Is telling someone to pray about it ever good advice?

Question

What ever happened to just working on problems instead of this religious cop-out?

Answer 1

I think its offensive when someone tells me to pray. Why would they assume I am spiritual when in fact I believe in nothing. If there is a God does anybody really believe he gives a crap about your tiny little problems. If were going to intervene wouldnt it make sense that he focus on some bigger issues? World hunger, civil wars, global warming. We are on our own people.

Answer 2

only when the person believes in prayer. a lot of times praying about someting will change your mentality about the problem and often you will try to fix it, albeit subconciously. so for a religious person who doesn't know what to do, praying may help their subconcious mind work through the problem.

for a non-religious person you'll probably just make them angry.

Answer 3

It's not a good advice. Encouraging schizoid mental behaviour should be avoided.

Answer 4

praying to accept the outcome good or bad would be the way to go

Answer 5

Well, it can be sort of like a meditation, but it's generally a cop-out, I agree.

Answer 6

generally, religion is for the weak who need faith to bail them out instead of working on their problems themselves. they also use faith to plug holes to explanations they can't figure themselves. when all is bleak they turn to religion for comfort because they can not handle on their own.

Answer 7

great point. it is a copout. the worst prayer, in my humble opinion, are those sent to the heavenly father (or mother) for one's team to do well in a sporting event.

Answer 8

1. Yes
2. Prayer helps too

Answer 9

Yes it is. It does more good than all the other options.

Answer 10

We do both silly.