Does it seem to work when you talk down to people?
2006-09-11 03:18:54 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yeah, I'm with you. This is nothing more than Christian "I'm-going-to-heaven" snobbery. I love it when I hear somebody say they'll pray for me after they hear something that their faith/preacher/pappy wouldn't agree with. As in "I believe in a woman's right to choose" met with "Oh, I'll pray for you" which means, "you poor soul, how can I show contempt for your considered opinion".
It's in the same category as "I just want to convert you and show you how wrong you are so you won't burn in hell". See??? it's because of all the love I feel that I want to express that you're condemned unless you agree with me.
2006-09-11 03:26:32 · answer #1 · answered by derandnet 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Maybe part of it is rebellion against the several scientific studies which prove that prayer has absolutely *no* effect on anyone — with the possible exception of a mild psychological effect (placebo) on the person who does the praying (not the person prayed for).
<'No health benefit' from prayer
Patients did not know they were prayed for
The world's largest study into the effects of prayer on patients undergoing heart surgery has found it appears to make no difference.
The MANTRA study, run from Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina, involved 750 patients.
Before their operations, they were randomly split into two groups, and half were prayed for by Christians, Jews, Buddhists and Muslims.
However, checks revealed they had fared no better than those not prayed for.
Prayer teams from various denominations and faiths were alerted by email to start intercessory prayer as soon as possible after the patient was enrolled on the trial.
Neither hospital staff, the patients, or their relatives had any idea which patients' were receiving prayer, to prevent any chance of the results being skewed... >
2006-09-11 03:36:12 · answer #2 · answered by Sweetchild Danielle 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
How is telling someone that you are paying for them talking down? Its equivalant to telling someone that they are in your thoughts. Is that talking down to someone as well? When a christian prays for someone, it is asking for God to help them in the persons best interest. I know from personal experience, sometimes I've thought I didnt need help, but now looking back I realize that time was when I needed it more than ever. True Christians would talk down to no one. And just as you cant judge the right peoplein the world by what the wrong ones are doing, you cant judge all christians from what some of the hippocrits are doing.
2006-09-11 06:22:25 · answer #3 · answered by angelikness 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
***Why tell people that you are praying for them? ***
Arrogance and a, I'm better than you attitude.
**Does it seem to work when you talk down to people?**
No, however we keep trying, you never know.
The Bible Matthew 6: 5
"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
2006-09-11 08:42:56 · answer #4 · answered by zurioluchi 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No way - saying that you are going to pray for someone should give them a sense of peace - that God is on their side with additional help/aid from those who care about you enough to pray for you!@
2006-09-11 03:29:12 · answer #5 · answered by nswblue 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It makes me feel good when someone tells me they are praying for me. I know that they care. They care enough to keep me in their thoughts and prayers. I don't believe that is talking down to people at all. I think they just want you to know that they are there for you and that they really do care.
2006-09-11 03:25:30 · answer #6 · answered by Yvonne D 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Why would anyone consider "I will Pray for you", talking down to anyone?
It is like "Good Morning", or "Hello".
I pray for people all the time, even if you don't believe in God, what would a prayer hurt?
Peace!
2006-09-11 03:24:29 · answer #7 · answered by C 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It could be in a condemning way, say you see something wrong in their life, and you say I'll pray for you. But most people when they say that mean well, and wants what's best for that person (in their mind, what's best, not God's intentions for that person.) That's why you pray though, to get your thoughts on God's will and his direction for your life and the lives of others, and to not be so self-focused.
Personally, I pray for somebody and don't tell them til afterwards. That way if the problem resolves itself or they conquer the sin in their life, I let them know that I lifted that up to God. But not at the time, so they don't think I am condemning them. It's all in your approach and your attitude toward that person.
2006-09-11 03:31:19 · answer #8 · answered by ht_butterfly27 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
We are all human...I tell people all day long that I'll pray for them..that's what I'm suppose to do...BUT...I also pray every night for myself to be forgiven for anything I did or said to others...So Yes...it DOES work if I happen to talk someone down...like I said, we are all human...question answered???
2006-09-11 03:23:32 · answer #9 · answered by ? 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
It let's them know you really do care and that you want to help ease their burden. That you aren't just paying lip service with "sorry about that". Let's them know they've got someone - the one doing the praying and God - on their side.
2006-09-11 03:31:55 · answer #10 · answered by Tina R 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