People pray for various reasons. To make themselves feel special and superior; as a parting "Yeah? Well, fuck you!" at the end of discussion; as a way of salving their consciences that they can't, or can't be arsed, to actually do anything practical; to let a person know that they're at least being thought of, even though whatever pain that person is going through cannot be helped. What's most revealing is that whichever breed of prayer is being used, nobody has any confidence that it can possibly have the slightest effect unless the subject of the prayer knows about it in advance. Otherwise where's the satisfaction in the game?
I've told this story many times, unfortunately. Back in the day when my Princess and I were trying to conceive, we used to have people, well-meaning as they undoubtedly were, 'assuring' us that they'd pray for us. It never worked - if anything, it had the opposite effect. When we began our IVF treatment, those same people again said they were praying for us. It didn't take. Sam remained unpregnant, yet those same people sympathised with us and said they would pray for our loss. Sorry, but what exactly was the point here? I already know these people have a special club which makes them feel part of something important; they already know I won't buy it. The only explanation that seems to fit is that praying, in this context, is something to say when they can't simply say nothing - a kind of theistic Tourette's. I'm only thankful that none of the pious bastards have even so much as tried to pray for having my sweet Sam stolen from me. Small mercies and all that.
I've told this story many times, unfortunately. Back in the day when my Princess and I were trying to conceive, we used to have people, well-meaning as they undoubtedly were, 'assuring' us that they'd pray for us. It never worked - if anything, it had the opposite effect. When we began our IVF treatment, those same people again said they were praying for us. It didn't take. Sam remained unpregnant, yet those same people sympathised with us and said they would pray for our loss. Sorry, but what exactly was the point here? I already know these people have a special club which makes them feel part of something important; they already know I won't buy it. The only explanation that seems to fit is that praying, in this context, is something to say when they can't simply say nothing - a kind of theistic Tourette's. I'm only thankful that none of the pious bastards have even so much as tried to pray for having my sweet Sam stolen from me. Small mercies and all that.
At the age of five, Skagra decided emphatically that God did not exist. This revelation tends to make most people in the universe who have it react in one of two ways - with relief or with despair. Only Skagra responded to it by thinking, 'Wait a second. That means there's a situation vacant.'
