I hear people praying for the dead and I just think, what a waste. Those prayers aren't going to do any good since those people are dead. They are buried and their actions were all remembered by God and they are asleep in the dust until their resurrection at the end of the age. Praying for them will not change God's mind where their destiny lies. Prayer needs to be for the living. Oh and by the way, to those people who pray to the saints - you need to stop because you are sinning in a major way. Read Deuteronomy 18:11 - God specifically says not to call on the dead. I guess the Catholic church is primarily to blame for all this ignorance and stupidity but other churches promote it to. Ridiculous isn't it?
2007-08-21 08:33:49 · 42 answers · asked by Anonymous in Entertainment & Music ➔ Polls & Surveys
I don't think it can do any harm to pray for a loved one (or anyone for that matter) who is dead. Who or what is it going to hurt anyway?
Yes, they may be dead, but if it's comforting to the person praying then there is nothing wrong with it.
I believe that when a person prays, it's THEIR business. It's a private "conversation" between them and God.... or whomever they pray to and talk with.
2007-08-21 08:42:39 · answer #1 · answered by ? 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Roman Catholic teaching on purgatory reflects its understanding of the communion of saints. We are connected to the saints in heaven, the saints-in-waiting in purgatory and other believers here on earth. Prayers for the deceased are not a means of buying their way out of purgatory, that's what God meant when he said not to call on the dead.
When the world ends at the Final Judgment, there will be only two possibilities: heaven and hell. We who celebrate Jesus’ Resurrection over sin and death look forward to sharing in that victory, and we pray that our beloved dead may do the same.
2007-08-21 08:43:35 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Here's the simple answer to your question: If you believe in purgatory, you pray for the repose of those souls that are there. They have been judged and are being cleansed of venial sins in order to enter Heaven. When you do pray for them, you hope that they are in purgatory or (hopefully) already in heaven. It's referenced in one of the Maccabees, which is conveniently left out of most Protestant Bibles.
Secondly, the Deutoronomy argument is fruitless. In the very verse you quoted it says that your are not to seek ORACLES from the dead. In other words, you're not supposed to ask for knowledge of future events. Also, when praying to a saint, you aren't praying to a ghost or spirit. You're praying to a person who is most definitely in Heaven.
It's not as ridiculous as you'd think.
2007-08-21 08:43:25 · answer #3 · answered by kenrayf 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well it all really depends on what you believe, if you belive in heaven, then they pray that the dead people they know are there. And if you don't know what happens after death, they pray that their dead will go to a better place (a good place)
2007-08-21 08:38:59 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Praying to the dead is for the comfort of the people saying the prayers
2007-08-21 08:39:53 · answer #5 · answered by ? 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
most people only pray for the dead, just after they have passed away, they prayer for them to be at rest, and their soul to have a happy everlasting life, finally praying for the loved ones left behind. Which although praying for the dead, it is just a prayer for their souls which are still traveling to the everafter world.
2007-08-21 08:41:12 · answer #6 · answered by lazybird2006 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The prayers for and to the dead are pointless. It is mostly Catholic tradition and I'm not sure where they got this idea from.
It is not Biblical in the least.
2007-08-23 14:29:17 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pray for the dead and the dead will pray for you.
Who are you to say that the religions of others are wrong?
2007-08-21 08:52:11 · answer #8 · answered by tillbaka i tiden 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Perhaps it's praying for the dead that comforts the ones that are left behind. And how do you know that it does no good? Are you God?
2007-08-21 12:58:50 · answer #9 · answered by Erin 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What a waist of money for pretty much anything related to religion like church I mean whats wrong with people these days. This is like a crime you can't punish an accused criminal if there's no evidence of a crime so why are people praying and going to church when there's absolutely no photo or any form of proof that god exists which can only be him to prove that he exists. So why do people waste there money on religious related expenses when it's pointless because you don't know if something people call god exists. Go to science class people god didn't make the world because there's no evidence of a human looking giant making anything.
2007-08-21 08:45:21 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