Another Prayer Question For Theists

[Godscreated]

What, if anything, is the difference between a prayer and an attempt to cast a magic spell?

It strikes me that in both cases, the supplicant is attempting to alter the Universe in someone's favour (I'm leaving aside - for the nonce - prayers of thanksgiving and general supplication): the Christian asks Jesus to heal a sick child, the Buddhist spins her prayer wheel and chants her sutra, the Wiccan burns certain herbs at propitious moments, the Jew wails at his Wall, and so on.

Exterior trappings notwithstanding, is there any real, meaningful difference between what a Catholic attempts in front of a statue of the Virgin, and what a Santeriast attempts when he slits the throat of a chicken?

Boru

There is a difference in Christian prayer and the others you mention, some of those do depend on magic, what ever that may be. With Christians we ask God to determine what's best or at least we should, and if He decides in our favor then we have unleashed the same power that created the universe. In actuality Christians need to remember that we change nothing, changes come from the grace of God and the change can only happen if the request is not against God's ultimate will.