Why do people pray before they eat?

Question

I'm atheist but my brother and his wife are really religious. The other day when we were eating they started praying, so I said what's the point of praying? They said to thank God for the food.

But that's just stupid because God didn't give them that food. They worked hard for the money to buy that food so why are they thanking God for it? God didn't buy it or make it they did.

Answer 1

Or think about, why did the president go live on national television and thank God for finding Saddam Hussein BEFORE thanking the troops who actually captured him? How much did God do? Did he even lift a finger while our sons and daughters were being shot and blown up in Iraq? The President ought to be able to say "well, here's where God blew the roof off the hut, here's where God grabbed an M-16 and actually did something about this messy world he's made." But he can't.

We ought to be infuriated when our leaders thank their invisible sky-friend for OUR hard work. God doesn't exist, yet our tax dollars throw paychecks at our leaders to act like the God of the Bible exists as a matter of evidenced facts.

Good question. It's too bad that people consider the real answers so "politically incorrect." I'm sure they'll have so much qualms about insulting YOUR beliefs.

Answer 2

It does seem silly to thank god for the food that you seemed to work so hard so you will be able to buy it.

Some people have really good points here. I don't think you can be thankful to the point of rediculousness. Im a pagan and from time to time I thank the Goddess for many things. I usually don't say a prayer at meal times. But I have been known to thank her for being able to be healthy enough to work so I can buy the food and cook the food.

I don't do it on a regular basis like most christians. I think they are doing it at every meal because that what they are told to do. Or some may actually enjoy doing so.

The fact is your Brother and Wife are religious so they prayed before eating. You are atheist so unless they expected you to pray with them or stop eating so they could pray. I don't see anything wrong.

Each to their own, atheist, christian, pagan, hindu, sikkh, buddist.....etc.

Answer 3

There are millions of people in this world who do not have one square meal a day. Most of them are willing to work but do not find employement, and if they do, they dont earn enough to make both ends meet. There are also millions who are afflicted with serious illnesses or have other physical/mental disabilities that make living difficult.
If you ponder over all this, you will find that you are lucky that you have good health, a good paying job, and so can afford to eat good food. Arent you then in a situation which million others envy they could well be? Why is this happening? This question has different theoretical answers but not all may be convincing.
If you dont believe in God, then you woudl perhaps try to explain how these disparities came into being.
Those who believe in God attribute their fortune in getting food and other facilities in life to the blessing of God. As food is essential for anyone to live, naturally, thanking God starts there at the food table.

Answer 4

Your brother's wife is probably a terrible cook, your brother being a proactive individual, got religion and prayed that the meal he was about to eat was not more of the same dreck she has prepared up this point? No Good?

How about this answer, faith is a personal choice, you choose to believe in hard work and it's benefits, your brother and his wife choose to credit the gift of their meal to God. If this bothers you, then thank your brother for having you over and allowing you to be an atheist and disrupt what to them is important. If my brother chose to break bread with me then I would just be glad I was having dinner with my brother, If i did not agree then I would sit quietly while he prayed. If he chooses to pray, then be glad that your brother feels peace and enjoys his faith. Either way, you shouldn't knock something you don't understand or agree with. It is not your place to decide whether your brother's faith is valid or not. This is a problem everywhere because people just can't accept what someone else does and try to denegrate another's thoughts, beliefs or wishes. The same is true of religion. You don't have to like what he does, you don't have to agree, the only polite respectful thing required of you is to keep your opinions to yourself because he is your brother and you should want him to be happy. Simple in concept, but really hard for most people to accept, doing nothing when it's required.

Answer 5

We pray over food is order to reverence God and give thanks for His generosity. Also, prayer consecrates your food and makes it holy so that no harm will come to you. Ex 23:25 says, "And ye shall serve the Lord your God and He shall bless your bread and your water. Lastly, if it were not for God, none of us would be able to eat anything. Just look at the people in third world countries. Don't you think if the could get a job they would? But the scripture says, in Haggai,"Thus saith the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways! "Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified," says the Lord. "You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? "Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house. Therefore, the heavens above you withhold its fruit. "For I called for a drought on the land and the mountains, on the grain and the new wine and the oil, on whatever the ground brings forth, on men and livestock "and on all the labor of your hands".

Answer 6

I can see why your an Atheist. God created the Plants that you are working hard for to buy. Have you heard of farmers? Have you tried making your own food out of nothing and grow it?
They are thanking the Creator for making the plants and animals that you are eating to sustain your existance.
That brings back an old question do you honor God more by giving thanks for what was created by Him or by just eating and enjoying the food.

Answer 7

God has given them health to work.God has given them a job.God gives us the food.In one day the cost of food could rise so high,only the very rich could afford to buy.
As much as men like to think they are in control, they are not.
When I pray I also ask God to bless the food,cleanse it,remove any impurity.Bless the hands of the person who cooked and earned the money to buy the food.<><

Answer 8

It's partially giving God thanks for the blessing that they have food to eat. Many people in the world are starving to death all the time. Yes, they worked for it..But in thanking Him they are recognizing that it is He who first created the food, and who is giving them the blessings that they have. Everything good comes from God. Satan wants us to suffer...Satan would want us to starve. God helps us by supplying us food.

It's also a way that one can keep their minds focussed that they need God for some things. Whether they are capable of going to work and buying some food for themselves or not, it is a way to make sure that we don't forget not to take the little blessings like a full plate of food for granted.

Blessings and Love

Answer 9

They do the working but God give them brains, strength and health to acquire food in the table. If You dont like to pray nobody forced you, you have your own choice. And if you dont like the food that God has given to them dont eat.

Answer 10

Dear TheP,

i'm writing to just ask you to consider the situation logically. Obivously because your brother and wife believe in God- they give God thanks for the food. It doesn't make sense to you because as an atheist you don't believe in God- so why give him thanks? Which is what your question is? Why give him thanks?

To those who believe in God. God is worthy to be thanked and honored in everything in life. People have jobs and the Scriptures also tell believers to work as unto the Lord- so the believer would say that God is the one who gave us our jobs, and tthe ability (the breath and the strength to do it). It does not make sense to you- but that does not mean that what they are doing is non-sensical.

Maybe you can ask them why they believe what they believe. i think believers and non-believers should not be surprised when the actions of believers and non-believers coincide with their personal beliefs.

Hope that helps. Kindly,

Nickster