Our server costs ~$56 per month to run. Please consider donating or becoming a Patron to help keep the site running. Help us gain new members by following us on Twitter and liking our page on Facebook!
Current time: December 27, 2024, 8:50 pm

Thread Rating:
  • 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
What Is The Point Of Prayer?
RE: What Is The Point Of Prayer?
Isn't "prayer" just sanctified "wishcraft"?
"The Universe is run by the complex interweaving of three elements: energy, matter, and enlightened self-interest." G'Kar-B5
Reply
RE: What Is The Point Of Prayer?
(August 21, 2013 at 5:06 am)KichigaiNeko Wrote: Isn't "prayer" just sanctified "wishcraft"?

When you put it that way it makes me want to try it too.
Reply
RE: What Is The Point Of Prayer?
When toddlers sit on Santa's knee and tell him all the things they want for xmas, we take photos and post them on Facebook for everyone to go "aw, how sweet!" We as nominal grownups know the cold reality behind their innocent fantasies.

When grown adults kneel in serried ranks and do the same thing, we are expected to believe that this really works, that it has power to petition ultimate mercy and all that crap. Anyone who dares to say that, actually, this is pretty pointless is denounced as the abnormal one.

It's a funny old world.
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.'
Reply
RE: What Is The Point Of Prayer?
(August 21, 2013 at 11:39 am)Stimbo Wrote: When toddlers sit on Santa's knee and tell him all the things they want for xmas, we take photos and post them on Facebook for everyone to go "aw, how sweet!" We as nominal grownups know the cold reality behind their innocent fantasies.

When grown adults kneel in serried ranks and do the same thing, we are expected to believe that this really works, that it has power to petition ultimate mercy and all that crap. Anyone who dares to say that, actually, this is pretty pointless is denounced as the abnormal one.

It's a funny old world.

Prayer works for me because when i pray, i am communicating with God. I, however, do not expect you to believe prayer works. If you did think it worked, you would no doubt pray.
Reply
RE: What Is The Point Of Prayer?
Here's a standard question I ask of anyone who tells me that prayer works.

Where is Madeleine McCann?

After hundreds of prayer meetings with thousands of praying faithful, after meetings with the Pope, why is the little girl still not found safe and well?
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.'
Reply
RE: What Is The Point Of Prayer?
(August 21, 2013 at 11:52 am)discipulus Wrote:
(August 21, 2013 at 11:39 am)Stimbo Wrote: When toddlers sit on Santa's knee and tell him all the things they want for xmas, we take photos and post them on Facebook for everyone to go "aw, how sweet!" We as nominal grownups know the cold reality behind their innocent fantasies.

When grown adults kneel in serried ranks and do the same thing, we are expected to believe that this really works, that it has power to petition ultimate mercy and all that crap. Anyone who dares to say that, actually, this is pretty pointless is denounced as the abnormal one.

It's a funny old world.

Prayer works for me because when i pray, i am communicating with God. I, however, do not expect you to believe prayer works. If you did think it worked, you would no doubt pray.

I pray to the wall to hold me up whenever I lean over a urinal to piss. The wall answers my prayers by supporting me. Unlike god, though, the wall is concrete proof... :p
Reply
RE: What Is The Point Of Prayer?
(August 21, 2013 at 11:57 am)Stimbo Wrote: Here's a standard question I ask of anyone who tells me that prayer works.

Where is Madeleine McCann?

After hundreds of prayer meetings with thousands of praying faithful, after meetings with the Pope, why is the little girl still not found safe and well?

I have no clue. Nor does it matter. Your argument is essentially this:

In order to say that prayer works, then every instance that a person asks for something, the petition must immediately be granted to them and if not, then this is proof that prayer does not work.

I will wait for you to support this obviously fallacious reasoning.
Reply
RE: What Is The Point Of Prayer?
Quote:Prayer works for me because when i pray, i am communicating with God.

Actually, you are talking to yourself. I hope you enjoy the answers that you give yourself.
Reply
RE: What Is The Point Of Prayer?
And of course Fr0d0 gives this guy reputation.
Reply
RE: What Is The Point Of Prayer?
(August 21, 2013 at 12:07 pm)Minimalist Wrote:
Quote:Prayer works for me because when i pray, i am communicating with God.

Actually, you are talking to yourself. I hope you enjoy the answers that you give yourself.

That's great you believe that. And I thank you for sharing your opinion with me.

You assume that when i use the word communicate I mean talk, but there are ways to communicate with God without talking. When I pray, sometimes I talk, but most of the times I use another form of communication.
Reply



Possibly Related Threads...
Thread Author Replies Views Last Post
  At what point does faith become insanity? Fake Messiah 64 5952 May 8, 2023 at 10:37 pm
Last Post: The Architect Of Fate
  On the lunacy of prayer slartibartfast 100 9102 October 12, 2021 at 12:17 am
Last Post: slartibartfast
  Global Prayer To End Atheism Silver 60 9863 August 25, 2021 at 8:20 am
Last Post: Brian37
  A prayer to God ... ignoramus 10 1437 May 3, 2019 at 11:17 am
Last Post: The Grand Nudger
  Question about prayer. purplepurpose 27 6968 October 4, 2018 at 2:06 pm
Last Post: Drich
  What do you think prayer is? vulcanlogician 44 7316 February 2, 2018 at 4:12 pm
Last Post: emjay
  What is the point of religious billboards? Cecelia 17 4750 July 14, 2017 at 2:17 am
Last Post: Astonished
  Can prayer change God's perfect plan? MellisaClarke 217 72758 May 23, 2017 at 8:33 am
Last Post: SteveII
  What is the Point of Believing in God Without Religion? Rhondazvous 74 11208 January 6, 2017 at 11:29 am
Last Post: vorlon13
  Prayer Athena777 181 21418 December 13, 2016 at 12:38 pm
Last Post: Asmodee



Users browsing this thread: 39 Guest(s)