Prayer doesn't work. But why?

Question

Prayer appears to be basically meaningless. The one exception is that perhaps it's possible to put YOURSELF in a better state of mind with a prayer (the power of positive thinking). But the thought that you can pray for another person to get over an illness or pray to stop a mass shooter or pray to make it rain (or stop raining) is 100% ridiculous and meaningless. But why? Is it because there is no God? Or is it because God is a jerk? Or do you have some solid evidence that prayer does indeed work?  VOTE BELOW!

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

"God" doesn't exist; that's why.

The idea of an omniscient, powerful being is a purely human concept that primitive people invented, as a way to explain events that they didn't have the knowledge, or understanding, to interperet.

I'm sure thunderstorms and earthquakes seemed like the work of a powerful being, before we knew what actually caused them. So sure, it was easier for early man to say "Sky wizard" than it was to explain weather patterns, or tectonic plates. "Maybe if I worship the sky wizard, he won't hit my ass with a lightning bolt?"

As mankind evolved, began to understand the natural world, and scientific principals, the concept of "God" should have faded, but by that point, unscrupulous people realized that religion, and fear of an all powerful creator, were fantatsic tools for controlling people, and gaining power.

If you tell people that "God" will punish you for not following the rules, then hey; people will follow the rules! Go figure. 🙄

Well, I'm sorry, but I don't need the fear of some mystical sky wizard to tell me that killing people is wrong. That's just basic human decency.

I also don't need people speaking on behalf of the sky wizard to tell me to hate people that don't listen to his specific sky wizard, because that's just retarded.

"Thou shall not kill," except for that entire group of people who doesn't pray to the same invisible man you do. I don't recall seeing an asterick next to the commandments, but hey; the Crusades sure as hell must have seen one there.

If killing is wrong, then why have more peoole been killed in "God's" name, than for any other reason? Oh, that's right, because some dude who claims to speak for "God" said so. Yeah; all about power & control. "'God' says kill the Muslims" but "God" also says not to kill. Hmmm... methinks maybe "God" isn't the one calling the shots? 🤔

The whole concept is absolutely asinine, to me, and makes no sense, until you realize that most people are followers, and a few people saw a way to exploit that weakness for control.

The Bible, the Quran, etc; all written by men, and are simply a collection of stories very similar to Aesop's fables. They are nothing more than stories designed to teach people how to act, but somehow we've taken those concepts, and turned them into revered texts to be worshipped. All because some religious leaders said so.

The whole thing is just idiotic, to me.

I'm anon, simply because I don't want people bombarding my inbox with religious crap.

ManOnFire · Accepted Answer

Oh no, no, noooo. You have that very wrong. I can't tell you the number of times I prayed about something or for someone and that prayer was most definitely answered. What I can tell you is that most Christians honestly don't pray for the right things or pray in the right way, and it's why you'll have so many of them getting disappointed when a prayer isn't answered and wondering what God's will is. Most Christians will ask for things that as believers they shouldn't be concerned about having: multiple cars, ginormous houses, fame even, and "a ministry." Do these sound like things Christians should be going to God about? If God means for you to have a ministry, it will unfold as he plans.

Now, I know I'm a lecher, that is my struggle, and I actively do try to be disciplined, but I can tell you that my faith has been effective in other areas. Prayer works when it contains selflessness. It's not wrong to ask God for something for yourself, but is there actual selflessness in asking him for cars, houses, fame, and a ministry? Or is it because as Christians they're wanting to have an image to boast to the world? And this is far from godly.

Prayer is effective when it is selfless and not full of earthly desire, and is 10x more powerful when it as about someone else or even for someone's heart. These are the keys to prayer that works. I can tell you that I've had mine answered. And ones that weren't, were probably not God's will, and I'm okay with that.

TenderFantasy · Accepted Answer

lol, I liked the third answer, but I put the first one (and this is coming from a person raised as Catholic!). I'm CONFLICTED to say the least. I'm still often times, scared and confused, and that is why I am agnostic. You don't know how many times I've prayed for something to happen (or not happen), and well nothing happend regardless of which way but then I've also had some, what I can call "lucky breaks" too so... hmm... maybe that's just odds, I really don't know!

