Prayer

[POI]

For Debate: Is prayer just talking to yourself? If not, why not? Sure, prayer may make one feel satisfied/other, but there is likely no agency, on the other side, facilitating such desired response(s).

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People pray to many differing god(s) and/or other. Statistically speaking, many god(s) and/or other aren't answering, as many of these god(s) and/or other likely do not even exist. Hence, at least in part, many are merely talking to themselves in prayer. If many of the desired result(s) can happen in prayer, without any agency actually responding, because such agency does not exist, then it's quite plausible this is the case for all prayer.

[POI]

Resurrecting an oldie but a goodie.... Is prayer just talking to yourself? If not, why not?

[1213]

...Is prayer just talking to yourself? If not, why not?

No, because it is not addressed to oneself.

[POI]

...Is prayer just talking to yourself? If not, why not?

No, because it is not addressed to oneself.

Based upon your rationale, anyone who thinks they are not talking to themselves in prayer, are not talking to themselves in prayer?

[Athetotheist]

[Replying to POI in post #1]

If many of the desired result(s) can happen in prayer, without any agency actually responding, because such agency does not exist, then it's quite plausible this is the case for all prayer.

The likelihood of getting a desired result from prayer must be taken into account. The less likely the desired result is to occur at random, the more likely it is that some extraordinary agency brings it about.

[1213]

...Is prayer just talking to yourself? If not, why not?

No, because it is not addressed to oneself.

Based upon your rationale, anyone who thinks they are not talking to themselves in prayer, are not talking to themselves in prayer?

Some times it happens that a person is for example in a store with a friend. And at one point the other doesn't notices that his friend is not next to him and starts to speak to the friend without him hearing it. Obviously he was talking to his friend, the friend was just not there to listen it. In this case the person was not talking to himself, but to the friend, who just was no there listening.

In the case of God, there are two options, either God is listening, or He is not listening. Obviously atheists think that there is no God listening. Even then the prayer would be addressed to God and person would not be talking to himself, only that there would be no one listening. That is why I think "talking to themselves" is not a good way to say it, because the speech is addressed to someone else. It would be more accurate to say, "God is not listening", but then obviously the person making the claim should be able to prove he is right.

[POI]

...Is prayer just talking to yourself? If not, why not?

No, because it is not addressed to oneself.

Based upon your rationale, anyone who thinks they are not talking to themselves in prayer, are not talking to themselves in prayer?

Some times it happens that a person is for example in a store with a friend. And at one point the other doesn't notices that his friend is not next to him and starts to speak to the friend without him hearing it. Obviously he was talking to his friend, the friend was just not there to listen it. In this case the person was not talking to himself, but to the friend, who just was no there listening.

In the case of God, there are two options, either God is listening, or He is not listening. Obviously atheists think that there is no God listening. Even then the prayer would be addressed to God and person would not be talking to himself, only that there would be no one listening. That is why I think "talking to themselves" is not a good way to say it, because the speech is addressed to someone else. It would be more accurate to say, "God is not listening", but then obviously the person making the claim should be able to prove he is right.

Well, until you can demonstrate that God exists, I say prayer is possibly talking to yourself, because there is possibly no god there to listen. The onus is on YOU to demonstrate a god, any god(s), as you assert that one exists. Alternatively, I do not need to demonstrate humans exist, for which others talk to.

[SiNcE_1985]

For Debate: Is prayer just talking to yourself? If not, why not? Sure, prayer may make one feel satisfied/other, but there is likely no agency, on the other side, facilitating such desired response(s).

So, basically, to sum it up..

If God exists, he just may answer your prayers.

However, if God doesn't exist, he won't answer your prayers.

Wow, never have I seen such knowledge, wisdom, and insight...all on one thread.

[AquinasForGod]

[Replying to POI in post #1]

You wouldn't believe why not, nor should you until you knew God was real.

[POI]

[Replying to POI in post #1]

You wouldn't believe why not, nor should you until you knew God was real.

How does one know God is real?

[AquinasForGod]

[Replying to POI in post #1]

You wouldn't believe why not, nor should you until you knew God was real.

How does one know God is real?

By God showing you.