The problem with prayer

[CoxRox]

Now suppose I am a sincere Hindu and I ask you to sacrifice a rabbit for me on Kali's altar for my recovery, would you do that?

Of course not Leo. If a Hindu or whoever, asked me to pray for them, I would have no problem with that or if they told me they had prayed for me, I would thank them. If someone asked me to do something that went against what I perceive to be acceptable (in any context, not just religious) then I wouldn't do it. If a Hindu said to me: 'I've sacrificed a rabbit for your recovery', then I would express an interest and get into a discussion in as tactful a way as possible to explain why I don't believe in sacrificing rabbits or any other animals for these purposes. My discomfort in the situation would possibly be similar to an atheist who learns they have been prayed for, hence why I wouldn't say to you 'Leo, I've been praying that you will see that God is real'. I know that is not appropriate and by the way, I haven't prayed that. Prayer is a serious business for those who believe in it. I just want to impress upon folks that crazy though it may be, it is done, whether by a Christian, Hindu or Muslim or whoever, for good, sincere reasons, not for egotistical, arrogant ones. That is my sincere belief. And I'd better just mention that like anything, it can be used for bad e.g a suicide bomber praying they will kill as many people as possible or a wacko Christian fundamentalist praying for the death of a sinner. All things are abused or misused, so too prayer.

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CoxRox in response to your message to me I just want you to know that you and I are in two different places.

Like you Chatpilot, I can see that the Pentecostal Movement is not 'God's' power being poured out on people in these churches. I briefly visited a few during the height of one particular 'movement'- the Toronto Blessing, and I could see it was nothing supernatural, but rather people tapping into mass hynotic type nonsense. You have studied and concluded there is no god/s and I am studying this at the moment. I have many doubts but I haven't given up on 'finding' God just yet. As respects our discussion on 'prayer', I'm giving my 'take' on it, as someone who prays (not very often) and knows people who prays, so that people who don't believe in god/s and obviously prayer, can understand the misguided sincerity of us pray-ers. I don't like being accused of being arrogant if I pray, hence why I'm discussing this.