what's the purpose of praying?

[MongGrel]

You know, some people take comfort in it. If it doesn't hurt you in any way, shape, or form, but it makes other people feel better, why bash it? Because you want to express how superior you are over them?

I'm not religious, but if a relative asked me to pray with them to give them some comfort, I would definitely give them my support.

+1

 

[soulcougher73]

OP, you may be overthinking this one.

When a person's death is unavoidable (as it always ultimately is), you can help relatives/friends begin to cope with their upcoming loss by accommodating their wishes. If mobilizing people to "pray" for their father helps them feel better during this tough time, then perhaps that's reason enough to "go through the motions" even if you (and I) suspect that it will not change the outcome.

Same idea with funerals -- it's all about what helps the relatives/friends to accept their loss; the guest of honor is beyond caring.

This is how i usually respond when asked. Im an athiest and think prayer is dumb, but when its a person i care about seeking help with a tough time ill "go through the motions" with them out of respect.

 

[Ruptga]

So every now and then god checks in with earthlings by giving someone cancer just to make sure they are still there?

Yes.

This is how i usually respond when asked. Im an athiest and think prayer is dumb, but when its a person i care about seeking help with a tough time ill "go through the motions" with them out of respect.

I used to do that, but my parents would not stop hassling me about where I'm going to church, what the preacher has been talking about, what devotionals I've been doing, etc., so I finally just told them I hadn't believed any of it in years. There are times to be diplomatic (which probably describes OP's case), and there are times to make yourself clear.

 

[MtnMan]

Combined with prayer, it just might.

 

[MajinCry]

Surely prayer is setting yourself up for further emotional distress? Prayer isn't going to save the guy from cancer, and if he dies, you're gonna felt let down by Yahweh, to put it softly.

Surely, considering the whole "god's plan" nonsense, surely prayer wouldn't make a lick of difference as to whether or not Yahweh will get rid of the cancer that he placed?

 

[natto fire]

I like to read these threads to remind myself to never associate my spirituality with any common adjective. Yeah, the bible thumpers are annoying, but the agnostic and atheists are getting just as unpleasant.

Maybe instead of asking a moronic question on the internet, you can try to empathize with your friend who might very well lose her father. In my experience, cancer does not lend itself well to common sense, and you just have to try to support those who are going through it.

Just be there for your friend, even if her father's cancer does not end up being terminal, it will still likely shake up her beliefs.

Now don't get me wrong, faith has interfered with proper medical treatment before, and am not saying that prayer supplants the amazing strides we have made in medical science. This is more for the emotional side, and it is pointless to get into a theistic debate with someone who is dealing with cancer on any kind of level.

 

[JackBurton]

Combined with prayer, it just might.

lol

 

[John Connor]

OP doesn't have to actually pray, only say he does. That'll have the same efficacy, and it's polite. Same as when the weirdos wish me a "blessed day". I say "you too", cause it's the thought that counts.

I can't even remember the last time I heard that. Come to think about it, I don't think I've heard it at all. :hmm:

 

[DCal430]

Prayer has no purpose. It is a waste of time that feeds the delusions of the weak minded.

 

[Markbnj]

That's why I sacrifice a sheep when I really need something done. It always works, and the cost of sheep prohibits overuse. God doesn't appreciate stolen sheep.

It always bothered me that God supposedly craves the smell of burning hair and flesh. "Burn a couple sheep! He loves that shit!"

Probably someone will now chime in to inform me that it wasn't about the smell, it was the animal's essence being carried straight up to heaven on the smoke, yada yada, blah blah, ad infinitum, oh snap, arggh.

 

[ninaholic37]

So every now and then god checks in with earthlings by giving someone cancer just to make sure they are still there?

Nah, Cancer is science. :biggrin: Satan will control you afterwards in hell though.

 

[luv2liv]

i will be damned if the father survives with prayer.
most likely he will be dead within a month after seeing him today. if he's dead, im sure she will be thanking God for taking him to a better place.
and if he gets better, she will thank God too. so she's grateful to God either way. hilarious

 

[John Connor]

It always bothered me that God supposedly craves the smell of burning hair and flesh. "Burn a couple sheep! He loves that shit!"

