For those who believe in the power of prayer...

[OCNewbie]

For those who believe in the power of prayer, do you believe that there is direct, divine intervention, on some level, by God, when the prayer appears to have been answered?

How do you think God exerts his influence in cases of physical illnesses? For example, if someone is in a car accident, and is in critical condition, and many prayers are said, and that person pulls through: Did God physically close wounds internally in that person? Did he guide the appropriate bodily cells to do what they normally wouldn't?

I'm just wondering what those who believe in the power of prayer believe that God actually does, depending on situation.

One more example: Say you're in a hostage situation, and prayers are made for the safe release of captives. Do you believe that God injects ideas in the minds of the hostage takers to spare those they've taken hostage? Or how exactly would God have an influence, or change such a situation, reflecting an answer to those prayers?

 

[DesiPower]

40 mins and no replies? there is so much potential here...

***This place is for rent***

 

[shabby]

See the problem with the answers that you're looking for is that there is no answer, everyone who believes in this will simply say what they think their god would do. They will make up whatever they want that is inline with their belief and hope that others who also believe in god will agree and come to a consensus and say yes this is what god would do.
You can pray to your god or you can pray to an oreo cookie, in the end you'll get the same results.

 

[Dr. Zaus]

The best social science we have shows that emotions and expectations are contagious. By praying you change your emotional state and hopefulness, by then interacting with others in a hopefully manner you help them recover.

Similarly the placebo effect/hopefulness effect of prayer by the person that is ill should not be under-stated.

Finally, from my theological stance, prayer is about changing your own mind to be in-accord with the will of God; not changing God's mind about the universe She's created.

 

[OCNewbie]

Finally, from my theological stance, prayer is about changing your own mind to be in-accord with the will of God; not changing God's mind about the universe She's created.

Even when people pray for a specific outcome? I understand what you're saying, but when people pray FOR those who are injured, or are in some other way in a bind, they are seeking recovery for that person, not the ability to come to terms with ANY outcome (chalking that outcome up to "God's plan"), no?

 

[shortylickens]

40 mins and no replies? there is so much potential here...

***This place is for rent***

Obviously we didnt wanna fucking deal with the troll.
Why did you bump it?

 

[OCNewbie]

Obviously we didnt wanna fucking deal with the troll.
Why did you bump it?

I don't troll (not knowingly, anyway). I thought it was an interesting thing to discuss. I am coming at this from an atheistic point of view, so I will admit that I don't believe there will be a logical explanation for how those who do believe in the power of prayer feel their god intervenes. Is that trolling? I'm just looking for discussion.

 

[lxskllr]

You can pray to your god or you can pray to an oreo cookie, in the end you'll get the same results.

Negative. I can eat the Oreo cookie Therefore Oreos>god.

 

[Rastus]

God answered a prayer for me once. I prayed to win the lottery and he told me, "You don't even have a ticket, dumbass."

 

[Dr. Zaus]

Even when people pray for a specific outcome? I understand what you're saying, but when people pray FOR those who are injured, or are in some other way in a bind, they are seeking recovery for that person, not the ability to come to terms with ANY outcome (chalking that outcome up to "God's plan"), no?

I pray for people to get better for three reasons:

1) If I tell someone I'm praying for them it may help them be more hopeful/add to the placebo effect

2) It makes me feel better that I've 'done something' when there's nothing physical I can do

3) Christians are called to be 'in constant prayer' which is to be in constant conversation with God... So praying for/about something is as natural as breathing or talking to your wife about your day neffing (changed to better resonate with ATOT).

Not asked, but the christian answer to the "why doesn't God answer my prayers for a Maserati Quattroporte" question is:

You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

 

[zanejohnson]

yep, i survived flesh eating bacteria..

scar from my hip to ankle.. i recovered in 3 months.. not supposed to be possible...

God's real. i dont know why he wants me still here.. but, he's real.

 

[Dr. Zaus]

yep, i survived flesh eating bacteria..

scar from my hip to ankle.. i recovered in 3 months.. not supposed to be possible...

