# Believers: Why are you so sure of your beliefs? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 21, 2010, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believers-why-are-you-so-sure-of-your-beliefs/543965 "2010-06-21T07:47:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believers-why-are-you-so-sure-of-your-beliefs/543965/101 "2010-06-27T12:53:00Z")
I suspect God answers all payers, I also suspect in the vast majority of cases, the answer is ‘no.’ But of course prayer has a number of other uses than getting the Trifecta at Saratoga. It provides comfort when we are in pain, it encourages strength in the face of evil and provides contemplation of the pain of others. Excuse me, I have more or less said all that I can on this subject. I may or may not check in again. I am not sure of my faith. Faith is the belief in things not seen. It is nice others are strong in their faith in the Big Bang and protons and whatnot, but I admit I may very well be wrong. ---
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believers-why-are-you-so-sure-of-your-beliefs/543965/102 "2010-06-27T12:55:32Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > I’m sure there have been thousands - nay, millions - who have been in a situation where all they had left as a plea for help was prayer. And it did them no good whatsoever, unless you god-worshippers think he took special attention of the prayer and gave them a consolation spot on his comfy cloud for all eternity. And I am sure there have been millions whose prayers were answered. There are no cites for this, only opinions. I can think of many times my prayers were answered. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believers-why-are-you-so-sure-of-your-beliefs/543965/103 "2010-06-27T13:17:36Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > That’s good, I like it, but I don’t think it will satisfy the non-believers. Myself, I have experienced God, stood in the presense of God, along with millions of others. But it is not enough for the non-believers, they are too fearful to accept any evidence, even when surrounded by it. > > From a position of fear, no amount of proof is sufficient, > from a position of love, no proof is necessary. I thought you only got to stand in the presence of God _after_ you died? ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believers-why-are-you-so-sure-of-your-beliefs/543965/104 "2010-06-27T18:40:27Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > And I am sure there have been millions whose prayers were answered. There are no cites for this, only opinions. > > I can think of many times my prayers were answered. And why do you think he answers yours, and not those of someone praying for their life? ---
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believers-why-are-you-so-sure-of-your-beliefs/543965/105 "2010-06-27T19:14:09Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > And why do you think he answers yours, and not those of someone praying for their life? All prayers are answered. It is not for me to say in what way they are answered, If it were people would pray to me. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believers-why-are-you-so-sure-of-your-beliefs/543965/106 "2010-06-27T19:38:15Z")
> [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > I am not sure of my faith. It is after all a ‘belief in things not seen.’ No, it’s not. It’s belief in things in which there is no evidence for. You know this though, right? > [@](#): > > I have no more proof of God’s existence than I do that something called a ‘quark’ exists. I take them on faith. > [@](#): > > we can predict the behavior of both God and quarks and test our predictions with observations. > [@](#): > > I simply believe in protons. And God. > [@](#): > > I observed the effects of protons this morning. You don’t see the contradictions? If you can make predictions on the behavior of quarks, then logically they must exist. If you observed the effects of protons, they also must logically exist. No faith needed. Or do you really believe if something can’t be seen with your eyes, belief in this thing is faith based because other forms of evidence besides direct visual evidence don’t count? Is your belief in wind faith based too? When asked by more than one poster about how to predict the behavior of God you avoided answering the question, so I’m guessing you realize that’s bullshit. If not, tell us how you can predict the behavior of God without using circular reasoning. ---
**Author:** ![Gustav](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/919ad9/32.png) [@Gustav](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gustav)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believers-why-are-you-so-sure-of-your-beliefs/543965/107 "2010-06-27T19:59:56Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > All prayers are answered. It is not for me to say in what way they are answered, If it were people would pray to me. I guess god just hates them for some mysterious reason? ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believers-why-are-you-so-sure-of-your-beliefs/543965/108 "2010-06-27T20:06:41Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > All prayers are answered. And what do you base this statement on? Can you qualify this thought with anything that resembles reason? ---
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believers-why-are-you-so-sure-of-your-beliefs/543965/109 "2010-06-27T21:03:19Z")
