The problem with prayer.

[PETE_ROSE]

I can affirm that I do not know to a certainty either. I should have posed the question as given the information we have, what is your personal best guess for the beginning of the universe and the concept of time as we perceive it.

[brewer]

I'll go from left to right...

1. Space Invader
   
2. Buddhist Temple
   
3. Sex, Missionary Style
   
4. Obama with a Mohawk
   
5. Two large breasted Marge Simpsons with angel wings fighting over a purse while Hello Kitty refs.
   
6. Four birds
   
7. Little Rik
   
8. Pelvic bone
   
9. Vagina with chlamydia
   
10. Jerry Garcia
    

Maybe that should have been it's own thread.

[Simon Moon]

I can affirm that I do not know to a certainty either.  I should have posed the question as given the information we have, what is your personal best guess for the beginning of the universe and the concept of time as we perceive it.

Our universe existed in a different form than it does currently (singularity).

All that is required for the expansion to the current manifestation of our universe, was a phase change.

Any evidence we do have, points to something along those lines. 

No magical being necessary.

[Spirian]

Maybe that should have been it's own thread.

It is now 

[The Viking]

When I was a catholic, I had the same problem with prayer as I do now, but didn't realise it.

Why am I apologising? Why am I grovelling? Why am I assuming all of the guilt? Why am I not extolling my positives? Why am I submitting myself to the will of someone who so obviously thinks I'm inferior?

Why am I being told that anything I do in life isn't of my own making? Every gift I possess was given to me? Every thing I achieve was only possible because he was working through me? Every time I felt proud of myself, I should regret it, because I wasn't really responsible? Every time I do something that makes me feel happy, I should repent for it and confess to another fallible human being because I've embarrassed myself?

Absolute bullshit.

[The Grand Nudger]

Why?  Because people who aren't debased don't prostrate themselves before authority in the first place. The religion..and more to the point the catholic business model, doesn't work unless it's constituency thinks of themselves as lowly human worms. They won't pay for the cure unless they first believe themselves to be sick.  

[Godscreated]

The Bible says something about "if you pray sincerely your prayer will be answered" or some such. 

So, why has no "good and true Christian" ever prayed for an end to war, hunger, disease, or atheism?

 I'm sure many have, if not most before they learn that God tells us these things will be with us till the end of the age, God want change what He knows will happen because man want change nor can he change his self centered nature. This is the very reason God gave us a Savior, He wanted us to be justified so we could enjoy and not corrupt the new creation.

GC

[ignoramus]

Here's the official answer.

Why Do We Need To Pray?
When we pray, of course, we are not pointing out anything new to God. He does not need us to remind Him of our needs. So why doesn't God just give without our asking?

Because we need to pray. Prayer helps us refine and affirm what we want out of life. It's a process of maturity.
If a billionaire father handed over unlimited cash on a silver platter, his child would grow up spoiled and irresponsible.

So too, if God gave us everything automatically, we may never define for ourselves what we want in life. True, life would be easy. But we would not grow.
Since God has our best interests at heart, He wants us to earn it. Because that's what will make us great.


(So basically kids, talk to yourself a lot and if you say it enough times, you might start believing ...whatever?)
PS, Remember to close your eyes so you won't see how ridiculous you look talking to yourself.

[chimp3]

Recently I witnessed a prayer session by a group of christians I work with. They took some prayer requests. Some asked for god to protect our country from terrorists. Protect the police. Protect us from the police. One young lady asked that god remove the stubborn water trapped in her ear from her beach going vacation. Since then more police have been shot, more have been shot by the police. But "Praise the Lord!" the water is gone from the ear! Awesome God!

[Gawdzilla]

The Bible says something about "if you pray sincerely your prayer will be answered" or some such. So, why has no "good and true Christian" ever prayed for an end to war, hunger, disease, or atheism?

God gives no guarantee to answer ALL prayers regardless of content. Prayers by thieves for an easy heist or by murderers to avoid discovery will most likely not be answered. Only prayers in conformance with His will are answered as when Jesus taught us to pray, "...Thy will be done...". Or not. This is not to suggest  theological tangles don't remain about the need for and/or the efficacy of prayer. For example, if the lack of prayer doesn't thwart His will then what is the point? IMHO prayer is more of an opportunity for believers to participate in the Lord's purposes. The assumption of the OP seems to be that Christians have not prayed for evils to cease, which is of course obviously false. Why such evils do not cease is another issue entirely.

Not even a nice dodge.