Would that work, and if not why not?
Because when I first became a non-believer at around 13 I did exactly that. It didn't work.
Now I know there is no God, but back then I wasn't so sure.
2007-11-07 03:19:58 · 27 answers · asked by Meat Bot 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'm not searching. I don't want bible-god to exist since he would be evil if he did.
2007-11-07 03:28:23 · update #1
At 13 I realized there was no evidence for God's existence. Nothing bad happened.
2007-11-07 03:29:15 · update #2
djb: Yes, I CAN know there is no God. You CAN prove a negative. Self-contradictory objects cannot exist. Bible-god is one such object.
2007-11-07 03:30:31 · update #3
But I was sincere at 13. I was totally sincere. I wanted to believe but I didn't. My prayer was sincere. Didn't work.
2007-11-07 03:33:36 · update #4
Well, let's give it a shot:
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Dear God,
As you know, I do not believe that you exist. I recognize that many fine people do, and that many of them find comfort in that belief. I am willing to be convinced that you do exist, and so I am sincerely praying to you to send your Holy Spirit to fill me and bring me back to your glory.
Amen.
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I'll let you know if anything happens.
(10 hours later:) Nothing so far.
2007-11-07 03:30:22 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
How can you possibly *know* there is no God? Do you know everything? That is the problem with praying when your mind is already made up. You already know the answer, and your mind is closed. My mother-in-law won't listen to arguments in favor of equal rights for homosexual couples. Her mind is made up, too. If you open your mind to all possibilities and *then* pray (ask), you might get a real answer, or you might have some sort of insight. As it is, you won't learn anything but what is already in your mind.
I am not Christian, and I'm not advocating blind acceptance of the God of the Bible, either. I just advocate an open-minded attitude to life and life's questions. I actually suspect that if there was an objective way to prove God's existence, he would then cease to be God and become something defined. it is a fundamental paradox. But it shouldn't mean you don't allow new thoughts to get in.
2007-11-07 03:35:03 · answer #2 · answered by Black Dog 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I think that it's more about maintaining an open mind about things rather than making a decision at one particular point.
You can't "know" there is no God, as you can't prove a negative. People a thousand years ago "knew" the earth was flat and that it was the center of the universe. "Knowing" something doesn't make it true.
In any case, one generally (barring the occasional miracle) can't just "become" a believer. Faith is something that's developed over time. If you did have one "prayer," as it were, I would recommend it be thus: "God, please reveal yourself to me." That's all. And don't expect it to have an immediate effect.
It may happen overnight; more likely it will happen over time. But it will only happen if you maintain an open-minded attitude. If your mind is made up about it, nothing I or anyone else says will convince you.
2007-11-07 03:28:38 · answer #3 · answered by djb 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I used to be a devout Xian. I prayed sincerely and hard for honest things, like a job so I could provide for my family. That is when I started realizing, and opening my mind, because the pathetic struggle of barely existing continued.
2007-11-07 03:33:21 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you are sincere He will hear you out. If not, your prayer won't get noticed.
Don't worry pal you will be a believer like me too when He will show you that He has power to take your life when and where He wants to like what He did to me 2yrs ago. I was just lucky He still revived me. You will become a believer when you are in your future deathbed but then it could be too late....Now, I strongly believe there is a God full of love who gave up His only Son to save believers from sin. BELIEVE NOW B4 IT'S TOO LATE.
God is just waiting for your SINCERE invitation and prayers.
Take note: God and demon sees our emotions through the color of our auras.
2007-11-07 03:35:14 · answer #5 · answered by nini 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
That would depend upon the sincerity of your prayer.
That you would pray to God "just in case" identifies you not as an Atheist, but as an Agnostic.
Keep searching, you will find Him when you search with all your heart.
2007-11-07 03:27:10 · answer #6 · answered by Bobby Jim 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
What happened at age 13? Your parents die or something? Picked on as a kid by classmates? Bad things happen. Don't let that stop you from gaining and seeking knowledge. You close yourself off and you'll never get past it. So right now, you're stuck at 13.
So at 13 you read the bible for yourself and made a very sound judgement based on everything you've researched? Right. Your okay then, cya!
2007-11-07 03:28:10 · answer #7 · answered by modrealist 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I'm told that God only responds to prayers that are sincere and aligned with his plan... and I'm told that atheists should pray for God to reveal himself...
This is saying, "First, believe in God, then pray, then you'll conclude that God exists."
2007-11-07 03:23:41 · answer #8 · answered by Eleventy 6 · 8⤊ 0⤋
You say you prated. For what did you pray is important. May be you prayed for some material gifts. If you want to be a successful person and want to be happy pray for guidance, You will get it. Prayer is not magic that you say you want an airplane and you will get it.
2007-11-07 03:33:47 · answer #9 · answered by ashok 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As an atheist you do pray. Atheism is a religion, I just don't have enough faith to be an atheist. Your question is a prayer and your answer is in your heart. You already do believe. Shalom.
2007-11-07 03:29:26 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