Also, If there IS a god, WHY all the indifference to people's suffering? ! Can he really not do ANYTHING about it? ! Shows how much "power" he has as a God! But then I don't want to get into heated arguements regarding religion honestly because it is such a PERSONAL thing for people!

For example, my mom prays her rosary EVERYDAY and my dad probably prays everyday before bed, as well. They also go to church practically every Sunday. They've been married since 1976 so maybe like the bible really says:

"What God has put together, let no man separate!" - The Book of Mark Chapter 10 verse 9.

.. I hope they let the abusive ones separate though. And also why abuse your spouse? ? ! I thought you LOVED her/him! ! ? !

See... it's just something I'd rather not get into further as you know, but I think there IS a god actually, but we have "peas" for brains and we really CANNOT truly define it because there's so much evidence for BOTH sides! Not to mention 1,000s of relgions and sects/cults to choose from so you don't really know which way is the right way/which way is up!

I am sad for people's suffering but also maybe that was their destiny? ! A blessing in disguise? ? ! I do not know. Just random odds or stupidity. I do firmly believe that things happen for a reason. Whether we agreed with the reason is a separate thing but it's still for a reason.

sage2021 · Accepted Answer

I cannot answer why you think prayer doesn't work; but I can tell you that it does work! Also, miracles do happen as well. Sometimes soon, sometimes it takes year's.
I have been witness to a teenage young man that contracted Bacterial Meningitis and four other conditions all at once, which any of them could have caused him to die. He was on life support as well. He had, blood poisoning, double pneumonia and went in for emergency open heart surgery for a heart infection.
The surgeon wanted to just let him die during the surgery because he was so sick. The mother told the surgeon NO!
He had a 50/50 chance to live or die. He made it. Lots of prayers were said for him, and he was and still is a firm believer in God and Jesus. After spending 76 days in the hospital he was released and today, 25 years later, he is still alive and well.
Sometimes you think a prayer hasn't worked. It just may not have worked YET. I know someone who was sick in bed and bed bound for 16 years. She thought God wasn't going to ever let her have her old life back - the life before she became so very sick. But after 16 years of a very painful illness, she went to a wellness center, and after 6 months of therapy, she had her old life back. No more bed!!! And no more pain or sickness.

Here are two miricles that are true. Both people were prayed for. One got better in less than a year and didn't die. The other, it took 16 year's, but she got her life back.
God works in mysterious ways 🙏

erandal · Answer

I selected "There Is No God", but let me explain why and also why prayer doesn't work for most people.

I do not believe we are alone in this universe, I do believe there is more life out there, maybe people like us, maybe people nothing like us, maybe there are spiritual entities, but I do not feel as if there is an actual god, a creator of all things, or at least not in the spiritual way.

I have always thought of the bible as a story written down many years after the events, and while mostly a work of fiction it contains elements of fact. How about the part that "we are made in God's image". Well if I was, for examples sake, God, then would my children not be made in God's image?

So if we are God, or God's, then when we pray why can we not be talking to our subconscious? That 'positive thinking' that was mentioned in the introduction to put us in a better state of mind. So when you pray to God you are actually praying to yourself, giving yourself the motivation to get things done or work things out.

I have no idea if that is right or wrong but it works for me and that's all I care about. And no I don't go to church, I'm pretty sure that is just something created by others to control the weaker parts of the population.

RedStealthOperative · Answer

Prayer works. You just have to approach God in the right way, and persist.

A friend of mine's mom nearly got raped at a gas station, but he and his grandmother prayed for her for 1 hour straight, because The Holy Spirit prompted them to. What happened was his mom came out of the gas station, and this guy was quickly running up to her to assault, but she said he suddenly froze in that position, in the most physics-defying position, with an evil face, struggling. He was held back long enough for her to escape unharmed. The angels were holding him back that whole time.

