Is Praying effective?

[AqD]

Is it? Has anyone tried and witnessed the effects of praying?
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[Mathais]

Oh I know prayer works my friend! I prayed for many things from the most simple of things to the most dyer of times. Prayer may not come when you want but they do come when you need them to happen. God funny like that he seem to know the best time to answer them.

[Eupholi]

Praying does not work because their is no one to anwser your prayer.

[ThiudareiksGunthigg]

Oh I know prayer works my friend! I prayed for many things from the most simple of things to the most dyer of times. Prayer may not come when you want but they do come when you need them to happen. God funny like that he seem to know the best time to answer them.

In other words, things you might want happen some of the time and don't happen the rest of the time. And you attribute that to God having some mysterious idea of what should happen. Others would say those things just would have happened anyway.

This reminds me of George Carlin's gag about how he decided to stop praying to God and started praying to Joe Pesci, since Joe Pesci seems like a guy who could get things done. Strangely enough, despite switching deities from God to Joe Pesci, the things that Carlin prayed for came about or didn't come about in about exactly the same proportion as they had before.

It almost makes you think that there's no God involved in this process at all ... :hmmm:

[C-Rob]

Prayer's stupid, but it can give someone confidence, like when my cross country team prays before a race.

[MaximiIian]

Depends on if you are looking for overt or subtle ways in which responses manifest. I have not personally seen effects of prayer, but mainly because I haven't really made any full-blown prayers. So, empirically, I am on the fence.

However, many of my friends and people I know do affirm that prayer is effective...but in subtle ways. Nothing dramatic or overt, and certainly nothing that fulfils supplication motivated by pure selfishness.
Due to their subtlety, the effects might go unnoticed by people not looking for them, and furthermore, the answers probably only pertain to the person making the prayer. Much like other forms of theurgy and thaumaturgy.

Granted, there is no direct empirical evidence produced in controlled conditions. But no one ever claimed there was...so, whatever. I'm an optimist, so I give people the benefit of the doubt. If you don't, then I think you are a bitter and cynical person.

[The Good]

Prayer is one of life's many mysteries, many believe in it's power, some don't. If you read Mathais' post, that sums up my beliefs in prayer.

[VALIS]

Mumbling to yourself ain't gonna solve or save anything or anyone....

[MaximiIian]

Still, there's no reason to disparage another person's belief in it. If they think it works, and it makes them feel better, why hax0rz with it?

[Mathais]

@ThiudareiksGunthigg Example if your lookinf for a hot date and ask for help he is not going to drop some girl on your lap and say here you go! It more like you might be out and about and haveing a crapy night and then come along and bam! Then one thing leads to another and you just had a hot date that night.

[ThiudareiksGunthigg]

@ThiudareiksGunthigg Example if your lookinf for a hot date and ask for help he is not going to drop some girl on your lap and say here you go! It more like you might be out and about and haveing a crapy night and then come along and bam! Then one thing leads to another and you just had a hot date that night.

Does this work equally well when you pray to other gods? How about Zeus? I prayed to Zeus that I wouldn't miss my train this morning and - presto! - I made it in time! Thanks Zeus. But last week I prayed to Zeus that I would get the last slice of chocolate cake that someone brought into the office and someone else got it. I guess me having that slice of cake wasn't part of Zeus' vast plan for the whole cosmos.

That people can actually believe in something as primitive and clearly stupid as "prayer" is simply astounding. Yes, magic men in the sky really care about whether you get a hot date or I get a slice of cake. That makes perfect sense.

[MaximiIian]

Yes, magic men in the sky really care about whether you get a hot date or I get a slice of cake.

As said, several times, most the religions that affirm a belief in the effectiveness of prayer also believe that the effects are subtle, and no where near as overt as the things you are using as examples.

But, my other point still stands: if you don't believe in it, and if belief in it for some people makes them feel happier, why do you care? Why do you have such an impulse towards bitterness, spite, and hatred of other people's opinions?

[ThiudareiksGunthigg]

As said, several times, most the religions that affirm a belief in the effectiveness of prayer also believe that the effects are subtle, and no where near as overt as the things you are using as examples.

The hot date example was from one of the prayer believers. My other examples were equally trivial

But, my other point still stands: if you don't believe in it, and if belief in it for some people makes them feel happier, why do you care?

It might help to get them to think.

Why do you have such an impulse towards bitterness, spite, and hatred of other people's opinions?

No bitterness, spite, or hatred. Just some mild scorn. And not for other people's opinions, just ones that are patently absurd.

[MaximiIian]

It might help to get them to think.

Most of them do. Most people who petition a deity often do so as a last resort when all rational options are exhausted. Stop assuming religious people are retards; it's insulting and edging on inflammatory. Most of them are not fundamentalists. However, you seem to be decrying other peoples' beliefs with all the vigour and spite of a televangelist.

Just some mild scorn.

Pfft. Bull .

And not for other people's opinions, just ones that are patently absurd.

Who are you to say what is absurd or not?

Keep in mind, a lot of religious beliefs are based on personal experiences and interpretation; UPG, or unverifiable personal gnosis. Rigidly controlled environments don't really work for personal interpretations of events.

Well MaximiIian i read in greek myth's that was the gods worst fear was to be forgotten.

The myths are just that: myths. You have to read between the lines to perceive their true meaning.

[Captain Blackadder]

Hear Hear Thuid. Prayer has no effect on anything everything that you have prayed for came about by coincidence.God if he even existed does not care about your petty little problems also I do note that god doesn't seem to answer the prayers of people whose conditions make it completely impossible for it to come about by any other way. So no amputees are growing legs back. I also find it insulting that the whole business of prayer infers that everyone who dies of rabies is somehow not christian enough to get saved by god.

[God-Emperor of Mankind]

Is it? Has anyone tried and witnessed the effects of praying?

Why don't you try it yourself ??
Surely that is the best way to test something.

[Mathais]

ThiudareiksGunthigg I didnt know he was still around I always though that once men stop believeing the gods that they would be no more? Well in any case If you want to believe in Zeus then go ahead maybe pray to the god war while your at. For the romans are giving me a hard time on xgm mod! None the less it good to know that you do pray! P.S god loves ya weather you know he is there or not. THAT WAS ONLY AN EXAMPLE

[MaximiIian]

I always though that once men stop believeing the gods that they would be no more?

That doesn't make sense. Why would numinous beings of stop existing just because the majority of their followers began to ignore them?

Secondly, do not make light of polytheism. It is as valid a belief as monotheism.

[Mathais]

Well MaximiIian i read in greek myth's that was the gods worst fear was to be forgotton.

Forgive me if I wrong the polytheism and monotheism sorry I dont know to much about them .

[Chimera1277]

when every humanly effort fails a true believer prays to God for guidance or help, for the secularist well since he doesn't believe in God much less prayers he is doomed to despair because there's no hope. prayer is humanity's last (and should be first) resort . if one says that his/her prayers are not answered that's because God has answered the prayer in either, yes, no or wait.