Christian Prayer=Why Bother?

[Caveat_lector_1]

I do think prayer is needed by me and not by God, but I do think prayer can have an effect.

I do believe that it is possible for prayer to have an effect on what God does as long as that is within God’s will. For example, I think that if I pray to God for help with something that I will, in some way, receive help. Now that doesn’t mean the problem will go POOF and disappear. It may just mean that I’m given what I need to help me overcome, accept, or endure, etc. However, I do think my receiving of this aid depends on me asking for it. I do not think God does this out of spite but instead out respect for my free will to ask for His aid or to not ask. I also think my prayers can have an effect on others as long as it is both within God’s will and their will.

I also think God knows what I need before I ask, but the asking is still important for my sake because of free will and it is of benefit to me because it helps me to find peace and brings me closer to Him.

[MissMossie]

@Dung Beetle

Bolding mine.

Do you think that that is the purpose of prayer?

Do you think that is its only effect?

I don’t believe, but I am curious, because the people I know who pray do think they are affecting the course of events.

No, I don’t think stress relief is the purpose of prayer. I don’t think it is the only effect of prayer. I suppose the main purpose of prayer, for me, is conversation with someone I love.

I’m not really sure how much prayer is affecting the course of events. Like I said, I don’t equate prayer with the wish you get when you blow out the candles on your birthday cake. If it was like that, there would be a lot more very rich people in the world. I think it definitely affects people’s mindsets, both people who pray and those they pray for. Beyond that, I don’t know.

[ivan_astikov]

I’m not big on the power of prayer myself, but I’ve often wondered whether the spires in churches were somehow meant to channel, and maybe amplify the message up ‘towards’ God? Is there any significance to those pointy bits on churches?

[Belrix]

Your relationship to God is supposed to be, among other analogies, like a marital relationship. I’m not going to google scripture right now but trust me, it’s in there. Romans, I think.

Anyway, if you were married, doesn’t your spouse still want to hear “I love you”?

Relationships take communication - it reinforces the relationship.

[Yeticus_Rex]

Let me add that prayer helps one compartmentalize things that seem out of their control, reflect inwardly on the good and bad things in their lives, and gives one a sense of inner peace. Well, at least for me it does.

[Yeticus_Rex]

@ivan astikov

I’m not big on the power of prayer myself, but I’ve often wondered whether the spires in churches were somehow meant to channel, and maybe amplify the message up ‘towards’ God? Is there any significance to those pointy bits on churches?

There’s huge antennas in there to get good reception for Notre Dame football.

[Lissla_Lissar]

Uh, no, I don’t think spires are supposed to be like antennae, although it’s an interesting idea.
One of my favourite quotes about prayer comes from an Eliis Peters novel. It’s quoted in Madeleine L’Engle’s Two-Part Invention. "He prayed as he breathed, forming no words and making no specific requests, only holding in his heart, like broken birds in cupped hands, all those people who were in stress or grief. I think it was Brother Cadfael doing the praying.

The section goes on, "And George MacDonald asks, 'And why should the good of anyone depend on the prayer of another? I can only reply, Why should my love be powerless to help another?"

I think MissMossie and FriarTed’s answers are excellent. Don’t know if I can add to them much. There are a lot of different types of prayer. Asking specifically for things is only one form. Most of my favourite prayers are unspecific- the Jesus prayer "Lord Jesus, only son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner’, and the prayer of Abbot Macarius, “Lord, as Thou wilt ad as Thou knowest, have mercy.”

[you_with_the_face]

Does anyone here believe that praying for someone else does anything?

Two kids have cancer. One kid lives in an atheistic home; no one prays for him. The other kid lives in a Christian home. Prayer ensues from the family, their church, their whole community.

Will the first kid be worst off than the second one? If yes, doesn’t that suck something awful? It’s like throwing a lifeline to the popular kid while leaving the less popular kid to drown…even though you are more than capable of saving them both.

If there’s no difference, does that mean that praying for little Johnny only benefits the person doing the praying and thus, is a self-serving activity?

“Thanks little Johnny! Your cancer has given me a reason to commune with THE LORD. Owe ya one.”

