What's the point to praying?

[thinkBIG]

Do you pray? Do you think it works for you? My parents used to send me to church and I used to be a christian (more out of fear of god rather than love for jesus), but I've since given up on that. Whenever I used to pray, it seems like "God" just did whatever the hell he wanted anyways. How many times do you hear a story about how someone was given so and so amount of time to live and they miraculously recovered, must be because all those people prayed for them and god intervened! What about the other 1000 people who were given the same odds of living, all were prayed for, and still died? Sure, sometimes when I prayed, what I prayed for actually came true, but other times, it did not. Thats exactly what happens when I don't pray too! Sometimes what I want to happen does and other times it doesn't! Seems like praying is a damn good waste of time to me.

I'm not trying to offend anyone, I've just been thinking about religion a lot lately and this is one of the questions been toying in my mind.

 

[sereneman]

It's a good question. I'm a thinker, so I've thought of this question long ago and many others like it. There are no easy anwers. What is the meaning of life? "Nobody knows, they can say they do but they really don't"- Yogi Berra.

I had this book called THE MEANING OF LIFE, this questions was asked to many scholars, philosophers, and such. Yogi had the only correct answer. All of the others had their own meanings that they made up or borrowed from someone else.

 

[b fold the truth]

My parents used to send me to church and I used to be a christian (more out of fear of god rather than love for jesus),

I think that may be the problem... Don't fear...love.

I pray because I feel inside that I should...if that makes any sense...

B True

 

[sereneman]

It does make sense. I pray to. Just in case God is up there listening. Have mercy on my soul Lord- an ignorant sinner am I

 

[Pamela]

I've prayed for 20 years for something to go away..
And it has not been answered..
Maybe the things we pray for is lifes lessons that we are suppose to
learn in this life.

 

[sereneman]

I just want to say this for you Pam. I have been an agnostic for many, many, years. Don't let unanswered prayers cause you to give up hope. Not saying that it would- I don't know. When my daughter almost died, I got religious very quick. I went on a search for God. And let me tell you, I experienced things that blow me away to this day. Coincidences that were too uncanny to be just coincidences. I cannot put a finger on it. But I know what happened and because of it, I believe there is a 50/50 chance that there is a God who cares. Before I had little hope of that.

 

[Pamela]

I just want to say this for you Pam. I have been an agnostic for many, many, years. Don't let unanswered prayers cause you to give up hope. Not saying that it would- I don't know. When my daughter almost died, I got religious very quick. I went on a search for God. And let me tell you, I experienced things that blow me away to this day. Coincidences that were too uncanny to be just coincidences. I cannot put a finger on it. But I know what happened and because of it, I believe there is a 50/50 chance that there is a God who cares. Before I had little hope of that.

Thank You Sereneman..
I hope things are PERFECT with your daughter...

 

[KA-BAR]

I don't pray that much but Every thing Ive ever prayed for that I really wanted to happen did and the ones that didn't happen where for a good reason. Coincidence? Maybe but I believe in my own mind that every thing is for a reason and there is no such thing as coincidence. Listen to the song by Garth Brooks Unanswered Prayers.

 

[swampmoose]

i guess the internet, and some bodybuilding site can even be beneficial in terms of enlightenment. maybe i don't do all i can prayer wise or religion wise, but i do BELIEVE that there is a saviour out there and that we ALL will end up there. its good to FEEL that there are other people who think about stuff like this and not blow it out of proportion

 

[Doktor Bollix]

I only pray when I'm in deep, deep shit. The rest of the time God can kiss my ass.

 

[thinkBIG]

I wish I believed in god again

Whenever I search for God though I always come up empty. For some reason I can't seem to convince myself that he exists, so I've prayed to him to give me some sort of sign that he's listening, but I always get nothing. I wish there was a "Salvation for Dummies" book

 

[casavant]

How many times do you hear a story about how someone was given so and so amount of time to live and they miraculously recovered, must be because all those people prayed for them and god intervened! What about the other 1000 people who were given the same odds of living, all were prayed for, and still died?

Yep. It's amazing how many people refuse to recognize this fact.

 

[Lao Tzu]

I'm sure security is part of it. If your car breaks down in the middle of nowhere, 99.9% of people would rather have someone who cares about them and can protect them be able to come out and help them. Praying does the same thing i guess, makes people feel protected from undesirable things.

Even though i am an atheist, i still make knee-jerk prayers when i am in trouble. I don't know why either, either its drilled into me or i want to believe i have a safety net when none exists. I don't know.

 

[Code]

Most people only pray when they need something.

It's like the brother who only calls you to ask for money.

 

[HappyScrappy]

no matter what you pray for, unless you are an athlete or a muscian, God is gonna ignore you.
That is what I've learned from watching TV.

I still say "thank God for Corn Puffs" and things like that - I don't really mean "I'm really glad that a huge all powerful man that lives in the sky made something for me to consume" - but instead mean, "wow, I'm really glad this shit is here"
I am trying to stop doing that, saying "thank goodness" and such - but it sounds way gayer.
especially with my intense lisp.