Prayer works. People just aren't willing to take God at His word, before they decide to give up on Him.

nachosaresexy · Answer

Let me pick one random example of the absolutely heinous, indescribable atrocities that happens at an alarming rate in the US and the rest of the world...

Child kidnapping/trafficking... kids literally stolen and converted to sex toys for the pleasure of sick people and the financial gain of others, in many cases brutally tortured and eventually murdered.

So, no 'believer' was praying for that child? Or God works in 'mysterious' ways? The retarded mental gymnastics some of y'all stumble around to avoid actual critical thinking is really bizarre.

all_hayl · Answer

What you’re basically saying is that God doesn’t do what you think He should do or what you want him to do, so prayer doesn’t work. Respectfully, all that you are really showing is that you don’t understand the purpose of prayer. The Bible addresses all of your objections, but the answers might not be convenient, due to our selfish and ignorant ways. The answers are there. I could list a bunch of verses that paint the picture, but I think I’ll leave that to you. If you really want to understand, perhaps you’ll put in the effort. Happy hunting.

DaveJord · Answer

So honestly pray is just a other form of meditation, and it links you to your spirituality and centers your mind and calms your anxieties with intend of giving you clarity in voice and action.

But in the end the choices and actions you take are up to you. If your heart and spirt are aligned you will know what you need to do. But if you fail to act upon the inspiration and expect everything to just happen in according to a plan with out taking any individual responsibly then pray will not work by itself.

You can pray but if your not willing to receive the message and act then your just screaming into a vacuum.

Keyboardkat · Answer

You have to understand something. God is not some kind of cosmic vending machine, where you can just ask for stuff. Sometimes, when we ask for something, the answer has to be no, for reasons that we don't necessarily find out until later, sometimes years later. And sometimes, prayer can be more powerful if it's not just you, praying by yourself. If someone is ill, for example, a whole lot of folks praying for that person can make a difference.

Hrumf · Answer

Prayer does work but not in the way you think. Prayer is a form of meditation. It can help calm someone when they are going through a rough time and it clears a person’s head if they can do anything about a situation. Like when someone says they are praying on a decision.

It clears the mind and makes a decision clear.

It also helps when the world is going to hell. Prayer makes someone feel like they are helping in a situation beyond their control, therefore no longer feeling guilty about, let’s say for example, the war in Ukraine. Doesn’t it feel better after you prayed for the victims? It doesn’t do a thing on the war, but it gives you peace of mind. Meditative. A release of anxious thought.

Prayer is meditative and it works that way in my opinion.

BlacklightShade · Answer

Research on prayer shows that it works as well as random chance, sometimes worse if the sick know they're being prayed for.

devilish-cutie · Answer

It is cause prayer is not wishing machine. Our prayers as wishes are not fullfilled as this life/universe has certain laws, like free will. If God intervined granting wishes we wouldbt have free will and we would be puppets. Bad things happen cause everyone has free will that can negatively affect others and ubfortubately negative/bad side has to exsist as one wouldn't know what is good/positive if there was no absence from it.
Prayer can wotk in other ways. Sometimes it is about creating ppsitive energy that will protect you from bad energy. Eg. If you pray bad energy can have harder time attacking you. If you distance ysf from god/positive ebnegy that can result in more attraction of negative energy. So the praYer is not to grand wishes but more like the protection.
And there are wo many different possibilities to look at it, way different than your simple options. Life is complex

talka20 · Answer

Prayer DOES work... but for that we have to believe and ask for anything with all heart... we dont have to wait or test God either he will accept our prayers or when will he... cuz we are not supposed to put him or his decisions on test... we are supposed to believe and make prayers n wishes... he knows when to accept which prayer... he knows best timings for those... he knows which thing u asked is not good for u so he woukdnt give u that ever... he knows you and your good and bad more than you so what we gotta do is just pray and believe that whatever we get or not is best... we gotta keep it 100% from our side in sense of praying and making things possible but rest u leave it on him.