God's real. i dont know why he wants me still here.. but, he's real.

Or an ass... for giving you a flesh eating bacteria!

(just kidding)

 

[zanejohnson]

Or an ass... for giving you a flesh eating bacteria!

(just kidding)

nah that was my fault.. if i hadn't been such a fuckstick druggie and compromised my immune system i wouldn't have gotten it..but i was, and i did..

he still saved me, i half half a leg basically (well i did, it's actually made a complete recovery) and i can play basketball, i can run, i dont even limp... power of God.

 

[Dr. Zaus]

nah that was my fault.. if i hadn't been such a fuckstick druggie and compromised my immune system i wouldn't have gotten it..but i was, and i did..

he still saved me, i half half a leg basically (well i did, it's actually made a complete recovery) and i can play basketball, i can run, i dont even limp... power of God.

:awe:

 

[OCNewbie]

yep, i survived flesh eating bacteria..

scar from my hip to ankle.. i recovered in 3 months.. not supposed to be possible...

God's real. i dont know why he wants me still here.. but, he's real.

Have you thought about what you believe God did to your wounds? Like, would it be something observable by certain equipment, if your recovery could have been seen at a microscopic level?

 

[zanejohnson]

Have you thought about what you believe God did to your wounds? Like, would it be something observable by certain equipment, if your recovery could have been seen at a microscopic level?

nah i'd imagine it would look just like a normal recovery, only faster...

i think it all worked under what we call laws of physics, if that's what your getting at..

 

[zanejohnson]

this is at about the 3.5 month mark..

 

[zanejohnson]

here is the day before i lost consciousness:

 

[zanejohnson]

here is at about 2.5 months, before skin grafts:

this is also when i witnessed what i can only describe as an angel..

 

[zanejohnson]

check out this swelling!!!

 

[OCNewbie]

Very happy to hear about your recovery. It must have been a life-changing experience. What was the original injury, or how did your leg come to be infected? If you don't mind me asking.

 

[zanejohnson]

and here is about 3 months, i was playing basketball within a month from this:

 

[Jeff7]

I pray for people to get better for three reasons:

1) If I tell someone I'm praying for them it may help them be more hopeful/add to the placebo effect

2) It makes me feel better that I've 'done something' when there's nothing physical I can do

3) Christians are called to be 'in constant prayer' which is to be in constant conversation with God... So praying for/about something is as natural as breathing or talking to your wife about your day neffing (changed to better resonate with ATOT).

Not asked, but the christian answer to the "why doesn't God answer my prayers for a Maserati Quattroporte" question is:

1) Placebo effect.
2) Placebo effect.
3) A "conversation" kind of requires two-way communication. This is one where you're just talking to yourself, until you think you've arrived at the conclusion you think you need to be at, which is usually "Oh well, I guess this is what God wants."
And that's a wins-all argument. Whatever happens, WHATEVER happens, you can just say "Oh well, I guess this is what God wants." So you might as well just do whatever, because anything that happens is going to fall into that category.

 

[zanejohnson]

Very happy to hear about your recovery. It must have been a life-changing experience. What was the original injury, or how did your leg come to be infected? If you don't mind me asking.

see the pic the day before i lost consciousness? that appeared after i walked home from my g/f's house after getting into an argument.. i walked about 10 miles in the freezing cold... i guess hypothermia compromised my immune system..

went to my doctor the next day when pain became unbearable.. she sent me home with antibiotics, thinking it was either a recluse bite, or mrsa..

that night i lost consciousness and my little brother, who lives with me took me to the ER.. small town hospital couldn't handle it, sent me to fort worth via care flight...

and the rest is history!! 800,000 dollar hosipital bill, but i'm still alive! and fine!

 

[OCNewbie]

And that's a wins-all argument. Whatever happens, WHATEVER happens, you can just say "Oh well, I guess this is what God wants." So you might as well just do whatever, because anything that happens is going to fall into that category.

I found this link earlier posted in another thread here on AT; it addresses what you talk about pretty well I thought:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jk6ILZAaAMI