Why do we pray?

[marco]

We hear of angels forever praising God, which suggests a horrible existence. Jesus told us to point out, when we pray, that God is in heaven and request bread on a daily basis as well as forgiveness for anything we do wrong.

As an example of prayer we can look at the prayers offered to God in the Holocaust. Were they answered, and if not, what was the point? Perhaps prayer is best when it coincidentally hits a success button: we want sun and we get it.

Has prayer a purpose?

Is it just a waste of time?

[marco]

[Replying to post 1 by marco]

If we are in extreme difficulties and our Father is watching, should it be necessary to use the formula: "God, I need help" ?

There is a prayer, the divine praises, which just states: Blessed be God, blessed be his holy name and so on. Poor Muslims were told to pray 100 times a day, which would have involved not eating perhaps. Muhammad bargained and got the figure down to five, which devout Muslims observe to this day, in the modern 21st century.

It seems such a silly relic from a bygone age, whatever our religion.

[Tcg]

We hear of angels forever praising God, which suggests a horrible existence. Jesus told us to point out, when we pray, that God is in heaven and request bread on a daily basis as well as forgiveness for anything we do wrong.

As an example of prayer we can look at the prayers offered to God in the Holocaust. Were they answered, and if not, what was the point? Perhaps prayer is best when it coincidentally hits a success button: we want sun and we get it.

Has prayer a purpose?

Is it just a waste of time?

Years ago, I was involved in a Christian young adult group. During one Thursday night gathering, we took prayer requests before offering our supplication to God. One young lady suggested we should pray that it wouldn't rain the following Saturday as we would be going on a canoe trip that day.

That summer happened to include one of the worst droughts our area had ever experienced. I was keenly aware of this as I worked at an orchard and saw the drought's effects on a daily basis. I suggested we pray for rain. My suggestion just about brought the proceedings to an end. Expressions of confusion spread through the group.

Eventually we regained momentum and prayed. The overwhelming majority prayed that it wouldn't rain. God listened to the canoeists. It didn't rain for over a month. The farmers lost millions in revenue, but our happy little group enjoyed a rain free Saturday.

Perhaps we were better Christians than the farmers.

Or maybe, just maybe, our prayers, and those of the farmers, had absolutely no effect on the weather that summer.


Tcg

[Clownboat]

We hear of angels forever praising God, which suggests a horrible existence. Jesus told us to point out, when we pray, that God is in heaven and request bread on a daily basis as well as forgiveness for anything we do wrong.

As an example of prayer we can look at the prayers offered to God in the Holocaust. Were they answered, and if not, what was the point? Perhaps prayer is best when it coincidentally hits a success button: we want sun and we get it.

Has prayer a purpose?

Is it just a waste of time?

Prayer seems to be a mechanism where people can feel like they are doing something to help another (for example) without actually doing anything at all. (Besides the voiced prayer obviously).

If things go bad... God works in mysterious ways or blame Satan.
If things go well... they can pat themselves on the back for invoking help from a god.

It has a purpose, it's just a very selfish purpose.

It agrivates me to see a friend on Facebook for example going through a hard time.
The Christians offer to pray and the unbelievers offer to bring them meals.

Only one person has done anything helpful, but they both get to feel like they helped.

Just think how much better this world would be if instead of people saying they would pray for you about your scenario, they actually got off their butts and did something to actually help. (Obviously there are exceptions and there are religous people that not only pray, but also help. Kudos to them of course. They would probably make a lovely atheists/agnostic/ignostic if they were not already religious).

[1213]

...
Has prayer a purpose?
...

When I pray, it has a purpose. I want to thank God, because I am thankful to Him. If I would ask something, the purpose would be to get what I ask. But I have learned that God’s will is better than my, so I ask that God’s will happens in my life.

[marco]

Or maybe, just maybe, our prayers, and those of the farmers, had absolutely no effect on the weather that summer.

Coincidence is God's best accomplice. From earliest times an answered prayer brings a bit of belief. I am told there are good prayers and there are bad prayers, but neither sort seems guaranteed an answer. The pious will say all prayers are heard, but many are given no immediate answer, even those that desperately need something right away.

When a church crashes to the ground killing worshippers, the living step outside and pray for the assistance that did not come. Only the fool claims there's no God. The wise view miles of destruction and thank God for his mercy, for somewhere in the debris a baby is crying and is saved by the grace of God.

[marco]

They would probably make a lovely atheist/agnostic/ignostic if they were not already religious).

Prayer is the straw that the drowning man clutches at. As a boy I was directed to pray for the conversion of Russia, and when light appeared there, it was God's work. But God seems to have reversed his decision.

A child loses a limb and with medical help his life is saved. Prayers of thanksgiving are offered to God, not to the doctors. God took only an arm when it could have been a life. What a work of art is man!

[marco]

...
Has prayer a purpose?
...

When I pray, it has a purpose. I want to thank God, because I am thankful to Him. If I would ask something, the purpose would be to get what I ask. But I have learned that God’s will is better than my, so I ask that God’s will happens in my life.

That is very noble, and perhaps cautious, 1213. In what way would God's will NOT happen in your life? If one is stung by a wasp, should one thank God it was not a malaria-carrying mosquito? In life tragedies come as often as benefits. Some poor souls have more than their fair share of the former: in what way should they pray? Would it make the slightest difference?

[OnceConvinced]

God always answers prayer:
If you get what you want it's a yes.
If you don't get what you want then it's
- no
- wait


In other words, whatever will be will be.

If you are good and get what you prayed for then it's "God's blessing"
If you are good and don't get what you prayed for, then it's "being tested".
If you are bad and get what you prayed for then, "God's grace is upon you"
If you are bad and you don't get what you prayed for, it's because you are being punished.

In other words, whatever will be will be.

If prayer fails you can always make these excuses:

-You didn’t have enough faith.
-You asked with the wrong motives.
-There is sin you have not dealt with.
-The timing is not right.
-It was not God’s will.
-God had better things in store

In other words, whatever will be will be.


Has prayer a purpose?

You can make up all sorts of purposes for it, but all it really accomplishes is to make you feel better about yourself and make you think you are helping when really you're doing nothing. It can work as a placebo affect.



Is it just a waste of time?

Well apart from the placebo affect and the boosting your self esteem, courage, inner strength, peace, mood - all of which any type of meditation can achieve, then it is a waste of time. There is no real way to be able to tell whether it works or not. The only way you could really do that is go back in time, don't pray (or do pray) and then see if you get the same result.

[OnceConvinced]

When I pray, it has a purpose. I want to thank God, because I am thankful to Him.

Is there a purpose in thanking him? Does it empower him? Boost his ego?

If I would ask something, the purpose would be to get what I ask. But I have learned that God’s will is better than my, so I ask that God’s will happens in my life.

So is there a chance that his will will not happen in your life?
How does he ensure his will happens without violating your freewill?