Suppose my brother has cancer...?

Question

Suppose it is God's Will that the cancer should go in remission. Suppose no one, absolutely no one, prays for my brother. Will his cancer go into remission?

If you answer no, (the cancer will stay) explain how a lack of prayer will stop God's plan. If you answer yes (the cancer will go away) then explain to me why prayer matters at all.

kent, you seem to be claiming that prayers have no effect on outcomes. I agree. But many people claim prayers are 'answered.'

Horton, you fail. Please directly answer my question.

If people are going to post spam, at least post spam that answers my question. It is a yes or no question.

Answer 1

http://www.med.nyu.edu/patientcare/library/article.html?ChunkIID=120538

Answer 2

prayers make people feel better. it makes people feel a connection with spirituality, that their thoughts and wishes can transcend physical reality. As an inherently subjective matter, there is no way to prove/disprove such a connection at all, but there is no harm in wishing sick friends/loved ones well.

ADDED in response: I make no claim that prayers work or if they don't. I only point out that it does not seem to be provable one way or the other, and that there is no harm in wishing others well.

Answer 3

you're literally being slightly hasty . . going from him being taken care of for neuroblastoma and now 'death' from it. Why in the international might you tell your brother he's death from this maximum cancers . .it rather is not your place. it rather is on your mother and father to establish, not you. you should stay supportive and robust on your brother and on your mother and father. His pediatric oncology team would be attentive to the thank you to attend to the region . . they'll sit down with the family contributors to talk the subject if that's what it takes. you should refocus on your brother .. babies are resilient and he ought to marvel you all and bypass into remission. it rather is only too early in his scientific care to be stricken approximately something that could by no capacity ensue. i wish you're actually not enjoying a activity right here by utilising asking this question countless circumstances.

Answer 4

yes most cancer patients experience periods of remission
unfortunately this is usually temporary.and as for prayer whether you believe or not its the thought that count now isn't it.if your brother is indeed stricken i'm sorry for you.i have lost 2 brothers out of 3.1 from a.r.c.. and one from heart failure probably drug relate .its hard to see a sibling in that situation ,and i often say out of resignation "gods will not mine.
peace to you,
joe c.

Answer 5

Such questions demand truthful, satisfying answers. But it is not truthful, or satisfying, to be told, “It is God’s will for us to suffer,” or, “These are things we cannot understand.” If God created the awesome universe of such marvelous order, surely he must have a good reason for allowing humans to get so disorderly. And would such a Creator not care enough about his own human creation to tell us why he has permitted wickedness? Would it not make sense for him to correct these bad conditions in due time if he has the power to do so? Any loving father would do that for his children if he could. Certainly an all-powerful, all-wise, loving Creator would not do less for his own earthly children.

Also, there is something else to consider. If we blame God for such things as starvation from food shortages, whom do we credit for the productive fields and orchards that produce such bountiful crops in many lands? If we blame God for sickness, whom do we credit for the body’s marvelous healing systems? If we blame God for city slums, whom do we credit for majestic mountains, clear lakes, delightful flowers and beautiful trees? Clearly, if we blame God for the world’s troubles and then credit him for the good things of the earth, it is a contradiction. A loving God would not promote both good and bad at the same time.

Is this to say that wickedness originated entirely with humans? No, there is more to it. God’s producing of intelligent creatures was not limited to humans. Already he had created countless other intelligent sons in the heavens, spirit creatures. While they too were free moral agents, they would also have to submit to God’s good and reasonable laws to remain alive. However, one of these spirit creatures meditated on wrong ideas. And when a person meditates on what is wrong, that can build up to a point where he does the wrong thing he is thinking about. So too with this spirit creature. He built up ambition in himself to such a degree that it moved him to challenge God’s actions. He told Adam’s wife, Eve, that they could disobey God and still, he said, “You positively will not die.” (Genesis 3:4) He questioned their need to depend upon the Creator for continued life and happiness. In fact, he told them that disobedience would actually improve matters for them, causing them to be like God. Thus he called into question the truthfulness of God. And by calling into question God’s laws, he cast doubt on God’s way of ruling—indeed, on God’s right to rule. For this he was called Satan, which means resister, and Devil, which means slanderer.

Answer 6

The secret will of God is accomplished through human means. One of the means that God's will is accomplished is through prayer. The fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

Answer 7

Fairy god mothers grant wishes. Isn't god at least as nice as fairy god mothers?