[meenie7]

@Lissla Lissar

One of my favourite quotes about prayer comes from an Eliis Peters novel. It’s quoted in Madeleine L’Engle’s Two-Part Invention. "He prayed as he breathed, forming no words and making no specific requests, only holding in his heart, like broken birds in cupped hands, all those people who were in stress or grief. I think it was Brother Cadfael doing the praying.

The section goes on, "And George MacDonald asks, 'And why should the good of anyone depend on the prayer of another? I can only reply, Why should my love be powerless to help another?"
*

Those quotes are really beautiful, and they actually encapsulate the “praying” I do in times of distress. I’m an atheist, so I don’t pray to God, but I sort of…project my love and good wishes to the person or people I’m thinking of. Realistically, I know this only helps me, but in situations where there is nothing you can do directly to help someone who needs help, all you can do is comfort yourself, and in those moments, I let a little believing into my heart that my love helps them, so I can feel like I’m helping.

[Caveat_lector_1]

@you with the face

Does anyone here believe that praying for someone else does anything?

Two kids have cancer. One kid lives in an atheistic home; no one prays for him. The other kid lives in a Christian home. Prayer ensues from the family, their church, their whole community.

Will the first kid be worst off than the second one? If yes, doesn’t that suck something awful? It’s like throwing a lifeline to the popular kid while leaving the less popular kid to drown…even though you are more than capable of saving them both.

If there’s no difference, does that mean that praying for little Johnny only benefits the person doing the praying and thus, is a self-serving activity?

First off I believe just because God does do agrees to something one way does not mean He can only do it that way. I think He would take into account the circumstances of that person. Like I said before God doesn’t require prayer but it is still asked of us. The atheistic child would have, though no fault of his own, not have the recourse to prayer and I think that would be taken into account.

Also you would be surprised how many prayers are very general. “For the sick.” “For those with cancer.” “For those in need of prayer.” These are often said because we know there are people without anyone to pray for them.

[you_with_the_face]

@Caveat lector

The atheistic child would have, though no fault of his own, not have the recourse to prayer and I think that would be taken into account.

But I can’t think of any situation that really sounds fair, that’s the thing. It doesn’t seem right to me that prayers would work like names on a petition. Like if you have 100 people praying for you, it’s more likely that God will hear than if you have 1 or 2.

Also you would be surprised how many prayers are very general. “For the sick.” “For those with cancer.” “For those in need of prayer.” These are often said because we know there are people without anyone to pray for them.

Do people really believe God would be indifferent towards the sick if they didn’t make prayers for them, or do they knowingly say their prayers as a psychological exercise?

[j666]

@Kalhoun

I do, however, think that LOTS of people believe that if they ask god for something in the form of a prayer, he hears them and reacts. I think these people have a completely different idea of the purpose of prayer. I believe that THEY believe they are communicating with god personally.

I was taught intercessionary prayer is not prayer; the most one can ask of God is the strength to accept the will of God.

That is, for one’s self. One can offer prayers for mercy for others.

[monavis]

@MissMossie

I’ll echo Friar Ted in saying that prayer is for the person praying way more than it is for God, although I do believe that God likes to hear that we love him* and prayer is one way to communicate that.

I participate in lots of different types of prayers and all of them are done for different reasons. Most of my day to day prayer is free form. I may think or say actual words, or I may just be sitting and being with God. It feels a bit like sitting with a close friend, that same sort of comfort you get being around someone who knows you as you know yourself. I can tell God my worries and I trust that what needs to happen will happen, that, to quote Ani diFranco, “all of these dark colors are part of some bigger color scheme.” I try not to look at prayer as a birthday cake wish, where if I do it right I’ll get what I want. In darker times, prayer is just telling God what I’m going through and trusting that he won’t give me anything bigger than I can handle.

