Why People Think They Need to Pray

[Rhondazvous]

I have even heard many preachers say that "most prayer is sinful".  I can't remember the entire list of how they say your prayer can anger gawd, but here are a few off of the top of my head:  praying while in disobedience (in other words, ignoring god's commands and not asking forgiveness for sins); praying in public to be heard by others (are you actually talking to gawd, or do you want other people to hear you talking to gawd?); praying while supporting the sinfulness of others (did your friend take her daughter to Planned Parenthood and you didn't try to stop her? for shame!); praying for material things (God is not Santa Claus); praying without belief (if you're doubting that gawd hears you, don't even bother); praising yourself rather than gawd (thank you gawd, that I was able to get my rude son to come to church today); praying out of duty (let's get this service over with so we can go to the game!); praying with people of other religions (because you are putting the true gawd as equal with idols); asking for gawd to heal your sick friend or family member (gawd knows they are sick, it is gawd's will); asking for gawd to change an outcome or a person . . . and on and on and on.

What the people are supposedly left is praise of gawd and a prayer that gawd's will be done at all times.  

So I'm with Rhonda and robvalue and others:  why bother?  What's in it for me?  Some studies say that prayer decreases stress and lowers blood pressure, but they also note that there is no scientific physiological difference between protestant prayer, praying the rosary, reciting mantras, sitting zazen, etc.  One would think, if an almighty Deity exists, he would surely not need constant praise.  But, for argument's sake, let's say he likes it.  Then he should reward the group that offers the best prayers, right?  Wrong.  Nothing.
    We hear threats of hell for sins we didn't even commit, but no one group of worshipers has ever been healthier, or wiser, or saner, or richer than any other group of worshipers.   The only people getting rich are the mega-preachers.   And oh boy - - their Jeebus wasn't fond of rich people . . . 

Well that was a ramble.  But that's my take on prayer.

Based on this list, I don't think god will like if we pray to lower our blood pressure. God knows we have high blood pressure and if he wants it that way then that the way it should be.