> [@Gustav](#): > > I guess god just hates them for some mysterious reason? Hates who? What for? You lost me. ---
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believers-why-are-you-so-sure-of-your-beliefs/543965/110 "2010-06-27T21:05:18Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > And what do you base this statement on? Can you qualify this thought with anything that resembles reason? Probably not. I don’t know the mind of God. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believers-why-are-you-so-sure-of-your-beliefs/543965/111 "2010-06-27T21:14:24Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > Probably not. I don’t know the mind of God. He’s not asking about what’s in God’s mind; he’s asking what’s in yours. YOU claimed that all prayers are answered. What’s your reason for believing this? ---
**Author:** ![Gustav](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/919ad9/32.png) [@Gustav](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gustav)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believers-why-are-you-so-sure-of-your-beliefs/543965/112 "2010-06-27T21:39:44Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > Hates who? What for? You lost me. I don’t know what for, but every day people pray for god to spare their lives and cure their illnesses and god answers “NO”, and they die. God is omnipotent, he could cure them with less than a thought. Why does he grant some requests and deny others? I can see no other conclusion than he must hate them for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believers-why-are-you-so-sure-of-your-beliefs/543965/113 "2010-06-27T22:14:57Z")
> [@x-ray\_vision](#): > > He’s not asking about what’s in God’s mind; he’s asking what’s in yours. YOU claimed that all prayers are answered. What’s your reason for believing this? I guess the most obvious answer is that I saw it happen. I lived it, what more can I say. ---
**Author:** ![lekatt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lekatt/32/7269_2.png) [@lekatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lekatt)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believers-why-are-you-so-sure-of-your-beliefs/543965/114 "2010-06-27T22:17:59Z")
> [@Gustav](#): > > I don’t know what for, but every day people pray for god to spare their lives and cure their illnesses and god answers “NO”, and they die. God is omnipotent, he could cure them with less than a thought. Why does he grant some requests and deny others? I can see no other conclusion than he must hate them for some reason. I can see many reasons, but why guess, I don’t know the mind of God. No one dies, they just go from one dimension to another. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believers-why-are-you-so-sure-of-your-beliefs/543965/115 "2010-06-27T22:20:29Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > I saw it happen. I lived it, what more can I say. You can tell us how it is possible that you saw Him answer all prayers. Also, tell us if you received everything you ever prayed for. If not, in what way did He communicate to you that the answer is that in these circumstances that the answer is “no”. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believers-why-are-you-so-sure-of-your-beliefs/543965/116 "2010-06-27T22:20:48Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > I can see many reasons, but why guess… Why stop now? > [@lekatt](#): > > No one dies, they just go from one dimension to another. You see? It’s not that hard at all. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believers-why-are-you-so-sure-of-your-beliefs/543965/117 "2010-06-27T22:21:31Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > No one dies, they just go from one dimension to another. How do you know that that’s true for everyone? ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believers-why-are-you-so-sure-of-your-beliefs/543965/118 "2010-06-27T22:36:45Z")
> [@lekatt](#): > > I guess the most obvious answer is that I saw it happen. I lived it, what more can I say. I prayed for the sun to rise today, _and it did_! Hallelujah! ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believers-why-are-you-so-sure-of-your-beliefs/543965/119 "2010-06-27T23:01:03Z")
> [@Bearflag70](#): > > I prayed for the sun to rise today, _and it did_! Hallelujah! On behalf of all life on Earth, thank you very much. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believers-why-are-you-so-sure-of-your-beliefs/543965/120 "2010-06-27T23:08:32Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > On behalf of all life on Earth, thank you very much. You might point to the fact that someone else prayed for the sun _not_ to rise as evidence that prayer is meaningless in light of the fact that the sun indeed rose. However, the truth is that the person trying to pray the sun down did, in fact, have the prayer answered; the answer was no. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believers-why-are-you-so-sure-of-your-beliefs/543965.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/believers-why-are-you-so-sure-of-your-beliefs/543965.md?page=7)