Is the principle of petitionary prayer morally sound?

[Bovril]

An act of petitionary prayer involves asking God to interefere in reality in such a way as to benefit the person praying. This form of prayer is so pervasive in western Christianity, that for many people it is the only form of prayer that comes to mind when you mention the term. However, many have criticised it on different levels, calling petitionary prayer idolotrous, 'magical' and so on.

What are your thoughts on the nature of petitionary prayer, and how/whether it fits into a legitimate system of interaction between man and the divine?

[Ummon]

In Italy we have a proverb which would roughly translate: "To ask is legitimate, to answer, a form of courtesy".

But jokes aside, it all depends on intentions, and which kind of intercession one desires.

[gambit]

Like Ummon said, prayer is more about intentions. It's not about the reward but that you pour your heart out to God and put your trust in him. That you went to him for help.

Of course, dont expect him to help you.

[Ummon]

In my experience, subjective though it be, prayer is a problem when you ask something, because infact you get it.

But you get it in the way you should get it. Which means: occasions to be just, rightful, honest, to bear with evil people, to be patient, etc.

Then if you do so, there is also the reward of joy and contentment.

But really, what you got is further work.

[MaximiIian]

Morally sound?
A better question is, how exactly would it be immoral?

Now, because I am not monotheistic, and my religion has a particular concentration of the concept of magic as a religious tool, I don't exactly have a problem with supplication being seen as "magical"; keep in mind, by this term, I don't mean anything outlandish, I mean inducing subtle change in reality via unconventional yet natural means on the quantum level.

Although I think that prayer in the form of supplication results in the gods (or whichever god was being prayed to) giving the supplicant opportunities to do good and whatnot. Which isn't really "magic" in the ceremonial or ritual sense; prayer is more of a subset of theurgy, which has multiple applications, not just in ritual magic. I see religious ritual magic as something apart from supplication, having more to do with one's willpower than divine assistance, though it depends on what exact act one is talking about. My religion differentiates between high (ceremonial/ritual) magic, and low (mundane/folk) magic, mainly by the processes by which they are done, and high magic usually entails invoking a deity for aid during a working.
Note- that was just to clarify my standpoint. If you wish to debate or discuss it, PM me or something. I know a bunch of people might disagree with me, and I don't want to see things become Mudpittish.


So, on topic: yes, I think petitionary prayer, or supplication, is morally sound. It is as sound as any other religious act aimed at humbly asking a higher being for aid or assistance in time of need. As long as the intentions of the supplicant are honourable and respectful, towards whatever deity you are petitioning, supplication holds no intrinsic negative value.