If he is all knowing, why do you bother praying? He already knows what you want, right? Is he so insecure that he pouts or gets mad when you don't pray?
The most preposterous notion that H. sapiens has ever dreamed up is that the Lord God of Creation, Shaper and Ruler of all the Universes, wants the saccharine adoration of His creatures, can be swayed by their prayers, and becomes petulant if He does not receive this flattery. Yet this absurd fantasy, without a shred of evidence to bolster it, pays all the expenses of the oldest, largest, and least productive industry in all history.
-Robert A. Heinlein
2006-09-20 05:06:12 · 29 answers · asked by Kathryn™ 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
They pray and worship god because of the 2 great fears. The fear of death, which also includes the fear of a life that has no meaning. And they fear true responsibility. Responsibility for one's own actions, the fear of one's own choices, fear of having to make it happen yourself and then be accountable for it.
BTW your new avatar is great!
2006-09-20 05:20:29 · answer #1 · answered by Medusa 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Another mocking atheist who hasn't thought it through! Buddhists pray and they don't have a god. Praying is a method and as such has an effect. That effect is useful psychological change - it helps make you more open and happy through concentration of mind (for instance, putting your hands together aids concentration, as do rubbing beads) and through the arousal of compassion for others (being less self centred is obviously good, and helps cause serotonin release in the brain)
Worship can also be seen a faith or submission, which are also useful methods with their own psychological effects.
Just because something is "religious" doesn't in fact make it stupid in any way shape or form. "Religious" people may have misinterpretted many things about their own religion and reality, but aethiests are just as bad.
Of course, any method can be used positively and with care, or negatively with ignorance. ANY method from ANY school of thought. You'd do well to look at how idiotic scientists and aetheists can be, and yourself, before you go knocking anyone else.
And I don't worship any god, I studied a science degree, and I sometimes pray.
2006-09-20 05:34:03 · answer #2 · answered by Iain Speed 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I pray and worship God because I want a personal relationship with him. I know that he loves me and hears me but it is through my word to him that I am sure that we are in communication. God knows my heart but I feel obligated to put my beliefs into action by actively presuing him in prayer and in my good works.
My worship of God is a response to my willingness to please him and give him glory. I love him for giving me life. I need him to make me complete. His word is sacred. I don't always obey his wishes but I know that because I acknowledge him that I can be forgiven.
Robert A. Heinlein would be right if the only thing about the human existence was science and the empirical. Humans have always yearned for the spiritual.
2006-09-20 05:23:14 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
We pray for help, guidance and support. God doesn't pout if we don't, but it's a way to speak to him since we cannot do so face to face. Think of God as your father. Would you just take what you want from him and never speak to him and let him know that you love him? It's the same thing. When I pray, I let him knowt hat I love him. I pray for the well-being of others.
2006-09-20 05:09:43 · answer #4 · answered by sister steph 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Exactly. Heinlein was right. What self-respecting god would demand worship from its own creation?
2006-09-20 09:09:01 · answer #5 · answered by Cosmic I 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Odd that the created would scoff at the Creator, but this is human nature and God speaks to it time and time again in His Holy Word.
Nevertheless the Creator has created each of us with free-will to choose him or deny him. His love is so great for His creation that He would not create robots with no mind of their own. He is merciful and generous.
It appears that you have chosen to deny Him. I can not force you to choose differently. I can only share that God loves you in spite of your denial and longs for you to choose differently.
Christ never forced anyone to choose Him and as a follower of Jesus Christ I can not force anyone either. I can only share as He did and pray as He did and do the Father's will and continue to share and pray.
May the Lord of Hosts soften your heart to His Holy Presence in your life and never let your heart grow so hard that you no longer sense the promptings of His Holy Spirit, that you might one day have eyes to see and ears to hear your Creator who is and was and is to come and how much He loves you. ~Selah
EDIT: I just noticed your profile. In it you state; "...Read, think, analyze and above all, try to listen to others with an open mind. I know that's easier said than done, but with practice, we may see some improvement."
Might I suggest that since you are encouraging others who do not believe as you to Read, Think, Analyze and Listen to others with an open mind, that you should do also as you ask of others?
Just as you seem to be firm in your stance as an Atheist, there are those of us who are firm in our stance as Christ-ians.
If you are going to suggest we listen to you, you should likewise be willing to listen to us. After all, you don't want to be labeled a hypocrite, now do you?
2006-09-20 05:20:33 · answer #6 · answered by NONAME 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Love responds to love. God is love and His people know this. God does not get lonely that he needs mankind. However He does invite mankind to fellowship and joy in the community of God The Father, God The Son and God The Holy Spirit are that community and all are invited to share His joy.
2006-09-20 05:13:02 · answer #7 · answered by Bad Cosmo 4 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Because we believe that our Father loves us and wants us to turn to Him for everything....big or small in our lives. I, too, used to question things like you, but since I turned to the Lord I am more serene than I have ever been. It is not easy to be a child of God in this day and age when many think it is "cool" to bash him, but by following where He would have me go has made my life much easier. If you ever decide to seek Him, He will be there waiting for you, just as he waited for me. Peace to you.
2006-09-20 05:17:19 · answer #8 · answered by cmdynamitefreckles 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Do you have children?
Most of the time you know what they want before they ask don't you?
Prayer is a way to keep yourself in contact with God. The closer the relationship, the better.
2006-09-20 05:13:02 · answer #9 · answered by dwh558 2 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Because God is the most important person in the world besides he created you so that's the least he deserves from everyone. Its true that he already knows your problems but if you pray to him he'll really help you.
2006-09-20 05:12:07 · answer #10 · answered by Erika2007 1 · 1⤊ 3⤋