I have a question to all believers, what's your reason for sticking to your religion? (meaning why do you do it faithfuly, if you just do it cause your parents do it then I don't think you really believe)
Whenever you make an "I wish" statement, that is essentially what a prayer is.
The difference is a prayer is thought of as actively doing something, while wishing for something to happen is not. This is also the difference between prayer and hoping for things to happen.
The difference is a prayer is thought of as actively doing something, while wishing for something to happen is not. This is also the difference between prayer and hoping for things to happen.
It depends. When I go to the temple, I actively pray for the Gods to help me (Though I might not count, getting too Agnostic), but when something bad occurs suddenly, I'll just mutter a quick prayer, hoping things get better.
Whenever you make an "I wish" statement, that is essentially what a prayer is.
Pretty much what mage said, except to add a further dimension on to it. When I think, "I wish I didn't have school today..." I don't think anything will come of it. If you pray though to not have school that day, you are, in some corner of your mind, hoping and expecting that to come true.
It depends. When I go to the temple, I actively pray for the Gods to help me (Though I might not count, getting too Agnostic), but when something bad occurs suddenly, I'll just mutter a quick prayer, hoping things get better.
Either way your invoking something you think can actively do something. (If you still count that is)
Hoping for a situation to improve is fine. Calling upon divine influence to fix it won't really help the situation though. Claiming that God fixed a problem sometimes goes against God's nature. Example, the stock market dropped today. Someone is down a lot money and prays for it to go back up. If it does, they praise God for using divine influence. Why would God possibly encourage someone to essentially gamble?
Why would God possibly encourage someone to essentially gamble?
And why would he not? Stock investing takes brains and a hefty math or economics degree to work it out, it's not simply staking it on a stock that seems to be rising.
And well, who are we to say God won't encourage stock investing?
it's not simply staking it on a stock that seems to be rising
Actually, that's what a lot of people do. Sure, the people who do it for a career will need math and other skill sets, but the public can do whatever they want, informed or uninformed, as long as they have money.
But then, what about those who pray to win while playing a slot machine (as gambling is considered immoral by many religious groups)? There isn't much skill involved (other than putting a token into a slot and pushing a button or pulling a lever). If they win, they attribute it to God when they should be thanking the electronic counter that is programmed to pay out after a certain number of spins.
If they win, they attribute it to God when they should be thanking the electronic counter that is programmed to pay out after a certain number of spins.
Yes, but rather than programming, the outcome is decided by luck, fate, whatever you call it. That in turn could be attributed to God by some.
But subjectively an atheist could've sat in the same seat and gotten the same results. And you ignored the part about gambling being considered immoral. And don't say "God could encourage gambling because we don't know." Bets have been around since ancient times. If the bible or other texts don't say he approves, then he dosen't.
And you ignored the part about gambling being considered immoral. And don't say "God could encourage gambling because we don't know." Bets have been around since ancient times. If the bible or other texts don't say he approves, then he dosen't.If the bible or other texts don't say he approves, then he dosen't.
God doesn't say he approves of eating broccoli, so I suppose He disproves of it then? Nor does God advocate that we should study hard, so I suppose He disproves? Or that we should not smoke, so He disproves of anti-smoking laws? Think about your argument logically, before posting.
But subjectively an atheist could've sat in the same seat and gotten the same results.
I think you mean statistically? Yes that's true. God doesn't need to help every person who sends a prayer up.
Or that we should not smoke, so He disproves of anti-smoking laws?
don't know about you, but my religion says not to, or drink, do drugs, etc (+5 trivia if you guess what I am, and sorry you do not get it if I know you already know).
look, as much as you can argue that prayer is useless, people will still do it. so why are we getting so fired up over the subject? it isn't like you will make everyone in the world an atheist by posting on here. that would be borderline impossible.
that's the end of my big question.
prayer helps the devoted, while it looks stupid to the skeptics. I guess the only true way to understand the difference between praying, and hoping in your head for something to happen, is to be devoted to a religion that advocates prayer. it isn't an analysis (no matter how much I hope it is) because there is no real reason to deeply analyze it.
there is my analysis on your collective analysis, feel free to oppose.
God doesn't say he approves of eating broccoli, so I suppose He disproves of it then?
He does say He approves. Genesis 1:29 "I have given all green vegetation for food."
Nor does God advocate that we should study hard, so I suppose He disproves?
Wisdom and work are held very highly in the bible.
Or that we should not smoke, so He disproves of anti-smoking laws?
It says drugs aren't good for the elderly. Titus 2:2 "Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness."