So if we think we wanted this to happen in life and also prayed to God but he didn't care how hard i prayed and he hates us that type of thinking is wrong

Jessica405 · Answer

Option A. There is no god, or goddess. I cannot see any logical reason for there to be either. Also, different areas of the world invented different religions. They cannot all be right.

Religions were invented because of mankind's refusal to accept its own mortality. It dreamed up this idea in the hope there is an afterlife.

-Asca- · Answer

There is no god. Well, I don‘t know if there is one actually, as it‘s impossible to know, but there is no reason to believe that there is one. Most people who do believe in a god only do so because they have been taught to all their lives since they were young. If one were to think logically and rationally about it it doesn‘t make any sense to believe there is a god.
The only evidence is a bunch of old writings which contain countless things that have beenproven to not be true over the millenia. Isn‘t it more likely that the people who wrote them…. lied, rather than a god making people write things that we know are not true?

There may still be a god or something similar to what we call a „god“ but if there is then it is very apparent that he doesn‘t care about our wishes or wellbeing.

laurieluvsit · Answer

God doesn't answer every prayer or we would all live forever.

To me it is like the lottery (which I don't play by the way) but you have to play to ever win.

So no prayers and you have no chance for God to answer it at all.

Guy__ · Answer

There are so many definitions of what prayer is. Take Neville Goddard for example, most of what he taught was later confirmed by quantum physicists.
From his perspective, prayer works as you said "power of positive thinking" but it also heals and sickens other people.

RasmusAiken · Answer

I've found that my praying almost never changes God. "Thy will be done!" is so true. Instead, if anything changes, it's usually me. Prayer leaves me feeling more fit to live another day in a fallen world while looking forward to perfection in eternity.

jshm2 · Answer

Do not be such a jackass.

Prayer and miracles are only for a standard of people. Not simply for any half ass.

It's like saying PhDs are for everyone. When in fact only a few reach it, and out of those only a few get the full benefits of it.

OddBeMe · Answer

I mean…can’t be proven. But you know it’s A.

Psychology would say prayer works in a different way. Calming people, in hospitals, etc. If someone is feeling bad and prayer makes them feel better mentally, of course that works. But thst means prayer is the same as hash or Netflix.

slatyb · Answer

Prayer is known not to work. Experiments have been done where some hospital patients were the prayed for, and others were not. There was no difference in outcomes. Anyway we see daily that the devout fare no better than the doubting.

There’s an obvious reason for this — God isn’t real.

wittymilf · Answer

I feel that … a collective mind set can create some pretty powerful and seemingly crazy miraculous results some times. The whole abortion law change in the US being a good secular example of this. No one would have believed that shit would ever stand in this day and age and yet … here we are.
So if enough people are “praying “ or focused on something seemingly impossible, maybe it does have a greater likelihood of occurring? 🤷‍♀️🤔

CountessSarah · Answer

Prayer doesn't work because there is no god.
And doesn't even make sense within most religions -
A god that answers prayer is mutually exclusive with an omniscient god. If your god knows all that will happen, that includes the prayers that it would eventually answer in the future. Thus negating the need for it to have ever done something against what the individuals prayer requested.
It's like a movie with shitty time travel logic.

letuswaltzforthedead · Answer

Prayer does work. Two days ago, I prayed to god for a donut for tomorrow's breakfast. On my way to work, I get a call saying that a giant donut fell on top of my boss as he walked past a donut shop. didn't even have to work or go to school yesterday, god saved me.

Bee-Hatch · Answer

You pray to 'god' and that's OK. But start talking to a non existant imaginary squirrel, then they can put you away as mentally unstable. It's just a socially acceptable form of talking to an imaginary freind for adults.

AviatorTom · Answer

There's God's Plan. Long time ago, God thought about it and created a Plan. It's a good Plan. When people pray, if it fits with God's Plan, they get what they want. If it doesn't fit, they don't. But if it's in God's Plan, why pray anyway? it's gonna happen... it's in the Plan. Bottom line... praying doesn't do anything... other than give the individual something to do.

