There’s a current thread that began by asking why some people live and others die during a plane crash or mine disaster or whatever, and it has morphed into a general discussion of the Problem of Evil. The most popular answer from Christians seems to be some variation of God not interfering because he allows us Free Will.
As I noted in a brief response there, a non-interfering God makes sense for Deists, but not for Christians, since most of them are encouraged by their priests and ministers to pray for all kinds of divine help — heal this sick person, divert that hurricane, please Jesus keep the President from doing something stupid, etc. If you are a Catholic, you believe that the wafer and wine are magically transformed into the actual body and blood of Jesus as a matter of routine.
More importantly, Jesus himself promised that a believer would get ANYTHING he prayed for. He didn’t say that your request had to be unselfish, or noble, or conform to God’s will (which would make any prayer request redundant and unnecessary); he didn’t say “sometimes the answer is no;” and he didn’t say that the answer would be some vague “sign” that might show up months or years later, and which you were responsible for noticing and correctly interpreting. He said you would get immediate, tangible assent to your requests for violations of natural laws. He illustrated this by cursing a fig tree for not having fruit out of season.
Matthew 21, KJV:
"21:19 And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. 21:20 And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away! 21:21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. "
So Jesus could hardly have picked better examples to show that stupid, silly, and even spiteful prayers would be granted.
This is a completely unsolicited and specific promise from Jesus Christ, but I have never met a Christian who is willing to convert me by demonstrating its truth (I typically ask for something very small and harmless, like holding a nickel in my hand and asking them to change it into a penny). They always mumble something about not tempting God, but cannot explain clearly why there is anything wrong with accepting Jesus’ offer.
I think it’s obvious that they don’t believe this verse, and with good reason — whole towns of devout Christians prayed for deliverance when the Black Plague was ravaging Europe, but they died at the same horrific rates as Muslims and pagans. In the 2000 years since this promise was made, not a single Christian has been able to demonstrate the truth of that verse. All they have are the same kind of scattered, infrequent, and dubious reports of miracles that every religion claims.
So, my questions for Christians are:
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How can you reconcile your explanation of God not interfering with natural law when it comes to the Problem of Evil, with the clear promise of Jesus that you can violate natural law any time you want?
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If you believe in the Bible, why do you not accept the plain meaning of the verses I quoted above? “ALL THINGS WHATSOEVER YE ASK IN PRAYER, BELIEVING, YE SHALL RECEIVE”
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If you think it’s wrong to give a small demonstration of the power of prayer in order to convert me, then why do you pray constantly in church and elsewhere for much bigger things, and even (not all of you) insist on your “right” to pray at public functions?