Prayer is a waste.

[Tymygy]

The irrational and nonsensical thought of a futuristic greater purpose dilutes us from taking action for what truly matters. An atheist like me, will take action rather then say a prayer and hope for the best. (see my signature)

Maybe for some people it is a last resort, when there is absolutely nothing they can do, they pray. but for those who pray, and who have opportunity to do something yet don't I find troubling. They place everything on a God, who (occording to my experience) has never done anything. I've prayed so much in my life, and maybe 10% got answered..? And of that 10% I can relate to naturual phenomena.

So what are peoples views of prayer here? Any remarks on my OP?

[JehovahsWitness]

You neglect to acknowledge that many of the non-theists here, myself included, were once Christians. I prayed. I believed.

To put it bluntly, the bible indicates that those that are in false religions are actually not worshipping God but demons (1 Cor 10:20). God ignores or blanks the prayers of the wicked so it is not surprising that many in this position do not have any genuine prayful experience and eventually lose heart (since they are effectively praying to thin air) and become atheists. In short, those without a good heart condition are off of God's "radar" their prayers are indeed a useless waste of time. Some get the message in the end and a) seek the true God or b) don't. Isaiah 1:15

http://www.watchtower.org/e/bh/article_17.htm

[McCulloch]

To put it bluntly, the bible indicates that those that are in false religions are actually not worshipping God but demons (1 Cor 10:20). God ignores or blanks the prayers of the wicked so it is not surprising that many in this position do not have any genuine prayful experience and eventually lose heart (since they are effectively praying to thin air) and become atheists. In short, those without a good heart condition are off of God's "radar" their prayers are indeed a useless waste of time. Some get the message in the end and a) seek the true God or b) don't. Isaiah 1:15

According to you I must not have a good heart. How do you tell the difference? I thought that I was seeking the true God and even now, I believe that I am seeking truth. God, if he exists, has not revealed to me any convincing arguments about his existence or about his will for humanity or even his will for me. What do I conclude? That if God exists, he does not want me to know about him?

[JehovahsWitness]

What do I conclude? That if God exists, he does not want me to know about him?

Yes.

This puts me in mind of the words of Jesus. Jesus often did not speak plainly in a way that made his meaning abudently clear to anyone that heard him. Matthew 13 verses 11 through 13

"To you it is granted to understand the sacred secrets of the kingdom of the heavens, but to those people it is not granted. 12 For whoever has, more will be given him and he will be made to abound; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 13 This is why I speak to them by the use of illustrations, because, looking, they look in vain, and hearing, they hear in vain, neither do they get the sense of it; 14 and toward them the prophecy of Isaiah is having fulfillment, which says, By hearing, you will hear but by no means get the sense of it; and, looking, you will look but by no means see. 15 For the heart of this people has grown unreceptive, and with their ears they have heard without response, and they have shut their eyes; that they might never see with their eyes and hear with their ears and get the sense of it with their hearts and turn back, and I heal them. [end quote]

So from Jesus' words it seems he was deliberately obscuring the meaning of his message from those he judged as unworthy of the truths therein. It's clear Jesus was looking for a certain type of person that had the needed qualities and deliberately excluded others from understanding. God does not bless wicked hearts with spiritual light.

The situation is exactly the same today. Obviously I am not God so I cannot judge anyone (its not my job) but the bible is clear, God rejects the wicked, they will not be "granted" spiritual communion with him and their prayers are useless.

[McCulloch]

What do I conclude? That if God exists, he does not want me to know about him?

Yes.

[...]

The situation is exactly the same today. Obviously I am not God so I cannot judge anyone (its not my job) but the bible is clear, God rejects the wicked, they will not be "granted" spiritual communion with him and their prayers are useless.

I must then be quite deluded and evil. I only think that I seek truth, but according to you, if I don't find the same truth that you have found, then it must be that God is hiding it from me, because I am unworthy and wicked and you are worthy and good. OK, got it. Thanks.

[JehovahsWitness]

OK, got it. Thanks.

You're welcome.

[Sneezing_Cat]

According to studies, 2.3% of the world's population consists of individuals who profess "atheism, skepticism, disbelief, or irreligion, including the militantly antireligious".

http://www.conservapedia.com/Atheist_Population

Also, only 33% of the world's population is christian.

http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html


So, 67% of the world's population is considered "evil and wicked" by god. Why such a high number? What's the point of this?

[flitzerbiest]

You neglect to acknowledge that many of the non-theists here, myself included, were once Christians. I prayed. I believed.

To put it bluntly, the bible indicates that those that are in false religions are actually not worshipping God but demons (1 Cor 10:20). God ignores or blanks the prayers of the wicked so it is not surprising that many in this position do not have any genuine prayful experience and eventually lose heart (since they are effectively praying to thin air) and become atheists.

It is not unusual for people to demonize those who disagree with them, but it is usually not this explicit. In this case, many of us can testify to the fact that you are simply mistaken--we were true believers, we had genuine experience of prayer and worship, we were indistinguishable from other devout people. We weren't "wicked" or demon-possessed or any other such thing.

[JehovahsWitness]

--we were true believers, we had genuine experience of prayer and worship, we were indistinguishable from other devout people. We weren't "wicked" or demon-possessed or any other such thing.

You are expressing an opinion based purely subjective belief. I respect people's beliefs of course but it must be recognised that your beliefs are not a universally recognised "truth" just what you *believe*. Belief does not make something true, no matter how deeply convinced you are of its truth. This is not to denegrade your beliefs, just pointing out its limitations.

Respect,
JW

[McCulloch]

Belief does not make something true, no matter how deeply convinced you are of its truth.

Can I remind you of this later on?

[fewwillfindit]

Belief does not make something true, no matter how deeply convinced you are of its truth.

Can I remind you of this later on?

LOL. He stepped right into that one. Definitely not the thing to say around here.