Unanimously you have answered that God does not discriminate against non-believers whilst still on earth. This then raises the obvious question - what is the point of praying for anyone? I know that prayers are also there to say thanks and stuff, but surely if God is going to treat everyone equally, what would be the benefit of praying for the sick, diseased, unfortunate... etc? Or is it just down to positive thinking from us?
2006-11-07 07:29:07 · 20 answers · asked by Musicol 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
To 'Chosen 1' - your answer suggests that you pray for others because you think it will give YOU brownie points from God!
2006-11-07 07:41:31 · update #1
To Roya - What's not to understand??? Christian prays, "please make my mum better." Atheist doesn't pray. But apparently (according to Christians answering my last question) God will treat both mothers equally. So what would be the point of the Christian praying in the first place? Simple question. Get it?????
2006-11-07 17:23:43 · update #2
To all those who don't get the point - jeeeez!
2006-11-07 17:27:23 · update #3
To Roya again - I never said anything about discriminating against non-believers, in fact I was saying that god DOES NOT discriminate against non-believers. Has religion taken away all your senses and rationality? The more I read your answer to my question, the more I see complete and utter ignorance in religious belief. If you had read the question correctly instead of trying to guess its content, perhaps you would have had the sense to consider what I was actually saying rather than blindly becoming befuddled. Your ignorance is blinding!
2006-11-08 06:01:49 · update #4
lol, dude you're killing me here. How is it that once in every few thousand years somebody can actually come up with a legitimate question? I like that one, I'm non-religious so I can't really answer that, I don't pray for people anyway. You do realize though that this question will probably be deleted? somebody around here has gto to be offended by this...and that's only because they won't know how to answer it
2006-11-07 07:33:17 · answer #1 · answered by Passionfire 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'm sorry, but do I understand this correctly? I'm a pacifist and leading a crime-free life, follow moral values, which I believe are the foundation of a civilised society & bring up my family in a caring, loving way. But because I am not a Christian, I now need somebody to pray for me to make my voice heard with God?!?
I'm sorry, but if there is an all-mighty God, wouldn't he want to know about people like me and be really happy that they do exist and help him to maintain "peace on earth"? He'll easily convince me that he does in fact exist, when my time comes. I will believe in him, when I'll have to explain, why he really should let me through those gates... But I would be very disappointed in him, if I would then find out that I'd be turned away only because all those prayers for me - that I should turn to god, while still alive - didn't work!
What a disappointing shortfall in principles from someone so powerful!
2006-11-07 17:16:59 · answer #2 · answered by Hipira 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
God sees the conditions of our souls, and He judges according to each life experience. The point of praying for others is this:
1. You are not alone
2. On this Earth there are moments where it seems that things are out of control, perhaps wildly so.
3. If all you can do is pray, sometimes that's all you can do, will that stop you from doing it?
I'm sure there's lots more reasons.
2006-11-07 15:36:40 · answer #3 · answered by Shinigami 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I do not know where the "God dose not discriminate" came from.... it is necessary to pray for others...espacialy for the non-beleiver... as God will not hear the pleas of the non-believer... as God will not hear the insincere prayer of even the beleiver... if a beleiver says a prayer for forgivness and has not forgiven one who has caused some act against him...then God will not hear the prayer for forgivness.
non-beleives are not bound by God's law... beleivers are... sounds a bit discriminatory to me... but as I am on God's side... I choose not to question God... God makes the rules... I just try, as best I can , to play by them.
2006-11-07 15:37:54 · answer #4 · answered by IdahoMike 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Let me tell you what prayer is: Sincere communication between the heart of man, to the heart of God, and back. It's not a chore, nor a ritual. It's just communication. It's letting God know what your hearts desires are. And it's casting all of your cares on Him, because He cares for you. He wants to know what's burdening us, and what ales us. So He can make it right. Praying for other people should be something that you want to do. Jesus prayed for us before He was going to be crucified in the Garden of Gethsemane. Praying for others, shows God that you care for others, and when He sees that, it's like it'll make Him just want bless you, because it shows Him that you're not just thinking about your own selfish gain.
Plus, He commanded us to.
2006-11-07 15:37:18 · answer #5 · answered by Chosen 1 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You should read the report covering the experiment on prayer...surprise surprise, it showed that praying makes no difference whatsoever, even though churchloads prayed for sick people...I wonder why?
Let me explain in simple words.
God does not exist.
Praying is therefore pointless.
Got it?
2006-11-07 15:36:31 · answer #6 · answered by Mr Glenn 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
VERY INTERESTING QUESTION
Ephesians 5:1 urges us to imitate Him in Love. By showing true interest in what other people are enduring, we are imitating Him. Of course, even without this good action, he is well aware of all our problems. But, this beautiful expression of kindness and interest from you, will show how good son of him you are...
But don´t forget, "prayers without actions" are simply worthless. So if you can, GET UP AND GIVE A HAND TOO... ;)
2006-11-07 15:40:37 · answer #7 · answered by RickZ 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
erm... you obviously pray so your prayers would b answered. And so do other people. How does that discriminate against non believers? It doesn't, it just means they don't pray because they don't believe. I don't understand why you don't get what the point of praying is.
2006-11-07 19:29:30 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
i think you have touched on the biggest hypocrisy of christianity.
so everyone says that god doesn't discriminate...?
come at a christian from another angle... and every one is a sinner... most of all people who don't believe and those who don't believe go to hell/won't be forgiven
hmmm... but isn't that discrimination? it doesn't matter what i do if i'm alive or not... what i believe in or what i do, i'm gonna be judged and if i'm not careful, i'll end up on the rubbish pile because i dyed my hair blue instead of green...and the bible says i must dye it green. even if he is and non discriminating all loving and forgiving god.... who gives credit to people who kill in his name, but damns the people who die innocently as a result becuase they didn't believe in him.
so fine... it all a load of ***t! one day it is all going to come crashing in on their heads, and no doubt they'll blame god for deserting them...'cos it is never their fault.
2006-11-07 15:39:36 · answer #9 · answered by sofiarose 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You pray for others' souls so that they may return to Him. God wills that all men be saved. Well, some are lost. It is true He loves us all equally but not all human souls do therefore we pray for our brothers and sisters That they renounce sin and have a conversion of hearts to return to the Lord.
2006-11-07 15:36:54 · answer #10 · answered by Gods child 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