Probably someone will now chime in to inform me that it wasn't about the smell, it was the animal's essence being carried straight up to heaven on the smoke, yada yada, blah blah, ad infinitum, oh snap, arggh.

Here's a clue... It's because an animal has no sin. Jesus is the lamb of God. That shit is ancient.

 

[Hugo Drax]

OP, you may be overthinking this one.

When a person's death is unavoidable (as it always ultimately is), you can help relatives/friends begin to cope with their upcoming loss by accommodating their wishes. If mobilizing people to "pray" for their father helps them feel better during this tough time, then perhaps that's reason enough to "go through the motions" even if you (and I) suspect that it will not change the outcome.

Same idea with funerals -- it's all about what helps the relatives/friends to accept their loss; the guest of honor is beyond caring.

Sometimes people in the spectrum cant figure out these simple human interactions. :biggrin:

 

[MongGrel]

Sometimes people in the spectrum cant figure out these simple human interactions. :biggrin:

Apparently.

Just being a decent human being is lost on many people these days.

 

[MongGrel]

Here's a clue... It's because an animal has no sin. Jesus is the lamb of God. That shit is ancient.

Here's a clue...

You need to grow up, and stop saying things like "hint" when you sound ridiculous.

You are not as bright as you think you are.

 

[natto fire]

Apparently.

Just being a decent human being is lost on many people these days.

Are you talking about the faithful, or the complacent? Godspeed to them, either way.

 

[Ruptga]

Here's a clue...

You need to grow up, and stop saying things like "hint" when you sound ridiculous.

You are not as bright as you think you are.

I like how he's always regurgitating the biggest cliches like we've all been living in caves our whole lives and have never heard of this jesus guy. Are we supposed to just say "oh, well that changes everything!"? He's like a Chick Tract that became flesh and came to ATOT.

 

[natto fire]

I like how he's always regurgitating the biggest cliches like we've all been living in caves our whole lives and have never heard of this jesus guy. Are we supposed to just say "oh, well that changes everything!"? He's like a Chick Tract that became flesh and came to ATOT.

Seriously, this whole forum has been an echo chamber for years. Congrats to the ad whores who bought it, but they essentially bought a glorified blog.

 

[Markbnj]

Here's a clue... It's because an animal has no sin. Jesus is the lamb of God. That shit is ancient.

No, it's because smoke rises, and the ancients had no idea why. That shiz is magic!

 

[John Connor]

Here's a clue...

You need to grow up, and stop saying things like "hint" when you sound ridiculous.

You are not as bright as you think you are.

I like how he's always regurgitating the biggest cliches like we've all been living in caves our whole lives and have never heard of this jesus guy. Are we supposed to just say "oh, well that changes everything!"? He's like a Chick Tract that became flesh and came to ATOT.

No, it's because smoke rises, and the ancients had no idea why. That shiz is magic!

These people ladies and gentlemen are what separate an ape mind from humans.

 

[Ruptga]

These people ladies and gentlemen are what separate an ape mind from humans.

Oh please, do tell us more. I'm very interested in the opinion of the leading expert on what it's like to have the mind of an ape.

 

[waggy]

meh. if someone ask for prayer's on facebook i just continue on. NO reason to make fun. no reason to make a thread. just continue on.

personally it makes me think of the op as a fat neckbeard with a fedora.

 

[Jeff7]

These people ladies and gentlemen are what separate an ape mind from humans.

Actually, just a small difference in genes is all it is. That difference was enough to get our brains over a hump that led to some cheat codes that gave us a huge edge over anything else in nature:
- Complex spoken language.
- Written symbolic language, and later its major upgrade to mass distribution via the printing press.

 

[TheVrolok]

OP, you may be overthinking this one.

When a person's death is unavoidable (as it always ultimately is), you can help relatives/friends begin to cope with their upcoming loss by accommodating their wishes. If mobilizing people to "pray" for their father helps them feel better during this tough time, then perhaps that's reason enough to "go through the motions" even if you (and I) suspect that it will not change the outcome.

Same idea with funerals -- it's all about what helps the relatives/friends to accept their loss; the guest of honor is beyond caring.

How dare you act like a rational and considerate member of society!