Is prayer simply superstition?

Question

Let's say that you're praying for your grandmother to survive her cancer. Let's also say that the type of cancer she has causes half of the people who get it to die. You pray every day for her to get well. One day the doctors tell her that her body is starting to fight of the cancer. You rejoice and thank God that your prayers were answered. At the end of the year, a scientist tallys up all the deaths and survivals from this specific form of cancer for the year. He sees that 10 people lived and 10 people died (it's a rare form of cancer alright!). If God had really saved your grandmother, the figures wouldn't have been 50/50 unless God killed someone else who had the cancer who didn't have people praying for them. If God actually answer prayers, we would detect strange readings in statistics. That is unless he did something else to counter balance his interference so that we wouldn't notice. So, with that argument, does God save people from dying?

Answer 1

I think so. I would imagine a being as powerful as God would know what you want, and wouldn't plan events at your request.

Answer 2

I would say that Grandma cheated with God's help. Much the same way Sporting guys cheat when they pray to God that they score a touchdown, and actually end up scoring a touchdown.

Face the facts, grandma cheated while others were subjected to cancer w/o the help of God.

Ridiculous isn't it? Can praying stop a hurricane?
Can praying stop an earthquake? No, If we thought like this scientists would have begun to pray that we find solution for Cold Fusion long long ago to utilize earth's water source.
It boils down to we are faced with challenges in this world/universe. If we all pray that Global Warming will go away the problem would never be resolved. If we all cut emissions, quit releasing CFC's, find better methods of gasoline, and watch the human waste with a close eye, we can possibly do something about it. To believe that praying will fix these problems is a dis-service to society. Magic only happens to those that want to view it.

Answer 3

Everyone has an appointed time to die,wether it be from cancer,heart attack,car accident,etc.I believe God always answers our prayers,just not always the way we want them answered.God knows what is best for all,and we should not question His perfect will.
When my daughter was born,she was constantly getting pneumonia. When she was 4 months old,she was hospitalized,and that is when she was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis. The doctors told us she wouldn't live to be 7 years old.Our Pastor came to the hospital,and we all prayed for her.Yes,we asked God to heal her,but we also asked that His will be done.My daughter was in the hospital for 2 weeks and,for whatever reason,the doctors wanted to retest her before they released her to our care.When the test results came back,there was no sign whatsover of CF.Praise God!Today,she is a happy,healthy 18 year old.I don't know why God doesn't heal everyone who asks for it,but He doesn't play favorites.He loves everyone equally.I believe that He heals those who still have a work to do on this Earth,and those who pass on have already fulfilled what they were here for.
My Mom,who has been a devout Christian for almost 30 years now,is right now battling her 3rd bout with cancer since 1990.And she has had to undergo 2 heart surgeries since January.We could ask why she has to go through all this pain and suffering,especially since she is a child of God,but we don't question Him.He never promised us a life of ease,but He does promise to always be with us in our time of need.He may heal my Mom,and He may not,but my belief is that even if she should lose this battle with Chronic Heart Failure and cancer,she is still healed either way,because she is with God in Heaven and no longer suffering,and I know that one day I will be with her again.
There are so many other examples of answered prayers I could give you,but I think you get the point.

Answer 4

Prayer: A recited incantation designed to force or cajole a deity or deities into changing the normal, existing, or probable course of events in the universe, obtain an advantage, or avoid a divine penalty. Also an expression of gratitude or adulation, or an affirmation of continual fear, made to a deity.
A prayer is often accompanied by a promise or a sacrifice (the firstborn, money, giving up a favorite vice, not lying, a select bit of food the priests can eat) to seal or satisfy the agreement. A spell.

Answer 5

The real question here is why would God want to save someone from dieing. This idea assumes that a souls return to the loving embrace of the source is a moment of horror.

How likely is that?

Prayer is something that people who have little faith in God do. They think that God is not smart enough to know what is best for them so they try to Give God advice to wise Him up.