When I’m with the Benedictine Sisters of Virginia (technically, I live with them, but I’ve been away for a month to help with a new baby), I pray the Liturgy of the Hours. Three times a day, we gather as a community and pray a combination of psalms, scripture, and songs. At the surface, the psalms are the biggest part of the worship, but I think community trumps them when you get into the prayer. The Liturgy of the Hours is also called “The Prayer of the Church”. Roman Catholic (and perhaps other flavors of Catholics and Christians), priests, religious, and laity, pray the same prayers throughout their days around the world. Within the prayers, there’s a beautiful rhythm and a feeling of connectivity with a greater whole. That alone is a pretty powerful feeling. Then there are the words themselves. It’s a rare day when there isn’t some line from a psalm that hits me in a new way, as if God had planned that I would read it just when I needed to.

Then there are formal, usually individual prayers, like the Rosary. Just praying one mystery of the Rosary gets you fifty-three Hail Mary’s and large handfuls of Our Father’s, Glory Be’s, and Fatima Prayers, plus a few extra opening and closing its thrown in for good measure. Why on earth would I want to pray all of that? Same reason as everything else; it feels good. Prayers like the Rosary or the Divine Mercy Chaplet have a definite meditative quality to them. I imagine that if you studied my brain waves while I prayed them they’d look a lot like they do while I knit. I physically get a nice buzz from them. There’s a definite spiritual quality to praying those formal prayers on my own, but it is a bit different each time I sit down to pray. Sometimes, it’s a deeper understanding of some part of my faith. Sometimes, it’s comfort or relief from worry. Sometimes, it just helps me to feel close to my deceased grandmother who loved the Rosary.

Probably the last big way that I pray is spontaneous prayer throughout the day. Most often, this is in traffic. If there is a lousy driver near me on the road, I’ll say a quick prayer asking God to protect that driver and whoever he or she might come in contact with. I have no idea if it does anything for the driver, but it sure as heck keeps my stress level down. I have trouble being mad at people I pray for.

Another spontaneous prayer I say many times throughout an average day is a quick, “Thank you, Jesus!” when something good happens. That one is because I believe that God wants us to be basically happy and during those times when it’s easier to see that I try to give thanks. Again, this is more for me than for God. God knows when I’m thankful and when I’m not, but the act of saying, “Thank you, Jesus!” helps to keep me in a God-centered mindset. If I’m thinking about God, God’s plan for me becomes easier to discern (note: easier does not always equal easy) and I’m better able to live that basically happy life that God planned for me.

So, yeah, what Friar Ted said, but in a longer, more rambling way.

*No, I don’t think God is a man, but the male gender is more commonly associated with God and is less jarring to read, so I’m going to go with it instead of either female specific pronouns or not using any pronouns. Not using any pronouns is just too darn repetitive.

Since God knows your thoughts and intentions than you are just satisfying your own need to believe.

As a parent without the powers of a God I strive to do all that is good for my children,they ask me and I respond because I do not know their future, but an all knowing Father would not need one to beg or be thank for as he could read your heart.

Monavis

[monavis]

@Belrix

Your relationship to God is supposed to be, among other analogies, like a marital relationship. I’m not going to google scripture right now but trust me, it’s in there. Romans, I think.

Anyway, if you were married, doesn’t your spouse still want to hear “I love you”?

Relationships take communication - it reinforces the relationship.

The spouse doesn’t know the mates mind so it is a lot different than a relationship with a supreme being.

A relationship with some one you only heard of through another being is like praying to a carrot or a rock, if you get what you want you could say carrot (or rock) got me this, if you didn’t you could say rock,( or carrot) said no.

Monavis

[Koxinga]

The problem with this discussion is if you don’t believe the basic premises of Christianity, how can you be satisfied with any of the expanations given here? (meenie7 being a notable, and may I say lovely exception?)

You might as well start a thread on “Communion=Why Bother?” or “Going to confession=Why Bother?” :shrug: IOW, why bother asking the question? There’s a lot to criticize about Christianity as it’s been practiced, but I don’t think anyone praying is going to hurt you. If you don’t get it, why not just leave them be?

(ETA: Of course, if you’re genuinely curious and would like to understand, even from just an anthropological standpoint, that’s one thing. But I don’t get the impression that that’s the rationale behind most of the disparaging responses here.)

[Kalhoun]

@j666

I was taught intercessionary prayer is not prayer; the most one can ask of God is the strength to accept the will of God.