IesusHominumSalvator · Answer

Prayer will never work if you are not 100% convinced of the existance of God... I recommend you to read our Saint Aquinus, check their arguments for the existance of God, and once you are convinced, you can pray and take all the benefits of having a strong faith in the superior creator.

vald9inches · Answer

God is either evil or he doesn't exist there is no compromise. So i would rather believe there is no god then exist in a universe with an evil god. If we want to change the world for the better we all have to come together and make it a better place for all of us rather than just a few of us

Anonymous · Answer

Listen to what this guy says.. Read this for the story:

docster · Answer

The best proof for God's existence is fulfilled prophecy, deliverance from demons, and healing. It's too big of a subject to get into here, but you can read all about deliverance and healing at delmin. org. They see Jesus do amazing things there.

Massageman · Answer

I'm alive surviving 4 car accidents where my car was totaled.
My daughter survived a car crash. The police saw a photo of the car in which she was a passenger (smashed flat down to the window sills), and he asked , "Were there ANY survivors?" "Yes. Everyone!."

Guy13 · Answer

God is not a vending machine where you drop a quarter worth of Prayers and get a return. Prayer is about Relationship, however, it is a relationship In and Through Christ Jesus. It is intimate in such a dead world...

EnglishEuropean · Answer

Well like you say prayer doesn't affect the outside world in any way at all. It just changes the way WE feel.

The Bible tells us to "pray without ceasing" ( 1 Thessalonians 5:17). That just seems obsessive and unhealthy to me.

hIopinionated_ · Answer

Because obviously, it’s all man-made bs meant to brainwash people who can be easily manipulated

Stoner710 · Answer

I’m agnostic, for those who are religious they think pray works for those who aren’t religious say prayer does. Work. I have no idea no I’m not going to judge either way.

JohnK123 · Answer

It’s just for a 1 on 1 convo with God no one else. If I pray for a million dollars that’s stupid. U pray for love or a long healthy life

hafinjun · Answer

I'm not sure I agree, I'm by no means a bible beater, but in at least 5 different occasions w HH en I was in deep stuff, I looked up, and as sincerely as possible , I begged for his intervention., Say what you will... But I'm still here.

loveslongnails · Answer

Maybe prayer can put someone in a mindset where they can actually help manifest the thing they seek. You're never going to get actual "proof" that will satisfy you, I hope you realize that?

DeltaCharlieEcho · Answer

Prayer is a western adaptation of meditation. The idea is to accept that certain things are out of your control and will always work out if you put your own effort in. It is a practice of resilience training and mindfulness.

exitseven · Answer

I vote B. God hates us.

Pete671 · Answer

It does if you do it right, by that I mean pray for the strength to help others, don't expect God to sort their problems out for them, it's satan who is in charge of the earth plane anyway,

goodgirlsteven · Answer

Prayer does work, but not in all cases because we dont know why we are being put through these hard times somehow we always come up on top though if you think about it

Still-alive · Answer

Well as this classic song says “more than words is what you need to make things real”

888theGreat · Answer

God doesn't listen to non believers. So, it would be a waste for you to. You asked this before.

Texaskid1 · Answer

I pray for your super cute butt and that some day you will post a picture of it.  Amen.

Anonymous · Answer

Prayer is a Form of Magick  Those Without Ability to Perform magick Will be Unsuccessful.

Dinosaursandanime65 · Answer

It probably didn’t work because you didn’t believe it would. Keep word, Believe. It’s very important

ilgirl89 · Answer

What is praying? As a non-chistian I believe it is just witchy.

strateguy632 · Answer

because we are not worthy for miracles.

BCRanger10 · Answer

What makes you think so?

msc545 · Answer

It doesn't work, but the reason why is unclear.

fonduegirl · Answer

I agree with option A and B.

legalboxers · Answer

Prayers never.. ever.. work

krin_m · Answer

Because it is a nonsensical concept.

Prayer doesn't work. But why?

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