Lets Be Honest About Praying

[Zaraki1971]

If you pray with your heart and you are sincere the Lord will listen, because he always does. And all you have to do is have a conversation with the Lord and tell him whats in going on with your life. Just be yourself and be sincere about everything and you will not regret it. JUST OPEN YOUR HEART TO HIM. And have faith because with faith you accomplish anything. I the Lord will not leave any prayer with an anwser.

[SherylsShado]

Another point I'd like to bring up is that the religious love to go around saying that god gives them "free will"; however, by praying for someone else without their knowledge/consent, how are you not overriding their free will?

Also, it many instances what it would take for a situation to become better is for god to manipulate a person's brain chemistry, thus affecting their behavior.  For example, you can't expect an unhappy married couple to love each other again without some head tinkering on god's part.  This is an extreme violation of free will and yet another contradiction within Christian beliefs.

I think God considers the prayers, considers who is doing the praying, considers who they are praying for and their motivations.  Everyone has free will, everyone makes their own choices.  Someone might pray that He touch an unknowing believers heart and suppose He does.  It's still the unbelievers decision whether or not to accept Him.  He doesn't mess with anyone's head or make anyone choose Him.  

An unhappy married couple can love each other again without some head tinkering on God's part---Dr. Phil has made it happen as well as many other marriage counselors.  Ideally married couples that are Christian should seek out a reputable Christian marriage counsellor because they offer counselling on the Christian marriage, which would treat the whole Christian marriage and not just part of it.

I really hope things work out for your mom and stepdad.  It's obvious you care about them so much, they're really lucky to have you.

[falcon9]

Another point I'd like to bring up is that the religious love to go around saying that god gives them "free will"; however, by praying for someone else without their knowledge/consent, how are you not overriding their free will?

Someone might pray that He touch an unknowing believers and suppose He does.  It's still the unbelievers decision whether or not to accept Him.  He doesn't mess with anyone's head or make anyone choose Him. 

So such a 'prayer' would be an attempt at coercing free will which may ot may not be successful?

[SherylsShado]

So such a 'prayer' would be an attempt at coercing free will which may ot may not be successful?

If that person "KNOWS" that God does not exist, then why would that bother them?   

[falcon9]

If that person "KNOWS" that God does not exist, then why would that bother them?  

C'mon, Sheryls - that's a trick question since neither those who claim such an existence "knows", nor do those claiming the opposite "know".  The defining difference between the two stances being that those who claim to "know god exists" bear the obligation of presenting evidence supporting such claims, (so too would someone claiming to "know" the opposite however, this was presented as a 'strawman' argument in that no one has so far claime to "know" something of this sort doesn't exist.  The reason it's a strawman arguement is that it not only presents a false dichotomy - knowing vs. not knowing - but, presents it as a sophist implication that if someone doesn't know whether something exists, it may or must exist).

[tuyetmai]

When you tell someone I'm praying for you, or We'll pray for you, do you really do it?

I say my prayers when I lay down and try my absolute best to pray for other people that I know are struggling, I do it on the day that I hear of their issue, maybe the next 2-3 days but after that I just move on then I'll be thinking a few days later like crud, wonder how they're doing and feel bad for not continuing to pray.

I do it.  Because I think one of the way to honest to other is to be honest to yourself.  Only if I really forget it on that day.  I'll make it up for the next day when I remember.

[SherylsShado]

If that person "KNOWS" that God does not exist, then why would that bother them?  

C'mon, Sheryls - that's a trick question since neither those who claim such an existence "knows", nor do those claiming the opposite "know".  The defining difference between the two stances being that those who claim to "know god exists" bear the obligation of presenting evidence supporting such claims, (so too would someone claiming to "know" the opposite however, this was presented as a 'strawman' argument in that no one has so far claime to "know" something of this sort doesn't exist.  The reason it's a strawman arguement is that it not only presents a false dichotomy - knowing vs. not knowing - but, presents it as a sophist implication that if someone doesn't know whether something exists, it may or must exist).

ok...even if that person "THINKS" that God does not exist...then why would that bother them?  I thought the general belief was that a "believer praying to God" vs. "a believer praying to a jug of milk" produces the same results.  I've never known a jug of milk to infringe upon someone's "free will", have you?

[jenniferhoder]

I think it's only fair to say that you can't pea for unrealistic things. Asking for someone to love you, or asking to hit the lotto are unrealistic. I think if you have REAL prayers God does hear them and will consider them. I think you have to truly believe in God and his work for a prayer to be Answered

[SherylsShado]

I think it's only fair to say that you can't pea for unrealistic things. Asking for someone to love you, or asking to hit the lotto are unrealistic. I think if you have REAL prayers God does hear them and will consider them. I think you have to truly believe in God and his work for a prayer to be Answered

"you can't pea"?  I'll pray for you.  (   sorry for the bad joke, I couldn't resist) *hugs!!

[falcon9]

I think it's only fair to say that you can't pea for unrealistic things. 

"you can't pea"?  I'll pray for you.  (   sorry for the bad joke, I couldn't resist) *hugs!!

Implied consent?  Cool, that means I can have associates invoke "satan" for her too ... peeing is important and beats dialysis.

[queenofnines]

I think it's only fair to say that you can't pea pray for unrealistic things.

Not according to Jesus!

"I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done.  If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." - Matthew 21:21-22

So either you don't really believe hard enough that you can pray for a mountain to take a dip in the ocean (duh), or all of this is just hogwash.  Hmm, which is more "realistic"?

http://godisimaginary.com/i1.htm

[falcon9]

So either you don't really believe hard enough that you can pray for a mountain to take a dip in the ocean (duh), or all of this is just hogwash.  Hmm, which is more "realistic"?

While anyone can try 'praying' for such things, the liklihood that the desired result will occur is nil.  On the other hand, 'praying' for more realistic results, (which can be attributed to more realistic causes), is often inaccurately attributed to 'praying' because of the lack of causal evidence.  Making such unfounded claims, (dubiously attributing any 'results' obtained to 'prayer'), is not being "honest about praying".

http://godisimaginary.com/i1.htm

One of my preferred sites; I wonder if any believers have looked at it?

[falcon9]

ok...even if that person "THINKS" that God does not exist...then why would that bother them?  I thought the general belief was that a "believer praying to God" vs. "a believer praying to a jug of milk" produces the same results.  I've never known a jug of milk to infringe upon someone's "free will", have you?

The first difference that springs to mind is that the jug of milk sits there and exists for anyone who wants to pray to it, (or not).  I could be mistaken however, it seemed that QoN was making the point that prayer to either was essentially equivalent.

[mardukblood2009]

Praying only occurs when you want something that you can't have or if you want confidence. The whole thing is really pathetic if you think about. 

[pattersondebra]

Yes I do - I find it difficult but if someone asks for prayers I do my best, even having a one sided conversation with the Lord is concidered a prayer.