True faith prays only one prayer. It asks only that you can be able to do what God would have you do to be loving toward all of your fellow man.

Love and blessings
don

Answer 6

No, it rather is not superstition. for this reason. at the start, God does not have 'a plan'. life is what you're making it. We have been all given loose will. God does not intervene in peoples lives the way christians, and different non secular people think of. you have administration over your destiny. And on the different hand, different people, issues, events, can not be controlled, and can probably impression your destiny. it rather is all approximately math, technological know-how, and the guidelines of nature. in spite of this, I do nevertheless have faith interior the capacity of prayer, in specific circumstances. needless to say (to me besides), in case you ask God to heal your terminal disease, it may no longer ensue. Or ask God to bless you with the triumphing lottery numbers. Prayer isn't approximately asking God for specific materialistic issues, conceitedness, or miracles. Prayer isn't for that objective. The extra people comprehend that, the extra efficient their prayers strengthen into. Praying is approximately asking God that might actually assist you comprehend, or help you're making the astonishing decision, or do the astonishing element. it rather is not relating to the conceited issues that maximum non secular people think of praying is approximately. God enables you to work out what the astonishing direction is, or what the astonishing decision ought to be. Prayers help replace you, no longer the international around you. So do no longer ask for miracles, ask God that might actually assist you notice, and help you comprehend. after which your prayers would be spoke back.

Answer 7

First of all, let me say that I believe in the power of prayer. I KNOW it works. Secondly, call me a moron, but I don't understand your reasoning behind the skewered statistical readings. God has a plan for all of us whether we die from cancer, old age or whatever. Some will be cured of cancer. Many will not. Perhaps the people who get cured have unfinished work here on earth. Perhaps the people who don't get cured have finished their work here. I don't know. I don't have all the answers. All I know is what I have experienced. From my experience, I can't do anything but believe. I've seen too much. I hope you experience multiple miracles in your life. I hope they change your life. Then, you will see what I have seen.

Answer 8

Death seems terrible to our human minds. And our hearts grieve when someone we love dies.

But death is not really a horrible thing, it is just a passage to a better life in heaven.

And prayer is much more than just asking God for miracles.

Prayer is the elevation of the mind and heart to God:
+ In praise of his glory
+ In petition for some desired good
+ In thanksgiving for a good received
+ In intercession for others before God

Through prayer the Christian experiences a communion with God through Christ in the Church.

"For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy." (St. Thérèse of Lisieux)

"Prayer is the raising of one's mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God." (St. John Damascene)

But when we pray, do we speak from the height of our pride and will, or "out of the depths" of a humble and contrite heart? (Ps 130:1)

He who humbles himself will be exalted; humility is the foundation of prayer. Only when we humbly acknowledge that "we do not know how to pray as we ought," are we ready to receive freely the gift of prayer. "Man is a beggar before God."

With love in Christ.

Answer 9

first of all God doesn't "kill" people he controls our lives that is way different than those perverted mental people that kill. God does things in ways we do not understand but really everything is like a puzzle he does things that will do good to others but at the same time to bad to others not on purpose though but the good people who have suffered pain that did not deserve it will then get a reward for it so when somebody says that life was unfair just wait and see and listen who is really being unfair. just wait for your reward to come.

Answer 10

Using the bible as a reference. no where does it say that God will treat anyone differently if someone else prays for them. It only says he will help you if you pray for personal guidance. So, yes, people who think that prayers for other people will help are not relying on the guidance given to them byt he bible, but on the unsupported superstition that such a deal exists with God.

Answer 11

No...prayer is a conversation we have with God. Now, are all prayers answered? Yes...if you keep in mind that the purpose of our life is to fulfill our God's given mission. When the mission is over...up we go. I am not flipping; just lost my brother to Cancer last year. While missing him everyday, I know God knows what is best for all of us...and that principle is Faith.

Good luck.