2007-09-23 04:49:55 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yes, there is...
Praying means asking a "god" to intervene..
To hope is to desire an outcome, but to know there is no magic that will "make" it happen.
2007-09-23 04:56:39 · answer #1 · answered by Ũniνέгsäl Рдnтsthέisт™ 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Yes, there can in reality be a "world" of difference.
Praying, you see, involves an attempt at communicating with a supernatural entity like the theistic God of the Abrahamic faiths, or a deity from the Hindu pantheon. For an atheist, such an action would seem senseless and inconsistent with their beliefs (or lack of them).
On the other hand hoping, or wishing that something might occur, need not happen withing the context of a supernatural cognitive framework. I can hope that scientism will come to dominate the minds of human beings, and this does not require any faith at all. It is merely a plausible possibility which I desire and wish for, and this can be done with a purely naturalist worldview.
2007-09-23 12:00:23 · answer #2 · answered by bulletproofmoth 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Would an atheist pray? And to whom? The difference between praying and hoping is the expectation of fulfillment.
2007-09-23 11:59:39 · answer #3 · answered by jmmevolve 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I think so. A hope is just something you want, really. You surely can't say that when you queue up to buy your lunch in Starbucks, hoping there'll still be the sandwich you want is a prayer. You're not asking anybody for it, and you realise that your hope is not going to affect much. In praying, you are asking someone to do something for you. There is a big difference.
2007-09-23 15:49:09 · answer #4 · answered by LifeIsAFreeTripRoundTheSun 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A believer prays for something hoping he gets it,irrespective of the fact whether he deserves it or not.An atheist uses his rationality ,plans and works for it and knows the probability of his getting what he wants.You see the difference between a wishful thinking and a practical approach? So,what's next?
2007-09-23 12:03:22 · answer #5 · answered by brkshandilya 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Hoping is just wanting something and knowing you can't do anything about it. Praying is a delusional way of trying to get what you want because you actually think its going to change anything.
2007-09-23 11:57:40 · answer #6 · answered by Uliju 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Yes. If you hope for something, you do so knowing full and well that it doesn't increase your chances of it happening. You simply do it to keep your spirits up.
But when people pray, they actually expect it to change something (even if "god decides not to answer"), which has been proven over and over, not to to work.
Hope is still a realistic policy. Praying is not.
2007-09-23 11:57:35 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
No. In a scientific study, 2 groups of patients were matched for the progression of their cancers, and 2 other groups of unrelated people were instructed as follows: one group to pray (god thoughts) to patient group A, and the other group to hope (no god thoughts) good outcomes for patient group B.
The result was no significant difference as to the outcome (survivability of patient group A vs. patient group B).
2007-09-23 12:06:13 · answer #8 · answered by CC 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I guess if you're hoping for something you don't think that some kind of invisible entity knew you hoped and granted that hope to you
other wise no.
2007-09-23 13:14:12 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hoping is looking for an opportunity, praying is asking for somone to bail you out.
2007-09-23 11:59:38 · answer #10 · answered by nursesr4evr 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