Jacob(smooth) Wrote:Would you say that a prayer for comfort for a grieving widow, vulnerable and raised in the tradition, MIGHT achieve that purpose? Of making her feel a bit better?But prayer won't do a damned thing to actually help her. You could SAY you're going to pray for her and not do it, and it would have as much effect. Or you could say what I say, which is "you will be in my thoughts," which would probably comfort her as much. Or you could go get the old girl's groceries or mow her lawn or spend some time with her, which would actually be helpful to her in her bereavement.
If someone want to pray for someone, OK. That isn't offensive, to think and hope and wish for better times. Everyone does that. What is offensive is the idea that it can in and of itself do something useful. It sounds like Jacob doesn't really think prayer is a line to his god's ear (true, Jacob, or am I misreading?). If that's the case, then he's doing what we're ALL doing sometimes: hoping and wishing. If he wants to direct those hopes and wishes at his god, who can say that's a bad thing? Some people write it down and start it with "dear Diary." What matters about this distinction to an outside observer?
