Is there a bigger waste of time than prayer?

Question

Seriously, sleeping, video games, etc, I can't think of any.

Prayer does not accomplish anything at all. Statistically, it's been tested and proven, re-tested and re-proven, over and over again. People who pray are no more likely to win the lottery, support a Superbowl winning team, get a promotion, or get home before the storm hits. In many cases, prayer has had negative effects (because prayer is often subsituted for constructive actions.)

I know the Christians are going to either argue vehemently or accept that I will "never understand," etc.

But atheists, can you think of a bigger waste of time than prayer? I can justify everything I can come up with.

Even worshiping a God is justifiable because this is the cause of some pretty remarkable works of art. (I'd like to point out that the artist is not always the one that believes in God, it is his or her employer)

And there are video games that could be just as big of a waste of time. But for sports games like Madden, and now with active systems like the Wii, there are plenty of reasons to play video games. (Spending time with friends or family, critical thinking, memory, etc. Granted, not all of these reasons apply to every game for every system.) - Sure, maybe it's a stetch, but I can't even make an arguement for prayer.

Although the meditation excuse works. I meditate, however, and I used to pray, so I would recommend just meditating instead. But that answer works for me.

Also, reading religious texts is one of the easiest things to justify that was listed. Reading, in general, is never a bad thing. Reading the Bible often confirmed my atheist sentiments as well.

Answer 1

I know God does not respond but I consider prayer to be meditation. Meditation is not a waste of time for me.

Answer 2

Prayer isn't a waste of time. Even if YOU may not see the result that YOU would like to see, prayer at least makes the person who is praying FEEL better and feel as if they have done something that will help their situation. And not because you pray for something that means that you will get it. You may not deserve what you are praying for or may not be prepared to receive what you've been praying for. You may not get the EXACT response you wanted but you will definitely get something that you needed from prayer. And prayer will never work for you if in the back of your mind you are doubting it's capabilities. PRAYER does not work on DOUBT but FAITH.

Answer 3

I 'm not a hardcore Christian. I 'm not religious at all and the rest. If your prayers are usually accomplished, they aren't a waste of time. The same happens if you are very religious or afraid of God's justice.
If your prayers are never accomplished but you feel something is missing from your life, prayers help a bit.
Prayers can be a waste of time for atheists and everyone who found happiness in sth else. I accept this opinion.

Answer 4

Sorry, your just flat wrong.
I'm NOT a christian but that really has nothing to do with your question.
All cultures and religions have prayer.
I'm not sure what you mean by "tested and proven" but every study I've ever read spoke highly of prayers abilty to calm the mind and heal the body.
Now, we can consider the placebo effect and the power of suggestion all you want, the fact still remains....Prayer works.
Do you homework. Don't bash christians just to make yourself feel superior. Not everything spiritual should be equated with backwards fundamentalists.

Answer 5

Prayer can be a form of self-reflection, a way of thinking about your place in the world, and how you should lead your life. It can, therefore, be psychologically useful, and certainly better for your peace of mind than bashing monsters in a video game. Like anything, it shouldn't be taken to extremes. And of course asking a non-existent God for stuff doesn't work.

Answer 6

If you don't believe in a God, then praying to something that you don't believe in is a waste of time. Are playing video games, etc. a bigger wate of time than praying to something that you don't believe in? I think it's a waste of time to consider that question.
To the faithful, prayer is not a waste of time, but time well spent.

Peace.

Answer 7

Since prayer is a lot like meditation, which I don't consider a waste of time, I will give prayer the benefit of doubt.

Answer 8

I pray and I don't see it as any more a "waste of time" as medition. And it CAN help. It can lower blood pressure, even if temporarily, and lower stress (even if I do think its counter productive) and can make people feel better in general.
Hey I'm all for pushing them out of law, but I won't push them out of thier beliefs. They have as much a right to believe and you don't.

Answer 9

I struggle with the knowlege that God's will bedone, not mine.

I struggle with the knowlege that God knows better than I do, what should be prayed.

I struggle with the knowlege that God's great love makes Him more desirous of any good I seek for others, or even myself, than I am.

Yet He asks us to pray so I do.

The man who rises CHANGED from prayers, has had his prayers answered!

Answer 10

Tested and proven by whom? I would love to see where you get your "proven" statistics.

Secondly, even if its a "waste of time" to you, what makes you think you can "justify" everything to me. I can justify everything I believe too, but it wouldn't have an effect on you at all!