That is, for one’s self. One can offer prayers for mercy for others.

What a disappointment that must be!

[Cat_Whisperer]

@you with the face

Does anyone here believe that praying for someone else does anything?

Two kids have cancer. One kid lives in an atheistic home; no one prays for him. The other kid lives in a Christian home. Prayer ensues from the family, their church, their whole community.

Will the first kid be worst off than the second one? If yes, doesn’t that suck something awful? It’s like throwing a lifeline to the popular kid while leaving the less popular kid to drown…even though you are more than capable of saving them both.

If there’s no difference, does that mean that praying for little Johnny only benefits the person doing the praying and thus, is a self-serving activity?

“Thanks little Johnny! Your cancer has given me a reason to commune with THE LORD. Owe ya one.”

I believe that the house with the prayer might actually have a healthier child; not because of God intervening on their behalf, but because of the placebo effect and the power of positive thinking (two very real aspects of sickness and health). I’m not saying you can wish your diseases away with pretending they aren’t there, but people with a positive attitude do better overall with diseases than pessimistic people. Keeping your spirits up is, in my opinion, a significant part of any treatment plan.

[Belrix]

@monavis

The spouse doesn’t know the mates mind so it is a lot different than a relationship with a supreme being.

A relationship with some one you only heard of through another being is like praying to a carrot or a rock, if you get what you want you could say carrot (or rock) got me this, if you didn’t you could say rock,( or carrot) said no.

Monavis

My ex-Father-in-Law once reportedly told his wife. “I love you. If that changes I’ll let you know.” A couple years later, he told her that changed and he no longer loved her.

Until that time, based on his word, she should’ve known that she was loved. Right? She know her husband loved her. Don’t you think she wanted to hear it anyway?

Besides, it’s in prayer, in that quiet time when you’re listening, that you’re supposed to hear God’s will, too. Prayer is a deliberate act.

I know this’ll seem silly to an unbeliever but it’s through prayer that it became clear to be that I should delete my porn collection from my computer. In the daily hustle and bustle of life, in the noise from that comes in from society, it’s hard to hear that quieter message. This porn on my computer was damaging my relationship with my wife. I would’ve damage my kids if they should’ve found it. It was unhealthy and I think that God wanted me to get that message.

I believe I finally stopped rationalizing it and did the right thing.

I know this’ll open me up to ridicule, but I’ve had plenty of that this past 24 hours so I’ll just go ahead and do it. Humans are sexual beings, the women willing posed, it’s not like I was having an affair, blah, blah, blah. I used the arguments while rationalizing to keep it.

I’m not sure what you mean by “a relationship with some one you only heard of through another being”. My relationship with God is direct, not through an intercessor.

[Kalhoun]

@featherlou

I believe that the house with the prayer might actually have a healthier child; not because of God intervening on their behalf, but because of the placebo effect and the power of positive thinking (two very real aspects of sickness and health). I’m not saying you can wish your diseases away with pretending they aren’t there, but people with a positive attitude do better overall with diseases than pessimistic people. Keeping your spirits up is, in my opinion, a significant part of any treatment plan.

People who don’t believe and who don’t pray can have positive attitudes. Atheism doesn’t equal pessimism.

[Yeticus_Rex]

@you with the face

Does anyone here believe that praying for someone else does anything?

Two kids have cancer. One kid lives in an atheistic home; no one prays for him. The other kid lives in a Christian home. Prayer ensues from the family, their church, their whole community.

Will the first kid be worst off than the second one? If yes, doesn’t that suck something awful? It’s like throwing a lifeline to the popular kid while leaving the less popular kid to drown…even though you are more than capable of saving them both.

If there’s no difference, does that mean that praying for little Johnny only benefits the person doing the praying and thus, is a self-serving activity?

“Thanks little Johnny! Your cancer has given me a reason to commune with THE LORD. Owe ya one.”

What an assumption! I (and generally speaking, most Christians) never in my whole life asked for a child’s religious background before I decided to pray or not pray for them. Kids are kids. You pray for the wellness of all kids in all countries.