Prayer and super...?

Question

Superstition:
1 a : a belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic or chance, or a false conception of causation b : an irrational abject attitude of mind toward the supernatural, nature, or God resulting from superstition
2 : a notion maintained despite evidence to the contrary

There have been numerous scientific studies about prayer and if it is effective. The results show time and time again that praying to a "god" has THE SAME EXACT ODDS of actually working as rubbing a buhhda's belly or holding a "lucky" rabbits foot.

According to the definition, isn't prayer a superstition?

If no, please explain how it differs from superstition.

chris: The key is that the PATIENT must believe in the prayer. That means it works for buhdists, hindus, satantists etc. All this proves is the power of the mind MAY IN VERY RARE circumstances affect a patients health. If your god is all powerful, why does he have no more power than a buhdist, hindu, satanist, witch etc????
As far as "god answering your prayers". There are millions of hindus who swear that there gods answer their prayers too. Just because you pray something will happen and it happens, doesn't mean there is a god. What about all the times you pray for something that DOESN'T happen? oooohhh, that's right...god's will....how convenient.

smiley george: Ok, give me your SCIENTIFIC PROOF that prayer to your god works more often than people of other beliefs prayers to their gods or idols. You will get $1 million dollars for this proof.

Answer 1

I have found that prayer to Ra is 100% effective. I prayed to Ra last night for the sun to rise when I awoke. When I got up this morning Ra answered my prayer and the sun rose and all was good

Answer 2

not quite.
(although indeed prayer is hooked up into that other super)
for it is a belief in the supernatural (as opposed to the natural)
it is the expression of surrender to a Supreme being
(instead of just surrendering to the situation at hand)
it is about hope (as opposed to wallowing in despair)
it is the belief in a Creator / Intelligent Designer (instead of a belief in intelligent life coming from the primordial soup so to speak--and sustaining it until now, and since you are talking about statistics, is x more times to the nth power more unlikely to happen than the concept of an ID)

Answer 3

I do not pray because of ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic or chance. that makes it a false statement.
I am not irrational. or superstitious.
.
I keep hearing about scientific proof but as let none of you have given one just just keep saying that there is some. it is like a broken record.
if you can not prove your point then do not put down mine, I have the right to my beliefs as much as you do.
and you so called scientific studies have no effect if they are done without faith.
there are just as many studies that prove that prayer does work.
so why do you start your non question with the statement (it is stupid).????
is you vocabulary really that limited?

Answer 4

Neither will, a prayer pot basically restores the prayer factors, it does not flow over and the super fix restores each and every thing yet well-being and prayer. the only prayer enhance i comprehend of is the two element enhance you may get from the prayer guild, the little church to the Dwarven mines. basically flow up the ladder and pray on the altar and you gets a 2 element enhance.

Answer 5

Not for me. God has answered my prayers, increases my faith and gets me through life.

According to your definition -notion maintained despite evidence to the contrary. Well I have not had that experience. God answers my prayers.

And you need to cite your numerious scientific studies. I have read two distinct articles stating the opposite in secular magazines. Both stated that people in the hospital tended to get well faster when they had a religious belief and prayer.

Answer 6

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? (Psalm 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 7

Why would God answer prayers for someone who doesn't believe in Him, and who is only using prayer to test Him? Use common sense, man. Prayer is for believers only.

Answer 8

I pray to seek God's will.

There is no other way to find God's will than to pray to the living God and ask him.

I don't pray for favors and such. I don't pray so something "works out" or "comes true." I wonder if your scientific studies accounted for people who pray to seek God--not to seek specific outcomes in their lives.

Answer 9

I agree with you, but you're not going to change anyone's mind this way.