable?
          "The issue is there are still many people out there that use religion as a crutch for bigotry and hate. Like Ben."
          Ben Kenobi: "That means I'm doing something right. "

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          • #6
            Originally posted by David Floyd View Post
            What other factors are involved?

            At a guess, I would imagine that those who pray regularly tend to drink less, to start with.
            I'm certain that's what it comes down to.

            Perpetual life-long virgins will also be less likely to get STDs, but I'm not sure that's singing the praises of that lifestyle.
            "The issue is there are still many people out there that use religion as a crutch for bigotry and hate. Like Ben."
            Ben Kenobi: "That means I'm doing something right. "

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            • #7
              Disingenuous statistics promoting religion =
              Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/DaveDaDouche
              Read my seldom updated blog where I talk to myself: http://davedadouche.blogspot.com/

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              • #8
                I will answer seriously.

                First, religiously I don't completely understand praying for others. I mean, Christ and other people in the Bible did, so it must be a good idea, but I don't necessarily understand it all.

                As far as it goes, in Christianity God does change what He will do based upon the response of people. For example, Moses prayed and God spared Israel. Or Jonah preached, the people of Ninevah repented and prayed to be spared, and God spared Ninevah.

                We don't ever see God forcing people to be Christians, for example. So I think that some prayers that people pray for others aren't the sort that will be positively answered.

                Praying to God does unite the person praying to Him. Praying to God gets you in tune more spiritually, represents seeking Him, and is communication. Obviously, for the religious person, praying is key.

                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.

                I say both. Most of the time, I don't pray for others. I say good luck/etc instead.

                JM
                Jon Miller-
                I AM.CANADIAN
                GENERATION 35: The first time you see this, copy it into your sig on any forum and add 1 to the generation. Social experiment.

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                • #9
                  It's only useful to pray for the dead to speed their passage through Purgatory.
                  “As a lifelong member of the Columbia Business School community, I adhere to the principles of truth, integrity, and respect. I will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do.â€
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                  • #10
                    JM -

                    So if one prays for sick Aunt Liz it will go one of two ways:

                    a) Auntie gets better and our prayers are answered

                    or

                    b) Auntie dies and we can say "It's all part of God's plan"


                    Very convenient.
                    "I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure." - Clarence Darrow
                    "I didn't attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it." - Mark Twain

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                    • #11
                      As I said, I mostly don't pray for others. Maybe I am selfish.

                      JM
                      Jon Miller-
                      I AM.CANADIAN
                      GENERATION 35: The first time you see this, copy it into your sig on any forum and add 1 to the generation. Social experiment.

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                      • #12
                        Originally posted by DaShi View Post
                        It's only useful to pray for the dead to speed their passage through Purgatory.

                        I admit that I wish that praying for the dead did something. It is a bit upsetting that I can do nothing, that my dad's life is finished.

                        JM
                        (No, am not saying that I beleive he won't be in heaven. It is just that I don't know.)
                        Jon Miller-
                        I AM.CANADIAN
                        GENERATION 35: The first time you see this, copy it into your sig on any forum and add 1 to the generation. Social experiment.

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                        • #13
                          Originally posted by Jon Miller View Post
                          As I said, I mostly don't pray for others. Maybe I am selfish.

                          JM
                          I am personally offended that you have never prayed for me. Very selfish of you.
                          "The issue is there are still many people out there that use religion as a crutch for bigotry and hate. Like Ben."
                          Ben Kenobi: "That means I'm doing something right. "

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                          • #14
                            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.

                            Same thing when I'm in a church for a wedding or funeral, etc. I feel like I would be insulting the others if I participated in a ritual that I have no belief in whatsoever.
                            "My nation is the world, and my religion is to do good." --Thomas Paine
                            "The subject of onanism is inexhaustable." --Sigmund Freud

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                            • #15
                              Originally posted by Asher View Post
                              I am personally offended that you have never prayed for me. Very selfish of you.


                              It isn't that I don't care for you, it is just that I don't know what to pray for.

                              JM
                              (Actually, seriously, I have prayed for people on Apolyton before. But I don't remember who.)
                              Jon Miller-
                              I AM.CANADIAN
                              GENERATION 35: The first time you see this, copy it into your sig on any forum and add 1 to the generation. Social experiment.

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