An irreverent response

[Zzyzx]

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From somewhere on the web, an irreverent (and sometimes appropriate) response to uninvited, unwelcome

I'll pray for you

I'll think for you

[puddleglum]

You should think about how fortunate you are that someone cares enough about you to pray for you.

[Zzyzx]

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You should think about how fortunate you are that someone cares enough about you to pray for you.

If so, they should consider themselves fortunate to have someone offer to think for them. Right?

Perhaps they would not feel fortunate to receive the offer of thinking for them. Same goes for prayers.

The "pray for you" has been said to me in association with disapproval of my decisions -- as though religiosity imparted special knowledge superior to my own decisions in my life, or they know what is best for me, or as though their favorite god would "straighten me out".

Rather presumptuous.

If I want help or "prayers" I'll ask for them. If someone wishes to pray without making an announcement I have no objection. It is the announcement to which I object.

[Divine Insight]

You should think about how fortunate you are that someone cares enough about you to pray for you.

Why?

Do you even realize that if it's important that some mortal human cares about someone this implies that God doesn't?

I mean think about it.

If you feel that you need to pray for me to save me from God's wrath doesn't this already imply that you care about more more than God does?

When a religious person says that they will pray for someone, they are not only suggesting that they don't trust God to do the right thing on his own, but they are arrogantly suggesting that they are so extremely important to God that God might actually change his ways to accommodate their prayer.

If you really stop and think about this stuff it makes absolutely no sense at all.

I human cares about me more than God does?

So much so that the human has to pray to God to do something about it?

This has to be the most ridiculous aspect of religions.

If I did believe in a God I would never pray for anyone other than possibly for myself. To pray for anyone else would be to do nothing more than show that I don't trust God to do what's right on his own. It would also suggest to God that I think more about other people than God does.

Praying for other people has to be the greatest insult any religious person can even give to the God they claim to believe in. They are basically telling God what they think he should do.

Moreover, if God was going to damn someone because he felt that this is the correct thing to do and you are praying to God to help that person, all you are doing it suggesting to God that you believe his system of justice if grossly flawed, and that God himself has no clue what he's doing and he needs your advice on how to do things correctly.

Praying for other people can never be anything other than an extreme statement that you don't trust God to do what's right on his own.

[Divine Insight]

If I want help or "prayers" I'll ask for them.

Even that is ridiculous if we actually stop and think about it.

When a Christian asks other Christians for "prayer requests" all they are truly saying is one or more of the following:

1. I don't trust God to answer my own prayers.

2. I don't really believe in God and I'm hoping that someone out there who does will pray for me.

3. I don't feel connected to God, and I don't feel that he's listening to me, so I need someone else to pray on my behalf.

4. I realize that this religion is just a social club and I'm actually asking for prayers because I'm looking for sympathy and maybe someone will even actually do something for me or send me money too.

5. I use the religion to gossip, and I make prayer requests all the time just so I can tell everyone all the nasty things other people have been doing to me.

~~~~~

I mean seriously. There's no excuse for a "believer" in Jesus to be asking anyone else to pray for them. Jesus proclaimed that he would do whatever they ask in his name. If they actually believe that then why should they need to ask other people to pray on their behalf. Shouldn't Jesus just answer their prayers directly?

Prayer requests in church circles are really nothing more than evidence that no one's prayers are actually being answered. If their own prayers were being answered they wouldn't need to ask other people to pray for them.

It's just a social club where people use the "prayer request" facade to tell each other their troubles.

That's all it can be. If there really was a God who actually answered their prayers they wouldn't need to be asking other people to pray for them.

[Clownboat]

You should think about how fortunate you are that someone cares enough about you to pray for you.

Let's pretend I need real help though.
In that case, I would take actual help over an activity that allows a person to feel like they have helped me.

I would consider it fortunate that someone cared enough to feed me if I was hungry. For them to let me go hungry, but pray for me seems self serving and I'm still left hungry.

You can give a man a fish, and he will be fed for a day.
You can teach a man to pray for fish, and he will die of starvation.

[OnceConvinced]

You should think about how fortunate you are that someone cares enough about you to pray for you.

Most of the time it seems to be coming from a position of perceived superiority. A Christian thinks they are higher than you and that you are a dirty rebellious sinner in need of their prayer. As if you are a lesser person. It really seems to come across as quite arrogant.

Why even say it? It's like saying "You're an idiot and you need God's help".

There is no need to say it. Just go away and do it. Leave the haughty attitude at the door.

Also when you say it shows they care enough about you, I disagree. To the non-believer, it's more like you're saying "Ok, I give up on you, I'm gonna do a Pilate on you and wash my hands of you. I'll leave it up to someone else to deal with you."

That's what you're actually saying to us. You can't be bothered really doing anything to "help" us. So you'll pray about it. If we really did have a need, that would be just you flagging it away and not being willing to do anything practical about it.

[Zzyzx]

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Since praying cannot be shown to produce anything beyond placebo effect (in the susceptible), what is the point?

Is "praying for" someone a substitute for doing something real?

If a religious person having financial difficulties is offered a choice between prayers and actual financial assistance, which makes more sense for them to choose?

[Peds nurse]

[Replying to post 1 by Zzyzx]

How is prayer thinking for someone? It is laying our requests and thanksgiving before the Lord. I pray because personally, I am thankful for you!

Hugs!

[Zzyzx]

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How is prayer thinking for someone? It is laying our requests and thanksgiving before the Lord. I pray because personally, I am thankful for you!

Hugs!

PN, you're so sweet and loving that it is difficult to be anything other than the same in return. If a substantial percentage of Christians acted as you do I would likely conclude that the religion had a positive effect overall.

I do not equate praying and thinking -- but prefer to think (and act) instead of praying. Doing so allows (and has allowed) me to accomplish my objectives.

If others prefer to pray that is their business, not mine.