# Poll: Ever prayed really hard for God to reveal himself? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 17, 2014, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-ever-prayed-really-hard-for-god-to-reveal-himself/686329 "2014-04-17T07:29:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![JohnClay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@JohnClay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnClay)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2014, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-ever-prayed-really-hard-for-god-to-reveal-himself/686329/101 "2014-04-19T23:41:04Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > But what about the story where Harry Potter spoke to serpents in their language?.. Yes I believe Jesus being tempted by the devil is only a story like those others but remember that in stories it doesn’t matter that in real life it is unlikely that God would perform miracles. In Harry Potter books they can do magic in the muggle realms even though those events couldn’t happen in real life. > [@](#): > > And 2 Chronicles 15:11 says: _“At that time they sacrificed to the Lord seven hundred head of cattle and seven thousand sheep and goats from the plunder they had brought back.”_ Granted, I don’t have any clue what that means, but if you’re gonna quote randomly from the Bible, two can play at that game. //rolleyes// That verse is interesting… anyway this thread about about God answering or hiding from people and so are those Psalm verses. ---
**Author:** ![JohnClay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@JohnClay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnClay)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2014, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-ever-prayed-really-hard-for-god-to-reveal-himself/686329/102 "2014-04-19T23:50:19Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > …In your last post, you use Scripture again, to suggest why such a plea might be imeffective. Again, it is circular reasoning to resort to Scripture in deciding one way or the other whether to pray about it. I’m not saying those verses prove that God exists - just that based on the Bible it isn’t surprising that people’s prayers for God to reveal himself aren’t answered. ---
**Author:** ![randompattern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@randompattern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randompattern)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2014, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-ever-prayed-really-hard-for-god-to-reveal-himself/686329/103 "2014-04-20T00:43:46Z")
Before I was born I have no recollection of what, if anything was happening to my soul (if I even have one to begin with). Why should I be worried about what happens to this supposed soul after I’m dead? Anyway, god didn’t reveal when I was a believer, so I don’t see the point in trying now. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2014, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-ever-prayed-really-hard-for-god-to-reveal-himself/686329/104 "2014-04-20T00:51:34Z")
> [@randompattern](#): > > Before I was born I have no recollection of what, if anything was happening to my soul (if I even have one to begin with). > > Why should I be worried about what happens to this supposed soul after I’m dead? > > Anyway, god didn’t reveal when I was a believer, so I don’t see the point in trying now. And even if I _did_ pray “just in case,” god would still look into my innermost being and see me telling him to suck my dick. So why bother? ---
**Author:** ![JohnClay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@JohnClay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnClay)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2014, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-ever-prayed-really-hard-for-god-to-reveal-himself/686329/105 "2014-04-20T01:30:30Z")
> [@randompattern](#): > > Before I was born I have no recollection of what, if anything was happening to my soul (if I even have one to begin with). In Christianity the soul doesn’t exist before you’re born! (Though it does if reincarnation is true) > [@](#): > > Why should I be worried about what happens to this supposed soul after I’m dead? Because if Christianity is true you are conscious of things after you’re dead - and you might go to hell and hell matters since it involves severe pain. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2014, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-ever-prayed-really-hard-for-god-to-reveal-himself/686329/106 "2014-04-20T02:08:03Z")
> [@JohnClay](#): > > In Christianity the soul doesn’t exist before you’re born! (Though it does if reincarnation is true) Some believers in reincarnation believe that your dreams are in fact memories of your past lives. Though in my opinion, we can’t all have been John Adams. > [@JohnClay](#): > > Because if Christianity is true you are conscious of things after you’re dead - and you might go to hell and hell matters since it involves severe pain. The existence of Hell, as well as God himself, makes no logical sense for multitudinous reasons – Newton’s First Law, for starters. But if you’re stuck on worrying whether or not God will condemn you for some minor, inconsequential violation, try this experiment instead – seek out the force BEYOND GOD. That’s right, if God exists and created the world, then God himself must have a Creator. Why not go directly to the top? You may be surprised – I certainly was. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![randompattern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@randompattern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randompattern)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2014, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-ever-prayed-really-hard-for-god-to-reveal-himself/686329/107 "2014-04-20T02:23:50Z")
> [@JohnClay](#): > > In Christianity the soul doesn’t exist before you’re born! (Though it does if reincarnation is true) > Because if Christianity is true you are conscious of things after you’re dead - and you might go to hell and hell matters since it involves severe pain. Why do I need to have had a body to have a soul? How could I feel pain without a body? ---
**Author:** ![Subterraneanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Subterraneanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Subterraneanus)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2014, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-ever-prayed-really-hard-for-god-to-reveal-himself/686329/108 "2014-04-20T02:51:47Z")
> [@JohnClay](#): > > Jesus says that if you seek you will find - I guess if you try hard enough… are there any non-believers here that has tried really really hard to find God through prayer? I’m a non-believer but haven’t tried very hard to find God. (for this poll just post your answer) I can has Jesus? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2014, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-ever-prayed-really-hard-for-god-to-reveal-himself/686329/109 "2014-04-20T14:23:57Z")
