Ex-Christians

[Darkstar]

There are things beyond our control.

Bingo. Telepathically asking an invisble man in the sky to make them better isn't going to fix things.

[Minimalist]

Praying does more than NOT praying.

Evidence or is that merely more of your silly pontificating?

[Dee Dee Ramone]

Praying does more than NOT praying.

Evidence or is that merely more of your silly pontificating?

By praying someone wastes energy, so yeah it does more than not praying.

[Cinjin]

Praying does more than NOT praying.

Evidence or is that merely more of your silly pontificating?

Come on Min ... when you use words like pontificating with the sheep you've got include the definitions.

[Jackalope]

Praying does more than NOT praying.

I understand that you believe that. Why is it necessary to tell a non-believer that you're praying for them?

[Kayenneh]

I haven't been on in 3 weeks.

Exactly. I understand if you wanted to continue your thread, but to be honest, after reading through all the pages, it was not a nice thread. It had derailed badly. Wouldn't it have been wiser to just let it be, partake in another discussion or start a new one, instead of continuing the vitriol and flipping people the finger? Does a grudge need to be carried for three weeks over an internet discussion?

[Cyberman]

If I were to say to someone "I pity you", I would be, and have been, considered condescending at best. But when someone says "I'll pray for you", in the sense that is intended here, that of addressing some perceived pitiable character flaw making that person inferior in some way, we're expected to be grateful.

How do you know how I meant it??

How do you know whether I care? That's right - by what I choose to share here. Similarly, what you chose to share was

It's obvious you are either not capable of or unwilling to accept responsibility for you assininedness. I expected that from you. I shall pray for you (really I will) .

Announcing an intention to pray for a person can be a well-meaning if occasionally tactless and misguided act from one person to another that they believe might appreciate the gesture - a kind of supportive hug, an assurance that they aren't on their own, that there's people willing to be there for them. On the other hand, such an announcement in the context that you used carries with it, between the lines or right up there in lights, a statement of opinion upon that person's character. Otherwise there'd be no point announcing it; you'd just do it and whatever effect it is intended to have would just happen. It's shorthand for "There is something wrong with you, something which does not match up to my own standards, and I'm going to make damn sure everyobody knows about it". More generally, it can be used as a departing pyhrric middle finger to mean "Yeah? Well, fuck you". It's the equivalent of the irritating little git in the school playground, the one who squirts water (or worse) over you and then buggers off to hide behind the teacher; in this case, the teacher represents self-righteous religious indignation.

Does that answer your question?

[pocaracas]

bah, I don't care if others pray for me... let them waste their time and breath all they want... if it makes them happy, who am I to take it away from them?
but there is, at least, one study where the "power of prayer" has been debunked and shown to have less effect than not praying (provided the patient knew others were praying for them):

Prayers offered by strangers had no effect on the recovery of people who were undergoing heart surgery, a large and long-awaited study has found.

And patients who knew they were being prayed for had a higher rate of post-operative complications like abnormal heart rhythms, perhaps because of the expectations the prayers created, the researchers suggested.

Because it is the most scientifically rigorous investigation of whether prayer can heal illness, the study, begun almost a decade ago and involving more than 1,800 patients, has for years been the subject of speculation.

[Lion IRC]

Praying does more than NOT praying.

I understand that you believe that. Why is it necessary to tell a non-believer that you're praying for them?

I dont think it's necessary.

[Jackalope]

I understand that you believe that. Why is it necessary to tell a non-believer that you're praying for them?

I dont think it's necessary.

I'm glad to hear that. Unfortunately, many of your fellow Christians don't feel the same way.

Let me rephrase the question. Why do you think so many other Christians feel that it's necessary? I realize the question is speculative, I'm just looking for your opinion.