> [@JohnClay](#): > > I’m not saying those verses prove that God exists - just that based on the Bible it isn’t surprising that people’s prayers for God to reveal himself aren’t answered. Trust me; unbelievers have no need to consult the Bible to conclude that it’s not a surprising outcome… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2014, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-ever-prayed-really-hard-for-god-to-reveal-himself/686329/110 "2014-04-20T14:56:14Z")
> [@JohnClay](#): > > Jesus says that if you seek you will find - I guess if you try hard enough… are there any non-believers here that has tried really really hard to find God through prayer? I’m a non-believer but haven’t tried very hard to find God. (for this poll just post your answer) I did the unbelievable prayer experiment for thirty days where I earnest prayed for God to reveal himself. He didn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2014, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-ever-prayed-really-hard-for-god-to-reveal-himself/686329/111 "2014-04-20T16:08:10Z")
> [@JohnClay](#): > > Because if Christianity is true you are conscious of things after you’re dead - and you might go to hell and hell matters since it involves severe pain. Christianity _isn’t_ true however. And the Christian god only gives you the choice of eternal torture in Hell or lobotomized slavery as a praise machine in Heaven anyway. We’re only offered a choice of damnations, not an escape from one. ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2014, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-ever-prayed-really-hard-for-god-to-reveal-himself/686329/112 "2014-04-20T16:31:17Z")
I’ve prayed really hard for it to occur. I even tried to live a Christian lifestyle for a while, to see if it made a difference, though I confess the most i’ve done for other gods is pray. It had no particular effect. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2014, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-ever-prayed-really-hard-for-god-to-reveal-himself/686329/113 "2014-04-20T23:57:00Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Your poll does not have a poll. > \ Maybe you’re not believing in the poll hard enough? Maybe praying for a poll will cause it to reveal itself… It’s got about as much chance as that fictional nonexistent entity of existing… I.E. None… ---
**Author:** ![randompattern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7993a0/32.png) [@randompattern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/randompattern)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-ever-prayed-really-hard-for-god-to-reveal-himself/686329/114 "2014-04-21T00:03:56Z")
Last night I prayed for the easter bunny to show up and the fuzzy little fucker did! God, not so much. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-ever-prayed-really-hard-for-god-to-reveal-himself/686329/115 "2014-04-21T01:47:27Z")
As a kid, I was raised with no religion at all, and really wanted some. I would grill my friends when they came home from CCD. I would say “Hail Marys” while hugging trees. Yes, really. In high school, I began to seek more actively. I went to every church I could get anyone to take me to. Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, Southern Baptist (Christ, that was scary. When the preacher started talking about hitting your wives and children with a stick to beat the Holy Spirit into them, I suspected I was in the wrong place. When the congregation murmured their approval and started nodding vigorously, I was certain I was in the wrong place.), Pentacostal (oddly, not as scary as the Southern Baptists), Unitarian (snooooooooooze). I didn’t have a synagogue in my town, but I did find a couple of Sedars to get invited to. I devoured books about Orthodox Judaism, Amish and Quakers, but there were none of them in my area I could talk to. This was before anyone knew anything about Islam in my world, or I would have sought them out, too. I started an after school unsanctioned Choir with some of my fellow students, and we volunteered ourselves out to sing at local churches who didn’t have a choir. Attended lots of services that way, and very much enjoyed the experience. I joined a Christian Youth Group that one of my friends was in. That’s when I really started praying seriously to Jesus to give me Faith. I wanted in the club. Not the youth group, but the club of religious persons. And there were a couple of times, while in the group or in a church, that I thought I’d gotten it. For fleeting moments, I’d feel a connection with…something… But then I’d leave and go back to having a big empty hole in my heart where I sensed The Divine belonged. When I was around 21, I got my first tarot deck and was leafing through it at a coffee shop with a friend. I was whining to her about my troubles, and my growing belief that the God I was looking for was way bigger than Jesus. A man at the next table leaned over and said, “I’m sorry, I couldn’t help but overhear. Can I join you?” He had left the Jesuit Seminary a few weeks earlier. He told me that he’d come to believe that Jehovah is just one of many gods, maybe the head god, and that he could pray to Jehovah and show him proper respect and worship in His house, but that He wasn’t the only manifestation of Divinity. On my way home that night, I opened myself up with a very simple prayer: “If there’s anyone out there who wants to take me, I’m here.” Like a bolt out of the blue, I was suddenly pinned to the ground by a very big, very female energy. She said, “I thought you’d never ask!” I’m not being metaphoric here. I heard the words like a person was saying them in my ear, but through both ears equally, like I was wearing headphones. It was a very big, very warm, very loving voice. I felt my body melting up and out. I can’t describe it any better than that. But I was moving upwards until I saw the tops of the trees below me, then the planet below me, then everything below and around me, and I felt warm and soft like melting butter. It was my first experience with true Communion. There are techniques that people teach to achieve this that I learned later in life, but this first time was entirely uncontrolled and out of my hands. And that’s when I knew. I was Hers, not His. My bad. I become a neopagan and studied with several different groups. When I learned more about how to intentionally connect with Divinity, I reached out for Jesus again. And I did connect with Him, and he smiled and told me that everything was okay. He said that I was the spiritual descendant of one of the other tribes mentioned in the Bible - not His tribe, and that was okay. So…to answer your question. Yes, I was a non-believer, and I did pray really hard. And I did connect. And the answer, for me, was no. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-ever-prayed-really-hard-for-god-to-reveal-himself/686329.md?page=5)